Windows XP Wont update of accept SP3

vinylmusic

I have just installed XP on an old computer that used to have Vista
It has SP2 already installed but it wont update or accept SP3
After clicking on "Express Update" I get the message
"The website has encountered a problem....
Self help options
FAQ.
Find solutions
WU Newsgroup
Online Assistant support

Not finding an answer with the first 3 I chose Online Assistant
It says additional software is required to run the trouble shooter
SP3 and .NET framework 2.0 or later
I installed version 4.0 then went to the SP3 download page and tried to download it
I get verifying...P-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU
then error message: C:docs and settings/mypc\localsettings\temp internet files\content.IE5\G7UFU9QH\Windows XP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU[1].exe is not a valid Win32 application
I found in Fixit the option "Fix the problem with Microsoft Windows Update that is not working" but that only takes me to a window telling me to install SP3
Whatever I do I appear to be in a catch 22. Win update wont work without SP3 and I cant get SP3 without this or that and for that I need to update windows

Can anyone advise
Thanks

bluesnake

it sounds like you version of windows is blacklisted and MS will not let you perform updates. Run the MS Genuine advantage and see what happens

vinylmusic

bluesnake wrote: »

it sounds like you version of windows is blacklisted and MS will not let you perform updates. Run the MS Genuine advantage and see what happens

Is that possible? I used a legitimate XP install disc with an OEM key

GunJack

download sp3 standalone on a different machine and burn it to a cd, then run it on the "iffy" one. Have seen this several times before. It doesn't always work first go, but if needs be try it several times to install from the file on cd.

NiftyDigits

Make and model number of PC? If the key is legitimate, then why not use an XP SP3 OEM disc?

bluesnake

the key, the version of s/w and, bios manufacture are probably inconsistent

James1968

This was quite a common issue. Microsoft have a simple fix. It involves downloading 2 or 3 small files then running them. They reset loads of registry keys.
SP3 will then unpack and run without any hassles. Had to do this on a few occasions.

System

James1968 wrote: »

This was quite a common issue. Microsoft have a simple fix. It involves downloading 2 or 3 small files then running them. They reset loads of registry keys.
SP3 will then unpack and run without any hassles. Had to do this on a few occasions.

Only if you are lucky. That fix never worked on 3 PC that I attempted to upgrade to SP3. In the end I had to rebuild from scratch

Daz2009

I had this problem myself when trying to use windows update.
See if this helps
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144/en-us

vinylmusic

GunJack wrote: »

download sp3 standalone on a different machine and burn it to a cd, then run it on the "iffy" one. Have seen this several times before. It doesn't always work first go, but if needs be try it several times to install from the file on cd.

Thanks for that
The memory stick idea worked a treat
Finally finished after 121 updates
It's silly of me not to have thought of it myself

T_T_2

I had a similar problem a while back. I too had considered downloading the genuine advantage doohicky but was concerned it would throw a wobbler and keep telling me that I had pirated software every five minutes. The reality is that my software is completely legitimate. My thinkpad is direct from manufacture, shipped with vista and I downgraded with the supplied discs to XP (because, well you know why!).