Upgrade to Windows XP SP3 - Comments Page 1

May 9, 2008 (Computerworld) Installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 sends some PCs into an endless series of reboots, according to posts to a Microsoft support forum.

Jesper Johansson, a former program manager for security policy at Microsoft Corp. and a prominent Windows blogger, has worked with users to tentatively identify the problem as involving only machines using processors from Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

Johansson also spelled out workarounds for the problems on his blog. See http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/

I installed Service XP Pack 3 from Microsoft Windows upgrade web site. The computer would only work in Safe Mode. Using that I was able to able to do a system restore from a couple of days ago. Now the computer works again.

I installed windows Service Pack 3 from Microsoft Windows upgrade from web site and had no problems,it took about forty five minutes connecting with DSL.If you use a dial up it would take a real long time.

Hi Bob. I upgraded to Windows XP SP3 without any problems. I have not however noticed any difference. I upgraded using Administrative options to download SP3 from the Windows catalogue so that I could keep a copy of SP3 to slipstream.

When upgrading to SP3 or any major updates, users should download the update and before installing they should turn off their firewall, antivirus and any spyware detectors. I go even further than this by turning off as many Services as I think can safely be turned off and also by opening Windows Task Manager and ending as many programs and processes as I think can safely be ended. There do not seem to be many problems updating this way. Care needs to be taken when turning off Services or Processes. However, even turning of vital Services or Processes will still run again on reboot therefore no lasting damage will be done.

I downloaded the full version and installed it on my XP Pro computer and have had absolutely no problems since the installation.

Bob, I installed XP SP3 with not problems whatsoever and I did notice that the performance was noticeably better. Have no way of testing how much but it is noticeable. Have always kept up with installs of service updates and the only real trouble I had was with net framework patch that kept indicating it had not installed even though it had. Set it to do not install and have not heard from it again. For me SP3 wa a good package.

I have a PC with an AMD processor and the SP3 sends the machine into a series of reboots. I had to uninstall the SP3 to get my machine to work.

Hi! I just installed XP SP3 on my HP 1350n, with an AMD Processor. It had XP Media Center installed. Well, after the initial reboot, I got another reboot, then another, then another. I started XP in "Safe Mode". It took about 10 minutes to load!! I'm doing a System Restore right now and am about 12 minutes into the process. I hope I get my PC back!??

Hi Bob, I downloaded xp sp3 two days ago. It was very simple to download, but then the problem started. My email in outlook express disappeared. Three times I talked to Netvision support,but to no avail. They could not help me and said to contact microsoft. Of course, Friday Microsoft is closed.

Finally, I did a "system restore" and now I have my email back with good old SP2.

It was a terrible experience. No more experiments for me.

I just installed Ubuntu on a machine that the user installed SP3 on. His machine would not complete the boot process after installing SP3. To tell the truth, I think that his Windows version was pirated but I'm not sure. I installed Ubuntu 8.04, and didn't even tell him it's not Windows. It's been a full day now, and so far no complaints. He was already using Firefox but I was expecting to hear complaints about Open Office. No complaints yet, but it is still early.

Downloaded and installed SP3 without any problem. Then I found that it had re-installed the unwanted and persistent MS Messenger. Got rid of that baby very smartly.

Being the glutton for punishment that I've been for many years, I downloaded and installed SP-3 last week. After about an hour's worth of the process I got a Windows error message, indicating SP-3 could not be installed. No reason given!! Just that blunt statement. I may try it again in a month or two; or I may not. My machine "ain't broke", so I'm not really sure I want to "fix it" -- especially with the crap that rolls out of Redmond.

If you installed MSIE 7 from an update, you will not be able to remove it after installing SP3. This is normal for installing service packs after updates. It should be noted because some people are still finding sites that do not play well with IE7 and are then forced to drop back to IE6.

It took me two attempts to download SP3. I also had to reboot more than once. I can't tell any significant change in performance. Long live XP!

Started with XPproSP2 on Via Nehemiah proc. on Soyo SY-7VBA133U m.board. Windows update suggested XP SP3. First install ran, then failed at "completion"; it volunteered uninstalling itself. I then turned off antivirus and AdSubtract; tried SP3 again. Failed again. I then uninstalled all programs that I thought might have some hidden after-effects and re-installed SP3. Suspect that Innoculation by Advanced Win. Care or in prior years by SpyBot may be culprits. Failed again. May try SP3 again if it works for others with similar setups.

XP SP3 is causing some AMD machines to reboot endlessly. Users aren't able to enter Safe Mode. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and identified two potential

causes. It has posted workarounds on a company blog.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9084418&intsrc=hm_list

Bob, You left out one new XP feature: WPA2 wireless security support has been added.

Tried to install SP3, twice, and got an error message, both times. I read the 'installing instructions' before I downloaded and tried to install. I also, have an AMD Sempron CPU, had all programs closed or killed with End It All 2.

Microsoft's webpage for installing, talks about a couple of XP Updates that will interfere with SP3's installation. It is recommended that you 'uninstall' those 2 Upgrades, Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit & Remote Desktop Connection (RDP) 6.0 MUI pack (Update 925877 for Windows XP)before installing SP3. I looked for those on my PC, could not find them and still had the 'errors' messages and no SP3 Upgrade. Not sure, what the problem is.

EDITOR'S NOTE: What error(s) did you get from the SP3 install?

I installed sp3 on a dual boot ubuntu and winxp system on a pentium processor, and got the continuous reboot. Fired up ubuntu and reinstalled grub and rebooted into windows! My reboot problem was because somehow the MBR got cleared.

Thank you for the info. I wasn't sure what was wrong. Installed SP3 fine on my old Dell but my roommate also has HP with AMD and Media Center. Same problem in that it reboots endlessly after installing SP3. However, I did get it to boot into safe mode so I could do a system restore. Finally found a reason to be happy for automatic system check points! Thanks for the link re the work around. However, I think I'll wait awhile and see what other fixes might arise.