ok, how do i get rid of XP SP 2?

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now that i've got broadband at home, i'm using my laptop a lot more than before. it's always been a bit annoying (it's a dell inspiron 4100, in case you're curious), but seemed to settle down once i got rid of the terrible ME and installed XP a while ago.

so a couple weeks ago, it did an automatic update and installed the XP SP 2, and my computer is just freaking out since. it freezes after using it for about a half hour, things take ages to do, programs just disappear while they're running, and i can't even get itunes to work.

all of this is really annoying. so. any suggestions on what to do? jim and i were thinking about installing 2000 instead, but he's worried about whether it'll let us install an 'old' version. it wouldn't let him re-install XP from the disc last night. boo.

any help, tips or experience would be appreciated. and no, i don't have the cash to go out and buy a powerbook, which is what i'd like to do...

― colette (a2lette), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Does it not show up under Add/Remove Programs? I realise you may have thought of this, but that's really where it should be.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Can you do system restore? I can never remember how to get to it .. but XP periodically backs up the system settings .. and you should be able to revert to a previous point... I'm not on XP at work, so I don't know if I can find it from here ...

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:36 (twenty-one years ago)

When you say that you can't reinstall from the CD, do you mean that you insert the CD when the machine is still running, or you try to boot off the CD? The latter should work. The former won't, for "taking off your socks but not your shoes" reasons.

I am the world expert on this, having reinstalled XP/SP2 a dozen times over the weekend.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/systemrestore.mspx

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Hi Colette, I had problems after installing SP2 too, my laptop wouldn't even start. It seems to be a common problem. I found a website that told me how to be able to start the computer, uninstall SP2, and then download it again. It works fine now. If your computer starts and runs - maybe try simply uninstalling SP2 if you haven't already done that...

― Hanna (Hanna), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)

microsoft say: "If you chose to create backup files when you installed SP2, you can use Add or Remove Programs to remove SP2 and restore your computer to its previous state."

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/readmesp.mspx

but if it did it by itself, maybe you don't have the backup files?

― toby (tsg20), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:40 (twenty-one years ago)

hmm. it killed all my system restore points from before the install. so that won't help. i tried that as soon as i figured out what had happened. very useful of them to set it up that way!

am looking for add/remove programs. except it can't seem to find my control panel at the moment. sigh.

i'll ask jim if he tried to boot it from the CD. i think he did, actually, and it was doing funny things.

thanks for the tips, i'm willing to try whatever...

― colette (a2lette), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:42 (twenty-one years ago)

That's true, I was installing off the CD.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)

if the add/remove option doesn't work, perhaps this will?

http://support.gateway.com/s/software/microsof/sHARED/xpsp2/7509594si26.shtml

looks slightly scary though. but everywhere seems to suggest that you can always get rid of it via an xp reinstall.

― toby (tsg20), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i think he did, actually, and it was doing funny things.

Yeah, I did, it wouldn't.

― JimD (JimD), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, this is the thread that helped me.

http://www.windowsforumz.com/General-Discussion-SHLWAPI.dll-ftopict207196.html

But it doesn't seem to be quite the same problem you have...

― Hanna (Hanna), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I had to muck about with Toby's suggestion at some point over the weekend, it's terrifying.

"Service Pack 2 inspects the configuration, checks for necessary disk space, stops services, restores catalogs, and then runs processes before removal. View Picture "

Not pictured: entire civilizations flourish and self-destruct while you're waiting.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:49 (twenty-one years ago)

ha. i think jim's idea of taking my laptop to his place so we can look at other solutions as my computer is running various fixits is probably a good one.

i think not being able to run itunes is the most annoying part. i mean, i can't even get britney's 'my prerogative' on my pod! (i'm so shallow)

― colette (a2lette), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I would suggest you back-up anything important and run a clean install of XP - your machine will love you for it.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 11:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Should I even consider updating to Service Pack 2? I've been avoiding it for weeks now.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Works like a dream on mine, I'd recommend it.

In fact, Colette, after running a clean install of XP I would urge an install of SP2 just to make sure it's not just a conflict with some old software sitting on your laptop. The extra security features of SP2 are very handy and it seems to run smoother too.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 13:21 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.suicideprevention.com.au/images/suicide1x.gif

― sometimes i like to pretend i am very small and warm (ex machina), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 13:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 13:29 (twenty-one years ago)

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