XP SP3 installation problem

[Krokr]

Just thought I'd share my experience with the official SP3 update.

Initially I tried to apply as on every other occasion by going through the Windows online update, only to find that it 'hung' while 'running processes prior to instal'. I tried to cancel the instal only to find that it hung during the cancel process with no error messages forcing me to reboot. Upon reboot it tried to complete the instal/uninstal process but hung and wouldn't start Windows. I tried the usual approach of safe mode but it wouldn't start simply gave me a message about the incomplete installation..... aaargh! So, with no Windows I had to try a repair installation, only to find that half an hour in it simply rebooted with no error message!!!! Eventually, after using the recovery console and trying another repair installation I had my Windows back and tried again. This time I cancelled my firewall and antivirus before proceeding but the installation hung at the same place, although this time it was able to reboot successfully into Windows.

Not one to give up, I downloaded the 300+Mb of network installation just in case the connection was causing the problem. Again the installation hung in the same place. Eventually I rebooted, killed EVERY non essential process, including my webcam and vnc processes and this time the update went through without a hitch!

The machine has since been running fine, but I'm not impressed with the lack of meaningful error messages or the catastrophic failure of the cancellation process.

[tinyclanger]

Not one to give up....


Wow...too right! I would have flaffed off at the first sign of a freeze. I won't be trying it anytime soon. You've scared me good and proper..lol :D:D

[Krokr]

Wasn't meant to scare you, merely to suggest that you should probably kill all unnecessary processes before trying the installation, as you won't get any meaningful warnings once you start, and then it MAY be too late! For what it's worth it does seem to be a little faster, but that may be wishful thinking!!

[tinyclanger]

I'm happy enough with SP2.. won't be upgrading unless I have to. Knowing my luck it would go pear-shaped at all stages.... :D
Thanks for the info... and I'm not really that scared :) I'll recover :D:D

[Gargoyle]

It's really worth using a disk imaging program , take an image before the upgrade. If it goes wrong just revert to the image

[Krokr]

Totally agree, a good image restores your system far faster than any system repair, and with far greater reliability.

On most of my systems I use Acronis TrueImage, but on my backup machine I'm using Raid 0+1 on NVRaid and I've not got any of the imaging products to successfully restore a backup image - I still have an outstanding ticket with Acronis on this. Instead I just make sure to have backups of all key files on this machine.

[linker3000]

Windows XP SP3 Creating Havoc

http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/05/09/1258229

[Taff]

Working fine on all xp machines here except for one, which its complaining about it can't install :D

The Error descriptions is gives dont give much help to why its failing either.....

[artyman]

From what I've been reading it was rumoured that AMD processor machines were the problem though this hasn't turned out to be the case. The most likely suspect is where disks were imaged by OEM's and not necessarily matched to the processor, hence Intel files on an AMD machine which causes the hiccup. This is of course speculation, but seems a plausible explanation, in the absence of any hard information. Manufacturers method of having an auto install recovery system from an image may be the root of the problem. Whether a clean install of XP before the SP3 is the answer, who knows !!!

[the shadow]

A big hello to all you new vista users out there .:D:p

[the-bruce]

Ive installed sp3, and haven't encountered any prob's so far ............


Brucey

[tinyclanger]

Updated two machines today with SP3. No problems at all during or since - Whew! :)

[tboorman]

I've had no problems with the two machines I've installed it on either.

[Laser157]

Installed fine on both my machines via Windows update. I did do an image backup in each case beforehand using the free Seagate (slimmed-down Acronis) software and also killed running applications.

[goatty2]

installed sp3 on my laptop from windows update. it took 2 hrs to do it and so far no problems. will do desktop today so hopefully no problems

[DooGie]

I've run SP3 from RC1 up to RTM with no problems at all.
Installed it on several machines at work and the only one I had probs with was when
I decided to use windows update. I've still not sorted that one out but as its my manager's it can wait :)

[norm]

installed sp3 on my laptop from windows update. it took 2 hrs to do it and so far no problems. will do desktop today so hopefully no problems
Two hours:eek:. Personally I downloaded the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4&DisplayLang=en) exe which is 316.4 MB in size. Then ran that. It took around 15-20mins to complete and one reboot. Definitely not 2hours to complete :D

I hope that helps,

Norm ;)

[ess1]

Updated to SP3 using MS Updater. Prior to install was advised by MS pop-up to disable all applications. This I did. As Firewall (KIS) was "off" I disconnected from router.
All went well with no problems, although start-up is taking longer.

[WitchHouse]

sp3 Updated 3 machines here no problem. two amd 2700 + machines and a Dual core pentium. No problems. I did clean them up before hand, and defragment all the drives.

[ffox]

Working fine on all xp machines here except for one, which its complaining about it can't install :D

The Error descriptions is gives dont give much help to why its failing either.....

I had a similar problem. The solution in this post (http://www.technipages.com/error-a-problem-on-your-computer-is-preventing-updates-from-being-downloaded.html) fixed it.

[cliff]

XP Service Pack 3 Kills AMD Machines See Here (http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/Windows-XP-SP3,news-28202.html)

[ffox]

I've got an AMD machine and it's fine. I think that should read "SP3 kills some HP AMD machines (http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/05/09/uh-ohs-sp3-crippling-hp-amd-machines/)". :)

[WitchHouse]

I've got an AMD machine and it's fine. I think that should read "SP3 kills some HP AMD machines (http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/05/09/uh-ohs-sp3-crippling-hp-amd-machines/)". :)

Agreed. We dont all have HP machines lol. no problems with any machines here. and updated 12 this week alone. and 5 were AMD lol.........

[yorkie]

No problems here either installed it on both my amd dual core machines and everything is running fine,

yorkie.

[artyman]

I had one window update install itself last night when I shut the machine down, it was quite quick so i don't think it was SP3

[atsw]

I had one window update install itself last night when I shut the machine down, it was quite quick so i don't think it was SP3You can see where you're at with service packs by doing a 'right-click' on the "My Computer" icon (to be found either on your desktop, or on the "Start" menu), and then selecting "properties" from the pop-up menu. The next dialog you see will tell you if you're on Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3.

Hope this helps,

Andrew

[daviddoc]

Hi my laptop is a Amd machine and i have just installed service pack 3 via windows update in 30mins with no problems

[NGD]

30 min here and running AMD 64X2 6000..all went fine...got 2 others to do one Intel and other old AMD XP so will see what happens with those :eek:

[jamesp]

I have an 8 year old HP AMD Athlon XP machine with the intel driver that causes the problem when installing SP3.

I found this neat little tool that checks your computer for the intel driver and tells you whether it is safe to install SP3 or not, it will even detect if you have the intel driver and gives you an option to disable it and then should be safe to install SP3.

So as it worked for my HP Athlon AMD machine , so I thought I would share this info for other peeps with the same problem, I can't say it will work for everyone.

Anyway I used this tool and disabled the driver, then downloaded and installed SP3 and it has noticeably made my system faster in regard to opening applications etc

Does your AMD-based computer boot after installing XP SP3? - Jesper's Blog (https://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx)

Read the information at the bottom of his updates, it gives you a link to the small tool.

Also you can read this information on how I came to the decision to take the plunge and install SP3

Should I Risk Downloading XP SP3? - Computing and Networks - Digital Spy Forums (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=798514)



Anyway hope it helps!

[slimboy]

ive had the new sp3 on my machine since it came out and ive had no probs yet:)

slimboy:)

[slimboy]

oh and ive got an amd sempron..

slimboy

[thraxas]

Downloading the update cd and running from that overcomes the possible problems with AMD based systems.