SP3 question

[Henry]

I'm running WinXP Pro SP2 on a Dell Dimension 3 GHz machine with 2 Gig
of RAM.

I have only heard bad things from people I know who tried to install
SP3 and on newsgroups. It seems that one of three things will happen.

1. Everything will go well and it will work OK. (Seldom)

2. It will seem to go well for some period of time and then something
happens and your computer gets screwed up.

3. It will not install correctly and your computer gets screwed up.

With the last two, a clean re-install of WinXP is required to get back
running.

With my luck with updates, one of the last two will occur.

Since support for SP2 is ending shortly, I need advice.

Signed Scared

Henry

 

[Bruce Hagen]

I'm running WinXP Pro SP2 on a Dell Dimension 3 GHz machine with 2 Gig
of RAM.

I have only heard bad things from people I know who tried to install SP3
and on newsgroups. It seems that one of three things will happen.

1. Everything will go well and it will work OK. (Seldom)

2. It will seem to go well for some period of time and then something
happens and your computer gets screwed up.

3. It will not install correctly and your computer gets screwed up.

With the last two, a clean re-install of WinXP is required to get back
running.

With my luck with updates, one of the last two will occur.

Since support for SP2 is ending shortly, I need advice.

Signed Scared

Henry

1: Not seldom.
2: Seldom.
3: Seldom.

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3:
http://support.microsoft.com:80/kb/950717

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

Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm

Download Windows XP Service Pack 3 here. Do not use Windows updates.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

Before you install, turn off your anti-virus and any anti-spyware programs
such as Windows Defender. If you use a third party firewall, disable it
and turn on the Windows Firewall in the Control Panel for the
installation. Once SP3 is in and working, you can enable the third party
firewall and turn off the Windows Firewall. Do not keep both running.

 

[Paul]

I'm running WinXP Pro SP2 on a Dell Dimension 3 GHz machine with 2 Gig
of RAM.

I have only heard bad things from people I know who tried to install SP3
and on newsgroups. It seems that one of three things will happen.

1. Everything will go well and it will work OK. (Seldom)

2. It will seem to go well for some period of time and then something
happens and your computer gets screwed up.

3. It will not install correctly and your computer gets screwed up.

With the last two, a clean re-install of WinXP is required to get back
running.

With my luck with updates, one of the last two will occur.

Since support for SP2 is ending shortly, I need advice.

Signed Scared

Henry

If you have good backup software, and room on a spare disk
for a backup, then you shouldn't have any immediate worries.
As long as your backup software has "bare metal" capabilities,
like its own boot CD, then you should be able to put your C:
back exactly as it was. That should take care of most of the
worries about trashing C: with SP3.

Paul

 

[Jerry Ed]

I have a Dell 380 workstation with WinXP Pro, 3.2 GHz,
1 Gig ram, 15000 rpm Cheetah, IE7, NOD32, Windows Firewall.

Two years ago I installed SP3.

The only problem I had was "Service Pack 3 setup error. Service Pack
installation did not complete ".
The following Microsoft Support page is what I used to solve the problem.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377

Under MORE INFORMATION, I checked the svcpack.log and found
"DoRegistryUpdates failed".

Under ADVANCED TROUBLESHOOTING, I did the "Let me fix it myself".
(Starts with downloading Subinacl.exe).
It took about 6 minutes for Reset.cmd to run.

JE

 

[Big_Al]

Henry said this on 7/1/2010 12:33 AM:

I'm running WinXP Pro SP2 on a Dell Dimension 3 GHz machine with 2 Gig
of RAM.

I have only heard bad things from people I know who tried to install SP3
and on newsgroups. It seems that one of three things will happen.

1. Everything will go well and it will work OK. (Seldom)

2. It will seem to go well for some period of time and then something
happens and your computer gets screwed up.

3. It will not install correctly and your computer gets screwed up.

With the last two, a clean re-install of WinXP is required to get back
running.

With my luck with updates, one of the last two will occur.

Since support for SP2 is ending shortly, I need advice.

Signed Scared

Henry

You only hear about the troubles. The millions of users that did it
and it worked, you don't hear about. I have 3 PC's and all were
upgraded fine.

Some basic help: Download the update and run it manually rather than
thru MS updates. Turn off AV software that might conflict with
writing files. And make a backup with something like Acronis True
Image that allows you to reset the system back to current settings. I
think someone else mentioned that, and its a fabulous fallback and
security blanket.

 

[Randem]

Most of the problems stemmed from AV software running at the time of
install. Some problems were due to incorrect processor determination. If you
are afraid just boot into safe mose and install there. In this way nothing
will have a chance to interfere with the installation.

 

[Tecknomage]

I'm running WinXP Pro SP2 on a Dell Dimension 3 GHz machine with 2 Gig
of RAM.

I have only heard bad things from people I know who tried to install
SP3 and on newsgroups. It seems that one of three things will happen.

1. Everything will go well and it will work OK. (Seldom)

2. It will seem to go well for some period of time and then something
happens and your computer gets screwed up.

3. It will not install correctly and your computer gets screwed up.

With the last two, a clean re-install of WinXP is required to get back
running.

