Need help with problems after you download Service Pack 2 for Windows XP Home Edition

I downloaded the havce to uninstall Service Pack 2 only because when I rebooted the computer system has 4-bit color without the possibility to change and everything was HUGE. I need to have installed so I can play Sims and get the rest of the windows downloads. I can't do anything until this issue is resolved. Has anyone else has this problem? I'm working on a new hard drive (180 MB) and I don't know if I need to update the drivers that came with my gateway first, before I can install SP2 correctly. Please someone can help me I got appriciate it! Thanks in advance! If you have any other questions I can answer.

~ * Heather * ~.

aka

~ * Slicky * ~.

If you get just to install WinXP SP2 for the first time ever, keep reading. If not, tell us why you need to reinstall SP2.

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Personal data backup (which none should be considered 100% reliable at this point) then format the HARD disk and do a clean install of Windows.  Please note that a repair installation (upgrade AKA on-site) won't fix this!

HOW to do a clean install of Windows XP: see method 1 and http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps in http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307

Once installed the clean, you will have the equivalent of a "new computer" in order to take care of everything on the next page before connecting the machine to the internet or one local network (i.e. other computers) otherwise and before using a flash drive or the SD card that is not brand new, or has not been freshly formatted:

4 steps to help protect your new computer before going online
     http://www.Microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx

Other useful references include:

HOW to get a computer that is running Windows XP Gold (no Service Pack) fully patched (after a clean install)
http://groups.Google.com/group/Microsoft.public.windowsupdate/MSG/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer that is running Windows XP SP1 (a) or SP2 fully patched (after a clean install)
http://groups.Google.com/group/Microsoft.public.WindowsXP.General/MSG/a066ae41add7dd2b

Tip: After getting the computer fully patched, download/install KB971029 manually: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029

NB: No matter what Norton or McAfee free trial which is preinstalled on the computer when you bought will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the trial for free and download/run the appropriate removal tool before installing updates, Service Packs Windows or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application (which will require WinXP SP3 must be installed).

Norton Removal Tool
     FTP://ftp.Symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe

McAfee Consumer product removal tool
     http://download.McAfee.com/Products/Licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

See also:

Risks & benefits of P2P file sharing
http://www.Microsoft.com/protect/data/downloadfileshare/filesharing.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/MMPC/archive/2008/10/06/the-cost-of-free-software.aspx

Measures to help prevent spyware
http://www.Microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx

Measures to help prevent computer worms
http://www.Microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx

Avoid fake security software!
http://www.Microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx

If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, good reputation and stand-alone computer (that is, not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) repair facility.

~ Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (that is to say, mail, security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ WARNING: MS MVPs represent or work for Microsoft

Tags: Windows

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