Installation of SP3 on WinXP fails

Greetings,
I have tried several times to install, both online and offline, SP3 for XP
but always without success. Installation starts correctly, it proceeds with
the backup of files, of the registry, but as soon as it starts the backup of
the system restore, the dialog disappear and I get an error saying just
"extended error". I click OK, it goes ahead for a few seconds before saying
that SP3 could not be installed.
To be noted that:
-I have turned off system restore in control panel, tried again, nothing
changed
-Antivirus, firewalls (both Win and 3rd party), antimalware, all shut down /
turned off
-I have tried the five methods described at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950718/en-us without success
-Other updares via microsoft update work fine (well, sometimes a few failed
but trying again they worked).
I'm clueless, who can help me?
Thank you so much in advance.

Massimo Nespolo wrote:
> I have tried several times to install, both online and offline, SP3
> for XP but always without success. Installation starts correctly,
> it proceeds with the backup of files, of the registry, but as soon
> as it starts the backup of the system restore, the dialog disappear
> and I get an error saying just "extended error". I click OK, it
> goes ahead for a few seconds before saying that SP3 could not be
> installed.
>
> To be noted that:
> -I have turned off system restore in control panel, tried again,
> nothing changed
> -Antivirus, firewalls (both Win and 3rd party), antimalware, all
> shut down / turned off
> -I have tried the five methods described at
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950718/en-us without success
> -Other updares via microsoft update work fine (well, sometimes a
> few failed but trying again they worked).
> I'm clueless, who can help me?

Did you contact Microsoft?
Have you read through the following links?

A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft*...
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals
and Developers
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

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

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

Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...1/relnotes.htm

Key things to note:

Internet Explorer:
"If you have installed Windows Internet Explorer® 7 or a beta version of
Internet Explorer 8, and then install Windows XP SP3, you cannot uninstall
Internet Explorer. To avoid this, ensure Internet Explorer 7 or a beta
version of Internet Explorer 8 is not installed before installing Windows XP
SP3. If you have already encountered this issue, uninstall Windows XP SP3,
uninstall Internet Explorer, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002:
"If you install Windows XP SP3 on a computer running Windows XP Media Center
Edition 2002 with SP1, Windows XP Media Center Edition may malfunction. To
avoid this, install Windows XP SP2 before you install Windows XP SP3. If
this issue has already occurred, uninstall Windows XP SP3, install Windows
XP SP2, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."

It seems some people are unable to get further updates after installing
SP3... Seems some have experienced a symptom similar to doing a repair
installation on Windows XP - and the same fix seems to work for them for
that...

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

Some people experience an "endless reboot" issue...

From PA Bear [MS MVP]:
Workarounds:

http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesp...ng-xp-sp3.aspx
[NB: The above has been updated many times and now includes "a small tool
that will detect the IntelPPM problem and mitigate it before installing
[WinXP SP3]."

1. Boot into Safe Mode and rename INTELPMM.SYS to INTELPMM.OLD.
2. After booting into Safe Mode:
Start --> Run --> (copy/paste)
sc config intelppm start= disabled
--> OK --> Reboot into normal (Windows) mode.

Other references include:
.. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?p=187790#p187790
..
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesp...ng-xp-sp3.aspx
.. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05...boots_crashes/
..
http://www.computerworld.com/action/...icleId=9084418
.. You receive a "Stop 0x0000007E" error message after you upgrade to Windows
XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 on a non-Intel-processor-based computer
(Revised 06 May-08)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372

Some people have gotten an "Access Denied" message when trying to install
SP3... Method 3 of this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377


Beyond that - some simple maintenance might be needed - like installing the
latest hardware drivers from your hardware vendors...

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

On Tue, 5 Aug 2008 05:50:00 -0700, Massimo Nespolo wrote:

> Greetings,
> I have tried several times to install, both online and offline, SP3 for XP
> but always without success. Installation starts correctly, it proceeds with
> the backup of files, of the registry, but as soon as it starts the backup of
> the system restore, the dialog disappear and I get an error saying just
> "extended error". I click OK, it goes ahead for a few seconds before saying
> that SP3 could not be installed.
> To be noted that:
> -I have turned off system restore in control panel, tried again, nothing
> changed
> -Antivirus, firewalls (both Win and 3rd party), antimalware, all shut down /
> turned off
> -I have tried the five methods described at
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950718/en-us without success
> -Other updares via microsoft update work fine (well, sometimes a few failed
> but trying again they worked).
> I'm clueless, who can help me?
> Thank you so much in advance.

