WinXP service pack 1 won't install

[Kyle]

I recently reformatted my harddrive and installed all the
updates for WinXP home except the express service pack 1
will not install, it stops in the middle of the install
process with an error saying that it is incompatible with
this version of windows, please contact microsoft. Anyone
know how I can install service pack 1 or what the problem
may be? I can't afford to contact microsoft directly,
last time the phone bill went up to 70 bucks, any help
you can provide me is appreciated. I don't know whether
replies will be forwarded to my e-mail address or not, if
you could please e-mail me at (e-mail address removed). Thanks-
Kyle

 

[PA Bear - MS MVP]

Have a wander through http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/

 

[Kyle]

There's nothing on that page that seems to address the
problem, there is no error #, when I click details it
says this page doesn't exist in help & support center.
The problem is installing windows xp service pack 1 on a
machine thats never had any other operating system on it,
yet I get an error message saying it is not compatible
with this version of windows.

 

[PA Bear - MS MVP]

1. Make certain you're not going to Windows Update using the AOL browser
(AOL toolbar remains visible at top of window). Only use the "pure" IE
browser to go to Windows Update.

2. To assure a clean install, your anti-virus application should be disabled
and all other running processes closed before going to Windows Update and
when downloading/installing from any MS page.

3. Look in Windows Update.log and iuhist.xml (both are files on your
computer) for errors associated with the install. Compare them to those
listed at Windows Update Troubleshooter.

4. Copy/paste the following line into an IE Addressbar, click on GO, then
copy/paste the results into your reply:

javascript:navigator.appMinorVersion