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General discussion

Vista SERVICE PACK Problems

Jan 17, 2011 11:06AM PST

I've read the many posts by people who have had blue screens of death after installing Service Pack 1, but I tried installing it anyway because a program I wanted wouldn't install without it. But I figured I could just install Service Pack 2 and that would fix things.

Not so.

The installation of Service Pack 1 went well, but afterward I began getting the blue screen crashes. Then Service Pack 2 wouldn't install. (I got a message stating: Error: E_NOINTERFACE (0x80004002). I can get my data off, but using it for any length of time causes my system to crash.

Can anyone help? There doesn't seem to be a way to back out of this horrendous patch.

Discussion is locked

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Actually seems like several possible ways ...
Jan 17, 2011 1:41PM PST

follow this link and read through it (it is a bit long) then try the cures that you are comfortable with.

Doing the following seems most successful but there are other fixes suggested.

Do note that you will want to download the full SP2 (the standalone download which is Method 3) from this link -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791

Just before running it open an elevated command prompt and run these two commands:
net localgroup Administrators LocalService /add
nd
net localgroup administrators NetworkService /ADD

In case you don't know, here is how to initiate an elevated command prompt:
Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.


Now select the Servic Pack executable you just downloaded and right click it and RUN AS Administrator

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Thank You
Jan 18, 2011 2:20AM PST

I'll try what you say. Apparently this is a widespread problem. Before the system crashes, it won't run Mozilla Firefox at all. And it's interesting, but neither service pack showed up as options in my Windows Update, so I had to download both from Microsoft.

I hope it works. Some people on other forums have recommended that I do a clean install, but that's out of the question. I have too many programs installed and it would be a two-day venture. Before doing that, I'd buy Windows 7 and install that. I just don't know what compatibility issues I'd run into.

Thank you. Will let you know what happens.

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Nope...Syntax Error
Jan 18, 2011 3:00AM PST

Okay, at the top of the prompt window it says: Administrator: Command Prompt.

When I type: net localgroup administrators LocalService/ADD or net localgroup administrators NetworkService/ADD and hit [ENTER], I get a syntax error.

Do I need to be in a certain directory for this to work? I tried a conventional C:\ and a C:\user_1\user_1 and neither work.

Any other ideas?

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Re: syntax error
Jan 18, 2011 3:23AM PST

Did you type the space before the / ? It isn't in your post.

Kees

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Still No Luck
Jan 19, 2011 9:04AM PST

Ooops...forgot to add the space. I went back and tried again and was able to get up to SP2, but I'm still getting blue screen crashes. Better start a memory test, unless someone has a better solution. Thanx!

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There are lots of blue screen...
Jan 23, 2011 10:34AM PST

errors. Can you go into some detail on what yours is now or is it exactly the same?

Usually blue screens are caused by drivers but they can be caused by poorly written applications/utilities.

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As Kees said ...
Jan 18, 2011 11:31AM PST
net localgroup administrators LocalService/ADD will give a syntax error
net localgroup administrators LocalService /ADD will not give a syntax error

See the difference between the two?
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no problem with SP1 or SP2
Feb 9, 2011 8:48AM PST

I am a local hobbyist, but some call me the neighborhood tech. I can live with that name-calling.

Working on a Dell 530 Inspiron today. Hard drive banging, and no boot.

1)Installed a new SATA hard drive
2)Booted the original install DVD. Completed that, and found the Vista OS was without any SP.
3)Installed SP1, then SP2 from CD's.


No errors, and a happy neighbor.