After installing XP SP2, hangs on loading screen

[mps727]

I recently built a new computer. I installed XP fresh, and installed some various programs that I use frequently. Everything was going fine until Windows Update downloaded SP2. I installed it, and restarted. Ever since then when I start up it simply hangs on the windows loading screen. I see the animation of the progress bar scrolling along under the Windows logo just fine. I even let it sit there for quite a while, thinking maybe it was just going slow, but after an hour or two nothing happened.

I have searched and google'd around, and found people with a similar problem (though none mentioned SP2), but none of the solutions have helped me. Has anyone heard of such a thing, or have any tips on how I might diagnose this?

[Bob_180_Bob]

Hi,
You could try a few things first.
Start the PC in safe mode, Tap F8 as the PC boots.
1. Do a system restore
2. Uninstall SP2
3. Install SP3

[mps727]

Sure that sounds like a good idea, but how do I get SP3 without SP2? Also, will system restore affect my second hard drive or only the drive with windows on it?

[jbennet]

no no no

you need SP2 to install SP3

installing SP3 over SP1 or XP RTM is NOT SUPPORTED. SP3 does not include SP1 as SP1 is no longer supported directly.

personally i just reccomend reinstalling. Try using a program called nlite to integrate the service packs for an easier install (integrate sp2, let it build, then exit, reopen and do the same for sp3, then creat the iso)

[caperjack]

do as jbennet suggest and use nlite to slipstream sp3 into it ,get sp3 here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4&DisplayLang=en
and nlite here ,its actually quite easy to use .
get nlite here and read the guides on the left .
http://www.nliteos.com/

[mps727]

Ahh... well see the thing is, I have been having trouble with burning CD's and I was kind of hoping SP2 or SP3 would fix the problem. I can read CD's just fine but it seems to have trouble with blank CD's.

When I go in to explorer and click on my CD drive with a blank CD in the drive, it pops up an error message that says "E:\ is not accessible. Incorrect Function."

I should also note that I even swapped out my new CD\DVD writer for my old CD (But not DVD) writer and I got the same error. This is why I suspect the problem is with windows and not with the hardware itself.

Something else I just noticed right now, In windows explorer there is an option for "3.5 Floppy (A: )" but I never put a floppy drive in this computer. Does it always say that regardless?

[jbennet]

no youve probably got the floppy controller enabled in the BIOS somewhere

[mps727]

Well looks like I just made things worse. I downloaded SP3, then installed SP2. I started in safe mode and installed SP3 and the problem was still not fixed. So I uninstalled SP3 and it reverted back to SP2, and then I tried to uninstalled SP2, but it turns out I apparently cannot do this because it is no longer in add remove programs... I may just try to reinstall windows completely, as I didn't have TOO much on that new HD anyway.

Err, well I attempted to reinstall, but I can't seem to change any settings in the BIOS, so I can't change the boot device priority. augh... I can view them but I can't seem to edit them... ARGH!

[mps727]

Just an update, I cleared the CMOS and I can now access the BIOS again. Hurray! I'm currently backing up my files that I want to keep to another drive, and I will try reinstalling windows and let you know if that works.