Re: XP SP3 Installation...

I currently run AntiVir PE (free version) as antivirus software alongside
Zonealarm Security Suite firewall.

Since ZA Security Suite includes an anti-virus application and since you should only have one anti-virus application loading at boot and running in the background, uninstall AntiVir & reboot.

However, despite my machine now running (outwardly) as it did before I
tried
to install SP3, the update still appears in my Add/Remove Programs list.
Any
attempt to remove it (via Add/Remove Programs) causes my PC to crash on
restart and so I have had to leave it where it is for now.

The fact that you had two anti-virus applications installed and running in the background when you installed SP3 may have given you a "horked" (bad; dirty; incomplete) install.

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

<IMHO>
Temporarily disable all real-time protections afforded by your anti-virus application, any anti-spyware applications, and any third-party firewall [e.g., ZA] prior to (un)installing SP3. If you disable a third-party firewall, make sure you then enable the Windows Firewall: The machine should not be connected to the internet without an active firewall.

After (un)installing SP3 /and rebooting twice/, check to make sure your real-time protections have been re-enabled; If you disabled a third-party firewall, remember to re-enable it and disable the Windows Firewall.
</IMHO>

After uninstalling AntiVir & rebooting, try uninstalling SP3 (cf. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249) per the above recommendations, then reinstall it in the same environment, Cliff.
--
~PA Bear


Cliff.Rigg wrote:
Hi PA Bear,

Thanks for the prompt reply and sorry for the paucity of information
regarding my post. Hopefully I can rectify it for you.

I currently run AntiVir PE (free version) as antivirus software alongside
Zonealarm Security Suite firewall. Windows firewall is disabled. I don't run
Windows Defender as I had issues with it eating up CPU time when I trialled
it for a while and decided to continue with the applications from AntiVir
and ZoneLabs as they proved less troublesome.

On the subject of running IE7 without add-ons, It isn't something that I've
attempted. To be honest, after my machine slowed so dramatically - and I
mean waiting several minutes for the screen focus to change between windows
- I was a bit nervous about trying to replicate and investigate the error.

I am (possibly wrongly) more concerned with the problem of removing the dead
hulk of the aborted installation from my hard drive. As my machine won't
boot after removal it appears that some functionality from SP3 has become
entangled with SP2 which fails when SP3 is removed.

Thanks, also, for the information regarding support for XP. As this will
only continue for SP3 until 2009 I realy ought to get SP3 installed properly
eh?

What would your opinion be on me trying to reinstall OVER the failed SP3?
Are there likely to be any major issues if I do?

PA Bear wrote:
What anti-virus application or security suite is installed, Cliff? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall
(if any)?

On closing IE7 however, response times became tremendously slow. To
ascertain what might be soaking up all of the processor time I opened the
Task Manager (eventually) and could see that System Idle Process was in
fact
running at 98%

Nothing alarming here: It means that all other running processes were only
consuming 2% of CPU.

=> Does this behavior persist if you start IE7 in No Add-ons mode? To
start IE7 in No Add-ons mode:

1. Right-click on the blue IE desktop icon and select Start without
Add-ons; or

2. Start > (All) Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Internet Explorer
(No add-ons).

Troubleshooting and Internet Explorer’s (No Add-ons) Mode:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/07/25/678113.aspx

=> Does the problem persist if you Reset IE7 Advanced settings (RIES)?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923737 <= Read before using!

If no joy, there's always...

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.

• US:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• CA:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-ca&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• UK:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-gb&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• AU:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-au&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Cliff.Rigg wrote:
Hi,

I know that there have been many problems deploying this update to
machines
with AMD processors. Mine is an AMD Turion CPU, and I have already
experienced (and fixed) the endless re-boot problem that affected many
such
PCs via editing the registry keys. In addition, I have also had to install
a
new ATI display driver to cope with the update.

This done , somewhat smugly, downloaded the update again (yawn), dropped
my
antivirus software, and performed what looked to be the perfect
installation. Everything finished without errors and I awaited the re-boot
with a song in my heart.

I entered my password and logged in. Still things looked great. Connected
to
the web without a hitch and surfed for a moment or two. The only
difference
I could discern was that access was a little slower than usual.

On closing IE7 however, response times became tremendously slow. To
ascertain what might be soaking up all of the processor time I opened the
Task Manager (eventually) and could see that System Idle Process was in
fact
running at 98%. After a moment or two of observing Task Manager it was
clear
that details for other processes were being updated regularly (i.e. it
wasn't that Task Manager couldn't get any time to update itself, and hence
make it LOOK as though System Idle Process was using 98%. There really
WAS,
nothing much happening at all).

After closing down via the on/off switch - the only real option given my
machine's reluctance to process anything - I restored to a point prior to
the update with seemingly no problem.

However, despite my machine now running (outwardly) as it did before I
tried
to install SP3, the update still appears in my Add/Remove Programs list.
Any
attempt to remove it (via Add/Remove Programs) causes my PC to crash on
restart and so I have had to leave it where it is for now.

My question, after the long preamble, is simply this:

Has anyone else heard of this problem and if so is there a workaround for
it
yet?

I look forward to reading any help anyone might be able to provide.

I'm running SP2 on an HP Pavilion s7510 PC.

Thanks in advance....

.

Relevant Pages

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