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1. Comment - Windows XP SP3 update causing endless reboots in AMD machines

   (May 20, 2008 - 7:11 PM)

   Yippee! A solution for SP3 problems with AMD Athalon Chips! (if your computer has an Intel Chip you should be ok without this additional information. Also, this is a solution for those with HP computers, not sure it would work with other brands – check with your computer manufacturer first!)
   
   My HP computer had this problem.
   HP couldn’t solve it – Microsoft couldn’t solve it –
   This solved it!
   
   Be aware SP3 is huge & takes forever to do the upgrade – so be careful & aware!
   I strongly recommend that you create a restore point before installing the SP3 upgrade!!!!
   
   What's up with Vista SP1 and XP SP3?
   I've been hearing horror stories about Microsoft's latest service packs. I have computers running both XP and Vista. Should I get Vista SP1? Do I need XP SP3? I don't even know what these updates are for! Can you help me out?
   
   Windows updates are often shrouded in mystery. You check Windows Update. It tells you updates are available. You click Install and forget about it.
   Often, we take the recommended updates without a lot of questions. But service packs are a different animal. These aren't small security patches. They're huge, and they often promise big changes to your system.
   Vista SP1 delivers well over 500 updates. XP SP3 includes a whopping 1,174 updates. Those numbers look scary, but you've already got most of the updates. Service packs include every previous update for the operating system. They do not include many new updates.
   This ensures you get caught up on all the important updates. But even with all those updates, you won't see a big change. These service packs do a lot of work under the hood. But they won't really affect how you interface with the computer.
   Let me go over each service pack in a little more detail. I think it's important to understand what you're getting and why. I'll also go over horror stories you might have heard.
   Vista SP1
   As I said, SP1 has over 500 updates. I couldn't possibly cover all of them here. Nor would I want to. You would get bored very quickly. But if you're curious, a list of updates is available.
   The updates fall into three categories – hardware support, usability and security. There are updates that don't fit neatly into those categories. But think of them as smoothing out Vista's rough edges.
   Some users that upgraded to Vista found that some devices didn't work. SP1 helps with device compatibility. It also lays the groundwork for devices you may not own yet. Vista will better identify and support Blu-ray Disc drives. SP1 also adds support for new Windows Media Center Extenders.
   SP1 fixes some issues with Vista's usability. The annoying User Account Control prompts have been reduced. The Windows Genuine Advantage kill switch is removed. Microsoft won't cripple non-genuine copies of Vista. Some users found long delays when logging on and resuming from hibernation. These wait times have been reduced.
   The service pack also fixes a number of security holes. It includes every security update since the launch of Vista. It also improves some existing security features. For example, the BitLocker hard drive encryption has been strengthened.
   Getting SP1
   The release of Vista SP1 hasn't been blemish free. It accounts for most of the horror stories. But when you look at them, the stories aren't that horrific. There are ways to fix the most common problems.
   Many people simply aren't offered SP1. This can be pretty confusing. The service pack doesn't show up in Windows Update. And there isn't much explanation.
   Several things can cause this. But one accounts for a majority of people's problems. Vista SP1 conflicts with some hardware drivers. If Windows Update detects these drivers, you aren't offered SP1.
   The easy fix is to update those drivers. But which drivers are we talking about? Windows Update doesn't tell you. That information is buried in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. To find it, scroll down to Resolution. Then find "Method for Cause 5."
   Check for driver updates in Windows Update. These may be marked as Optional. If that doesn't resolve the problem, see the computer manufacturer's Web site. It may provide downloads for SP1 compatible drivers.
   Another problem has been performance issues after installing SP1. These too can be attributed to outdated hardware drivers. But they can also be caused by software—often security software. Be sure you have the latest versions of your firewall, antivirus and anti-spyware programs.
   Don't be scared away from SP1. The above problems are manageable. And for many people, the update goes off without a hitch. You may have no problems at all. We're all running SP1 here in the office. And no one had problems with the update.
   XP SP3
   Again, I can't cover the more than 1,000 updates in SP3. Here's a link to the very long list of updates. I can't think of a more mind-numbing read. But it's there if you'd like.
   Even with so many updates, there's not much to discuss. SP3 mostly serves to bring your Windows XP up to date. It will give you any updates you've missed in the past. It creates a new baseline for all XP users.
   SP3 patches new security holes. And it fixes some Windows programs and processes. But there aren't many new additions. The ones provided are important, but not very interesting. Several have to do with network security or system encryption software. None of these will affect how you use your computer.
   One thing to watch for is Internet Explorer. SP3 updates IE 6 and 7.
   If you have IE 7, you cannot uninstall it after applying SP3. You cannot go back to IE 6. Also, SP3 will not work with IE 8 beta. If you have IE 8 beta, uninstall it before installing SP3.
   Getting SP3
   There have been other problems. Some people have been unable to boot their PCs. Or they get stuck in an endless reboot cycle.
   In this case, it wasn't Microsoft's fault. This is a Hewlett-Packard issue.
   HP sells computers with either Intel or AMD processors. It installs the operating system using a disk image. The disk image was created on an Intel machine. It came with Intel specific drivers and registry settings.
   This Intel-based disk image was installed on AMD-powered systems. There apparently were no problems until SP3 came along. After SP3 was installed, the computers tried to load the Intel drivers. Only there is no Intel processor for them to act on. The result: The computer crashes. Or, it reboots continuously.
   ***** HP has recently issued a fix for the problem. Download HP's Upgrade Utility before installing SP3. It should prevent booting issues.
   For everyone else, it appears the SP3 update goes smoothly. You can install it through Windows Update.
   Do some preparation
   Neither of these updates is small. Many people install them without an issue. But they have the potential to cause problems. Be sure to protect your important files.
   Before installing either service pack, back up your computer. If you don't know which files to back up, read this tip. You may also want to set up a restore point. Should the installation fail, use System Restore to rescue your computer.
   More updates:
   • Keep all of your programs up to date
   • Updating to Vista? Learn how to transfer programs
   • Updates don't fix everything. Troubleshoot older PCs