SP3 again: The hell with them!

[glee]

You appear intent on insisting it is a "bad download" when it is far more likely to
be that you need to use "Method 3" in this article, as I already mentioned in my
earlier reply:

Error message when you try to install Windows XP Service Pack 3: "Access is denied"
or “Service Pack installation did not complete”
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377/

 

[James Silverton]

glee wrote on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:36:44 -0400:

Error message when you try to install Windows XP Service Pack 3:
"Access is denied" or “Service Pack installation did not
complete” http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377/

Actually, it was Bruce who initially suggested a bad download due to
interference from programs like McAfee and I must admit that such is my
present *suspicion*. Buying the CD (reluctantly) will eliminate a
variable but I do not see any need to go thro any more rigmaroles than
are suggested by Microsoft when the automatic download is completed. I
did not specifically request SP3 and it *was* an automatically supplied
update; something that has given only one problem that I solved years
ago.

The only, not very informative, error message was a donging noise and a
window saying "Access denied".

As I said to Bruce, I *could* be wrong and I am not going to be dogmatic
about it.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

 

[Daave]

glee wrote on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:36:44 -0400:


Actually, it was Bruce who initially suggested a bad download due to
interference from programs like McAfee and I must admit that such is
my present *suspicion*. Buying the CD (reluctantly) will eliminate a
variable but I do not see any need to go thro any more rigmaroles than
are suggested by Microsoft when the automatic download is completed.

Bruce didn't suggest that the download was bad; he suggested that the
*installation* was bad. Big difference!

If you or someone you know has broadband, you may download the
installation file. Verification is easy with a program such as
MD5summer:

http://www.md5summer.org/

By the way, the MD5 hash for this .exe file is:

bb25707c919dd835a9d9706b5725af58

Or you could download the .iso file (a bigger file, but with broadband,
it is certainly doable):

http://www.microsoft.com/DownLoads/...CE-B5FB-4488-8C50-FE22559D164E&displaylang=en

Once you have the .iso, creating a CD is a breeze. (MD5 hash is
308245853e5b231343ee17b36ffda1e6 )

If you don't have the correct burning software, here are two programs
that can do the trick:

ImgBurn
http://www.imgburn.com/

CDBurnerXP
http://cdburnerxp.se/

Bruce already gave you all the links you need. For best results,
configure a clean boot (which effectively prevents antivirus programs
and other programs that can interfere with the proper installation) and
you'll be good to go. Of course, the best policy is to image your hard
drive before any major undertaking (Service Pack installations fall into
this category).

I agree that it would be nice if Microsoft offered a quick, easy,
foolproof way to install SP3. But this is just not the case. At least
now you know the best method.

 

[James Silverton]

Daave wrote on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:39:54 -0400:

Bruce didn't suggest that the download was bad; he suggested
that the *installation* was bad. Big difference!

If you or someone you know has broadband, you may download the
installation file. Verification is easy with a program such as
MD5summer:

By the way, the MD5 hash for this .exe file is:

bb25707c919dd835a9d9706b5725af58

Yes, I think you are right about Bruce's suggestion, sorry I misread.
Does Microsoft use the checksum after the massive download? It would
have removed one variable from the problem if it had been announced that
either of the two automatic downloads had been checked and found
successful. Well anyway, I have already ordered the CD from Microsoft
and, in principle, when I get it, I will know where I am starting. I
don't intend to try anything else until the CD arrives.

In passing, I wonder if a method to remove any potentially interfering
programs would be to start Windows in Safe Mode for the installation? Or
would this impede the upgrades?


--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

 

[James Silverton]

Daave wrote on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:39:54 -0400:

Bruce didn't suggest that the download was bad; he suggested
that the *installation* was bad. Big difference!

If you or someone you know has broadband, you may download the
installation file. Verification is easy with a program such as
MD5summer:

By the way, the MD5 hash for this .exe file is:

Or you could download the .iso file (a bigger file, but with
broadband, it is certainly doable):

Once you have the .iso, creating a CD is a breeze. (MD5 hash
is 308245853e5b231343ee17b36ffda1e6 )

If you don't have the correct burning software, here are two
programs that can do the trick:


Bruce already gave you all the links you need. For best
results, configure a clean boot (which effectively prevents
antivirus programs and other programs that can interfere with the
proper installation) and you'll be good to go. Of course, the best
policy is to image your hard drive before any major
undertaking (Service Pack installations fall into this
category).