With my luck with updates, one of the last two will occur.

Since support for SP2 is ending shortly, I need advice.

Signed Scared

Henry

First, I'm the IT Technician for a division of the company I work for,
and have installed SP3 on all our WinXP Desktop systems except those
used in our labs (we do software engineering) as requested by
engineers.

ONE VERY BIG WARNING:

*After you install SP3 your original WinXP Setup CD will be useless
for using the 2 Repair options on the CD.*

You will be unable to boot to your old CD because Windows will insist
you mount WinXP SP3 CD which you do not have.

You can thank Microdunce for NOT warning you about this AND not
offering to sell you a WinXP (Home, Pro, Media Center) SP3 CD.



Having said that...

I found the best way to install SP3 is NOT via the download install.

Use the alternate SP3 Install CD.

1) You need to have a CD Burner (writes CDs)

2) Download the ISO (bootable image) from.....
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&displaylang=en

3) Burn the ISO image to CD and you now have a bootable CD that will
Autorun when mounted in your CD drive and install SP3 like any program


BUT as others have said, you need to prep your system BEFORE you
start. They gave you links, but just in case, here's a ref site:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itproxpsp/threads/

Note, AFTER installing SP3, highly suggest you wait a few days BEFORE
running Microsoft Updates. Hope you have Auto Updates set to the
'notify ONLY' option.

I used this method at work and on my home system with no problems.



Side note: We OEM WinXP on our products, and we HAD the "OEM WinXP
Pro SP3" CD. Since the advent of Win7, the SP3 CD is no longer
available. We still OEM WinXP via the Downgrade option (install WinXP
on the Win7 license) for Win7 Pro.

For a short period you could get the "OEM WinXP Pro SP3" CD open
market (got it for my home system from Amazon way back), so there MAY
be resellers that still have the CD in stock, but good luck in finding
one.

 

[Doum]

First, I'm the IT Technician for a division of the company I work for,
and have installed SP3 on all our WinXP Desktop systems except those
used in our labs (we do software engineering) as requested by
engineers.

I'm glad you're not my IT technician.

ONE VERY BIG WARNING:

*After you install SP3 your original WinXP Setup CD will be useless
for using the 2 Repair options on the CD.*

You will be unable to boot to your old CD because Windows will insist
you mount WinXP SP3 CD which you do not have.

You can thank Microdunce for NOT warning you about this AND not
offering to sell you a WinXP (Home, Pro, Media Center) SP3 CD.

It's very easy to make an installation CD with SP3 using an original
installation CD (not a restoration CD) and the downloaded SP3 file (not
the ISO), but as an expert you must already know that so I don't have to
explain you how.

Having said that...

I found the best way to install SP3 is NOT via the download install.

Why? It's the same file contained in the ISO.

Use the alternate SP3 Install CD.

1) You need to have a CD Burner (writes CDs)

2) Download the ISO (bootable image) from.....
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2fcde6ce-b5fb-
4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&displaylang=en

3) Burn the ISO image to CD and you now have a bootable CD that will
Autorun when mounted in your CD drive and install SP3 like any program


BUT as others have said, you need to prep your system BEFORE you
start. They gave you links, but just in case, here's a ref site:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itproxpsp/threads/

Note, AFTER installing SP3, highly suggest you wait a few days BEFORE
running Microsoft Updates. Hope you have Auto Updates set to the
'notify ONLY' option.

Again why?

I used this method at work and on my home system with no problems.



Side note: We OEM WinXP on our products, and we HAD the "OEM WinXP
Pro SP3" CD. Since the advent of Win7, the SP3 CD is no longer
available. We still OEM WinXP via the Downgrade option (install WinXP
on the Win7 license) for Win7 Pro.

For a short period you could get the "OEM WinXP Pro SP3" CD open
market (got it for my home system from Amazon way back), so there MAY
be resellers that still have the CD in stock, but good luck in finding
one.

Just make one!

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Asked/Answered in Win98 General (where you said, "I know this isn't a WinXP
group, but it's a lot more active than those
groups and the people seem knowledgeable") =>
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...discussion/browse_frm/thread/e03213b4669b1f42

 

[Daave]

First, I'm the IT Technician for a division of the company I work for,
and have installed SP3 on all our WinXP Desktop systems except those
used in our labs (we do software engineering) as requested by
engineers.

ONE VERY BIG WARNING:

*After you install SP3 your original WinXP Setup CD will be useless
for using the 2 Repair options on the CD.*

You will be unable to boot to your old CD because Windows will insist
you mount WinXP SP3 CD which you do not have.

You can thank Microdunce for NOT warning you about this AND not
offering to sell you a WinXP (Home, Pro, Media Center) SP3 CD.



Having said that...

I found the best way to install SP3 is NOT via the download install.

Use the alternate SP3 Install CD.

