On XP if you only have SP0, you need to install SP1 before you can install SP2 or SP3. I know they say they are cumulative but they are not. If you try to install SP3 from SP0, it will tell you that you need SP2. If you try to install SP2 from SP0, it will tell you that you need SP1. So you have to install SP1, then SP2, then SP3. If you are going to make a CD, put on SPs 1, 2 and 3.
Alternatively slipstream your XP installation so that you don't have to keep on installing SPs. (Google slipstream XP - there are lots of hits)
On XP32, after loading up SP3, if you then switch on automatic updates and link up to the internet, it will download another 128 or 129 updates that aren't in SP3. You can then switch off automatic updates. I haven't found these 129 updates rolled up anywhere but you should have the .exes once they've been downloaded.
They'll need to know as much as possible
[ul]
[li]Machine type (manufacturer, model)[/li]
[li]What sort of Graphics card[/li]
[li]Possibly what sort of network card[/li]
[li]Memory configuration (1 SODIMM etc)[/li]
[/ul]
Also, has it done the 129 updates that aren't in SP3
Giving a computer to a n00b means that you will be their 'computer expert' for at least a few years.
Schedule a solid week to do a brownfield XP install and reboot lebenty-seven times to work through the SPs in sequence.
Having done that, you then have to find the latest or most compatible third party drivers for all the hardware that's not natively supported. Old/bad/buggy/wrong drivers would be my first guess for unexplained lockups without a BSOD.
I'd also check the hardware with something like SiSoft Sandra, and look for an overheating CPU, my second guess as a cause of sudden lockups.
Thanks Mike... already done that; started from a clean install updated SP-3, and new files beyond. Checked RAM, CPU, GPU, and hard drive... all working. Updated all drivers, and have yet to do the BIOS... I think one of the process files may be wonky... only thing left.
