Access denied when trying to install XP Service Pack 3

  • Thread starter Thread starter gsn
  • Start date Start date
G

gsn

I have a 3-year-old Gateway laptop for backup. I rarely use it
anymore, so every now and then I take it out to just update virus
definitions and other files.

The other night there must have been a dozen Windows updates waiting
for me. I installed them all and rebooted. Then I was told there was
one more update left: Windows XP Service Pack 3. I haven’t been
following XP since moving to Vista on my primary desktop. I started
the install.

At nearly the end of the process, I got the error message:
“NTServicePack installation failed. Access is denied.”

I decided to back out and let Windows uninstall the update. That’s
when I got another error message: “NTServicePack, Event ID 4374,
Windows XP Service Pack installation failed, leaving Windows XP
partially updated. Service Pack 3 installation not complete.”

Say what?!@#$ Only partially? Which part? Why would it be only
partially uninstalled? I was informed that Windows may not run
properly now. Would my computer boot up again?

I fired up a browser (Firefox, of course) and tried to find out what
to do. Microsoft support told me to restart the computer and then
download SP3 from their Download Center. Try to install that way.

Thankfully, my little laptop restarted. Dutifully, I followed their
link to the download center, where I was told “DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD
IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER.” Use Windows Update instead.

On a Microsoft support forum, I was told there was “free unlimited
installation and compatibility support is available for Windows XP,
but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. “

So I went for my free support and found that because my XP was
installed on my computer by the manufacturer when I bought it, I would
have to pay $59.

What went wrong? What was partially updated? What wasn't? How will my
laptop function going forward? What is the best, safest way to attempt
to reinstall Service Pack 3 for a single machine? I have plenty of
disk space. I am running McAfee and Spy Sweeper. Am wondering if I
need to disable those for this. Any help greatly appreciated.
 
There are two possibilities. First a Registry key/value has it's ACL
set so that the Service Pack installer can't modify it. Second there
is a folder/file that contains Beethov9.Wma that has it's privileges
set so the file cannot be updated. For the 1st case there is a utility
you can get that resets all Registry permissions back to default. On
the 2nd case you'll need to manually modify the ACL for the path
Documents & Settings\All Users\Documents

Information on resetting Registry Permissions found here:
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/reset-the-registry-and-the-file-permissions-in-windows-xp/

I have a 3-year-old Gateway laptop for backup. I rarely use it
anymore, so every now and then I take it out to just update virus
definitions and other files.

The other night there must have been a dozen Windows updates waiting
for me. I installed them all and rebooted. Then I was told there was
one more update left: Windows XP Service Pack 3. I haven’t been
following XP since moving to Vista on my primary desktop. I started
the install.

At nearly the end of the process, I got the error message:
“NTServicePack installation failed. Access is denied.”

I decided to back out and let Windows uninstall the update. That’s
when I got another error message: “NTServicePack, Event ID 4374,
Windows XP Service Pack installation failed, leaving Windows XP
partially updated. Service Pack 3 installation not complete.”

Say what?!@#$ Only partially? Which part? Why would it be only
partially uninstalled? I was informed that Windows may not run
properly now. Would my computer boot up again?

I fired up a browser (Firefox, of course) and tried to find out what
to do. Microsoft support told me to restart the computer and then
download SP3 from their Download Center. Try to install that way.

Thankfully, my little laptop restarted. Dutifully, I followed their
link to the download center, where I was told “DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD
IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER.” Use Windows Update instead.

On a Microsoft support forum, I was told there was “free unlimited
installation and compatibility support is available for Windows XP,
but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. “

So I went for my free support and found that because my XP was
installed on my computer by the manufacturer when I bought it, I would
have to pay $59.

What went wrong? What was partially updated? What wasn't? How will my
laptop function going forward? What is the best, safest way to attempt
to reinstall Service Pack 3 for a single machine? I have plenty of
disk space. I am running McAfee and Spy Sweeper. Am wondering if I
need to disable those for this. Any help greatly appreciated.
 
I have a 3-year-old Gateway laptop for backup. I rarely use it
anymore, so every now and then I take it out to just update virus
definitions and other files.

The other night there must have been a dozen Windows updates waiting
for me. I installed them all and rebooted. Then I was told there was
one more update left: Windows XP Service Pack 3. I haven’t been
following XP since moving to Vista on my primary desktop. I started
the install.

