Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3

To make sure that you have a good experience when you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), it is always good to check whether your computer is ready for Windows XP SP3. This article gives you the prerequisites to install Windows XP SP3. Other than these prerequisites, this article also provides some suggestions to improve your experience.

In addition, this article can help you troubleshoot some common error messages that you may receive when you install Windows XP SP3.

Prerequisites to install Windows XP SP3

Before you start to install Windows XP SP3, make sure that your computer meets the following prerequisites:

1. Before you download or install Windows XP SP3, first check hard-disk space
   
   Depending on where you obtain Windows XP SP3, you will have to have a minimum amount of space free on the system disk.
   • To install Windows XP SP3 from the Microsoft Download Center, we recommend that you have a minimum of 1,500 megabytes (MB) of free space on the system disk.
   • To install Windows XP SP3 from a shared network folder, we recommend that you have about 1,100 MB of free space.
   • To install Windows XP SP3 from a CD, we recommend that you have about 1,765 MB of free space.
   For more information about hard disk requirements, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   947311  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947311/ ) The hard disk space requirements for Windows XP Service Pack 3
2. If you have the following updates on your computer, remove them
   
   Windows XP SP3 cannot be installed if you have the following updates installed on your computer:
   • Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit
   • Remote Desktop Connection (RDP) 6.0 MUI pack (Update 925877 for Windows XP)
   If one or both updates are installed on your computer, remove these updates before you install Windows XP SP3. To uninstall these updates, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   2. In the Open box, type appwiz.cpl.
   3. Click Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit or Remote Desktop Connection.
   4. Click Remove.
   For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   949388  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949388/ ) Windows XP Service Pack 3 installation fails with an error message, and the following error is logged in the service pack installation log: "8007F0F4 - STATUS_PREREQUISITE_FAILED"
3. If you have a third-party wireless network adapter, make sure that it is supported
   
   If you have a third-party wireless network adapter, make sure that the device is supported by Windows XP SP3, or make sure that the manufacturer of your wireless network adapter has new drivers available that support Windows XP SP3 before you perform the installation. If you are not sure, contact the manufacturer of your wireless network adapter.
4. If you are running antivirus software, disable it
   
   Warning This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.
   
   Although disabling your antivirus software is not usually recommended, some antivirus software prevents certain system files from being changed. This may cause the Windows XP SP3 installation to fail. To make sure that you can successfully install Windows XP SP3, temporarily disable your antivirus software including any antispyware and third-party firewall programs. To do this, right-click your antivirus program icon, and then click Disable. The antivirus program icon typically appears in the lower-right corner of the computer screen.
   
   Important Make sure that you enable the antivirus software after Windows XP SP3 is installed.
   
   Note An antivirus program is designed to help protect your computer from viruses. You must not download or open files from sources that you do not trust, visit Web sites that you do not trust, or open e-mail attachments when your antivirus program is disabled. For more information about computer viruses, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   129972  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129972/ ) Computer viruses: description, prevention, and recovery

After you make sure all prerequisites are met, go to the "Recommended steps before you install Windows XP SP3" section.

Recommended steps before you install Windows XP SP3

Before you start to install Windows XP SP3, we recommend that you also take the following steps:

1. Perform a full backup of the files that you have on your computer to an external location
   
   We recommend that you perform a full backup of the files that you have on your computer to an external location, such as an external hard disk, DVD, CD, USB flash drive, or network folder. You can use the Backup and Restore Wizard to back up documents, pictures, and other files. For more information, visit the Microsoft Help and Support Center Web site, and see the "Backing up files and folders" section or view the following knowledge base article:
   308422  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422/ ) How to use the Backup utility to back up files and folders in Windows XP Home Edition
2. If you are running Windows XP Professional, create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) set
   
   Note If your computer is running Windows XP Home Edition, ignore this step. ASR is not available for Windows XP Home Edition.
   
