Yes.
You have chosen to install Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 (most
likely) and in doing so on your test machine (where else would you
install pre-release, unfinished updates to test?) you have taken
the risk and now should return your test machine to it's state
prior to installing the beta/pre-release/in testing/not final
release yet software.
Since you should have nothing to lose (installation of a pre-release
software should only be done on a system you are willing/able to
format and rebuild at a moments notice - virtual machines with a
revert capability are great for this) when trying to install the
pre-release software (Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2) simply
format and install your test machine that you are trying to install
upon.
Another option would be a cleanup of said test machine. Similar to
one you might do before installingb any major service pack full
release. The only real difference is that being a test machine -
it is not as important you backup anything...
- Uninstall unnecessary software.
- Update the hardware drivers from the hardware manufacturer's
support web pages.
- Use Disk Cleanup to clear all but the last restore point and to
free up some space not being used by much more than junk.
- Check for viruses/trojans/worms...
- Check for adware/spyware/malware...
- Use CHKDSK to check your hard disk drive for errors.
- Use DEFRAG to cleanup the drive a bit - tidy it up.
Then - once you have your test machine cleaned up - you could make
a new image of it (or however you plan to restore it each time you
are done with whatever tests you use it for) and you'd have a
better testbed machine for it.
However - being a pre-release product - there really is not a
direct support option available. You have a few options, however:
Start here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsxp/0a5b9b10-17e3-40d9-8d3c-0077c953a761.aspx
Which can lead you:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103822
and the forums set up specifically for the pre-release product:
http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=2010&SiteID=17
And of course:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...2b2-aab1-b969a62c68a7&DisplayLang=en#filelist
Where you can download it in different languages OR download a
script that sets a registry key on your system so you can get
Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 from the Windows Update web page
directly.
Hope that helps!
(In short - uninstall SP3-RC2 and wait for the final release...)