When you try to install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), you may receive an error message, or the installation process may be unsuccessful. This article discusses basic troubleshooting methods to help you successfully install Windows XP SP3.

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Use the following methods in the order in which they are presented. If these methods do not resolve the installation problem, you may want to contact support. For information about how to do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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Method 1: Exit all open programs, restart the computer, and then try again to install SP3

Note Sometimes an installation is unsuccessful because a previous operation was not completed. By restarting the computer, you close any pending computer functions and restart the process.

1.	Exit all open programs.
2.	Restart the computer.
3.	Wait until the computer finishes the restart process, and then log on to your account.
4.	Visit the following Microsoft Web site to reselect and install Windows XP SP3: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com)
5.	Click Express Install (Recommended). Note If the computer meets the conditions for the Windows XP SP3 update, this update will be automatically selected.
6.	Click Install.
7.	Review and accept the End User License Agreement (EULA), and then follow the instructions that are provided during the installation process.

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Method 2: Download Windows XP SP3 from the Microsoft Download Center

For more information about how to download Windows XP SP3 from the Microsoft Download Center, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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Method 3: Temporarily disable any antivirus, antispyware, and third-party firewall programs

Important These steps may increase your security risk. These steps may also make the computer or the network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We recommend the process that this article describes to enable programs to operate as they are designed to or to implement specific program capabilities. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this process in your particular environment. If you decide to implement this process, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect the system. We recommend that you use this process only if you really require this process.

Installation failure may occur when a third-party program holds a file open or when it locks a file that the Windows XP SP3 installation program needs. To minimize this possibility, follow these steps before you install Windows XP SP3:

1.	Exit any open programs, and then restart the computer.
2.	After the computer has restarted, disable any antivirus, antispyware, and third-party firewall programs that may start during the startup process. You can typically disable these programs from the notification area. To disable a program from the notification area, right-click the program icon, and then click an appropriate option to disable the program. Note If these options are not available, see the program documentation. Or, contact the program's manufacturer for instructions.
3.	After you disable these programs, visit the following Microsoft Web site to reselect and install Windows XP SP3: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) Note If you have downloaded the full download package, try to install Windows XP SP3 from the full download package. If you want to download the full package, use Method 2.
4.	After you have completed the Windows XP SP3 installation process, re-enable any antivirus, antispyware, and third-party firewall programs that you disabled in step 2.

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Method 4: Start the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)

1.	Click Start, click Run, type services.msc in the Open box, and then click OK.
2.	Right-click Background Intelligent Transfer Service, and then click Properties.
3.	On the General tab, click Automatic in the Startup type box, and then click Apply.
4.	In the "Service status" section of the properties dialog box, verify that the BITS service is started. If it is not started, click Start.
5.	Click Apply, and then click OK.
6.	Use Method 1 to restart the computer and to install Windows XP SP3.

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Method 5: Clear the Software Distribution folder, and then retry the download operation

1.	Log on to the computer as Administrator or as a user who has administrative permissions.
2.	Click Start, click Run, type services.msc in the Open box, and then click OK.
3.	Right-click Automatic Update, and then click Stop.
4.	Click Start, click Run, and then type the following in the Open box: %windir%\SoftwareDistribution
5.	Click OK.
6.	Right-click the Download folder, and then click Rename.
7.	Type Download.old, and then press ENTER.
8.	Exit Windows Explorer.
9.	In the Services console, right-click the Automatic Update service, and then click Start.
10.	Close the Services console.
11.	Click the following Microsoft Web site to reselect and install Windows XP SP3: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com)

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