   If your computer is running Windows XP Professional, we recommend that you create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) set before you start the installation. This helps you repair your setup if the installation fails. To create an Automated System Recovery set by using Backup, follow these steps:
   1. Open Backup.
      
      By default, the Backup or Restore Wizard starts, unless it is disabled. You can use the Backup or Restore Wizard to create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) set.
   2. Click the Advanced Mode link on the Backup or Restore Wizard.
   3. On the Tools menu, click ASR Wizard.
   4. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
      
      Important You will need a blank 1.44 MB floppy disk to save the system settings and media to contain the backup files.
   For more information, visit the Microsoft TechNet Web site and see "Create an Automated System Recovery set using Backup" or "Recover from a system failure using Automated System Recovery."
3. Review your version of Internet Explorer. To determine your browser version, click About Internet Explorer on the Help menu.
   
   If you are running Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8, be aware that you cannot revert to Internet Explorer 6 after the upgrade to Windows XP SP3.
   
   If you feel you want to use Internet Explorer 6, uninstall Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8 before you upgrade to Windows XP SP3. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   927177  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927177/ ) How to uninstall Internet Explorer 7
   To install Internet Explorer 7 after you upgrade to Windows XP SP3, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx)
   Or, to install Internet Explorer 8, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx)

After you take these recommended steps, go to the "Steps that are required before you install Windows XP SP3" section.

Steps that are required before you install Windows XP SP3

Before you install Windows XP SP3, make sure that you follow these steps:

1. Start your computer, and then log on as an administrator.
   
   Note Administrators have complete and unrestricted access to the operating system and to its settings. You can use the Administrator user name to log on, or you can use another account that is a member of the Administrators group. To determine the groups to which you belong, click Start, click Control Panel, and then click User Accounts. If you need help to verify that you are an administrator on the computer, click the following link to verify your operating environment:
   http://support.microsoft.com/gp/admin (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/admin)
2. If your computer is running on battery power, plug it in so that your computer does not lose power during the installation.
3. If your computer has multiple user accounts that can log on to your computer at the same time and you use Fast User Switching, make sure that all other users are logged off before you install Windows XP SP3. For more information, visit the Windows XP Help and Support Center Web site and see "Fast User Switching."
4. Exit all open programs.

You are now ready to install Windows XP SP3. For more information about how to obtain Windows XP Service Pack 3, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If you cannot install Windows XP SP3, go to the "Troubleshooting Windows XP SP3 installation" section.

This section lists some most common error messages that you may receive when you install Windows XP SP3. Refer to the Microsoft Knowledge Base article that is associated with each error message for possible workarounds or resolutions. If you receive an installation error message that is not contained in this article, try the steps that are listed in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

Troubleshooting for beginning to intermediate users

If you receive error messages during the installation of Windows XP SP3, use the information in this section to troubleshoot the installation. This section is intended for beginning to intermediate users. If you are not comfortable with troubleshooting steps, you may want to ask a friend for help.

Not enough hard disk space

When you try to install Windows XP SP3, you may receive the following error message: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Not enough hard disk space to archive files

When you try to install Windows XP SP3, you may receive the following error message: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Another update is in progress

When you try to install Windows XP SP3, you may receive following error message: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Prerequisites failed

When you try to install Windows XP SP3, you may receive one of the following error messages:

• Message 1
  This Service Pack requires the machine to be on AC Power before setup starts.
• Message 2
  Service Pack 3 Setup has been canceled because Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP is not compatible with this version of Windows. Before you can continue, you must: 1) Uninstall Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit 2) (Optional) Install Windows SteadyState, the newer version of Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit. For more detailed information, go to the Shared Access page on the Microsoft Web site.
• Message 3
  Service Pack 3 Setup has been canceled because Windows XP SP3 cannot be installed over RDP 6.0 MUI PACK (Update for Windows XP (KB925877)). Before you can continue, you must Uninstall KB925877.
• Message 4
  Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 cannot be applied to Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (WinFLP). A unique SP3 update package for WinFLP will be made available at download.microsoft.com.
• Message 5
  Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 cannot be applied to Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS). A unique SP3 update package for WEPOS will be made available at download.microsoft.com.
• Message 6
  Setup cannot continue because one or more prerequisites required to install Service Pack 3 failed. For More details check the Log File Drive_Letter :\windows\svcpack.log.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about error codes that may be received in the service pack log files, go to the "Troubleshooting error codes that appear in the update log or in the service pack log files" section.

