[lanny1b]

I have a Gateway P4 CPU running at 2GHz w/ 256MB RAM. My OS is Win XP Pro.
I tried to install SP-2, but when the popup screen stuck on "Inspecting your current configuration" for over 4 hours, I canceled the install. Anybody got any idea why the installation of SP-2 is hanging at the screen that says:
"Please wait while setup inspects your current configuration and updates your files"?

[flavallee]

If that computer has only 256 MB of RAM, it's going to run like a snail. It's also going to suffer lag time and bog down - depending on what you're doing with it.

I strongly advise you to increase the RAM amount to at least 1024 MB. I have a Gateway 500S(E4000) desktop with an Intel Pentium IV 2.00 GHz processor that supports 2048 MB of RAM, so I'm pretty sure that your old Gateway will support 1024 MB.

Can you advise what the model name and model number is?

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Is it currently running XP Pro(original version) or XP Pro SP1?

If it has SP1, you can upgrade straight to SP3 and bypass SP2.

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[lanny1b]

I misspoke/mistyped, I have 512MB RAM. I've got SP1 installed. Model name and number are Gateway E-4650 4000779, desktop version. Don't have the funds for RAM upgrade.
Thanks for the advice on SP3. I may try it.

[flavallee]

Here is the on-line manual for the Gateway E-4650 desktop. You might want to save this site in your browser favorites list for future reference.

I'm glad to hear that it has 512 MB of RAM instead of 256 MB because it unfortunately uses expensive PC800 RDRAM modules. According to the MEMORYX site, it would cost you about $200.00 to increase it to 1024 MB.

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The full 316 MB SP3 upgrade can be downloaded from Microsoft from here. Once it's downloaded and saved and burned off to a CD-R, you can install it in any computer that needs it - including yours.

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[TerryNet]

You will be much better off if you format the hard drive and install Windows fresh before upgrading to SP2 or SP3. I'm assuming that your XP SP1 has been gathering registry corruption and other "junk" for some years now.

[flavallee]

I usually do a full SP3 upgrade after formatting a hard drive and doing a fresh install of XP SP2.

As old as your computer is, and with all the outdated and useless stuff that it's collected over the years, I agree that getting that computer to a pristine condition would be a good idea.

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[lanny1b]

Thank you flavallee & TerryNet,
I've got my HD partitioned into 3 partitions, with the OS on the C: partition. Would I have to reformat the whole drive or just the C: partition?

[TerryNet]

Only the C: partition needs to be reformatted.

[doubleL]

Hello everyone. I'm new here and have a similar question to the original in this thread.
What happened was that one of my desktops had a pretty nasty virus for a few days. I tried running as many anti-virus, malware, spyware, trojan programs in Safe Mode to no avail. I came to the conclusion that I should do a fresh XP install (SP2). Everything was fine after re-formatting and installing until I got to the "Installing Network" segment with "32 minutes approx remaining". The first time I waited well over 40 minutes and nothing happened. I restarted and started over with a re-format and the same thing happened.
I've tried everything I can think of:disconnecting the ethernet, removing all my expansion cards, making sure all of the on-board devices were enabled in the BIOS. I've even installed Ubuntu and set up a partition and then tried to repair the Windows installation with the setup disk and this, obviously didn't work.
What am I doing wrong? I contacted Microsoft via live chat only to be directed to the $59 chat. I'm not paying $59 to chat with Tech (just yet.)
Any help or insight would be great.

[bbearren]

DoubleL,

You should start your own thread, please. It saves much confusion.

[doubleL]

OK. I apologize.

[lanny1b]

Originally Posted by TerryNet

Only the C: partition needs to be reformatted.

Thanks TerryNet.