T23 needs updating

[acz]

I just inherited a T23 2647-HNU manufactured in January 2002. I am told it was rendered inoperable when it was dropped by a TSA employee at the airport over a year ago, and it has been gathering dust since that time. The warranty ran out early this year.
I took it apart and blew out the dust, reseated all connectors and it seems to boot and operate OK. Now, it seems to me that it never received any updates to drivers or application software.

So, I would like to ask for any suggestions regarding an update strategy.

Currently, this machine runs
Windows XP Pro version 2002
and
IE 6.0.2600.0000.xpclient.010817-1148

My assumption would be to proceed as follows:

1. Update the TP Software Installer

2. Use the Installer to update all drivers from IBM/Lenovo

3. Then go to Microsoft Windows Update, and apply all of those patches in sequential order. Currently, that page offers these Updates:
16 High Priority , 4 Software Optional, and 1 Hardware Optional

4. Then remove Microsoft Java and install Sun's Java

5. Then update applications as necessary.

Before I embark on these time-consuming tasks, I though I should ask the advice of others who have gone down this path before.
Thank you for any comments!

[BillMorrow]

sounds like a plan..

[acz]

Well, all of the IBM/Lenovo stuff downloaded and installed without any apparent problems.

Using Windows Update I applied the first 14 High Priority Updates. On the subsequent reboot, Windows Update offers XP SP2 for the first time, or else the option is to ignore SP2 and install other updates.
If the latter choice is made, then the default is to install SP1. If SP1 is declined, there are 44 High Priority Updates, 20 Optional Software Updates, and 1 Hardware Update.

Is it safe to go ahead directly to install SP2 at this point?

Thanks.

[GomJabbar]

Personally, I would install the latest Service Pack first. In your case that would be SP2. This will save you from downloading and installing many of the interim updates, as they are included in the Service Pack.

I run Win XP Pro with SP2, and I really don't have any problems except for occasionally dealing with security issues. Microsoft has had to lock-down the XP operating system so much, to deal with viruses and worms, that sometimes it's a pain just to delete or view a file - even as Administrator! There are ways to do this, as I have discovered, but it certainly is not intuitive. All in all though, I see no reason not to install SP2.

[jongordo8]

you may want to run PC doctor as someone indicated to me to make sure your hardware is fine and everything before you take the time and effort to update windows and set it up the way you want it.

[acz]

Great suggestion. I found that the T23 had a version of PC-Doctor for Windows installed, but that program would hang without any obvious error.
I did not see any mention of a Windows version of PC-Doctor for the T23 in the Lenovo device matrix.
So, I downloaded the appropriate version of PC-Doctor for DOS from the IBM/Lenovo site. That version boots directly and runs from three 1.44 MB floppy disks. It detected some bad sectors on the hard drive.

CHKDSK does not seem to repair the bad sectors. My research at Microsoft suggests that there is a bug in the version of CHKDSK included in the original Windows XP. It should be fixed in the SP2 release of XP.

So I decided that my next step needs to be a complete backup of the drive on to external media, which I'll do BEFORE I download and install SP2.
I'll post an update after that.
Thanks for the advice.

[doodles113]

Ok, i understand the entire update process can take a looooong time,but have you considered a clean install, since you have all important data backed up?
Just an idea...may take more time in the fine-tuning than just updates and SP2, but at the end, you have a fresh, clean and more reliable OS as possible.
Anyway, Good Luck!

[acz]

well, I like the IDEA of a clean installation. However, my friend handed over only the laptop - there are no manuals, no CDs - just the PC itself. So I figured I should just leave it alone and apply all the updates that made sense.
The warranty ran out, although I suppose I could buy a maintenance agreement.
In fact, since my friend never wants the machine back, I was wondering how to update the owner information for the licenses:
the OEM copy of Windows XP (before SP1)
and and the OEM version of Office XP.
Do I just phone Microsoft and give them the on-screen serial numbers and updated information?
muyto obrigado.

[acz]

Well, this project has been on the back burner, but there have been a couple of noteworthy points of interest.

I mentioned earlier that the CHKDSK program in the original XP system would not fix disk errors.

Well, I decided to UNinstall all the Norton software on this PC. That included Norton Security Center, Norton AV, and Norton WMI update.
Oddly, on my very next reboot, CHKDSK began to behave normally, and it went ahead and checked the whole disk (took over an hour) and gave a clean bill of health.

I installed ZoneAlarm and Grisoft AVG antivirus.

When I was ready to d/l and install XP SP2 again, it hung up with the complaint that FTP.EXE was in use by another program. In order to proceed, I had to switch off Simple File Sharing and "take ownership" of FTP.EXE, SERVICES.MSC, and CMD.EXE.
After that SP began to install smoothly, but about 30 minutes later it complained that it would not be able to back up the following files: WSCRIPT.EXE, PING.EXE, NETSTAT.EXE, CSCRIPT.EXE. Fortunately, one can hit 'escape' to bypass each of those messages and proceed with installation.

So, now I have XPSP2 on the T23; I'll proceed with other updates, then hand it over to my lovely wife for her use.