Jo, wouldn't it be nice (or at least the decent thing) if manufacturers clearly stated the means to problem avoidance when the platform must be (re)installed?

In encountering compabable probs. with VISTA, I read so many help forums (for the O/S), and most had ideas that weren't even accurate. I finally stumbled into the solution: installing SP1 before all else. That tidbit could have saved me several days of frustration, that's for sure.

Some good can come from this... and that is: Maybe what we've learned might help others and spare them the frustrations.


The program that worked as beautifully as can be on my fried drive (and RAM): Spotmau PowerSuite Professional 2008: http://www.spotmau.com/

It's reasonably priced and it's worth more than it's price in gold, in light that it truly did do as it claims.

My prob. was when the drive (etc.) fried I was totally caught off guard - no symptoms or anything and no recovery software on-hand for VISTA. I took a risk, I know, in getting SpotMau, yet it sure performed . (If I'm not mistaken, the program also offers a money-back guarantee; I think it extends 30 days.)

I created the emergency boot disc - using SpotMau's instructions - and also ordered the snail mail CD (hard lesson learned long ago, as well).

To use Spotmau - or similar - just be sure to have external media for saving recovered data.

What are SP1 and SP3?

Today since we have not been online with this desktop, I had a huge---very long update that took me down for over 1/2 hr.

I have auto updates enabled on here, but when we go away for long periods, this unit is OFF..unplugged.

Each time we booted up the laptop up North, I had updates loading. Sometimes I had to interrupt my work. I was only at the laundromat for about an hour to 1.5 hrs, to charge. But even then I had updates on that unit.

I just had my son at Xmas put in a new hard-drive and tranfer this old one to it. It seemed to go very quickly, whatever he did. (duh)...

So please explain these abbreviations to those of us who are less computer savvy. I'd really appreciate it.

I should say...this is XP. Not Vista.

SP1 & SP3 are: Service Pack 1 and, likewise, Service Pack 3.

For XP, the SPs run from SP1 through SP3. I would do as Jo is doing and hold off on updating #3. Opt out of automatic timing set for installation of that Pack as long as it's buggy.

The Service Packs contain program and system patches and/or fixes.

To find the Update settings:

Start Menu
Control Panel
Windows Update

On Vista, I've only encountered the need for SP1; SP2 is related to Office products, that I noticed. And, I've not come across a SP3 for VISTA - yet.

I went to the place you recommended, but could not find if I had already been updated.

What makes SP3 buggy?

I cannot find if I had this update today. It was a biggie
and I don't recall it having an ID. It was major, and if it were SP3 do you know what will happen here?

Sorry to be so dense. I guess I will call my son... he will just LOVE it! NOT.

Within Windows Update, there should be an option to "View update history," which will display everything that's been downloaded and installed via automatic/manual updates.

Jo will probably come along and relay what she knows of the buggy-factor.

I've not run into SP3, yet, on my Desktop w/XP or old laptop... because I've not booted them in a while.

Desktop, right click on MyComputer, and then
select properties, and there I found that I have SP3 already.

(it was probably loaded earlier today, when I had that massive update)

So that is that.

So my son says this is a HP issue. AMD vs Intel cloning of XP when purchased can affect SP3 downloads. Since I have an Intel processor it doesn't affect me. But people who buy AMD processors have a potential problem with this download.
I just learned about this now....still don't really understand.
It deals with the installation of XP on AMD processors.
The manufacturer who puts XP on an AMD processor may encounter a snag with SP3. Those who have Intel processors are most likely okay. (like me... sigh).

I'm glad you located, on your 'puter, where to look to see if the update has been installed or not. My VISTA is config'd differently than XP; i.e., VISTA uses Aero interface.

Please tell your son thank you for the info. about the update; all of my computers also have Intel processors.

I found info that SP3 can have a problem with -
ASUS mother boards
AMD CPU
Dlink wireless driver/card

These are what applied in my case, since that was what I was searching for info about.

I just suggest doing some searches about SP3 before you agree to the upload.