Windows XP SP3 -- Access is Denied -- Error Code 0x80072F78

I have tried to install SP3 on one particular computer eight times:
six of my attempts have ended with the error above
( the remaining two failed with other errors ).
The final message, after recovery, says that
"Windows XP has been partially updated and may not work properly".
I must, therefore, get SP3 properly installed.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377 offers suggestions:
I have carefully followed them all;
the problem persists.
When I ran the utility SubInACL.exe as suggested
28 out of its tens of thousandes of updates failed;
it does not produce any log
so I cannot tell which these 28 were, or why they failed.

I am at my wits end:
can anyone out there help me ?
or do I just have to write this off as another MS disaster ?

Does anyone at MS look at this newsgroup ???

Error message when you try to install WinXP SP3: "Access is denied" or
“Service Pack installation did not complete�
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377
[cf.
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/re...n-windows-xp/]

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

Steps to take before you install WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

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/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

• Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...spx?gprid=1173 | select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Joe Grant wrote:
> I have tried to install SP3 on one particular computer eight times:
> six of my attempts have ended with the error above
> ( the remaining two failed with other errors ).
> The final message, after recovery, says that
> "Windows XP has been partially updated and may not work properly".
> I must, therefore, get SP3 properly installed.
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377 offers suggestions:
> I have carefully followed them all;
> the problem persists.
> When I ran the utility SubInACL.exe as suggested
> 28 out of its tens of thousandes of updates failed;
> it does not produce any log
> so I cannot tell which these 28 were, or why they failed.
>
> I am at my wits end:
> can anyone out there help me ?
> or do I just have to write this off as another MS disaster ?
>
> Does anyone at MS look at this newsgroup ???