Windows XP SP3 keeps hanging during installation

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

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 was available from 14 April 2008 thru May 2009.  Such support will cost you US$59 or higher per incident now.

Note: Support for WinXP (x86) SP2 ends on 13 July 2010. After that date, computers running WinXP (x86) SP2 "will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update" (i.e., Automatic Updates will not work and Windows Update website will not be accessible) until SP3 is installed.

    • What does it mean if my version of Windows is no longer supported?

       http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/what-does-end-of-support-mean

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

Hello,

I need to update to SP3 and have been reading a lot. I believe safe mode is the way for me to go to avoid disabling anti-virus, etc. I have a couple questions to this post.

1)Two download links are given. I downloaded the first one and thought that was it, then I noticed the second link. Do you need to download and install both? Or are they the same thing?

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers

(Single installations for PCs can use the same file)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

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

2)Once downloaded. Do I boot in safe mode and find the file(s) and double click to install? How does one install the upgrade in safe mode?

3)Should I upgrade the drivers for my linksys router before or after the install?

4)I backed up my system making a ghost image using acronis on an external harddrive. Is there anything else I should do before attempting this? Printer drivers? I just don't know what this will impact before hand. I'm scared to death of what this might do to my computer, which is why I've put it off until MS stated SP2 will no longer be supported.

thank you for your help

Hi Sue,

I was having problems installing Service Pack 3 onto my PC (which is running Windows XP Professional). It would get about three quarters of the way through the install but then would just hang/freeze at "Running Processes After Install" too. So this is what I did...

1. Downloaded Service Pack 3 from Microsoft's website onto my PC (as opposed to installing it from Windows updates). To find Service Pack 3 online click on the link below:    (http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/products/windowsxp/sp3/default.mspx)
2. Uninstalled PC Tools Spyware Doctor Anti Virus and Firewall Plus. (By clicking on: Start -> All Programs -> Choose PC Tools Firewall Plus -> Click on Uninstall). Then did the same with Spyware Doctor. (Make sure you know how to re-install them!).

3. Went to Windows Explorer and followed this folder route -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents (may be called 'Shared Documents'). Right mouse clicked on the 'Shared Documents' folder, went down to 'Properties', then unchecked the 'Read-only' box in the 'Attributes' section. (This defaulted back on when my PC rebooted after the SP3 installation).

4. Went to the file where I had downloaded Service Pack 3 (Document looked like this: WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU). Double clicked on this file and it started to run. It took about 20 minutes to install.

5. My PC shut down and rebooted at the end of the install. I then re-installed my Anti-virus first, shut down and rebooted and then re-installed my Firewall Plus.

Bingo! Service Pack 3 has installed successfully!

Hope this helps.