Service Pack 3 Windows wont install

chatta

I have tried 3 times to install this and it freezes and becomes unresponsive during the install, I then have to shut down and restart and then windows tells me it is rolling back due to files not being installed correctly. I did search this and found nothing so am I the only one with a problem. Could I do it in safe mode? I want to get rid of the yellow shield in the task bar, and on top of that I have to change my security today as Norton expires today, I really hate doing all this on the same day. Advice needed please xx

Belnahua

How long are you giving it? We have one or 2 old machines and it has taken 3-4 hours to install on them, although the average is about 1-2 hours on the rest. A lot depends on download speed too.

There's also a box to accept the T&Cs of SP3, are you getting that far?

chatta

Belnahua wrote: »

How long are you giving it? We have one or 2 old machines and it has taken 3-4 hours to install on them, although the average is about 1-2 hours on the rest. A lot depends on download speed too.

There's also a box to accept the T&Cs of SP3, are you getting that far?

Yes accepted terms etc, I gave it 2 hours first time and then it told me it was unresponsive, I have broadband so fastish. It downloaded files ok but then it was the installing that it went wrong, stopped at the same point all 3 times.

shadowdragon

I had this and rebooted the pc and as it already downloaded the files, it installed the second time around. It is a bit tempremental from what I have seen.

If its a problem downloading, rather than using the windows update manager, can you find a standalone install pack, download that then do a manual install.

As for norton go on there website get the uninstaller uninstall norton and download AVG its free and its good.

chatta

Thanks for your help, downloading doesn't seem to be the problem, its the installing it freezes on......... Don't worry I will be getting rid of Norton and getting AVG, I could just do without this problem first........ When I did the shutdown it said first bit was ok (download) but it still froze on the install.

shadowdragon

It could be Norton locking out the registery when SP3 tried to update them.

I would uninstall Norton (after you have downloaded AVG (but not installed it)) using there uninstaller, then try installing SP3 (this would then eleminate Norton as the culprit) then if sucessful install AVG.

shadowdragon

Ho another thing that jumps to mind are you using spybot search and destroy? As that might stop it installing too!!!! if you are turn that off while you install.

chatta

I turned or closed all programs off except norton so going to do that, and failing that I will try it in safe mode. I dont have spybot. I really appreciate your help x

shadowdragon

chatta wrote: »

I turned or closed all programs off except norton so going to do that, and failing that I will try it in safe mode. I dont have spybot. I really appreciate your help x

its ok no problems at all, let us know how you get on.

aliEnRIK

I would suggest getting rid of norton FIRST.
Install AVG (Or AVIRA or AVAST) anti virus and COMODO firewall.
Switch defense OFF on firewall. Reboot and have NOTHING else running bar the firewall. Then try reinstalling Service Pack 3.

Quaint1

I don't know if this might help but I had similar problems installing SP2 a while back on a couple of different PC's and the only way I could get past it was by installing the various odd hotfixes first, THEN installing SP2. Although SP2 (and, indeed, SP3) are supposed to be roll-ups of all the preceeding hotfixes, for some reason it does need some of the fixes installed first.
If using Windows Update, when it asks if yo uwant to install SP3, or check other update options, go for the latter, let that find and install any available updates then give the SP3 option a go.

Au Res.,
Paul