XP SP3 Problems/Help

A

Ale

Hi, I just installed SP3 using Windows Update (I had XP SP2 Pro fully
updated). Everything went fine, I restarted the PC and apparently everything
fine after the desktop showed up (no error messages, etc). But after
examining my system I found the following changes:
1) The address bar is removed in the main taskbar, so I tried Right clicking
on the taskbar > Toolbars> but notice that the Address option has been
removed in SP3. Any way to restore it?
2) Old Windows Messenger was reinstalled, so I uninstalled it.
3) Each time I try to open MSN Messenger an install window opens displaying
that MSN Messenger is being restored, so I cancel the process and MSN
Messenger opens up normally. Any way to prevent this reinstall from opening
up each time I open MSN Messenger?
4) If I try to activate Error Checking after reboot (by right clicking "C"
drive in My Computer-Properties-Tools-Error Checking) and reboot it won't go
thru error checking, it will skip it. How to fix this?

All of the above issues promted me to uninstall SP3 from my system using
Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel and now my PC is back to SP2 and
everything restored and working normally. I'd like however to know how to
handle the above issues to be able to update to SP3. Thanks.
 
V

VanguardLH

in
1) The address bar is removed in the main taskbar, so I tried Right clicking
on the taskbar > Toolbars> but notice that the Address option has been
removed in SP3. Any way to restore it?
Click to expand...

After installing Service Pack 3 to Windows XP, the Address toolbar is no
longer available in the Windows taskbar. It's a legal thing as to why
Microsoft says it was forced to remove it. The quick answer to
restoring the Address toolbar in the taskbar is:

In %windir%\system32, replace the SP-3 version of browseui.dll with
the SP-2 version.

Unfortunately, Windows File Protection gets in the way (and so does
explorer.exe for the Windows desktop and some other processes). The
workaround is to use the PendingFileRenameOperations key in the
registry. Values under this key specify which files to move, replace,
or delete when Windows starts up. Get the PendMoves.zip file from
SysInternals (http://www.sysinternals.com) which contains the
pendmoves.exe and movefile.exe utilities. pendmoves tells you what is
already in that registry key to get renamed on the next Windows startup
(afterwhich this key gets cleared). movefile lets you add entries to
this registry key.

- If you haven't yet installed SP-3, save a copy of the file:

md c:\backup
copy "%windir%\system32\browseui.dll" c:\temp\

- If you have already installed SP-3, you will have to get a copy of
browseui.dl_ (ends with the underscore character) from your backups,
from a Windows SP-2 install CD, from another of your hosts still running
Windows XP SP-2, or from a friend that you really trust. If you get the
compressed browseui.dl_ file, decompress it:

expand [drive:[path]]browseui.dl_ c:\backup\browseui.dll

Now that you have the old version of the browseui.dll file, you need to
replace the SP-3 version with the old version. Run the following
command in a DOS shell:

copy c:\windows\system32\browseui.dll
c:\windows\system32\browseui_sp3.dll
movefile c:\backup\browseui.dll c:\windows\system32\browseui.dll

The assumptions are: movefile.exe is in the current directory or found
by the PATH environment variable and that you saved the old version of
browseui.dll under c:\backup. Do NOT use
"%windir%\system32\browseui.dll" for the destination since the windir
environment variable won't be defined when the move operation is
performed during Windows startup. In the above, I save a copy of the
SP-3 version of browseui.dll just in case it is found later that using
the old version causes problems and I have to revert back to using the
SP-3 version along with having to sacrifice the Address toolbar.

While this gets back the Address toolbar in the Windows taskbar, the
browseui.dll file is used by lots of different functions within Windows.
So it is possible that reverting to the old version could cause problems
with other functionality.

2) Old Windows Messenger was reinstalled, so I uninstalled it.
Click to expand...

Probably because there were updates to apply to it. I always uninstall
it by going to the Add/Remove Programs applet and using the Add/Remove
Windows Components applet.