At nearly the end of the process, I got the error message:
“NTServicePack installation failed. Access is denied.”

I decided to back out and let Windows uninstall the update. That’s
when I got another error message: “NTServicePack, Event ID 4374,
Windows XP Service Pack installation failed, leaving Windows XP
partially updated. Service Pack 3 installation not complete.”

Say what?!@#$ Only partially? Which part? Why would it be only
partially uninstalled? I was informed that Windows may not run
properly now. Would my computer boot up again?

I fired up a browser (Firefox, of course) and tried to find out what
to do. Microsoft support told me to restart the computer and then
download SP3 from their Download Center. Try to install that way.

Thankfully, my little laptop restarted. Dutifully, I followed their
link to the download center, where I was told “DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD
IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER.” Use Windows Update instead.

On a Microsoft support forum, I was told there was “free unlimited
installation and compatibility support is available for Windows XP,
but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. “

So I went for my free support and found that because my XP was
installed on my computer by the manufacturer when I bought it, I would
have to pay $59.

What went wrong? What was partially updated? What wasn't? How will my
laptop function going forward? What is the best, safest way to attempt
to reinstall Service Pack 3 for a single machine? I have plenty of
disk space. I am running McAfee and Spy Sweeper. Am wondering if I
need to disable those for this. Any help greatly appreciated.



First off do not pay for anything.

Turn off your virus checker and all other background applications
and try again.

If is still does not work, just download SP3 and install it from your
harddrive...
 
[X-post to WU NG]

Error message when you try to install WinXP SP3: "Access is denied" or
“Service Pack installation did not complete”
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377

[Possible fix:
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/reset-the-registry-and-the-file-permissions-in-windows-xp/]

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3) and *only until* 14 Apr-09.
(Chat and e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.)
Go to http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select
"Windows XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"
 
 There are two possibilities. First a Registry key/value has it's ACL
set so that the Service Pack installer can't modify it. Second there
is a folder/file that contains Beethov9.Wma that has it's privileges
set so the file cannot be updated. For the 1st case there is a utility
you can get that resets all Registry permissions back to default. On
the 2nd case you'll need to manually modify the ACL for the path
Documents & Settings\All Users\Documents

Information on resetting Registry Permissions found here:http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/reset-the-registry-and-the-file-per...


I have a 3-year-old Gateway laptop for backup. I rarely use it
anymore, so every now and then I take it out to just update virus
definitions and other files.

The other night there must have been a dozen Windows updates waiting
for me. I installed them all and rebooted. Then I was told there was
one more update left: Windows XP Service Pack 3. I haven’t been
following XP since moving to Vista on my primary desktop. I started
the install.

At nearly the end of the process, I got the error message:
“NTServicePack installation failed. Access is denied.”

I decided to back out and let Windows uninstall the update. That’s
when I got another error message: “NTServicePack, Event ID 4374,
Windows XP Service Pack installation failed, leaving Windows XP
partially updated. Service Pack 3 installation not complete.”

Say what?!@#$ Only partially? Which part? Why would it be only
partially uninstalled? I was informed that Windows may not run
properly now. Would my computer boot up again?

I fired up a browser (Firefox, of course) and tried to find out what
to do. Microsoft support told me to restart the computer and then
download SP3 from their Download Center. Try to install that way.

Thankfully, my little laptop restarted. Dutifully, I followed their
link to the download center, where I was told “DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD
IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER.” Use Windows Update instead.

On a Microsoft support forum, I was told there was “free unlimited
installation and compatibility support is available for Windows XP,
but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. “

So I went for my free support and found that because my XP was
installed on my computer by the manufacturer when I bought it, I would
have to pay $59.

What went wrong? What was partially updated? What wasn't? How will my
laptop function going forward? What is the best, safest way to attempt
to reinstall Service Pack 3 for a single machine? I have plenty of
disk space. I  am running McAfee and Spy Sweeper. Am wondering if I
need to disable those for this.  Any help greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

So what exactly do I need to do re: Beethov9.Wma? (I do have
Beethoven's #9 sample on my machine.)
And I must do this for the entire Documents directory tree?

Also why is it that even though I did not successfully install Service
Pack 3 it does not come up again in my list of
updates ready for my computer to install? Where can I get Service Pack
3 again so I can try these tips and try
re-installing?
 
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