May I also say many thanks for the link to the MD5summer. A postcard
will be sent

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

 

[Daave]

Yes, I think you are right about Bruce's suggestion, sorry I misread.
Does Microsoft use the checksum after the massive download?

I'm not sure what method Microsoft uses for Automatic Updates.

It would
have removed one variable from the problem if it had been announced
that either of the two automatic downloads had been checked and found
successful.

I disagee. Even if you got a Window stating that the download was 100%
accurate, the problem would have occurred after that -- during
installation. Since programs like antivirus apps often interfere with
the installation of programs, it is recommended they are disabled during
installation.

Well anyway, I have already ordered the CD from Microsoft
and, in principle, when I get it, I will know where I am starting. I
don't intend to try anything else until the CD arrives.

In passing, I wonder if a method to remove any potentially interfering
programs would be to start Windows in Safe Mode for the installation?
Or would this impede the upgrades?

Don't use Safe Mode. Use the regular Windows mode. However, and this is
important: configure a clean boot:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

This way, you can be sure none of your programs will interfere with the
installation. Since you will be installing SP3 from a CD, you don't even
need to be online; you may even physically pull the plug on your
connection.

When you are finished with the installation and you are able to go
online again, just make sure you undo the clean boot.

Good luck!

 

[James Silverton]

James wrote to Daave on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:46:00 -0400:

May I also say many thanks for the link to the MD5summer. A
postcard will be sent

I would just add something that might be of interest to anyone else who
gets the MD5summer. My first attempt to use version 1.2.0.5 was
frustrating since the whole window did not appear. Going back to
www.md5summer.org I found that Luke Pascoe had mentioned a difficulty
with the Large Fonts and had provided a beta version to work with that
Display option. The beta version is the one I am now running
successfully and, on checking, I find I am using Large Fonts, something
I had forgotten about and which I am not prepared to change.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

 

[James Silverton]

Daave wrote on Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:21:36 -0400:

I'm not sure what method Microsoft uses for Automatic Updates.

I disagee. Even if you got a Window stating that the download was 100%
accurate, the problem would have occurred after that -- during
installation. Since programs like antivirus apps
often interfere with the installation of programs, it is
recommended they are disabled during installation.

Thanks for all your help. Without disagreeing about where the problem
occurs, there *is* more than one possible cause, one being the download
and I had switched off MacAfee before the second failed *installation*
attempt but not the download. As an ordinary *user* of Windows XP, I am
reluctant to mess around with working settings that I am not confident I
can restore but, so be it, if necessary. My normal rule for settings is
not to experiment: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Of course, I have
daily backups so an inability to restore after a failed installation
*might* not be a complete disaster but I have never tried wiping the
disc and restoring from a backup. I am too chicken to try unless I
absolutely must.

I'd also say, with reference to my original subject title, as far as I
am concerned, I was trying to install a Microsoft supplied update that
they happen to call SP3. I used a sequence that has worked for several
years of updates. I feel that full instructions should have been
supplied by the company rather than reference to possible difficulties.
I wonder what is the experience of others in installing this update?
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

 

[Bruce Hagen]

Daave wrote on Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:21:36 -0400:




Thanks for all your help. Without disagreeing about where the problem
occurs, there *is* more than one possible cause, one being the download
and I had switched off MacAfee before the second failed *installation*
attempt but not the download. As an ordinary *user* of Windows XP, I am
reluctant to mess around with working settings that I am not confident I
can restore but, so be it, if necessary. My normal rule for settings is
not to experiment: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Of course, I have
daily backups so an inability to restore after a failed installation
*might* not be a complete disaster but I have never tried wiping the disc
and restoring from a backup. I am too chicken to try unless I absolutely
must.

I'd also say, with reference to my original subject title, as far as I am
concerned, I was trying to install a Microsoft supplied update that they
happen to call SP3. I used a sequence that has worked for several years of
updates. I feel that full instructions should have been supplied by the
company rather than reference to possible difficulties. I wonder what is
the experience of others in installing this update?
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

<QP>
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
</QP>

But MS says, "If it ain't broke, break it!"