Shoutbox

Alright, so i've been updating some friends computers and some school computers recently.  When going to Microsoft Windows Update, I am now prompted at the beginning to install "Windows XP Service Pack 2 Release Candidiate 2" (SP2) on these machines.  I've done yes, and it's proven to be a NIGHTMARE on Hewlitt-Packard (HP) Machines.

Below I list 2 Tests I ran after realizing the problem with HP and SP2.  It seems something in Service Pack 2 does NOT like the HP Computers.

[ Computer 1: HP Media Center Edition 2004 ]
Before Install: Running Service Pack 1 of XP.
After Install: Running NO Service Packs, Just Windows XP.

Description: Well, I went to Windows Update, Installed Service Pack 2, Restarted the machine as prompted and am presented with CONSTANT REBOOTS. (Cannot even get into Windows, after it has the loading screen it starts to reboot.)  After a LOT of work, I finally get it to stop rebooting and it presents me with a STOP Error.

Stop Error Given: STOP 0x00000079 OR MISMATCHED HAL = Basically, Windows did something that made the hardware compatability unstable.  [Source: Windows XP Inside Out: First Edition: MSPress]

After trying to get into Safe Mode (all of the options for safe mode), Debugging, VGA, etc., All the modes on the F8 Menu, nothing works.

Result: Had to Recover from the HP Recovery Program, Losing every application installed.  No XP Service Packs are on the system any longer and a successfully reset machine, basically.


[ Computer 2: Regular Desktop PC ]
See Results from Computer 1, only difference is that Computer 2 doesnt have Media Center Edition

OVERALL ANALYSIS:  I've come to the conclusion that Windows XP Service Pack 2 Release Candidiate 2, although it says supports Windows Media Center Edition, it does not.  It installed Updates to XPHome or Pro I believe (due to the new bootscreen I was presented with).

Also, I believe that since Computer 2 produced the same results, it is some sort of error between HPs hardware and Microsofts SP2 Software.  I CERTAINLY hope they fix this before they release SP2 to the general public.

[ People who SHOULD NOT Install Windows XPService Pack 2 Release Candidate 2 ]

-People on HP Media Center Machines (Although id say HP Overall!)
-Anyone running programs such as Style XP that change your log on and start up, will not be able to install SP2 while these programs are installed. (Contributed by: toddy)