[Newhavenmama]

Sorry Vicks! I should be making notes and asking my questions at once instead of sending a hundred posts! My question is...IF I am correct and IE is version 6....do I need to install V7 and then V8? Or can I go straight from 6 to 8? I have downloaded V7 just in case its the first scenario. And also, if its V6 and says Service Pack 2...does that change what Service Pack I need? Thanks (again!).

[vicks]

It is my understanding, that XP is XP and the service packs are for the XP operating system. There should be no problem updating the Internet Explorer, When updating it it automatically removes the older version. Should problems be caused by IE when we remove the one installed it goes back to the previous one.
You need not apologize...I have done my share of questioning in the past too.. That's the way we learn (inquiring minds want to know)
I didn't know how to even turn a computer on until 2001. Have loved the challenges of learning and helping others after Iearned a little bit...(granddaughter got me started)
Vicks

[Newhavenmama]

Hi Vicks....well my evening was not a productive as I had hoped...I was able to install IE8 with no problems - other than the fact that it took about 3 hours! Anyway I then proceeded to install Service Pack 3 and this was where I hit a wall. The dialog box would open and it would say it was initializing (sorry can't recall exact words and I'm at work now)..anyway it was the very first screen....but it wouldn't go any further and there was no indication that it was doing what it said...progress bar never moved....left it for hours....no luck! So between that and the IE 8 session, I had run out of hours! Have I done it backwards? Should I have installed the Service Pack first? The other thing is the computer is working SOOOO slowly it is almost unbearable! I am hoping that once things are installed and working, it will back to normal but for now..its crazy....every second thing I do, it goes to a Not Responding mode! My son was able to delete the file that caused the trouble so that's history! Any ideas what is wrong with Service Pack 3? Do I need to uninstall Avast or just turn it off...right now its just turned off because when I went into the Control Panel to remove it, it just kept freezing up and not doing anything..... Thanks Vicks....
Donna

[vicks]

Here is a link to MS for you
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/1173#tab3
It has the instructions for installing SP3.
Yes, I would disable the anti virus and any other security tools, during the installation process.
I sure hope this will help.
As to speeding things up, we probably will need to defrag the drive. Also the program Ccleaner (free at www.majorgeeks.com or www.download.com) will get rid of a lot of waste stuff on the computer. If you do use Ccleaner, PLEASE disable the regedit. Registry cleaners can cause multiple problems.
Hang in there.
Vicks

[Newhavenmama]

Okay...I'm not having fun anymore!! I cannot get this Service Pack 3 to install! The first time I had done it I realized I hadn't uninstalled my Net Nanny so I did that and it at least started to install. But then I get the error:

Service Pack 3 Set Up Error
An error in updating your system has occurred. Select OK to undo the changes that have been made.

I click OK and it uninstalls everything that it had just installed.

This was from the copy I had on a CD so I went to the Microsoft site and downloaded directly from there. Same error.

I've uninstalled my Avast. I've tried installing in Safe Mode. I've googled until I realized I'm going to the same sites and starting to recognize peoples names who have had similar problems!!

Do you have any ideas of what I can do next?

Thanks Vicks,
Donna

[vicks]

I don't know what else to do... I have reported this and asked a moderator or at least someone with more knowledge/experience to chime in........
I will continue to monitor though, Need more education too.
Vicks

[TerryNet]

Lacking the patience to read everything closely I skimmed through the thread and think that the situation is as follows.

You have saved a copy of important files to an external drive; you have newly installed IE8, and you are now trying to install SP3 but it refuses to continue after starting.

If the above is close, I don't know exactly what is going wrong now, but have two ideas. First, sometimes installing a service pack is very difficult after a long time has passed since its introduction. Secondly, and maybe more useful, since Microsoft long ago integrated their [adjectives omitted] browser into the OS it is probable that SP3 will not install with the newer browser already in place. I do not remember whether SP3 or IE7 came first, but suspect that you will need to backup to the IE version that existed at the time SP3 was introduced.

[vicks]

THANKS TerryNet
Appreciate your input...
Vicks

[TerryNet]

Maybe this Microsoft BK article will help, especially Method 2 or the second Method 1.

