SP1 won't install - constant BSOD

[Sciz]

Hey guys, I installed SP1 a long time ago, back around october of 2008. It worked fine then but I had an issue with the network symbol. I had internet but it wouldn't show it. Anyways, it upset me so I uninstalled SP1. Now, in the past few days I have tried reinstalling it and no luck at all. This is kind of a long story so if you have gotten to this part I am going to start breaking it up to make it easier to read.

First, I couldn't get my windows update to work. I tweaked around with some things and did a restore, and it just started working again. Then it said, I need an important update SP1, and so I tried it. I have now tried to install SP1 probably 5 or 6 times in the past 2 days. I have had to restore everytime because it fails.

To restore I have to insert my Original CD and go to repair. Nothing else worked. If I tried to go to safe mode or anything, I got the BSOD. At times, I even got the BSOD trying to just start from my disk. That just kind of worked at random. It still just kind of works at random. I am an IT guy, well I have one last semester at Mizzou and I am majoring in IT, so I know a bit about computer software but hardware isn't really my thing.

Anyways, I have finally given up after working on it off and on for a total of about 20 hours. I got it to restore again and it's working fine from what I can tell.

The main reason I NEED Sp1 is because I recently purchased the Adobe Web Premium CS4 suite from my school with the student pricing. I am planning on making a website to help with networking abilities to get a job. Regardless, when trying to install it, it NEEDS as a minimum requirement, Vista Home Premium SP1. Hence why I have been trying so hard and so long to get this installed.

Now I am at a loss, and I am sorry for such a long post but I figured if I could explain what I have done and gone through it might help to figure out what the actual problem is. Hopefully someone can help me. I'd really appreciate it :D

P.S. On my BSOD's, I have had at least 3 or 4 different error codes and have looked them up but gotten nowhere still trying to fix them.

 

[Night Hawk]

Which way are you trying to install SP1? Is that through the automatic updates or going to the downloads section?

If the problem is through the automatic updates you can download the stand alone installer at Download details: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330)

It's a little larger in size but can be saved to a folder on the drive.

 

[Sciz]

I have tried both multiple times. At first my windows update wasn't working then after a few restarts it started working again. I first tried doing the SP1 through windows update. Didn't work, tried it a couple more times and still didn't work. Then I tried the standalone a couple times and still didn't work. I have thought of everything I can think of to do.

 

[limneos]

Have you installed any Language MUI packs?

 

[Sciz]

Unless that is an update that has been done by Windows, no I haven't installed anything like that.

 

[Sciz]

*Bump.

I could really use some ideas guys. I have tried everything I can think of and if I can't get SP1 to work then I wasted my money on CS4 which would be unfortunate.

 

[Night Hawk]

Is this being seen on a laptop or desktop? Most of the problems seeing SP1 installed on premade systems has been addressed already. You may want to check the support site on this.

 

[Sciz]

Is this being seen on a laptop or desktop? Most of the problems seeing SP1 installed on premade systems has been addressed already. You may want to check the support site on this.

It's on a custom built desktop. If you look in the forums at the bottom left of my post you can click that little icon and see my full system setup. I have checked numerous help sites including microsofts and have tried everything and then some and still no luck.

 

[Night Hawk]

What kind of protection programs are you running like firewall, antivirus? Something you have on now is likely preventing SP1 from seeing a full install. On the different occasions where Vista was reinstalled here on a custom case no problems were seen when going to put the service pack on after.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Sciz,

Have you considered making a slipstreamed install disc ?

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/151606-vista-sp1-slipstream-installation-dvd.html

Hope it helps

SIW2

 

[bigfreakinred]

Have you changed your hardware in any way in the time between when you uninstalled Vista and attemtped to reinstall it?

 

[Sciz]

What kind of protection programs are you running like firewall, antivirus? Something you have on now is likely preventing SP1 from seeing a full install. On the different occasions where Vista was reinstalled here on a custom case no problems were seen when going to put the service pack on after.

Hi Sciz,

Have you considered making a slipstreamed install disc ?

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/151606-vista-sp1-slipstream-installation-dvd.html

Hope it helps

SIW2

I am running just Symantec Antivirus but I have tried having it disabled. I even tried installing SP1 in safe mode and no luck. As to the DVD slipstream. That idea probably will work but I want to reformat as a last resort. I want to know I have tried everything else before reformatting. Thanks for the ideas though.

