|
Forum : Windows XP Support
Service Pack 3...
From: Susie Q Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 15:23:01 -0700 I originally installed SP3 when it was first released and it pretty much screwed up my whole system and I had to reload everything. System Restore *did not* restore all my settings. Needless to say I've been reluctant to try it again. Does it make THAT much of a difference? Has anyone had better luck with it now that it's been out for awhile? Any suggestions other than backing up, etc.? It would be greatly appreciated. Running XP Pro, Intel Duo Centrino and I'm not sure what else might be needed. TIA, Susie (have mercy - I'm a newbie! :) Susie-Q wrote: First thing - System Restore is not for your stuff - that's what backups are for. System Restore is for restoring SYSTEM files - your files are not system files. ;-) With proper preparation - you are unlikely to have problems - and if you have been performing proper maintenance all along - even if you do - you are only out a short period of time (restoring from the backup/drive image you made wisely before diving in...) A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft*... http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131 WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2008/05/08/windows-xp-sp3-read-all-prerequisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717 Suggestions: 1) Download the full SP3 installation file and/or burn the ISO download to CD. 2) Ensure (as well as plausible) you have no spyware/malware by doing a full scan with SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes. 3) CHKDSK 4) Defragment 5) Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware manufacturer's respective web pages.) 6) Reboot right before you try to install SP3. 7) Disconnect from the internet before installing (physically.) 8) Disable your antivirus and antispyware applications when you are about to install SP3. Some (if not all) of that is covered in the above links. LONG: Like it or not - Windows XP SP3 is something that you probably should install if... - You are currently running Windows XP (32bit). - You care about keeping your machine current and running its best. - You wish to continue running Windows XP for some indeterminate time into the future. - You want to free support if you have any trouble installing it (SP3 that is.) Service Pack 3 is mostly all of the updates released after SP2 and until the release of SP3. You may think to yourself that you have been keeping your PC updated - so you probably have all those updates - fact is, you'd be incorrect. You may have all the publically released ones, but SP3 contains 1179 previously released updates - guaranteed you do not have them all installed without it. ;-) Most of the issues people have had with SP3 have to do with their particular configuration or a problem caused by a third party change/mis-configuration on their system - and almost all have a relatively simple fix. Before starting, know where you can get help: A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft* until April 2009... http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131 Other than "Automatic Updates" or the Windows Update web page - how can you get SP3? Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2fcde6ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&DisplayLang=en Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers (works just as well for you.) http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en Do a little reading - to ensure you are ready... WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2008/05/08/windows-xp-sp3-read-all-prerequisites-for-a-successful-installation.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/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/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." Did all that and have some issues you believe might be related to SP3? Check these out: 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... Workarounds: http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-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: 1. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?p=187790#p187790 2.http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx 3. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_crashes/ 4. http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9084418 5. 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... I suggest going straight to the third method 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... Good luck to you! You shouldn't need it, however, with just a little planning. ;-) -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html On Sun, 3 May 2009 15:23:01 -0700, Susie-Q <guest@unknown-email.com> wrote: Right, that's one of things System Restore is not designed to do. It restores the system files, not other settings. I installed it on several machines here as soon as it came out. I've had *no* problems on any of them. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Please Reply to the Newsgroup "Susie-Q" <guest@unknown-email.com> wrote in message news:guest@unknown-email.com... I have had zero problems installing SP3 on the more than a few systems I've put it on. However, I *never* allow Windows Update to install a full service pack. I download it to CD, copy it to the drive, and run it from there after disabling anti-virus software. If disabling A/V makes you nervous, simply unplug the network cable. And as to whether it "makes a difference", you're going to need it when apps or further updates test for SP3. HTH -pk I think Shenan has pretty much covered all the bases. Most people have not had problems but there are some that do. I have installed SP3 on a test PC without problems but on my PC that I use for every day use. Also if I where to install SP3 I would choose to download the file and not use Automatic Updates. Your PC must be at least SP1 or SP2 level as SP3 will not install on XP Gold. Most importantly: I would also create an "Image Backup" of your drive prior to installing SP3 just in case you do have problems. Don't have any Image Backup software: Try "True Image" 2009 (has a 15 day trial version available) http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/ Don't forget to create a "Rescue/Recovery" CD. Acronis User's Guide: http://us1.download.acronis.com/pdf/TrueImage12_ug.en.pdf The Image Backup can be store to a second partition on your hard drive, a second internal hard drive or an external drive and even DVD media in a pinch. Image file takes about 40% less space than the amount used on the C: drive. Should anything go wrong you can do a quick recovery of your Windows XP OS just the way it was before you tried to install SP3. The whole process takes less that 15 minutes. -- JS http://www.pagestart.com "Susie-Q" <guest@unknown-email.com> wrote in message news:guest@unknown-email.com... |
Was this post helpful to you?.