Long story short,

I have a Toshiba Satellite 1805-S204 with the 1.0GHz Celeron and 256MB RAM. I have done a format and new install of Windows XP Professional. I did the critical updates from Micrsoft Update and then tried to install Service Pack 2 (which Toshiba says this model is compatable with SP2), but when it reboots at the end of the install, it freezes on the XP load screen. If I try to F8 and boot to 'Last known good configuration', it freezes on the XP load screen. If I F8 and boot from 'Safe Mode', it freezes while loading the DRIVERS folder from Windows at file 'alim1541.sys'.

I've flashed the BIOS to make sure it was up to date, but that didn't do anything. Does anyone know what might be causing this? I don't think this laptop has Prescott C-0 stepping for the Celeron processor, but I think the BIOS flash would have fixed that issue if it did.

Nothing was installed except the Windows Update files it installs before SP2. There is no extra hardware or PCMCIA cards attached to the computer. The only issue I've had is I think a part of the HDD is corrupt, so instead of a 20GB partition, I'm running a 14GB partition. Last time I did this, everything ran fine (installed lots of software) and I didn't have a problem until I tried to install SP2.

Toshiba's tech support is a joke, so I'm at a dead end at the moment. Does anyone know if this alim1541 file is the problem, or could it be the file that it's trying to load after that file?

I also tried Microsoft's Recovery Console to try to uninstall SP2, but when I try to boot into windows, I have the same issue with it freezing.

The critical update I downloaded (from Microsoft's site, not Window's Update) was KB885626. This was in addition to the ones downloaded by Windows Update (last time I just did Windows Update and it froze like it is now, so I tried the KB885626 also).

I had the same thing happen to me when I built a shuttle box. The only program I had loaded was xp-pro and when I did the sp2 update it froze just as you describe with no rescue or repair that worked. I formatted 3 times and reloaded, tried doing it with a disc copy of sp2, talked to msoft extensively(all this after updating the bios and utilities) Msoft blamed shuttle, shuttle blamed msoft, and 1.5 yrs later this box still has not got the sp2. Good luck 2 u- I got tired of trying.
The sp2 update did work on both satellite laptops we have, but those were the xp-pro that had it included. Have you tried using the sp2 from a disc install? I think msoft is still sending them out-takes 2-3 days to get.

Yeah, I tried a SP2 from disk, same issue. I've run the Intel Processor Frequency ID and I don't have the Celeron D, so it's not that. My only other idea is that maybe Toshiba's BIOS is causing the problem (it froze on both the old and updated BIOS). Is there a way to check the BIOS to see what version it is and if it's causing the problem? This is day 3 of trying to get SP2 on this machine and I'm thinking I'm just gonna have to live without it. I really want the upgrade to the wireless networking windows though. I use this laptop storm chasing and it'd be nice to know a WiFi signal strengh.

Well, I thought I'd give SP1a a try and same deal. Freezes on load screen.

Hey was up i had the same problem. This is how you fix it. If you connected any pci Devices get rid of them or just disconnect all your pci card and or pcmcia. If you updated your ram the new ram might not work with your motherboard. well if you still cant get it to work install sp1 and then update to sp2 and you should be fine ok.

The one who will help as much as possible

Okay, I borrowed my neighboors XP SP2 CD, and the CD just hangs at the "Starting Windows" when booted from CD. I think this computer just doesn't want SP2 on it.

mike666clews wrote:
>If you connected any pci Devices get rid of
them or just disconnect all your pci card
and or pcmcia.

As stated, no cards or devices are attached

>If you updated your ram the new ram might not work with your motherboard.

Factory RAM (which Toshiba states this model can install SP2)

>well if you still cant get it to work install sp1 and then update to sp2 and you should be fine ok.

SP1 causes the exact same problem as SP2

Thanks for the help though. I'm starting to wonder if it's the HDD itself.

Try this.

If you have trouble with sp2 after installing boot to the safe mode and go to the boot.ini file in C: drive, Open properties and uncheck the read only box. Then open the file with notepad. Look for
/noexecute=optin. Change it to /noexecute=AlwaysOff.
This has worked for me as drwtsn.exe file has stopped the loading at the desktop

http://computervitals.com/

i uninstalled evvvverything, destroyed the 0 spyware i had on my pc and exterminated the 0 viruses i had.. nothing.. but then, i unplugged the cable from my modem and everything started real fast just to make sure if that was the issue i did it again & again 5 times..started up with no problems... plugged it in, then it started freezing again..??.. (i have voice over ip in case u didnt kno, so im online all the time) played around with the firewall settings and that doesnt seem to be the problem.. cant be the UPDATED modem driver. so im clueless other than knowing that it has something to do with if im going online or not.. will someone please figure it out cause im not that educated when it comes to this stuff

per wrote:
>If you have trouble with sp2 after installing boot to the safe mode

I can't boot to safe mode (see original post)

BobbyK wrote:
>nothing.. but then, i unplugged the cable from my modem and everything started real fast

I don't have anything plugged in except the power cord (I've tried it on just battery too)

--

Like I said earlier, I tried a XP CD with SP2 on it booting from CD-ROM and the CD with SP2 won't even load past the 'Setup is starting Windows' part. Regular XP Pro installs fine.

I'm giving up on SP2, thanks for the suggestions guys. I ended up just installing McAfee WPA to give me a window with signal strengths and WiFi info on connection points.

Thanks again.

I am having a problem with a Shuttle SB61G2 (not a V2, V3 or V4). I updated the ATI 9800 AIW, the Creative Audigy2 ZS, the intel chipset drivers, BIOS, Realtek Network Card, and did a Windows Update as well, to bring SP1 up to the lastest patches before manually installing SP2.

At the "Please Wait" black screen, I am getting svchost errors, but if you wait long enough - say 20 mins, it will boot just very very slowly.

Uninstalling SP2, the PC works fine, and reinstalling brings up the same symptoms.

Any ideas?