RESOLVED - SP2 problems

[AlanHo]

I'm in trouble.

Installed SP2 and all seemed fine until I decided to burn the SP2 file onto a CD-R for my archive. I have an LG GSA 4120B DVD and CD multi format burner which has worked fine in conjunction with Pinnacle Instant CD and DVD creator.

The copy process seemed to be going OK until the very last second when the computer screen went black and the system crashed and re-booted.

Using Explorer I checked the CD - right click and properties showed 272 Mb had been written but the file did not show up in the explorer window. I tried to copy a second file to the CD but got an error message that the disc was corrupted.

Thinking it may have been a faulty disc I tried again - exactly the same result.

I then uninstalled the burner from device manager and reinstalled it - tried copying the SP2 file again - same result - computer crashed.

I then uninstalled SP2 and tried copying a file to the CD burner - got same result so tried using System Restore to go back a week when I knew all was OK - still the same problem. The computer crashes at the instant the copy process ends.

Next stage was to uninstall and reinstall Pinnacle CD DVD creator. Files will now copy to a CD-R but on ejecting the CD the programme cannot finalise the medium so the CD cannot be read in a standard ROM drive.

What next - reformat and reinstall Windows (without SP2) ? = what do you think.

[andsome]

Already sounds a little ominous. I have downloaded SP2 to a folder and NOT installed it yet. I was intending to copy the whole lot to a CD in Nero, so that I could take it to my daughter who is on dial up. Can anyone foresee any problem with this?

[-pops-]

I have SP2 downloaded into a folder like you have, andsome.

Just written it to CD using Nero with no problems.

[andsome]

I have SP2 downloaded into a folder like you have, andsome.

Just written it to CD using Nero with no problems.

Cheers pops

[trackrat]

I have just put SP2 on and apart from at the start up (after the bios text and before the splash screen) when I get a white line going across the bottom of the screen, which I did not have before, everything seems to be allright.

I like the way that the XP firewall found that another one was running and disabled itself.

I also used nero to burn the cd with no problems.

Very strange when I boot into Mandrake I do not get that white line :wub:

[Scarecrow Man]

I'm in trouble.

Which program are you using to burn the data? If it's windows built in burning program, try a differen't program like Nero or search this forum, I posted needing a free CD burner, and I think it was expertec that found one??

[Andy-2004]

ADD ONs

like a kid in a sweet shop...or whatever that saying is :lol:

[AlanHo]

Further to my earlier posting - things got better - then they got worse.

After much fiddling with the device driver and reinstalling my burner software after removing SP2 - I got it working again after a fashion.

I have tried a borrowed copy of Roxio Easy CD/DVD, plus my own Pinnacle Instant CD/DVD and the programme bundled with my burner B's Recorder Gold.

All are flaky when burning a CD-R - the finalising of the CD when ejected is unreliable and I have a few coasters.

However - with faith in the fact that lightning never strikes twice - I reinstalled SP2. Guess what - the same problems repeated exactly as before.

I am tempted to think the burner may be faulty - but it is only 6 weeks old and was 'perfick' until I installed SP2.

The drive will play CD's and DVD's fine - it will also write to DVD RAM with no bother - but CD-R and CD RW are real problems. I have not tried DVD-R or DVD-RW as yet but fully expect them to play up as well.

Any thoughts anyone ?

[Scarecrow Man]

Chances are it's SP2 that is the problem. Like (someone) said, Every computer is differen't, so if it works fine with one computer, it may not with yours.

My recomendations, e-mail MS, check the sp2 forums, and contact the drive manufacturer and tell them about your problem. If they have a fix, it will be there, if not. Wait a few months before installing sp2 and they may have it sorted by then.

[-pops-]

In the blurb about SP2 on the MS site it strongly suggests making a full backup of your system before installing.

For my own part, I always make a backup before installing ANY program, update or un-installation. I have been caught out in the past (mainly by magazine cover discs) such that it is now routine to do this.

I know the above is no help to you but, something that may be: uninstall ALL of your burning software and download a trial of Nero. Not suggesting you keep Nero, just use it to try out your present burner and determine whether that is the faulty component.

[nellie2]

I've split these posts out of the original SP2 topic so that we can concentrate on Alans problems in one thread and deal with general SP2 stuff in the other.

[pwp]

just a thought. i notice alan said the sp2 file was 272 mb and pops mentioned in another post that his download was 272 mb but the one i downloaded from

the link craig supplied for wf was 266 mb. so are there different sp2s about. :unsure:

[popeye]

PWP. Thats odd? The link I downloaded from Craigs link was 272mb? :unsure:

[Chris]

It's 266 megz!

[Bruce]

It is indeed only 266 megabytes. I would be suspicious of the file if it is 272 megabytes.

[Boris]

Craig's file

[Rebel=UK=]

PWP. Thats odd? The link I downloaded from Craigs link was 272mb? :unsure:

i downloaded it from that link it was 266

[AlanHo]

Windows Explorer screen shot.

In properties the file size is shown as 266 Mb - but it shows as 272 Mb in the Explorer pane.

I understand why it shows as 278,927,592 bytes - but do not understand the 272 figure.

[-pops-]

When the file was being downloaded, the Firefox download box said it was 272.4 MB.

The file I have waiting to be installed says 266MB when the mouse is hovered above the entry in My Documents.

[expertec]

When the file was being downloaded, the Firefox download box said it was 272.4 MB.

The file I have waiting to be installed says 266MB when the mouse is hovered above the entry in My Documents.

Mine too :huh:

[trackrat]

And Mine.

[AlanHo]

SEQUEL

Putting aside file sizes for a moment and getting back to problems with SP2.

I am now up and running OK with my burner - but somewhat out of pocket because I tried a borrowed copy of Nero and it worked OK - so I finished up buying a copy of Nero 6.

Before I installed SP2 I was able to use two burner programmes - B's Recorder Gold (which came bundled with the LG burner) and Pinnacle Instant CD and DVD which I bought when I had my original DVD burner about a year ago.

Both worked fine until I installed SP2 and I had the problems previously reported.

After I removed SP2 neither worked properly - Pinnacle would copy a CD OK but would not create a data disc or music CD - telling me that no supported device had been found. Why it would burn a copy disc but not a data disc beats me.

B's Recorder Gold was more consistent - whatever I tried to do with it it would tell me that there was no device connected and refuse to do anything.

The packet writing software in both programmes was also buggered - neither would format a new blank CD-RW but both would let me drag and drop files to one previously formatted. (I did not have both packet writers installed at the same time - before someone points out that you shouldn't)

I have used device manager to uninstall the burner and let Windows reinstall it - I have uninstalled the burner software - and obliterated all files and register entries before re-installing. All to no avail.

But Nero works - so I am poorer but happy.

I don't know whether Nero would work if I were to reinstall SP2 - and I am not yet sufficiently curious to find out.

[christmascracker]

Hi Alan, If it's any consolation I have Nero 6 and it it still working perfectly since I installed SP2.

[Scarecrow Man]

Nero 5 works great on my SP2. Has since RC1.

[expertec]

Nero 5 works great on my SP2. Has since RC1.

Good :)