Cancelled SP2 update and got BSOD on reboot

Take a look at the cause and Resolution here and see if it helps >
"PROCESS1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED":
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=330134

Thanks. It tells me to remove GoBack if I have it. I can't get past the error in order to boot far enough to uninstall GoBack. Can you recommend how I can get an OS running so that I can get at my files, uninstall GoBack, or reinstall SP2?

Many thanks!

Still investigating, but see "Most Confusing Error Message" by scrolling to bottom:
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r0803/06r03/06r03.asp

Thanks for the tip. I don't see the GoBack boot menu when I boot.

You could try a System Restore from the command prompt:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=304449

So try depressing F8 during bootup to reach the command prompt.  Then type the following command and press ENTER:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

Thanks. I get the same BSOD and error when I press F8 and select command prompt.

raisharad,
Then unless you get a better suggestion i would take a look at this popular Repair/Reinstall article, and go from there.  Meanwhile i'll continue to investigate:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

This worked: Boot from recovery CD and repair the OS. Now I'm back to SP1 and working fine but still need to upgrade to SP2. Can you recommend how I can avoid the same problem when I install SP2?  The 50 MB FAT primary partition (C:\ drive) seems to have caused the failure.

Good!    Still investigating.

Just started to review this article and looking for the answer.
"Getting and Installing Windows XP Service Pack 2":
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/russel_installsp2.mspx

If any doubt therefore about spyware and adware, you could try these following scanners.
From here you could try downloading and running the free version of Ewido anti-malware.  
Update first then scan in Safe mode:
http://www.ewido.net/en/features/

Also you could try at least two of these three, free virus scanners:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php 
http://housecall.trendmicro.com

Can you disable any Norton antivirus products, if applicable?

Are you now able to remove GoBack using the suggested method, if you have it?

Norton GoBack is not installed. Thanks.

After reinstalling the OS (XP SP1), I ran Windows Update and download and installed 42 security updates and driver updates. During this process I got a message saying that the service pack upgrade (presumably SP2) did not complete properly and I needed to go to Control Panel and remove the Service Pack. I went to Add/Remove programs and found SP2 and removed it, but it said there wasn't anything to remove and do I want to remove it from the add/remove programs list. I said yes and it was removed from the list. Then Windows Update (still during the 42-update install) said that the system is unstable because some of the files it needs to run properly are missing and that it's looking in the D:\Windows\ServicePack folder. But there isn't any such folder. Now the Windows Update has finished and needs to reboot.

Do you know if I can fix the SP2 problem before rebooting?

Many thanks.

Rebooted ok. Still concerned that installing SP2 will hang my system again. Do you see any problem with having a 60MB FAT partition as the primary partition and having the boot partition a 37GB NTFS partition? Will it try to write to C:\?

Thanks.

Format the hard disk and re-install windows.

Short of formatting the hard disk and re-installing windows and the application software and all the data and configuring everything, can anyone confirm whether the SP2 install needs space on the C:\ drive and if so how much?

If you look under the heading "Review System Requirements for SP2" in the earlier url above, can you see what you're after there ?  Quote: At least 1.8 gigabytes of available hard drive space:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/russel_installsp2.mspx

Thanks for the article. It says available hard drive space and doesn't specify C: space. I'm going to go with the antivirus s/w as causing the problem.

I'll give you all the points for responding when I was in urgent need on the weekend.

Thanks.

That was unexpected, but i was glad to help !      Good luck with the SP2 reinstallation.