Insufficient free space for XP SP3

I can download but cannot install the XP SP3. Despite having many many gigs
of free space on the C drive, I keep getting an error message that there is
not enough free space for the uninstall files. I have tried to download a new
copy of the SP3 update, thinking that there may be something wrong with the
installation file, but cannot find a way to do this. Microsft Update says
I've already downloaded it and that it's ready to install, and gives no
option to download again and overwrite the first download. Any suggestions?

Hello fritzread,

Did you make certain that your computer was ready for SP3 before you tried
to install it?

See if the information in this MSKB article, You receive error messages if
there is insufficient free disk space on the system drive to install the
Windows XP Service Pack 3 package
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956894>



Ǝиçεl
-=

"fritzread" wrote:

> I can download but cannot install the XP SP3. Despite having many many gigs
> of free space on the C drive, I keep getting an error message that there is
> not enough free space for the uninstall files. I have tried to download a new
> copy of the SP3 update, thinking that there may be something wrong with the
> installation file, but cannot find a way to do this. Microsft Update says
> I've already downloaded it and that it's ready to install, and gives no
> option to download again and overwrite the first download. Any suggestions?

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

You receive error messages if there is insufficient free disk space on the
system drive to install the Windows XP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956894

Error message when you try to install Windows XP SP3: "You do not have
enough free disk space on %SystemDrive% to archive the uninstall files"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949375

How to reclaim disk space on a Windows XP-based computer that has a hard
disk capacity of 4 GB or less
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956324

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3) and *only until* 14 Apr-09.
Go to http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...spx?gprid=1173 | select
"Windows XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"

• US:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• CA:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• UK:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• AU:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

fritzread wrote:
> I can download but cannot install the XP SP3. Despite having many many
> gigs
> of free space on the C drive, I keep getting an error message that there
> is
> not enough free space for the uninstall files. I have tried to download a
> new copy of the SP3 update, thinking that there may be something wrong
> with
> the installation file, but cannot find a way to do this. Microsft Update
> says I've already downloaded it and that it's ready to install, and gives
> no
> option to download again and overwrite the first download. Any
> suggestions?

I had enabled Microsoft Update, which identified the SP3 as a critical
update, which it then downloaded and tried to install, unsuccessfully, with
the error message that there was insufficient disk space. The c drive is a
220 gig partition of a 320 gig disk, with tons of free space, nearly 200 gigs.

I tried the procedure outlined in the article you refer to in your reply, a
command line installation from an external drive, including the nobackup
command. Exactly the same result. Any other thoughts?

"Engel" wrote:

> Hello fritzread,
>
> Did you make certain that your computer was ready for SP3 before you tried
> to install it?
>
> See if the information in this MSKB article, You receive error messages if
> there is insufficient free disk space on the system drive to install the
> Windows XP Service Pack 3 package
> <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956894>
>
>
>
> Ǝиçεl
> -=
>
> "fritzread" wrote:
>
> > I can download but cannot install the XP SP3. Despite having many many gigs
> > of free space on the C drive, I keep getting an error message that there is
> > not enough free space for the uninstall files. I have tried to download a new
> > copy of the SP3 update, thinking that there may be something wrong with the
> > installation file, but cannot find a way to do this. Microsft Update says
> > I've already downloaded it and that it's ready to install, and gives no
> > option to download again and overwrite the first download. Any suggestions?

Repost:

How to reclaim disk space on a Windows XP-based computer that has a hard
disk capacity of 4 GB or less
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956324

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3) and only until 14 Apr-09.
Go to http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...spx?gprid=1173 | select
"Windows XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"


fritzread wrote:
> I had enabled Microsoft Update, which identified the SP3 as a critical
> update, which it then downloaded and tried to install, unsuccessfully,
> with
> the error message that there was insufficient disk space. The c drive is a
> 220 gig partition of a 320 gig disk, with tons of free space, nearly 200
> gigs.
>
> I tried the procedure outlined in the article you refer to in your reply,
> a
> command line installation from an external drive, including the nobackup
> command. Exactly the same result. Any other thoughts?
>
> "Engel" wrote:
>
>> Hello fritzread,
>>
>> Did you make certain that your computer was ready for SP3 before you
>> tried
>> to install it?
>>
>> See if the information in this MSKB article, You receive error messages
>> if
>> there is insufficient free disk space on the system drive to install the
>> Windows XP Service Pack 3 package
>> <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956894>
>>
>>
>>
>> Ǝиçεl
>> -=
>>
>> "fritzread" wrote:
>>
>>> I can download but cannot install the XP SP3. Despite having many many
>>> gigs of free space on the C drive, I keep getting an error message that
>>> there is not enough free space for the uninstall files. I have tried to
>>> download a new copy of the SP3 update, thinking that there may be
>>> something wrong with the installation file, but cannot find a way to do
>>> this. Microsft Update says I've already downloaded it and that it's
>>> ready
>>> to install, and gives no option to download again and overwrite the
>>> first
>>> download. Any suggestions?

fritzread wrote:
:: I can download but cannot install the XP SP3. Despite having many
:: many gigs of free space on the C drive, I keep getting an error
:: message that there is not enough free space for the uninstall files.
:: I have tried to download a new copy of the SP3 update, thinking that
:: there may be something wrong with the installation file, but cannot
:: find a way to do this. Microsft Update says I've already downloaded
:: it and that it's ready to install, and gives no option to download
:: again and overwrite the first download. Any suggestions?



You receive error messages if there is insufficient free disk space on the
system drive to install the Windows XP Service Pack 3 package
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956894

How to reclaim disk space on a Windows XP-based computer that has a hard
disk capacity of 4 GB or less
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956324

Error message when you try to install Windows XP Service Pack 3 on some
Intel processor-based Apple computers: "Out of Disk Space"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950716
--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2009 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Disclaimer: The information has been posted "as is" with no warranties
or guarantees and doesn't give any rights. Computer Maintenance:
Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco

fritzread wrote:
> I can download but cannot install the XP SP3. Despite having many
> many gigs of free space on the C drive, I keep getting an error
> message that there is not enough free space for the uninstall
> files. I have tried to download a new copy of the SP3 update,
> thinking that there may be something wrong with the installation
> file, but cannot find a way to do this. Microsft Update says I've
> already downloaded it and that it's ready to install, and gives no
> option to download again and overwrite the first download. Any
> suggestions?

Happen to be using Boot Camp on a Macintosh?
Update that first. ;-)

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