3) Each time I try to open MSN Messenger an install window opens displaying
that MSN Messenger is being restored, so I cancel the process and MSN
Messenger opens up normally. Any way to prevent this reinstall from opening
up each time I open MSN Messenger?
Click to expand...

I thought Microsoft had discontinued the old MSN Messenger and gone to
the new Windows Live Messenger (http://get.live.com).

4) If I try to activate Error Checking after reboot (by right clicking "C"
drive in My Computer-Properties-Tools-Error Checking) and reboot it won't go
thru error checking, it will skip it. How to fix this?
Click to expand...

Does the same skip-on-reboot problem occur if you run "chkdsk c: /r"
from a DOS shell? I added the /r option which take longer to do some
checking on the readability of sectors. You could instead use the /f
switch to fix any problems that it finds. There is no point in running
chkdsk without any options to tell you there are problems and then not
bother to do anything about them. In the DOS shell, and after entering
the chkdsk command, you'll be told the partition is inuse (well, because
it's the OS partition) and the checking is not performed until a reboot.
See if the checking does indeed get done during the reboot.

All of the above issues promted me to uninstall SP3 from my system using
Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel and now my PC is back to SP2 and
everything restored and working normally. I'd like however to know how to
handle the above issues to be able to update to SP3. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Personally I don't rely or trust a software uninstall procedure to
return the OS partition back to the EXACT state as it was before the
service pack install and without any remnant pollution left by the new
service pack. For any major change in your system, save a partition
image so you get back exactly what you had before.
 
V

VanguardLH

VanguardLH" wrote in said:
...
Now that you have the old version of the browseui.dll file, you need to
replace the SP-3 version with the old version. Run the following
command in a DOS shell:

copy c:\windows\system32\browseui.dll c:\windows\system32\browseui_sp3.dll
movefile c:\backup\browseui.dll c:\windows\system32\browseui.dll
Click to expand...

Oops, I forgot about WFP (Windows File Protection). The backup copy of
the file should also be replaced in the dllcache folder. So use the
following commands for the movefile (which replaces on reboot):

copy c:\windows\system32\browseui.dll c:\windows\system32\browseui_sp3.dll
movefile c:\backup\browseui.dll c:\windows\system32\dllcache\browseui.dll
movefile c:\backup\browseui.dll c:\windows\system32\browseui.dll
<reboot>

Each movefile is on one line (so be careful due to any line wrapping in
your newsreader).
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

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-uk&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

========================================

WinXP SP3 Installation:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsxp/cc164204.aspx

Steps to take before you install WinXP SP3
(includes numerous windowsupdate.log Error Codes, if encountered during
installation)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

The hard disk space requirements for WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947311

Release notes for WinXP SP3
• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929
•
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=60807C3A-8969-4DDF-BEB2-8BFAC9ED416B
•
http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm

====================================

<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.

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>
 
A

Ale

Thanks Bear...would you suggest installing SP3 or can I live secure with SP2?
Also, if I ever try clean installing SP3 from scratch, which of these
methods would you recommend? (I own a Dell PC):
1) Install WinXP Pro SP0 (OEM CD), then SP2, then SP3
2) Install WinXP Pro SP0 (OEM CD), then SP3
3) Install winXP Pro SP2 (OEM CD), then SP3
 
C

Colin Barnhorst

In addition to PA's next reply :)

First of all, 2) is not possible. MS has blocked it on Windows Update.

Either 1) or 3) produces the same result.

However, why not avoid the issue entirely (as follows)?

Using your SP0 cd and the SP2 standalone installation package for IT Pros,
make a slipstreamed cd (called an integrated XP Pro SP2 cd). Using that and
the standlaone package for SP3, make an XP Pro SP3 integrated cd that can be
used to directly install XP Pro SP3 whenever you want. It has the added
advantage that it would be the required cd in order to do a repair install
later anyway should you ever need to do that.
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

When support for WinXP SP2 ends a few years from now, you'll need to have
SP3 installed to get any further critical security updates. SP3 is not a
security update.

