How to uninstall Windows XP Service Pack 3 completely

Hi Varun,

Thanks for the Prompt answer. I have used third party tool to remove Service Pack 3 because, Add/Remove programs did not give me the option to uninstall. After i removed it using the tool. I checked the Add/Remove programs and SP3 was not displayed. I thought that it was removed but when i right clicked the My Computer, it still showing Windows XP Professional Service pack 3. And after reading the http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249 article, I tried it

1. Method 1 did not work because it is no more displaying in Add/remove programs
2. Tried method 2 but it gave Run error message "c:\windows$NtServicePackUninstall$\spuninst refers to location that is unavailable".It could be on a hard drive on this computer, or on a network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted, or that you are connected to the internet or your network, and then try again. If it still cannot be located, the information might have been moved to a different location.
3. Tried method 3, There were no restore points available.
4. Tried method 4, it did not work cd $ntservicepackuninstall$\spuninst , it gave some message like not available

I tried all the 4 above methods but not successful in removing the SP3.

 Out of curiosity i searched for spuninst.exe file in my laptop C drive, It displayed so many application files of spuninst in below three locations.

C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\  (Ex: C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB873339)

C:\WINDOWS\ie8updates\

C:\WINDOWS\ie8\spuninst

This is the scenario, Is deleting all spuninst application files solves the problem or is there any other solution to remove SP3 completely . Your help is appreciated.

I uninstalled SP3 from my computer, now it doesn't show up in Add/Remove programs. but It is still there. When i right click the My Computer it still shows SP3...I removed it through the software Revo uninstaller.

May I ask why you uninstalled SP3?

Did you first uninstall SP3 via Add/Remove Programs or did you use Revo Uninstaller instead?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your subscription current?  What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?  What third-party firewall (if any)?  Were any of these applications running in the background when you installed and/or uninstalled SP3?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?

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

Yes, I have restarted the computer after the uninstall. I Cleaned up the junk files and registries with Revo uninstaller and Ace utilities, it still shows SP3. I doubt even if i reinstall the OS it may still show the SP3.

Did you restart the computer after uninstalling SP3?

Run any junk cleaner (eg., Ccleaner) or disk cleanup utility to delete unwanted files.

Cheers!

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Hi vimsam,

The reason why you still get Service pack information on My computer> Properties might be because there are still traces of service pack left behind and this can also be a result of using a third party tool which might not have uninstalled the service pack completely or rather successfully.

1)  What exactly do you mean by “but it did not help in removing it completely”?

2)  Did you get any error message or error code during the process?

I am quite sure that one of the methods in the article can definitely remove the Windows XP service pack 3 from your computer better than any third party tool or application.

Make sure you try all the methods listed in the article and get back to us if it still does not uninstall Service pack on the computer.

**http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249**

Varun J: MICROSOFT SUPPORT

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