Just got back from crippling a customer’s HP Pavilion computer after installing Windows XP Service Pack 3. I talked to HP and they know about this issue and is working on it.
If you install Service Pack 3 on an HP computer and your computer will not start follow these steps. When the computer reboots, you will get a black screen asking if you want to try to boot Windows normally (which will not work if you try) or in Safe Mode. It will say this has happened because of a recent hardware change/failure or software problem. Just use the arrow key to highlight any of the Safe Mode options, hit enter and wait for your computer to boot into safe mode. If you do not get this screen, hitting F8 while your computer is booting should do the trick. Once the computer starts in Safe Mode, (it will look different but it is ok) go to your Control Panel, Add Remove Programs, and finally click Windows XP Service pack 3 so that it uninstalls. Once you click it, it should ask if you want to uninstall but if not, highlight it and click the uninstall button at the top.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:00 am
I tried to install SP 3 twice. Each time, i had to restart in Safe mode, and do a system restore. Was told by a PC expert to wait until HP figures out there is a huge problem, or just do without SP3…
May 9th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Received and update from HP that says will fix this issue. Please let me know if it works.
1. Restart the computer in “Safe Mode”.
2. Click “Start >> Run >> Regedit and click Ok”
2. Change the value of start to 4 in the following location.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\intelppm
3. Restart the PC.