Desktop and screensaver problem

[SuperDave]

I need some help. My brother asked me to do some work on his friend's computer. He's not computer savvy and wanted to get off the internet. It's an XP with the codes on the box but he doesn't have the disks because it was given to him by his daughter. I proceeded to remove a lot of junk that he had downloaded and ran some scans to make sure it was clean. My problem is that it will not hold the desktop picture and the screensaver will not work even though the preview works. The desktop picture stays for about 5 mins. after booting then it flashes a few times and reverts to a blue screen. I figured I will just re-install the OS using my old XP Home Edition disk with SP1 which is the same as what he has on the computer. The only difference is that he has SP3 which I cannot uninstall. This is probably why I can't do a re-install. Any ideas how I can get around this problem. If I could fix the desktop and screensaver, I would just leave it as is. 

[patio]

If you go the Repair Install route...and then do the SP updates it should work...
And done properly all apps and data will be intact...

Best Guide out there...

I suggest reading it thru and printing out a reference copy before starting...

Best of Luck Dave...and Thanx for all you do here...
patio.

[DaveLembke]

I figured I will just re-install the OS using my old XP Home Edition disk with SP1 which is the same as what he has on the computer. The only difference is that he has SP3 which I cannot uninstall. This is probably why I can't do a re-install. Any ideas how I can get around this problem. If I could fix the desktop and screensaver, I would just leave it as is.

You could create a SP3 slipstream of XP Home + all updates pretty easily, so that upon install or repair install, its fully patched to the very last patch. The repair install off of this SP3 slipstream option is best if you have programs etc that you dont want to lose etc.

Otherwise for clean install, install XP Home SP1 and then perform service pack updates to SP3 for any picky programs that require XP SP2+ to function correctly.

For the fact that this computer wont be used online, the biggest concern would be for it to be SP2 minimum for certain software that require SP2 such as some games and drivers etc, mainly due to the .net framework updates that are part of it. So if going the clean install route, you might as well make it SP3.

[jason2074]

Worth a Look, just in case.

[SuperDave]

If you go the Repair Install route...and then do the SP updates it should work...

I don't receive the Repair option. It's just install or nothing.

You could create a SP3 slipstream of XP Home + all updates pretty easily, so that upon install or repair install, its fully patched to the very last patch. The repair install off of this SP3 slipstream option is best if you have programs etc that you dont want to lose etc.

I have an ISO of SP3 but it really doesn't matter if SP3 is installed since he doesn't want to access the internet.

Otherwise for clean install, install XP Home SP1 and then perform service pack updates to SP3 for any picky programs that require XP SP2+ to function correctly.

It won't let me install because it says my version is too old. I'm suspecting that it's because of SP3. If I can find a way to install the OS, I will add SP3. I suppose I could slave the drive to one of my desktops and wipe the drive. That should allow a clean install.

[patio]

The Repair Option should come up after the Install is chosen...
It's in the guide above.

[SuperDave]

Just an update. I managed to install XP by booting with the CD. Since this computer won't be going on the internet, should I install SP3?

[DaveLembke]

Since this computer won't be going on the internet, should I install SP3?

I would install SP3 for many offline reasons. As well as some software to operate state in minimum requirements Windows XP Service Pack 2 required, which is really SP2+

Here is a list of problems cured with SP1 and 1a : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324720

Here is a list of problems cured with SP2 :  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811113

Here is a list of problems cured with SP3 : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480

[SuperDave]

I still can't get the screensaver to work even though it does it in preview. Of course, I need the drivers for the on-board sound card and the PCI card.

[patio]

Where's the screensaver from ? ?
That may be the issue right there.

The drivers will be at the MBoard manuf. site...

[SuperDave]

The screensavers are the regular ones that come with Windows. It wouldn't work before I re-install the OS and they still won't work. What's the procedure to install the drivers?

[jason2074]

Just following up if everything is resolved?

[SuperDave]

It was nothing that a re-install didn't cure. Thanks

[jason2074]

Cool