Is the Windows Update site down?

Avoriaz

posted wrote: »

The firewall isn't on by default in sp1, so it is likely you may catch a worm pretty quickly, which is why a router is better than a modem (unless it is nat'd)

If you don't have a router available, reinstall windows, turn firewall on, download and install sp2, then go from there. (or download sp2 on another pc, and install it before connecting the laptop to the net).

What is nat’d? A make of router that is useless perhaps.

I turned on Windows Firewall before I connected to the Internet. It has protected me successfully for the last five years. I have never used any third party firewall and I have not had a serious problem other than the occasional spyware in those five years.

Spybot and Malware sorted out the spyware for me.

Can I download SP2 on another disk and transfer it? I thought that I needed to be connected directly with the computer that I am upgrading as Microsoft run eligibilty checks etc. If it comes as a download file that I can save and transfer that will work.

I have the original 80gb disk that came with the laptop. That has a full working XP installation with all my other software on it.

I bought a bigger 250gb drive in December. That is the one I am having the problems with.

It only takes a few minutes to power off, swap the disks over and reboot.

Thanks for your help. It is appreciated.

edit. I am going to switch to my 80gb drive now and try from that.

posted_2

NAT = network address translation, which is the most effective inbound firewall, any router will have NAT, ethernet modems sometimes use it (not sure about those talk talk Huawei things), usb modems don't. The giveaway that you have it, is a 192. or 10. ip address

Did you turn the firewall on, before you connected today?

You can download sp2 on another pc.

You lost me with the disk info, but if you have a working system, then disk imaging/transfer is the easiest way to move from one disk to another, although it is slightly trickier with a laptop

Avoriaz

OK, I have switched to my 80gb drive and managed to locate SP2.

It is currently downloading so hopefully that will sort out my problems.

Thanks for all your help.

If that doesn't work I think I will start from scratch again.

posted_2

If the firewall wasn't on on the new drive, you could be infected, not being able to get to microsoft and antivirus vendors is a common symptom. Scratch that, you've already said it was on, but strange that microsoft isn't working.

Avoriaz

posted wrote: »

If the firewall wasn't on on the new drive, you could be infected, not being able to get to microsoft and antivirus vendors is a common symptom. Scratch that, you've already said it was on, but strange that microsoft isn't working.

This is Microsoft Windows we are talking about.

There is nothing strange about it acting in peculiar and unexpected ways.

posted_2

Do you have an external usb hard disk with 80Gb of space, or a 2.5" usb caddy?

Airwolf1

Do you need to install any drivers for the new hard disk or anything?

posted_2

If you want to save the hassle of reinstalling everything, you could copy an image of the old hard disk to usb caddy, then insert new disk, and copy image down to it. Faster if you have usb2 ports, usb1 might take a while. You might be able to copy direct to the usb caddy to cut out a step.

Avoriaz

posted wrote: »

Do you have an external usb hard disk with 80Gb of space, or a 2.5" usb caddy?

Yes, I have various external disks and caddies. Both 2.5 and 3.5. They are used for music videos and backups but I could feee up 80gb easily.

Why?

Are you suggesting that I clone one disk?

Avoriaz

posted wrote: »

If you want to save the hassle of reinstalling everything, you could copy an image of the old hard disk to usb caddy, then insert new disk, and copy image down to it.

The problem with that is that my 80gb disk, although it works ok, is all a bit clunky and slow as it is ages since I did a fresh install on it.

I really want to start with a nice clean and fresh install.