[Crossposting to OE General for your long-suffering helper Bruce's benefit]
Pour yourself a stiff drink then read the rest of this reply.
================================
Back-up any personal data [1] (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of
Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT
fix this!
HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307
After the clean install, you will have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers) and
before using a flash drive or SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been
freshly formatted:
4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx
Other helpful references include:
HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c
HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b
Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
manually:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029
NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial AND download/run the
appropriate removal tool BEFORE installing any updates, Windows Service
Packs or IE upgrades AND BEFORE installing your new anti-virus application
(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).
Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe
McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe
If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.
The above will take care of all the scores of problems you've had with this
computer over the past few years.
=================
[1] Backup & Restore OE Data
http://www.insideoe.com/backup/
http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx
Adela wrote:
> Hi PABear! I did all and here's the result: )
>
>
>> 1. Is Automatic Updates enabled now and has it always been enabled?
>>
>> How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
>
> 1A. I've always had automatic updates (still do) but I did read the above
> support anyway and it was already all configured up down to the day and
> time. It says also that for WinXP home with SP2 it's sufficient for AUs.
>
>
>> 2. Open Add/Remove Programs & make sure the Show Updates box at the top
>> is
>> checked. Now scroll down & tell me if both of the following updates are
>> listed:
>>
>> Security Update for Windows XP (KB980182)
>> Security Update for Windows XP (KB979683)
>
> 2A. These are listed!
>
>
>> 3. Open IE to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com, select the CUSTOM
>> option
>> again & scan.
>>
>> => Is WinXP SP3 offered? [Just asking for now; If it's offered, uncheck
>> it
>> but do NOT hide it.]
>>
>> => If any Important updates are offered, write down the KB number of each
>> update then install it/them. Then reply to this post and tell me the KB
>> numbers (if any) & if they installed successfully.
>
> 3A. I scanned again and these 3 high priority appeared and I installed
> them:
>
> Security Update for Windows XP (KB900725)
> Security Update for Windows XP (KB902400) [This one failed to install]
> (See [*] )
> Security Update for Windows XP (KB89635
>
> It didnt offer SP3 (KB936929) because it's perpetually in my taskbar,
> which
> asks to be installed each time I open computer. But it said somewhere
> there
> that "If you do not install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (KB936929), other
> updates might still apply to your computer."
>
> All updates up to 5-21-10 were "successfully" installed, except (KB902400)
> which failed, and (KB936929) SP3 because I canceled it...
>
> [*] For the failed one there's this:
>
> "If an update failed to install, click the Failed icon to learn how to
> solve the problem." but it's a whole new project so...it's ok to do it
> after we finish the one at hand?
>
> Adela
>
>
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:eI2EOZk9KHA.4768@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> The bad news (to me) is that Windows Update offered 59 updates. The good
>> news is that all but 3 of them installed. (I'd have to be in front of
>> your
>> computer to say for sure but I suspect the 3 that didn't install were
>> superseded by other, more recently released updates.)
>>
>> Please answer all of the following questions by number in your next
>> reply:
>>
>> 1. Is Automatic Updates enabled now and has it always been enabled?
>>
>> How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
>>
>> 2. Open Add/Remove Programs & make sure the Show Updates box at the top
>> is
>> checked. Now scroll down & tell me if both of the following updates are
>> listed:
>>
>> Security Update for Windows XP (KB980182)
>> Security Update for Windows XP (KB979683)
>>
>> 3. Open IE to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com, select the CUSTOM
>> option
>> again & scan.
>>
>> => Is WinXP SP3 offered? [Just asking for now; If it's offered, uncheck
>> it
>> but do NOT hide it.]
>>
>> => If any Important updates are offered, write down the KB number of each
>> update then install it/them. Then reply to this post and tell me the KB
>> numbers (if any) & if they installed successfully.
>> --
>> ~PA Bear
>>
>>
>> Adela wrote:
>>> Well, Papa Bear, below is my report for the first part of your good
>>> instructions and hope they are ok? I uninstalled IE8 ("successfully"
>>> said
>>> the system). Then installed ALL 59 "high priority" updates. Didn't see
>>> Root
>>> Certificates at the left hand side.
>>>
>>> SYSTEM COULDN'T INSTALL THESE, NO REASON GIVEN (Are these high priority
>>> too
>>> you thinik?):
>>> Security Update for Windows XP (KB89635
>>> Security Update for Windows XP (KB902400)
>>> Security Update for Windows XP (KB900725)
>>>
>>> I don't see now (KB980182) which I had before, but maybe I didn't see it
>>> among so many new updates, and there's no "find" function... lol!
>>>
>>> NOW TO SP3:
>>> I'm reading Harry Waldron site you so kindly and patiently gave me along
>>> with many other links. It says for a business PC it takes 312MB (it
>>> refers
>>> to RAM?) How much RAM will it take for a single home PC then? I only
>>> have
>>> 387MB total; now it shoudl be less but dont know where to find out. AS
>>> TO
>>> HD: it was easy: I have total 37.2GB but only 23.8GB left but the site
>>> said
>>> 1GB is enough for SP3 so...
>>>
>>> I started reading the other links but they all seem to say about the
>>> same
>>> info you gave, also some of them are older, from 2008 with many people
>>> comlaining the SP3, but you say by now it's fixed....
