Service Pack 2: whats the problem?

I recently bought my friends slightly used Pentium 4 computer to replace my 7-year-old Pentium 2.

My system will not update with the SP2. It gets about halfway through the installation (it takes a long time) then comes to a halt and doesn't do anything else.
Then I have to uninstall all the updates the system downloaded before it stopped.

It has done this twice, and I understand I am not the only victim of this.
Has this happened to you?
Is this update recommended?
Any suggestions on how to get around this?

Will Microsoft correct this problem? I have downloaded stuff from them for years including other updates for my new computer, with no problems, (until now) so should I try again in a couple of weeks or just stay away?

As it is now, my system still says 'updates are available', but I am concerned that if I try to update anything I'll get the same problems.

BTW some of you at AF may have seen me answer about 2000 auto tech questions here, but when it comes to computers, I am completely stunned, right up there with a chimpanzee trying to figure out a cell phone. :smile: so thank you for your advice.

SP2 bites IMO.

All you get is the Windows Antispy and antivirus and firewall. If you have norton or anything like that, SP1 is all you need.

I'm running SP1

SP2 changes likes 6% of the Windows code which is like 2 Billion lines of code. I would suggest formatting the HDD if you know how, and if you don't have anything importent that you can't save on a cd or other type of back-up memory.
If you don't know what your doing get help from someone who does
If you have any questions i'll be happy to answer them

You can get SP2 on disk from Microsoft to install on your computer. That might be the way to get around downloading it from the internet. I remember reading that if you go to Microsoft's website, ther eis info on how to obtain the free disk.

I got SP2 i like it.. no problems

but i installed a burned copy of XP with SP2 integrated

I had the same problem....and I made microsoft mail me a copy of the cd. It came in 3 months after my online order. Charged at $0, no credit card required....

but i installed a burned copy of XP with SP2 integrated

Who has actually bought win XP, almost 99% of people who have it either burned it or it came with thier computer.

SP2 changes likes 6% of the Windows code which is like 2 Billion lines of code.
I was surprised how much space SP2 took up on my disk. I have a 40GB hard drive and run Diskkeeper to defragment my system on a regular basis. Before I downloaded SP2 I had 79% free space on my disk and after SP2 was installed I was down to 74%. Not to mention it took DAYS to download it on my dialup ( at 31.2 kbps). :frown:

A CD seems to be the way to go. Thanks for all the help.

I have installed SP2 on many computers without problems. I can say that if you plan on ever connecting that computer to the internet then you had better install SP2. It patches a ton of security holes. It isn't just a new firewall.

I would suggest a clean install of Windows XP. Format the hard drive and start clean. Then install all your drivers, updates, and SP2. Then install everything else.

Also, most of the people having issues installing SP2 have some hardware issue that is causing the installation to hang.

For the record I've installed SP2 on a P2 and an P4 with no problems either. I have had PCs since DOS 1.0 on 5 1/4 floppies in the 1980s and for me XP has been the most stable OS yet.