1) You need to have a CD Burner (writes CDs)

2) Download the ISO (bootable image) from.....
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&displaylang=en

3) Burn the ISO image to CD and you now have a bootable CD that will
Autorun when mounted in your CD drive and install SP3 like any program


BUT as others have said, you need to prep your system BEFORE you
start. They gave you links, but just in case, here's a ref site:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itproxpsp/threads/

Note, AFTER installing SP3, highly suggest you wait a few days BEFORE
running Microsoft Updates. Hope you have Auto Updates set to the
'notify ONLY' option.

I used this method at work and on my home system with no problems.



Side note: We OEM WinXP on our products, and we HAD the "OEM WinXP
Pro SP3" CD. Since the advent of Win7, the SP3 CD is no longer
available. We still OEM WinXP via the Downgrade option (install WinXP
on the Win7 license) for Win7 Pro.

For a short period you could get the "OEM WinXP Pro SP3" CD open
market (got it for my home system from Amazon way back), so there MAY
be resellers that still have the CD in stock, but good luck in finding
one.

Wow, that is an *awful* lot of misinformation there!

Here is one place one may obtain XP Pro SP3 (OEM):

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010426

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

+1

Wow, that is an *awful* lot of misinformation there!

Here is one place one may obtain XP Pro SP3 (OEM):

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010426

 

[HeyBub]

I'm running WinXP Pro SP2 on a Dell Dimension 3 GHz machine with 2 Gig
of RAM.

I have only heard bad things from people I know who tried to install
SP3 and on newsgroups. It seems that one of three things will happen.

1. Everything will go well and it will work OK. (Seldom)

2. It will seem to go well for some period of time and then something
happens and your computer gets screwed up.

3. It will not install correctly and your computer gets screwed up.

With the last two, a clean re-install of WinXP is required to get back
running.

With my luck with updates, one of the last two will occur.

Since support for SP2 is ending shortly, I need advice.

My advice is to get a completely new set of friends. The people who've been
advising you are loons.

 

[xfile]

His advise, in my opinion, is solid for regular *non-techie* user.

It's very easy to make an installation CD with SP3 using an original
installation CD (not a restoration CD) and the downloaded SP3 file (not
the ISO), but as an expert you must already know that so I don't have to
explain you how.

He didn't mention anything about if he or anyone doesn't know how to make an
installation CD, but lack of warning for the original CD couldn't be used.

Ordinary users (a.k.a. those who don't install software on a 24/7 basis)
could be panic when he/she found out the original CD can't be used.

Again why?

So that one can observe if there are any problems after the installation and
will not complicate the issues and to make it easier for troubleshooting if
there were any adverse effects. It's called controlled environment.

 

[Doum]

His advise, in my opinion, is solid for regular *non-techie* user.


He didn't mention anything about if he or anyone doesn't know how to
make an installation CD, but lack of warning for the original CD
couldn't be used.

Ordinary users (a.k.a. those who don't install software on a 24/7
basis) could be panic when he/she found out the original CD can't be
used.

Those corresponding to the profile you describe, probably don't know what
a repair install is anyway.

So that one can observe if there are any problems after the
installation and will not complicate the issues and to make it easier
for troubleshooting if there were any adverse effects. It's called
controlled environment.

The problems reported here after installing SP3 were computer doesn't
restart, so you install SP3, reboot twice, try your programs and do the
upgrades, no need to wait.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I'm running WinXP Pro SP2 on a Dell Dimension 3 GHz machine with 2 Gig
of RAM.

I have only heard bad things from people I know who tried to install SP3
and on newsgroups. It seems that one of three things will happen.

1. Everything will go well and it will work OK. (Seldom)

Actually, this is what occurs roughly 98% of the time on the hundreds
of WinXP SP3 machines I used to support. (We've long since migrated to
Vista on the Enterprise.)

2. It will seem to go well for some period of time and then something
happens and your computer gets screwed up.

Actually, this occurred about 1% of the time, if incompatible/corrupt
drivers are present at the time of the upgrade.

3. It will not install correctly and your computer gets screwed up.

Actually, this occurred about 1% of the time, if incompatible/corrupt
drivers are present at the time of the upgrade.

With the last two, a clean re-install of WinXP is required to get back
running.

With my luck with updates, one of the last two will occur.

Since support for SP2 is ending shortly, I need advice.

My advice: stop listening to rumors and install SP3. As for problems
mentioned in newsgroups, what else are newsgroups for? No one going to
post just to say that all went well.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Bruce Chambers]

ONE VERY BIG WARNING:

*After you install SP3 your original WinXP Setup CD will be useless
for using the 2 Repair options on the CD.*

You will be unable to boot to your old CD because Windows will insist
you mount WinXP SP3 CD which you do not have.

You can thank Microdunce for NOT warning you about this AND not
offering to sell you a WinXP (Home, Pro, Media Center) SP3 CD.

Or look in the mirror and blame yourself for not having slip-streamed
SP3 into and installation CD, something any competent technician would
have done before starting.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Twayne]

In

Or look in the mirror and blame yourself for not having
slip-streamed SP3 into and installation CD, something any
competent technician would have done before starting.

It makes a lot more sense IMO to make a faithful backup of the machine's OS
than to futz around making slip streams that can take hours to get working
upon testing them, IFF they get tested before a catastrophe happens, that
is.