Re: Win XP SP3 cancelling question

I'm a bit confused as the article on how to remove sp3 gives system restore
as the 3rd method - so are you saying not to use it at all or only after
trying the other method first? I understand that there could be a problem in
running system restore if the sp3 installation hasn't finished, as it will
restore the system, but then run those files that are pending to be run on a
reboot (which perhaps haven't run as a proper reboot into normal mode hasn't
occurred, only to safe mode). However, if the installation was stopped before
finished, would the add/remove work properly anyway? If I try add/remove and
that doesn't work, should I try system restore then? And if I do a system
restore and it boots into normal mode, should I perhaps then before rebooting
a second time perform another system restore so that if pending files ran and
made changes, these could be undone with an earlier system restore which
would then hopefully boot to a good configuration but without running those
files again - or is this just a disaster in the making?



"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

Do NOT use System Restore, please! It is not an "undo" utility.

If you can boot into Safe Mode and successfully uninstall WinXP SP3 via
Add/Remove Programs...and reboot *twice* afterwards, please do so.

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

Whether you were able to uninstall WinXP SP3 or not, I'd strongly recommend
opening a free support incident about this. See my previous reply. If
you )or another family member or friend) is technically inclined, see [1]
below, but I think you'd be better off getting help from MS Support instead.

==================
[1] •
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx

• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953356
--
~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/


ozegirl wrote:
With respect to this computer, it seems OK - I think the installation must
have completed properly and that my attempt to cancel was not acted on.

However I have a problem with my son's computer. It appears that he got
the
sp3 update and started installing it but had not switched off the spyware
that warns against registry changes - nevertheless he allowed all changes
bar one - for some reason best known to himself. Over a couple of days he
got a cmd prompt box that ran each time on start up followed by prompts
for
more registry changes. When he opened messenger, he saw a progress bar
that
said "finalising installation" but it appeared to stall and he got sick of
waiting so turned the computer off.
I'm guessing he hasn't installed sp3 correctly. Now when he starts up he
can't get past the windows splash logo to the log on screen, however it
will
start in safe mode. Sp3 is shown in add/remove programs and in safe mode
on
the desktop as sp3. Would a system restore be safe to try given that I
don't
know if the installation finished - he has restarted the computer several
times since but only in safe mode, it won't go into normal. Or would it
be
better to try unintall from add/remove programs?

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

WinXP SP3 is fully uninstallable, should the need arise:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

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. Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select
"Windows
XP" then 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/

ozegirl wrote:
It's a bit early to tell 100%, however it seems to be doing everyday
tasks
OK. I had a moment of panic when I opened Printers & Faxes and there
were
none listed at all, but on restarting the computer they reappeared. My
main
concern was whether if it had installed, it had installed properly
considering I hit the cancel button about 85% of the way through. It
would
appear that it didn't cancel the installation, I'm just hoping now that
it
did install properly instead. :-)

"Alan" wrote:

So is your PC running okay with SP3??

Alan

"ozegirl" <ozegirl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4E25E486-C537-45E6-AD28-7E34F3D73334@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Too late - it looks like it completed the installation anyway.

"ozegirl" wrote:

I found my husband had downloaded and was installing the XP SP3
update.
I
didn't want him to do this, so I hit the cancel button - however for
some
time it continued installing files, though it said cancelling.
Eventually
it
said something about changing registry entries, then it said
"performing
clean up" - this was all under a main heading of "finishing
installation". It
took a very long time to do this section. I am confident that the
cancel
request went through because on the main automatic updates windows it
said
cancelling updates, and on both that window and the installation
window
all
buttons (finish, cancel, etc) were greyed out. I now have a screen
that
says
installation finished and to restart the computer for changes to take
effect.

Would it be best to:

Restart the computer...or
perform a system restore first and then restart the computer......and
in either case should I delete any temporary files first before
restarting
or restoring?

I'm a bit concerned as to whether the installation has been fully
reversed
and don't want to end up with a half-baked windows that might prevent
the
computer from booting . advice please.


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

WinXP SP3 is fully uninstallable, should the need arise:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

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. Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select
"Windows
XP" then 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/

ozegirl wrote:
It's a bit early to tell 100%, however it seems to be doing everyday
tasks
OK. I had a moment of panic when I opened Printers & Faxes and there
were
none listed at all, but on restarting the computer they reappeared. My
main
concern was whether if it had installed, it had installed properly
considering I hit the cancel button about 85% of the way through. It
would
appear that it didn't cancel the installation, I'm just hoping now that
it
did install properly instead. :-)

"Alan" wrote:

So is your PC running okay with SP3??

Alan

"ozegirl" <ozegirl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4E25E486-C537-45E6-AD28-7E34F3D73334@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Too late - it looks like it completed the installation anyway.

"ozegirl" wrote:

I found my husband had downloaded and was installing the XP SP3
update.
I
didn't want him to do this, so I hit the cancel button - however for
some
time it continued installing files, though it said cancelling.
Eventually
it
said something about changing registry entries, then it said
"performing
clean up" - this was all under a main heading of "finishing
installation". It
took a very long time to do this section. I am confident that the
cancel
request went through because on the main automatic updates windows it
said
cancelling updates, and on both that window and the installation
window
all
buttons (finish, cancel, etc) were greyed out. I now have a screen
that
says
installation finished and to restart the computer for changes to take
effect.

Would it be best to:

Restart the computer...or
perform a system restore first and then restart the computer......and
in either case should I delete any temporary files first before
restarting
or restoring?

I'm a bit concerned as to whether the installation has been fully
reversed
and don't want to end up with a half-baked windows that might prevent
the
computer from booting . advice please.


.

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