Hi ,
You could use auto patcher to bring the PC upto date in one go.  Ideal for 
standalone PC's
Vist www. autopatcher.com for more info

Robert Fernando


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dean Kukral" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 5:16 AM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Computer boot problem


>I suspect that when you reinstalled the OS, you permitted it to perform 
>automatic updates of the operating system, right?
>
> And when you loaded the OS, it was a five year old version of XP Media 
> Center that came with your computer, right?  (If it was a
> copy of XP that you bought later, then this advice may or may not be 
> relevant.)
>
> So, I conjecture that XP went looking for updates and found about a 
> zillion megabytes of updates, and downloaded them when it could.
> (Why it waited for a day I can't say, so my conjecture may be off base.) 
> You may even have downloaded updates to your software,
> particularly if you use Microsoft Office.
>
> Okay, so I assume that you dutifully allowed the computer to download all 
> the updates and shut itself down after they were all
> downloaded, right?
>
> The process does not end there.  When you turn the computer back on, these 
> updates are being installed.  (I have no idea how all
> these processes work, I just know that when you turn the computer back on, 
> you may have to go off for a cup of coffee and come back
> later.)  In Vista, it tells you that it is installing updates, but I 
> forget what XP does.  But I can tell you that five years of
> updates to XP can be quite substantial.  What you see as the Windows logo 
> being frozen might well be the updates being installed.
>
> Hopefully all the updates are now installed and your computer is still 
> running ok?  Then you are okay.  You have all the patches
> installed.  The key here is that the computer is running ok and the 
> updates did not hurt anything.  The good thing is that you now
> have all the latest bug fixes and security patches.
>
> Okay, so you waited a long time and drank many cups of coffee and the 
> Windows logo is still frozen?  Well, you can try erasing the
> drive and starting it all over again.  By turning the computer on and off 
> during the process, you may have trashed some of your
> updates and/or drivers.  This time do not let the computer perform 
> automatic updates.  You will probably want to install the updates
> manually, at a slower pace.  I don't know if you can install SP2 without 
> installing SP3, but as Hugh said, some people have had
> trouble with SP3.
>
> You can try doing a restore.  You can try deleting all the updates. 
> Personally, if the logo is actually, for-sure frozen, I would
> do a complete re-install.  It usually goes faster the second time because 
> you've had practice.  :(
>
> Whenever you erase a hard drive with the OS on it, it is standard practice 
> to run updates on all your software and drivers.  This
> can take quite a while, but is to be expected.
>
> Dean Kukral
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Donald DeWitt
> Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 8:44 AM
> Subject: [PCBUILD] Computer boot problem
>
>
> I have a five year old Dell 8400 running Windows XP Media Center with
> service pack 2.
>
> All four indicator lights (a-b-c-d) on the back panel are showing green.
>
>
>
> I replaced a defective hard drive, reinstalled the OS along with all the
> programs that were originally on the old drive. The computer was shut down
> and booted up several times for the next two days and it was running like
> new again. It was defragged and a virus scan was completed.  With the last
> shut down on the second day, a message on the monitor indicated it was
> downloading thirty eight (38) updates and the computer would shut down
> automatically when finished downloading. Now, turning on the computer
> results in a freezes-up at the Windows logo and will go no further. I have
> repeated this several times and there has been no change, it always stops
> booting at the Windows logo. However, I am able to boot up in safe mode 
> and
> have access to the Control Panel. Looking at the update list, I see that
> most updates were Security related, a Hot Fix and two are related to the
> Media player. Has anyone else ever had experience with downloading updates
> after an OS reinstall? I’m guessing I can delete all thirty eight updates
> while I’m in safe mode. The question here is, is this a smart thing to do?
> or should I try a system restore? or is there something else I should
> attempt to resolve this start up problem?
>
>
>
> Don
>
>         PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
>                     visit our download web page at:
>                  http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml 

        The NOSPIN Group has added a new feature on our website,
           web based bulletinboard for questions and answers:
              Visit our sister website at http://nospin.com