You are!
Posted on 05/10/2008 8:13:29 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 sends some PCs into an endless series of reboots, according to posts to a Microsoft support forum.
Jesper Johansson, a former program manager for security policy at Microsoft Corp. and a prominent Windows blogger, has worked with users to tentatively identify the problem as involving only machines using processors from Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
Messages from frustrated users began accumulating on the XP SP3 support newsgroup Wednesday, just a day after Microsoft released the update to the general public.
"I just installed Windows XP SP3 and after completing the processes and when the system reboots, the system cannot proceed to load the Windows," said a user identified as "Olin" in a message that kicked off a long thread. "It just displays the flash screen of Windows then after it reboots again."
Most users who left messages on the forum said that they were unable to boot into Windows Safe mode — a last-ditch way to sidestep the normal boot process for troubleshooting purposes — or revert to a previously saved System Restore point.
Some were understandably upset. "Way to go, Microsoft, releasing the pile of dung called SP3 that hoses your system so bad even Safe Mode isn't working!" said a user identified as Mike Voss. "Props to your QA guys, they certainly have done their job."
Johansson, who watched one of his PCs repeatedly reboot after installing XP SP3, traded accounts with several other users on the newsgroup and summarized the results on his blog.
According to Johansson, there appears to be two separate issues. One affects only AMD-equipped PCs sold by Hewlett-Packard Co. "The problem is that HP, apparently along with other OEMs, deploys the same image to Intel-based computers that they do to AMD-based computers," said Johansson. "Because the image for both Intel and AMD is the same, all have the intelppm.sys driver installed and running. That driver provides power management on Intel-based computers. On an AMD-based computer, amdk8.sys provides the same functionality." Running the intelppm.sys driver on an AMD-powered PC isn't normally an issue, but on the first reboot after a service pack installation, it causes "a big problem," Johansson said. The machine either fails to boot or crashes and immediately reboots.
The other problem, according to Johansson, also seems to affect only AMD machines, and involves an error message indicating trouble with the PC's BIOS. Johansson said that the ensuing recommendation to update the BIOS is "most likely not your problem," but said that the problem may be isolated to a specific motherboard. "Possibly, it is related to computers with the Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard in them," he said.
Johansson also spelled out workarounds for both problems on his blog. The HP issue can be solved by disabling the intelppm.sys driver, while the second fix requires the user to plug in a USB flash drive before booting.
A Microsoft spokeswoman on Friday said the company was aware of the problems and was looking into them. Earlier, someone identified as a Microsoft employee on the support forum had asked users to e-mail him information about the PC's system configuration and whether they were able to enter Safe mode, and to submit event viewer logs. But the company declined to offer any fixes for the time being. "Until Microsoft completes our investigation into this reported issue, we can't confirm the validity of any proposed solution or work-around," the spokeswoman said in an e-mail.
This isn't the first endless reboot problem Microsoft's faced in relation to a service pack recently. In February, the company pulled a Windows Vista SP1 prerequisite update from automatic delivery because it was crippling some machines.
And I installed it early last week on two computers and haven’t had a problem.
I must be special.
Had to reinstall windows....and lost all my files..but it gets worse.
I reinstalled WINDOWS XP from one of THREE CDs in my office. I think MS thinks I am running a bootleg copy because the machine runs like crap now, the video monitor jumps...a real PITA.
I don't think so. I think it is a minority problem but the thing to learn from this is to BACKUP data before upgrading.
Installed SP3 today without issue...
I’m running PCLLinuxOS 2007 dual booted with XP Pro. I’ve used XP maybe 9 or 11 times in the last 6 months....
I keep Auto Updats on Windows OFF!
I'd go get your original drivers from the manufacturer on line.
I experienced this issue with the first “official” release of XP SP3 from Microsoft. No problems with the released version so far. Here’s the fix for the reboot issue just in case, it worked perfectly on various machines for me:
“1. boot from a Windows CD and go for the repair option.
2. Copy gdi32.dll from c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386\gdi32.dll to c:\windows\system32\gdi32.dll. (Do keep a backup copy of the old gdi32.dll in c:\windows\system32 directory)
3. Reboot normally
In Repair Mode
*just hit: “copy c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386\gdi32.dll c:\windows\system32\gdi32.dll”
It should ask you to overwright, go ahead and hit “y”
Then just “exit”” (?)
Just an FYI - the original poster serves no purpose on FR other than to shill for Apple products and whine about Microsoft. You’re wasting your time.
You are!
I tried to install SP3 from the MajorGeek download.
It would get about 2/3 through and then error out with ‘access denied’ [no further details or information] and then uninstall SP3 and revert to SP2.
I finally found a list of various errors that ‘could’ arise while installing SP3 on Microsoft’s website. It included the ‘access denied’. It gave several possible solutions, including tweaking some code.
After seeing this article about the reboots, I am about to conclude that SP2 is working fine and I don’t think I will try to upgrade.
DITTO...(but on an Intel CPU laptop!)
Glad I saw this before updating the home machines which ARE AMD CPU based!
Thanks. I was just trying to be useful to whoever runs across this, regardless of the articles poster. I have experience with many different operating systems, including macs... They all have advantages and disadvantages...
Installed on Wednesday on 2 computers without problem. Then the 3d one - my wife’s started going in a loop. Instead of getting me, she hit the restore system and restored it to the original condition. Wiped out about 2 years worth of work that she did. Any ideas how to retrieve My Documents and the other files and programs that disappeared?
I know, and helpful advice is always a good thing to whoever might need it.
What type of machines did you have problems with? I installed SP3 on two AMD-powered HP laptops with no problem, and that seems to be the key combination here.
Would that be too much Jeremiah?
Just went into system and turned off automatic updates until the dust settles on another load of Mr. Bill’s crap. Thanks for the info.
I install a pre release of sp1 for vista about a day or so after running it , all it would do is reboot. turns out my harddrive went south, it was just a coincidence.
I have not had a problem with the current release of SP3.
I took down the first release which was recalled/halted temporarily, like 2 weeks ago, from Microsofts website as the Network Install package. That gave me trouble on Acer TravelMate 250’s and 4000’s, as well as on Panasonic Toughbook CF-T5’s and CF-T7’s, all running Intel Pentium/Centrino or Core 2 duo processors.
I’m happy that all 100+ updates since SP2 are now in a single package. Reinstalling to XP SP2 and then updating was brutal until now, SP3!
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