The machine must be running WinXP SP1 or WinXP SP2 to be able to install
SP3, so I'll pick Door #3!
 
V

VanguardLH

in
Thanks Vanguard, that was a highly technical reply of yours!. What about this
workaround to restore the address bar?
http://www.systemsabuse.com/2007/12...where-did-my-toolbars-address-bar-go-missing/
Click to expand...

I didn't go the 3rd party route to add someone else's toolbar (which
still has defects).
Also, if I ever try clean installing SP3 from scratch, which of these
methods would you recommend? (I own a Dell PC):
1) Install WinXP Pro SP0 (OEM CD), then SP2, then SP3
2) Install WinXP Pro SP0 (OEM CD), then SP3
3) Install winXP Pro SP2 (OEM CD), then SP3
Click to expand...

Use the WinXP SP2 to slipstream in SP3 to create a WinXP SP3 install CD.
 
V

VanguardLH

in
Thanks Bear...would you suggest installing SP3 or can I live secure with SP2?
Click to expand...

What in the release notes for SP-3 convinced you that you must have
SP-3?
 
A

Ale

The reason why I did not mention the option of slipstreaming SP3 into the XP
SP2 CD is that from what I read it is not possible to slipstream, or at least
it's more problematic, when the CD is an OEM version, right?
 
A

Ale

Vanguard, that's precisely the point, SP3 release notes say that it does not
significantly impact the XP experience and that it does not add any
additional security patches other than those already released thru Windows
Update. It only seems to add the convenience of unifying all previous patches
in a single file. Therefore, it odes not seem to be a critical patch, so why
go thru the trouble of messing with system files? I guess the only reason to
eventually consider is the lack of support for SP2 in a couple of years.
 
V

VanguardLH

in
The reason why I did not mention the option of slipstreaming SP3 into the XP
SP2 CD is that from what I read it is not possible to slipstream, or at least
it's more problematic, when the CD is an OEM version, right?
Click to expand...

I slipstreamed SP-2 into my OEM CD for Windows XP Pro SP-1. So why
can't SP-3 be slipstreamed into an OEM CD for Windows XP Pro SP-2? The
slipstreaming is done on your hard disk and then you copy the files onto
your own recordable CD. Unless I missed it, I never saw mention that I
cannot slipstream using an OEM CD as the baseline version. Obviously a
service pack updates retail or OEM versions of Windows.

Please point me at the articles you read that say OEM cannot be used as
baseline to create a slipstreamed modified version of it.
 
V

VanguardLH

in
Vanguard, that's precisely the point, SP3 release notes say that it does not
significantly impact the XP experience and that it does not add any
additional security patches other than those already released thru Windows
Update. It only seems to add the convenience of unifying all previous patches
in a single file. Therefore, it odes not seem to be a critical patch, so why
go thru the trouble of messing with system files? I guess the only reason to
eventually consider is the lack of support for SP2 in a couple of years.
Click to expand...

No, the release notes *do* mention additional functionality that was
added in SP-3 but most, if not all, of them might not apply in your
computing environment. Do you know what is NAP? If you do, is it
applicable in your computing environment? There are some other
additions but you need to read the release notes to see if they apply to
your setup. 80% of SP-3 is SP-2 plus subsequent updates since the
release of SP-2. So if you have SP-2 and been staying up to date then
SP-3 gives you little additional functionality, and what it does give
you in additional functionality may not be usable to you.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...ad-bc34-40be-8d85-6bb4f56f5110&DisplayLang=en

