[mcbee]

I am trying to upgrade a friend's laptop from windows XP home SP1 to SP2 by downloading from Microsoft's web site. It always ends with a message to install active X control from the information bar. The problem is there is no information bar. Does anyone know what the problem is? IE 6 is installed and I can't install IE7 without XP2.

[Mike0001]

Originally Posted by mcbee

I am trying to upgrade a friend's laptop from windows XP home SP1 to SP2 by downloading from Microsoft's web site. It always ends with a message to install active X control from the information bar. The problem is there is no information bar. Does anyone know what the problem is? IE 6 is installed and I can't install IE7 without XP2.

Just download the full version of SP2 and run it. Far easier!

Go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads and search for
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers

[mcbee]

I tried that as well but won't complete because file path not found. I can't attempt a repair installation just yet as my friend has vital course work on the laptop needed for a few months yet. Laptop is working OK at present but is slow.

[Mike0001]

Originally Posted by mcbee

I tried that as well but won't complete because file path not found.

?

[mcbee]

I downloaded SP2 but after extracting the files I get a Set Up Error "The system cannot find the file specified" and set up ends.

[cheesewheels99]

i guess that means it cant find the right file or something try re downloading it

[Aceras]

seems i missed the boat a bit and reexplained what youve already tried... btw repair won't do anything to your files. it just removes all the connections your programs have to windows. so if you need to look at some file on it, the worst thing ive ever encountered is having to reinstall a program. (make sure the reinstall doesn't wipe all existing files too)

[Mike0001]

Originally Posted by mcbee

I downloaded SP2 but after extracting the files I get a Set Up Error "The system cannot find the file specified" and set up ends.

Yes, it sounds too damaged to run the installer! A repair reinstall is recommended, but you will still have to download about 100 fixes plus SP2 afterwards.

Your friend's data will remain intact. (Back it up anyway if you like.)

All program settings and installed programs will also remain intact. It is only the OS that is "upgraded".

You will need a bootable XP SP1 disk, NOT a repair disk that just overwrites the whole HDD!

[mcbee]

Thanks for the replies. Was thinking that I needed to repair install. Will look for a SP1 disk as the laptop only has a recovery partition.

[mcbee]

I see a SP1a disk on Ebay, was there a 1a? If so then this is not the one I need.