XP SP2 problem on Advent Notebook
I have been trying to help a friend with his notebook. Every time he tries to load SP2 (never mind SP3), the computer hangs during the boot up (when the scanning blue bar is going across the Windows XP page, the scanning bars just stop and nothing else happens and I have to shut it off, and then during start-up, it offers to restart in last known good configuration or in safe mode).
It has an Anthon AMD 64 processor and a 40Gb hard drive. Others tried 3 times to do a hi-level reformat, with the same result. I did a full format with the provided recovery disk, and again, same result. I made sure to do all other updates online before allowing it to do the SP2 update, and still, it hung the same as all the other times. I ran CKDSK twice before doing my 2nd attempt of a full format (as I started to wonder if there was a bad sector on the hard drive). It seemed to pass fine.
I am now out of ideas. How about you, any ideas, as obviously, it is too old, and a Chinese knock-off, so to spend any real $ wouldn't make any sense?
Addendum
If you do not have at least 256ram
don't bother with sp2
CHKDSK IS WORTHLESS
IT ONLY CATCHES AROUND 65% OF HDD PROBLEMS
If it all still goes wrong and you do not want to put much money, try to aquire Win XP with SP2 or SP3 integrated
You need to have the minimu 256 ram though,and it will still be very slow.you honestly need 1gb ram if u want it to work fast with antivirus installed.if no antivirus is needed you can do quite well with 512ram.
Addendum
If you do not have at least 256ram
don't bother with sp2
CHKDSK IS WORTHLESS
IT ONLY CATCHES AROUND 65% OF HDD PROBLEMS
If it all still goes wrong and you do not want to put much money, try to aquire Win XP with SP2 or SP3 integrated
You need to have the minimu 256 ram though,and it will still be very slow.you honestly need 1gb ram if u want it to work fast with antivirus installed.if no antivirus is needed you can do quite well with 512ram.
LOTS OF POSSIBLE REASON'S FOR THIS.
Do a Full Low Level Format first.
If you recovery CD is an original by the the notebook manufacturer, Use it to do a complete reinstall.But go to the manufacturers website to look up possible solutions concerning your model.Sometimes certain PC or laptop do not upgrade correctly.The manufacturer does however offer certain solutions.Check ther first.
SP2 has always been a bit touchy with drivers.
make a list of all the drivers u need and go the manufacturers website for eachdriver brand to get updated drivers for SP2.Ex: Nvidea,Intel, Realtek,C-media.Etc..
Install those prior to sp2.
download the sp2 pack from microsoft,the one the mentions f(for IT administrators).Uninstall all antivirus.Big problems can accure if you don't . restart
then install sp2.
give it time ,even if it takes more then 10 minutes.
If after 20 minutes still no response,well you have a problem that only a pro can fix.
If you do not know how to do any of this, you should not be trying to fix it in the first place!!
You have already done what you can. Let a pro handle it.
If you are doing a format, its never really a gr8 idea to use the recovery disk.
Its best to install a fresh copy of windows onto the hard drive, doing a full complete format in NTFS file format.
No need to do all the updates before service pack 2. As service pack 2 will detect what updates you need and just do it all in the one go. Its best like said before
Replace your Service Pack 2 Installer and start fresh, as there could be corruption in the installer.
replace your SP2 installer. -loading SP2 takes ages coz it checks your current drivers so you need to have patience to wait.-
______________________________________
CARPE DIEM BABY!