 

[Night Hawk]

What kind of protection programs are you running like firewall, antivirus? Something you have on now is likely preventing SP1 from seeing a full install. On the different occasions where Vista was reinstalled here on a custom case no problems were seen when going to put the service pack on after.

Hi Sciz,

Have you considered making a slipstreamed install disc ?

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/151606-vista-sp1-slipstream-installation-dvd.html

Hope it helps

SIW2

I am running just Symantec Antivirus but I have tried having it disabled. I even tried installing SP1 in safe mode and no luck. As to the DVD slipstream. That idea probably will work but I want to reformat as a last resort. I want to know I have tried everything else before reformatting. Thanks for the ideas though.

How much memory are you running there? If you have more then 4bg installed by chance that could be a reason right there especially with a 32bit edition of Vista.

 

[Sciz]

How much memory are you running there? If you have more then 4bg installed by chance that could be a reason right there especially with a 32bit edition of Vista.

I have 4gigs of ram but I am running Vista Home Premium 64-bit. I will admit at first when I built my comp I couldn't get it to start. I had to install vista64 with only 2 gig then get a BIOS update and than I added in the last 2 gigs and it worked fine ever since.

 

[bigfreakinred]

Are you trying to reinstall SP1 with 4 gigs of RAM?

On top of the BIOS update, you also need to install the KB929777 update.

In order to get into windows to do it, you'll need to remove some RAM (I drop down to 2 gigs) and then you'll be able to reinstall Vista. Once you've got Vista reinstalled, update using that patch and then restart.

Then, shut down your comp and add your previously removed RAM.

I recieved the BSOD for the better part of half a day because I was trying to install Vista Ultimate X64 initially with too much RAM.

Installing Vista is fun. It's like playing Tetris. But instead of lego-like blocks, you're using clay. And instead of Tetris, you're actually playing Jenga.

 

[Sciz]

Are you trying to reinstall SP1 with 4 gigs of RAM?

On top of the BIOS update, you also need to install the KB929777 update.

In order to get into windows to do it, you'll need to remove some RAM (I drop down to 2 gigs) and then you'll be able to reinstall Vista. Once you've got Vista reinstalled, update using that patch and then restart.

Then, shut down your comp and add your previously removed RAM.

I recieved the BSOD for the better part of half a day because I was trying to install Vista Ultimate X64 initially with too much RAM.

Installing Vista is fun. It's like playing Tetris. But instead of lego-like blocks, you're using clay. And instead of Tetris, you're actually playing Jenga.

I am not trying to reinstall Vista SP1. I am trying to simply upgrade to SP1 from an already working Vista Home Premium 64-bit. I have also tried installing the update with only 2 gigs of RAM and still no luck.

 

[Night Hawk]

I'm just wondering if you grabbed the 32bit version of SP1 by mistake and saved that to the drive instead of the 64bit release. That would stall you right there.

You may want to dump what you have there now and verify the SP1 64bit version at MS is the one actually downloaded.

 

[Sciz]

Through windows update the code number is... KB936330

It states that it is Windows Vista Service Pack 1 for x64 systems. I have also tried downloading the standalone which is labeled as...
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone for x64-based Systems (KB936330)

 

[Night Hawk]

Generally I would think you catch something like that anyways but had to rule it out as one possible cause. The only other thing besides something installed being a problem with seeing SP1 go on would be not having Windows activated and having gone through the WGA process. But then you wouldn't be able to download the service pack to start with.

 

[Submarine]

Sciz,

I understand you have tried most MS advice and now suspect you have a hardware related problem. You may want to try out the System Update Readiness Tool as well as Resolution 2 on this page, if you have not already tried this. You have updated your drivers, I suppose. In the end, the free MS support may perhaps be a way.

I am sure you have run the Systems File Checker Tool and checked if there was something it couldn't fix, which could provide a clue in case software related.

I turned on my Vista Firewall, checked it did not say I wasn't using the recommended settings, then turned off my 3rd part firewall and virus protection. That helped for me. You may also want to disable other memory resident non-MS programs.

You are not saying exactly what happens, when the BSOD appears and what errors you get? Such info may find its way to some hardware wizzard who can interpret.