Can't install XP SP3

[JudgeGarth]

Several months ago I started getting pop-ups saying 'Updates are available for your computer. Click here to install these updates'. I clicked it and it began the installation of SP3. It began backing up files and loading the new files. After about 30 minutes, the screen abruptly went black and the computer rebooted. On the boot, it said it was restoring to previous status and I got a window saying the update failed. It then brought up another window saying it was restoring the registry, files, etc. and after about another 30 minutes, it came back up normally. I tried it again, same thing, so I decide to give it up for a while. Meanwhile, ever since, I've been getting pop-ups about the 'Updates are available for your computer. Click here, etc.' whenever I rebooted.

Today because I've been experiencing slowdowns and I think other updates are being blocked by not being up to SP3, I decided to bite the bullet and try the install again. I disabled Spyware Doctor by stopping the task in Taskmgr. (I also have Norton, but couldn't figure out how to disable that, so maybe that's a problem.) I paid closer attention this time. It gets all the way through the install and is doing something called 'Running processes after install' when the screen goes to black and the computer reboots. Then it's the same as before with the computer restoring everything and going back to the previous status. This time when it came back up for good, I got a pop-up saying something like 'Severe error occurred during last reboot' (don't have the exact text). When I clicked for more information, it said 'Blue screen error caused by a device or driver.....You received this message because a hardware device, its driver, or related software has cause a blue screen error. This type of error means the computer has shut down abruptly to protect itself from potential data corruption or loss. In this case, we were unable to detect the specific device or driver that caused the problem.' I assume this is referring to what happened when the screen went black and the computer rebooted after the install.

So, I'm back to where I was before. I haven't installed any new hardware or software since I first tried the install several months ago. The last hardware I installed was a Sony DVD writer back in February, 2008. I read somewhere about trying to install the updates in Safe Mode, but when I go into Safe Mode, there isn't any option to install the updates.

The computer is hp Pavilion a330n.

[aedipuss]

some hp comps with amd cpu have a problem that needs to be fixed before installing sp3. try this and then the sp3 update.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=230796a7-54d6-4c31-bda3-efd2f...DisplayLang=en

[JudgeGarth]

Okay, aedipuss, thanks. Might be a couple of days before I can do it.

[Midzuki]

To the best of my knowledge, the least dangerous way of installing XP SP3 is
by means of a slipstreamed setup CD.

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[Poppa_Meth]

I had one PC have problems with installing SP3. I had to install the newest version of Windows Installer first. Took care of my SP3 install issues.

[handyguy]

You don't need SP3, do you? Keep doing it & if you don't get a proper install you could have no XP. It might be cause you have bios boot protections on?

BTW, you can turn off it asking for you to update to it when you get a notice to update their should be a check box where you can ask for it to not let you know anymore.

[wtsinnc]

Hello Judgegarth;

Good advice from handyguy.
If you have been keeping up with the periodic Windows updates, you most probably do not need XP 3.

Read this:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2234057,00.asp

[JudgeGarth]

Are you suggesting that I don't need SP3? Maybe so. I don't see any functionality that I need. But is this preventing me from installing other updates? In addition to getting the pop-up for SP3 every time I boot up; at shutdown time I get another message (on the shutdown window) saying that updates are ready to be installed. If I let this go ahead, it looks like it's working, (It says something like '1 Update(s) are being installed. Do not hit the power off button' and it eventually shuts down). I assume it didn't work because I get this same message the next time I shut down (every single time!) Are these update(s) it's trying to install at shutdown time different from the SP3 install it wants me to do (via the pop-up window) at startup time?

BTW, I don't see anything on the pop-up after startup where I can tell it to stop giving me the message.

[Midzuki]

The updates to the OS do not have to be done automagically.
You may turn off the automatic update function, and choose
to install only the "hot"fixes that you find useful or interesting.

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[aedipuss]

you might want to try downloading the sp3 update as a standalone version.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E155...displaylang=en