>>>
>>> If when I install SP3 I encounter problems and won't be able to email
>>> you...(I have only one computer) how will I be able to ask you how to
>>> resolve the problem??? )
>>>
>>> Sorry for the lengthy msg, and thanks so very much! Adela
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> newsd7D3m$8KHA.1436@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Should I uninstall the IE8 itself plus all 5 Security Updates too?
>>>>
>>>> No, the IE8-specific updates will "disappear" when you uninstall IE8 &
>>>> reboot. But then you'll need to open Internet Explorer (only) to
>>>> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com | Select CUSTOM and scan | Install
>>>> any
>>>> Critical Security Updates offered (e.g., KB980182). If a Root
>>>> Certificates update is listed in the Optional Software updates category
>>>> on
>>>> the left-hand side of the scan results window, install it to take full
>>>> advantage of IE's enhanced security.
>>>>
>>>> NB: When the scan completes, you will need to hide IE8 ("Don't show me
>>>> this update again").
>>>>
>>>> NB: I'd recommend that you do NOT install SP3 during the same update
>>>> session but don't hide it. After carefully reading the following,
>>>> you'd
>>>> be ready to install SP3:
>>>>
>>>> WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
>>>>
>>>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx
>>>>
>>>> LOOK!! READ THIS!! => Long story short, don't be suprised if SP3
>>>> doesn't
>>>> install. You know that I'm pretty familiar with the trials &
>>>> tribulations
>>>> you've gone through with that WinXP computer over the past year or so.
>>>> I've got a pretty good hunch that it's been infected with malware for
>>>> quite some time. If you need further assistance, please begin a new
>>>> thread in WinXP General newsgroup and we can provide guidance.
>>>>
>>>> PS: Who's this Rob guy? <wink>
>>>> --
>>>> ~PA Bear
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Adela wrote:
>>>>> Thank you Rob, I didn't know. I will follow your advice of
>>>>> uninstalling
>>>>> IE8, then I'll install SP3, and re-install IE8. I hope these changes
>>>>> will
>>>>> help my computer to be, if not faster, at least at the same speed it
>>>>> was
>>>>> before I installed IE8, now it's maddingly slow!
>>>>>
>>>>> Also thank you for explaining what to do if IE doesn't appear in
>>>>> Add/Remove,
>>>>> rob. It is in there, as well as Security Update (KB980182). All
>>>>> together I
>>>>> have 5 Security Updates for IE8, the last update is dated 5-1-10.
>>>>> Should I
>>>>> uninstall the IE8 itself plus all 5 Security Updates too? Thank you
>>>>> so
>>>>> much!
>>>>>
>>>>> Also thank you, Don Varnau for your help. As you can see I'm
>>>>> definitely
>>>>> following Rob's advice and hopefully it will help the number of
>>>>> glitches
>>>>> I've been experiencing. As to that weird "File Association" page, I
>>>>> thought
>>>>> it didn't recur but it did. However, as soon as I get Rob's answer,
>>>>> I'll
>>>>> first do the IE8/SP3 thing. to see whether this will solve that
>>>>> problem
>>>>> too
>>>>> (though he said I shouldn't expect fixes just by upgrading, etc... I
>>>>> can
>>>>> dream can't I? )
>>>>>
>>>>> Again thank you both! Adela
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>> newsNGUiim7KHA.420@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Upgrading in hopes of fixing existing problems is seldom a wise idea,
>>>>>> Adela, and none of us have ever told you otherwise.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As you know full well, support for WinXP SP2 ends on 13 July 2010.
>>>>>> After
>>>>>> that date, computers running WinXP SP2 "will no longer receive
>>>>>> software
>>>>>> updates from Windows Update" (i.e., Automatic Updates will not work
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> Windows Update website will not be accessible) until SP3 has been
>>>>>> manually
>>>>>> installed.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> • What does it mean if my version of Windows is no longer
>>>>>> supported?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/what-does-end-of-support-mean
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I would very strongly recommend (1) uninstalling IE8 and then (2)
>>>>>> attempting to install SP3 ASAP & well before 13 July. Here's why:
>>>>>> After
>>>>>> 13 July, you will not be able to install ANY critical security
>>>>>> updates
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> you NEVER want your computer to be subject to any security
>>>>>> vulnerabilities.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Speaking of which...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If "Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 8 (KB980182)" is
>>>>>> NOT
>>>>>> listed in Add/Remove Programs, open Internet Explorer (only) to
>>>>>> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com | Select CUSTOM and scan | Install
>>>>>> any
>>>>>> Critical Security Updates offered (e.g., KB980182). If a Root
>>>>>> Certificates update is listed in the Optional Software updates
>>>>>> category
>>>>>> on
>>>>>> the left-hand side of the scan results window, install it to take
>>>>>> full
>>>>>> advantage of IE8's enhanced security.
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>>>>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Adela wrote:
>>>>>>> [MS WinXP Home 2002 - SP2; OE 8; IE 6; MS Office Pro; Avast Antivir
>>>>>>> Personal Free anti-virus; Dell Dimension XPS T448MHz Pentium III;
>>>>>>> 384MB
>>>>>>> RAM;
>>>>>>> high speed cable]
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I have another problem, should I post from now on in
>>>>>>> "microsoft.public.internetexplorer.IE8.browser"? If so, how do I
>>>>>>> get
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> link? This is another problem I thought it would disappear with
>>>>>>> upgrading
>>>>>>> to IE8. Another disappointment!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The problem, which occurs more and more frequently is this:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "This program is not responding and will be shut off..."
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks a lot for any suggestions! Adela