||||| My experience with SP3 on 2 machines |||||

[J Tinsby]

If you read my first posting that SP3 failed to install because I got
an " Access Denied" message you'll see that there is a KB 949377
article that addresses this issue.

I thought I'd be brave ( or stupid ) and run the registry mod that is
suggested in that KB article. This only took a few minutes and I went
about installing SP3 on my XP Pro Machine. While that was chugging
away I thought I'd put it on my wife's machine that she doesn't use at
all that runs XP Home.

That install went off without a hitch.................but it made the
machine so slow that it was unuseable, so yet another SP3 un-install
for me!

Now to my machine, it installed OK but I found the same thing the
machine was unacceptably slow especially on boot up and I had the fun
of watching the icons fill in one by one then the taskbar and then the
tooltray <sigh> just like my buddies machine acts mine did the same
thing afer a second try at an install.Plus in rendered my firewalls
inoperative on both machines........... So out it came.

The machine is back to normal now and it boots and runs like it did
before the dreaded SP3 install. I have now changed my auto updates to
warn me there are updates but don't d/l or install them. I don't ever
want to see SP3 again until it's "fixed" if such a thing is even
possible.

J T

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Why didn't you reply to your original thread?
==============================
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

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

Steps to take before you install WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

<IMHO>
Temporarily disable all real-time protections afforded by your anti-virus
application, any anti-spyware applications, and any third-party firewall
prior to installing SP3. If you disable a third-party firewall, make sure
you then enable the Windows Firewall: The machine should not be connected to
the internet without an active firewall.

NB ZA Free users: Uninstall ZA Free via Add/Remove Programs and enable the
Windows Firewall before installing SP3.

After installing SP3 /and rebooting twice/, check to make sure your
real-time protections have been re-enabled; If you disabled a third-party
firewall, remember to re-enable it and disable the Windows Firewall.
</IMHO>

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.

.. US:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

.. CA:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-ca&prid=11273&gprid=522131

.. UK:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-gb&prid=11273&gprid=522131

.. AU:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-au&prid=11273&gprid=522131

.. Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3

 

[Doug W.]

You must have "strange" computers. Never heard of "slowdowns"
after SP 3 installations...especially where they made the
machines "unuseable". Pray tell us, what brand of computers are
these, so that we can avoid purchase of same in the future.

-

 

[oscar]

J T,

A year ago I had problems with installing updates. I tracked it down to a
damaged XP OS, so I did a system repair using 3rd party software and Viola-
no more problems. I have 4 XP machines and never had big problems with SP3.
Last month I cleaned up one of my XP machines; I reloaded XP, , programs,
anti-virus, etc and SP3 and its updates. No problems. Hums like a fine tuned
sports car (most of the time.)

I've been using XP for a few years now and Microsoft has been doing a good
job of fine tuning the OS and updates.

I'd look at your computer's OS and see if it's been damaged somehow by other
programs.

cheers...

oscar

 

[J Tinsby]

Why didn't you reply to your original thread?

I didn't think anyone was following it as seemed the last poster had a
different topic.

J T

 

[J Tinsby]

You must have "strange" computers. Never heard of "slowdowns"
after SP 3 installations...especially where they made the
machines "unuseable". Pray tell us, what brand of computers are
these, so that we can avoid purchase of same in the future.

I love your sarcasm, that's a great way to solve problems. I'm betting
there are lots of problems you never heard of.

That aside one machine is a Dell that runs XP Home and the other is
one I built that runs XP Pro.

So if you don't buy a Dell or anything I build you should be fine, I'm
happy that YOUR machines are running fine after the SP3 install. I've
got better things to do than wait minutes for the icons on the desktop
to fill in one by one and then the taskbar & toolbar.

My machines will never see SP3 again.

J T

 

[ANONYMOUS]

If you want trouble free installation of SP3, then I suggest download the
full-file version of SP3, then go off-line (i.e. unplug the cable from
modem/lan), reboot the system in SAFE MODE, Install the SP3, reboot the system
normally, problem solved!!