http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx

Well, I passed all the whole afternoon with the chat support. An MS advisor
took control of my PC via the desktop share and tried all possible solutions
- all what described in the KB articles mentioned, resetting security to
defaults, appling subinacl etc. etc. - nothing, his last words were "It
failed again my God, I can't believe it". I am currently stuck with

DoInstallation:SecurityConfigSystemCommit Failed: 0x800704b8
UnRegisterSpuninstForRecovery, failed to delete SpRecoverCmdLine value,
error 0x2

I have 315 (!) files called "spuninst.exe", one file called
spuninst.exe.manifest and one spuninst.exe.ref

I'm waiting for further help by him, but I wanted nevertheless to keep
updated this thread because I see I am not the only one having troubles with
SP3 and thus all case studies may be useful to other users as well.

Massimo Nespolo wrote:
> Well, I passed all the whole afternoon with the chat support. An MS advisor
> took control of my PC via the desktop share and tried all possible solutions
> - all what described in the KB articles mentioned, resetting security to
> defaults, appling subinacl etc. etc. - nothing, his last words were "It
> failed again my God, I can't believe it". I am currently stuck with
>
> DoInstallation:SecurityConfigSystemCommit Failed: 0x800704b8
> UnRegisterSpuninstForRecovery, failed to delete SpRecoverCmdLine value,
> error 0x2
>
> I have 315 (!) files called "spuninst.exe", one file called
> spuninst.exe.manifest and one spuninst.exe.ref
>
> I'm waiting for further help by him, but I wanted nevertheless to keep
> updated this thread because I see I am not the only one having troubles with
> SP3 and thus all case studies may be useful to other users as well.

The time you've spent going nowhere could have been spent doing a clean
install of XP followed by the SP3 install. That's the *only* way I would
do it.

Alias

Alias,
I did a clean install on Friday and failed to install the SP3 the very same
day. It's a fresh installation on a newly formatted partition.

Massimo Nespolo wrote:
> Alias,
> I did a clean install on Friday and failed to install the SP3 the very same
> day. It's a fresh installation on a newly formatted partition.
>
>

What did you do after installing XP and prior to installing SP3?

Alias

"Alias" wrote:

>
> What did you do after installing XP and prior to installing SP3?
>

Nothing but Windows Update. This is what I always do after a clean install:
WinUpdate first of all, then the applications. But SP3 failed immediately. I
thought "OK, will come back later" and installed Office and several
applications.
The only "unusual" setting in my Win (btw, it's the French edition) is that
I have enabled support for Japanese language and the language toolbar, but I
don't think this can be the culprit, it's one of the options (although
"advanced") you find during the setup of Windows.

Massimo Nespolo wrote:
> "Alias" wrote:
>
>> What did you do after installing XP and prior to installing SP3?
>>
>
> Nothing but Windows Update. This is what I always do after a clean install:
> WinUpdate first of all, then the applications. But SP3 failed immediately. I
> thought "OK, will come back later" and installed Office and several
> applications.
> The only "unusual" setting in my Win (btw, it's the French edition) is that
> I have enabled support for Japanese language and the language toolbar, but I
> don't think this can be the culprit, it's one of the options (although
> "advanced") you find during the setup of Windows.
>

Do it again this way:

1. Install XP
2. Run a disk clean up, Check Disk and defrag.
3. Install the chipset, video and sound drivers.
4. Run a disk clean up, Check Disk and defrag again.
5. Reboot.
6. Install SP3 and reboot THREE TIMES.
7. Install updates, reboot.
8. Download and install Crap Cleaner from http://www.ccleaner.com/ and
run the Cleaner feature after rebooting again. Do NOT touch the Registry
feature. Run Check Disk and defrag.
9. Install all your programs *except* anti virus and anti malware
programs. Use the Windows firewall. If you want a third party firewall,
wait until you've installed all your programs.
10. Install youR anti virus, anti malware programs and a firewall if you
want a different one than the Windows firewall.
11. Reboot and run Crap Cleaner, do a check disk and defrag. Disable the
anti virus while running the defrag.
12. Install your devices like a printer, scanner, web cam, etc.

This is assuming, of course, that you have a copy of a retail or generic
OEM XP. If you have a restore disk from HP, Dell or someone like that, I
would recommend a different procedure.

Good luck!

Alias

OK, Alias, thank you. Let me just wait for the answer from the guy who
assisted me yesterday, he wrote me at night and I replied this morning (time
zone problem). He's working on this and I do not want him to come back with a
"try this" and get an answer "sorry, I scratched and re-done everthing". As
soon as he gives up, I'll follow your instructions.
Oh, BTW, yes, I have the installation CD, academic version licenced to our
University.