[LauraMJ]

Personally, at this point, since you have now saved all of the stuff that was important to you to an external hard drive, I would simply re-install Windows and start from scratch again. Then when Windows is nice and fresh and new, before you go on the internet, install the Service Pack 3, then go to another computer and download to a USB or CD a free antivirus program and install that to your computer. Once that is done, you should be ready to go on to connect to the internet or whatever you want to do.

At that point, I would go get something like Acronis and make regular backups of your entire system periodically to an external hard drive, so that if you ever have a problem like this again, you boot from the CD that Acronis helps you make, tell it to restore your computer from a backup, and in 10 minutes, your computer is back like it was before the problem. Completely the same with nothing needing updated or added back.

[vicks]

Good afternoon!
Have you had a chance to do anything with this yet?
I realize you have more to do than just this computer, but just wondering how it is coming.
Vickie

[Newhavenmama]

Hi all ~ I am so sorry I was MIA!! I had borrowed my sister's laptop to do my initial homework and use all the valuable information from Vickie! Anyway I have just borrowed my boss's laptop and popped on to (hopefully) see if anyone had come up with a possible solution to my problem! I usually get emails letting me know if someone has replied to my thread but this time I didn't so that's another reason it took so long!!

So here's my question....if I reinstall Windows XP....how does that differ from the Repair Install I did? Am I wiping everything off my computer and starting from scratch? Is it basically at the point where I first received the computer and plugged it in? What about Internet Explorer...what version will be on it? If its 6...do I install Service Pack 3 and then install IE8?

Also...at the risk of sounding clueless...is the reason I would download an antivirus program before ever contacting to the internet because the minute I go on the internet I am instantly at risk of a virus?

My final question....I've never done a reinstall....I assume its not difficult but wondering if you could walk me through that. BEFORE that though, I know the one thing I have not backed up is our Mail in Outlook Express....is there a way of saving all messages from our inbox as well as our contacts?

Thanks again for all your help Vickie and also to TerryNet and LauraMJ!!

I will keep in touch and hope that you are able to as well!!

Happy Halloween!!
Donna

[Newhavenmama]

PS - I did read the article you posted TerryNet...but to be 100% honest...resetting the Registry section scared the crap out of me! Everything else I've tried...

[TerryNet]

Well, if you have everything backed up and are ready to install Windows fresh then editing the Registry, or doing anything else new on the computer, shouldn't be too scary. But I think too that a new install is the way to go.

I've never used OE, but assume that How to back up and to restore Outlook Express data should help.

In addition to backing up data I have found it very helpful to have a list of applications that I want to install on a new operating system. Maybe it's just because I like lists to check off items done.

After you are sure that you have everything safely backed up boot from the XP install disk. There will be several somewhat confusing choices--you want the ones that use the same partition now occupied by the operating system and you want to first format that partition (NTFS is best). The format essentially wipes out everything on that partition (the partition may be your entire hard drive). Then install XP. You will be back to whatever version (no service pack, SP1, SP2?) of XP and of IE you had at purchase time.

You need to have a firewall running unless you are behind a router; the XP firewall is fine.

Install your chipset, networking, and any other needed drivers. You may have these on a Resource or Drivers CD that came with your PC. Even better, you can download the latest from your PC manufacturer's web site. (Good to do this before you begin the new install.)

Do Windows Update multiple times until you have SP3 and all the additional critical updates. Then get IE8, if that's what you want.

You don't need an anti-virus (my opinion and practice) until you start venturing to web sites other than Microsoft's and other highly trusted sites. I think that Microsoft has finally done a 3rd thing right in the security line--Microsoft Security Essentials gives anti-virus and anti-spyware protection quietly w/o hogging a bunch of resources. I now run it on XP, Vista and 7.

Oh, from time to time there are issues with mail notifications from this site. I suggest that you do not rely on them for threads you really care about.

[Newhavenmama]

Thank you TerryNet! I am at work right now but will roll up the sleeves when I get home and see how far I can get before I become confused! Which probably won't be long as this whole 'partition' thing is new lingo to me....??

As for a firewall...I do have a router...does that mean I am okay there?

And as for drivers....are all my drivers on 1 CD that I would have to reinstall purposes? I do recall seeing a Driver CD.

I know Anti-virus choices are many....in your personal opinion which is the best one out there? I had Avast at home but have AVG at work...?

Thanks again for your help!
Donna