To go into SAFE MODE, you need to press F8 key when booting so that black
screen with DOS-Like characters appear where you can use arrow keys to go to
the first item SAFE MODE.

hth

 

[Lars-Eric]

Hi J!

My feelings are with you J! Of course people makes stupid comments on
"losers" like us with less computer experience and competence. Let’s say it
has to do with meanness.
I think that our common problem is slightly older computer with slower
components in combination with over filled hard discs. A new installation
would probably speed up things. But what will happen to our "savings"?
Probably lost in cyberspace!

There are several more reasons why sp3 doesn't work that well. It's been a
while since Xp first was released and now there is millions of combination of
components that's supposed to work together. (People don't mix why should
soulless machines do?) And with more impressive effects follows huge programs
that are supposed to process in the same time as the old ones. (Here's a
secret, they can't!)That's probably why Vista seems so slow even with double
cores and triple RAMs.

 

[Doug W.]

I love your sarcasm, that's a great way to solve problems. I'm
betting
there are lots of problems you never heard of.

That aside one machine is a Dell that runs XP Home and the
other is
one I built that runs XP Pro.

So if you don't buy a Dell or anything I build you should be
fine, I'm
happy that YOUR machines are running fine after the SP3
install. I've
got better things to do than wait minutes for the icons on the
desktop
to fill in one by one and then the taskbar & toolbar.

My machines will never see SP3 again.

J T

Sorry about that...I guess I was a bit sarcastic...well actually
a whole lot. I did have problems as I have an AMD Athlon 64, but
after I got that straightened out, the computer is as speedy as
ever if not just a bit faster in some aspects of operation.
-
Doug W.
======

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

On Thu, 15 May 2008 12:59:34 -0400, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"

Temporarily disable all real-time protections afforded by your anti-virus
application, any anti-spyware applications,

<snip>


Does Windows Defender have to be disabled before installing SP3?
Or is the servicepack smart enough to look for it and stop it
if necessary? Or even give a warning message?

I ask this because the first time I attempted SP3 I'd
completely overlooked WD, and it was left running.
It failed with "acces denied", (eventually sorted out by
running the MS tool) but did WD just add to the problems?

I'd disable Defender myself before installing SP3 but I very much doubt it
had anything to do with your Access Denied error:

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

 

[DrTeeth]

Now to my machine, it installed OK but I found the same thing the
machine was unacceptably slow especially on boot up and I had the fun
of watching the icons fill in one by one then the taskbar and then the
tooltray

When SP3 is installed, it removes *all* the speedup optimisations in
the prefetch folder and you will find SP3 much slower initially, both
booting and loading programs. Over time, like when you first got the
PC, XP will optimise itself again back to normal speed.

--
Cheers,

DrT

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.

 

[Dustin Cook]

Now to my machine, it installed OK but I found the same thing the
machine was unacceptably slow especially on boot up and I had the fun
of watching the icons fill in one by one then the taskbar and then the
tooltray <sigh> just like my buddies machine acts mine did the same
thing afer a second try at an install.Plus in rendered my firewalls
inoperative on both machines........... So out it came.

Sorry to be joining in the conversation so late, are the computers you
have tried to install SP3 on AMD based?

 

[- Bobb -]

Not SP3 - but note:
Family doesn't autoupdate so when I visit I usually fetch
security/required stuff for them.

I had similar experience of very slow icons appearing after I did the
FIRST update ( something had to be run by itself ) and rebooted. SLOW
icons on desktop. I reran WU and there were a bunch more updates needed. I
chose security updates again and WMP ( they had V9 - upgraded to V11) and
then rebooted. After THAT reboot - it was fine, so it MAY be there is an
update to one of your updates. If it happens again rerun WU interactively
and choose - custom - select all relevant updates.