Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

Hello good folks at Dani Web !!!
I have a Dell Dimension 2350, 1 GB RAM, Service Pack 2.
I have been trying for a week to install Service Pack 3 on this machine that has Windows XP Home , on it. I have tried to download and install it from web sights and I have downloaded the file from Download . com and tried to download and install it that way.
I have tried to install it as the machine is in normal , everyday function. I have also tried to install it with my firewall off, AVG off, disconected from the internet, no other programs running and I think I was holding my mouth right ! :D
I installed Service Pack 3 on my other machine , a Dell Optiplex GX240, just fine.
It downloads ok, and then it seems that just when the installation is just about done, I get an error that says..... Access is denied. Then it erases all that it's done and restarts my machine.
I could use some advice in getting this SP3 on this machine.
All and any advice and help is very much appreciated !!!!!!!!!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Tumbleweedracef

Dani AI

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Quick expert note: ’s follow-up shows the SP3 install was fixed by the Microsoft registry/permissions workaround mentioned in the thread; that is a common outcome. The “Access is denied” message during an XP SP install most often comes from corrupted file/registry permissions, an overprotective security product, or a prerequisite/space issue — so treat those areas first. (support.microsoft.com)

Practical pre-check list before retrying SP3:

  • Make sure you are logged on as an Administrator and run the installer that way.
  • Free up at least ~1.1–1.8 GB on the system drive (different install methods have different recommendations).
  • Disable third‑party antivirus/firewall and disconnect the network while installing.
  • Try a clean boot (disable startup items/services) then run the SP3 installer.
    These items are explicitly recommended by Microsoft as SP3 prerequisites and install-time safeguards. ()

If the installer still fails, gather facts (don’t guess): check the two logs the SP3 installer writes to C:\Windows — svcpack.log and WindowsUpdate.log — and look for ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED, DoRegistryUpdates failed, or other error codes. Run basic health checks before permission surgery: 

sfc /scannow
chkdsk c: /f /r

Also try the Windows Update component reset sequence: 

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
net start bits
net start wuauserv

These steps help rule out corrupt system files, disk errors, or a bad update cache. ()

If the log points to registry/file permission issues (typical for ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED), follow Microsoft’s supported permission-repair options rather than random registry edits: use the official permission-reset guidance (SubInACL approach) or, on XP, the secsetup/secedit restore method — but back up the registry and create a full image or restore point first. Those permission fixes are what resolve most Access Denied SP3 failures, but they change broad ACLs so use them carefully.

Summary: follow the pre-install checklist, check svcpack.log when it fails, run the health commands above, and only after backing up the system use Microsoft’s permission-reset guidance. ’s tip about installing as Administrator was spot on, and ’s post confirms the Microsoft fix can and does work in the real world.

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Member Avatar for Laser

You must be an administrator to install the service pack.

You could try downloading the entire package from and installing from that, instead of relying on downloading during the installation.

Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

As I wrote at first, I did download the whole PACK, and tried to download it as a file. It still sits on my desktop. I am the Administrator on my computer, the only user on it.

Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

We are fixed !!!
I found the answer I need on this,( ) page. It basicaly resets the registry, I guess. I ran the file it said to run and I created the Note Pad file as it said to, and it worked !
My computer wouldn't shut down when it tried to restart, so I had to push and hold the Start button. When Windows restarted, it was fine and SP3 is installed !!
Thanks for the one reply and thanks be to DaniWeb for being here when we need them !!!!!!!!!!!

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