- Adds NAP (I won't bother to decode the initials since if you don't
know what NAP means then you don't need it).
- New version of MMC. Yes, you use MMC but a new version isn't need for
those applets that use it now.
- Says it adds MSXML v6 yet I already have it (and I don't have SP-3).
Check for %windir%\system32\msxml*.dll to see the highest version you
already have; however, it is possible that I manually installed the
latest version of MDAC and not as part of Windows Update.
- MSI 3.1 (from 3.0). A minor update. If any update in the future from
Microsoft requires it, they'll shove it at you when you visit Windows
Update.
- Newer version of BITS. Again, if you don't recognize the initials
then you don't need a newer version. V1.0 came in Windows XP. V1.5
came in Windows Server 2003. So V2.5 is a major upgrade. See
http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/3/d/b3d8e8ea-8c3f-4962-8a01-478b33f44e15/BITS.doc
for info on BITS. Do you even have a server host in your network? You
do at work but then *you* shouldn't be updating your employer's
workstations as that is a task to be performed only by their IT group
when they decide to deploy that service pack.
- IPSEC update. Do you even define IPSEC filters? Didn't think so.
- DIMS. Again, are you on a corporate network and logging under a
domain?
- Peer Name Resolution. Possibly helpful if your intranet includes a
mix of Windows XP and Vista hosts. It has been working for me so far so
the "update" is hardly a requirement.
- RDP upped to v6.1. I already had v6.0 (again possibly because I
downloaded it rather than getting it through Windows Update).
- WPA v2. Possibly useful. I haven't bothered to check into this one
yet.
- More descriptive text explaining the options for security policies.
Well, if you haven't figured them out by now, you don't use policies.
If you do use policies, you would've already figured them out by now.
The added help comes too late. I'd rather see more info added to the
BSOD error codes.
- Windows Product Activation. Claims that you can "now" opt to now
activate during an install and can activate later after the OS has been
installed. It was there before but not obvious so Microsoft just made
it obvious.


In addition, and without official notification by Microsoft despite
their claims to notify:
- Removes the Address toolbar from the Windows taskbar.
 
A

Ale

Hi Bob, try this simple solution to the address bar:
1. create a new bar on the taskbar (Links for example)
2. drag it to desktop to undock it (it will change to a panel, you have to
undock it as it won't work otherwise)
3. now you can add the address bar (rightcklick on the undocked panel)
4. drag the newly created address bar to taskbar
 
D

Dreams

Hi,

I've installed SP3 and I haven't got this much problems since I had the
worst Virus in my pc. My pc doesn't start anymore, I can't enter in my XP
because BSOD just appears due to (I think) a logitech driver. There is some
sort of a conflict. I've managed to do a chkdsk and WOW! What kind of
software have you guys released and installed in my pc? My entire harddisk is
gone real bad. Geez...

I knew it. My automatic updates was always off, and here I was thinking "hey
an update can't hurt, right?" Yeah right... Think again.

My advice to everyone as an experienced PC/XP user: DO NOT UPDATE UNLESS
YOUR PC IS UNSTABLE. If it's stable just leave it that way! Trust me, if you
do an update you'll do more harm then good.
 
U

Unknown

Has it ever occurred to you that your computer was so full of trash that a
clean install of SP3 was impossible?
Amazing how people like you always blames Microsoft.
Care to guess how many successful installs there are?
 
V

VanguardLH

in
Hi,

I've installed SP3 and I haven't got this much problems since I had the
worst Virus in my pc. My pc doesn't start anymore, I can't enter in my XP
because BSOD just appears due to (I think) a logitech driver. There is some
sort of a conflict. I've managed to do a chkdsk and WOW! What kind of
software have you guys released and installed in my pc? My entire harddisk is
gone real bad. Geez...

I knew it. My automatic updates was always off, and here I was thinking "hey
an update can't hurt, right?" Yeah right... Think again.

My advice to everyone as an experienced PC/XP user: DO NOT UPDATE UNLESS
YOUR PC IS UNSTABLE. If it's stable just leave it that way! Trust me, if you
do an update you'll do more harm then good.
Click to expand...

So you install updates without ever reading the notes for them to know
what they are for. Guess you also drive around with a blindfold over
your eyes hoping that everywhere you drive is clear.

Always do a custom install of updates so you can see what you are
getting, and read their notes and even the KB article which is
indicated. Express and automatic updates means you are driving blind.
 

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