If these troubleshooting steps did not resolve the issue, go to the "Next Steps" section for information about how to contact Support.

Troubleshooting for advanced users

If you receive error messages during the installation of Windows XP SP3, use the information in this section to troubleshoot the installation. This section is intended for advanced users only.

Access Denied

When you try to install Windows XP SP3, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Message 1Message 2 For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Insufficient permissions

When you try to install Windows XP SP3, you may receive the following error message: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Internal Error

When you try to install Windows XP SP3, you may receive the following error message: After you click OK in the error message, you receive the following error message: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Errors that are related to the Cryptographic service

You may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• You may receive the following error message when you try to install a program or update:
  Digital Signature Not Found
  The Microsoft digital signature affirms that software has been tested with Windows and that the software has not been altered since it was tested.
  The software you are about to install does not contain a Microsoft digital signature. Therefore, there is no guarantee that this software works correctly with Windows.
  
  Name of software package
  If you want to search for Microsoft digitally signed software, visit the Windows Update Web site at http://update.microsoft.com to see if one is available.
  Do you want to continue the installation?
  If you click More Info, you receive the following error message:
  Microsoft Windows
  The signature on the software package you want to install is invalid. The software package is not signed properly.
  After you click OK in the first error message dialog box, you may receive a message that states that the installation was successful, or you may receive the following error message:
  Name of Update Package
  The cryptographic operation failed due to a local security option setting.
• When you try to install an update or a service pack, you may receive an error message that resembles one of the following:
  • Name of Update Package
    Setup could not verify the integrity of the file Update.inf. Make sure the Cryptographic service is running on this computer.
  • Failed to install catalog files.
  • The software you are installing has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with Windows XP. (Tell me why this testing is important.)
    This software will not be installed. Contact your system administrator.
  • The software you are installing has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with this version of Windows. (Tell me why this testing is important.)
  • Service Pack 1 Setup could not verify the integrity of the file. Make sure the Cryptographic service is running on this computer
• When you try to install a package from the Windows Update Web site or from the Microsoft Update Web site, you may receive a message that resembles the following:
  The software has not passed Windows logo testing and will not be installed.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If these troubleshooting steps did not resolve the issue, go to the "Next Steps" section for information about how to contact Support.

Troubleshooting error codes that appear in the update log or in the service pack log files

If you experience a Windows XP SP3 installation failure, an error code is typically recorded in the %windir%\WindowsUpdate.log file or in the %windir%\svcpack.log file. Typically, these files are located in the C:\Windows directory. The following table shows some most common error codes that may appear in these log files. The Microsoft Knowledge Base articles offer potential resolutions for each of these errors. If the troubleshooting information in these sections did not help, go to the "Next Steps" section.

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

If you cannot install Windows XP SP3 after you follow the prerequisites and recommended steps in this article, and the Troubleshooting steps did not help, you might want to ask someone you know for help. You can also use the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site to find other solutions. Some services that the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site provides include the following:

• Searchable Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1) : Search technical support information and self-help tools for Microsoft products.
• Solution Centers (http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=hub) : View product-specific frequently asked questions and support highlights.
• Microsoft Customer Support Newsgroups (http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx) : Contact counterparts, peers, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs).
• Other Support Options (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=csshome) : Use the Web to ask a question, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services, or provide feedback.

If you continue to have questions after you use these Microsoft Web sites or if you cannot find a solution on the Microsoft Support Services Web site, click the following link to contact Support: