How to repair XP / Uninstall Service Pack 3 ?

[recksfive]

I installed service pack 3 RC 2, it caused an endless reboot cycle.

I'm trying to repair it, I loaded my Windows XP CD and chose repair and it got me into C:\Windows\ as administrator.

I'm not sure what to do from here? How do I uninstall Service Pack 3, or what do I do?

[Irene]

You can uninstall any Windows Update by going to your Control Panel, Add and Remove Programs.

Add a check tick to the box "Include Updates" at the top.

Locate the SP3 update, touch to highlight and then touch remove.

[Scarecrow Man]

Try this:

http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/repair_...lation_xp.shtml

failing that, this:

http://www.windowsforum.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=15213

[Alan2273]

Try pressing F8 at start up and select safe mode, you can then access the control panel?add and remove to uninstall SP3.

[Dencandy]

Anyone else thinking of messing up their one and only system by installing SP3 while it's still in test mode? Let this and other threads be a warning to you!

This must be the umpteenth foul-up I've heard about regarding SP3. It makes me extremely cautious about trusting the final version supposedly to be released in a few weeks.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I do not expect any big problems with the installation of SP3 - I am sure I will install it on the day it is officially released.

However, two points are essential before installing an update the size of a service pack (even if it is fully released):

• Make sure that there is no malware whatsoever on the system
  
• Take a full backup before the update
  

Anyone who installs a service pack without a prior backup does not get any sympathy from me in case of a failure

[doug]

Not quite on topic but I have a friend with a problem after a recent Vista update giving her Internet access problems. Doing a restore back to an earlier point seems to solve the problem but she keeps getting a message that it didn't fully restore. It re-occurs every time she re-boots. It seems that the last update was for 3 items but she can't remember which they were. She is making notes for me to follow up. I was wondering if the remove updates mentioned above works for Vista so we can track the problem down.

[Dencandy]

I do not expect any big problems with the installation of SP3 - I am sure I will install it on the day it is officially released.

However, two points are essential before installing an update the size of a service pack (even if it is fully released):

• Make sure that there is no malware whatsoever on the system
  
• Take a full backup before the update

I think it's also well worth doing a thorough clean out with CCleaner and a check for corrupt sectors using CheckDisk before installing.

Even so, I'm still going to hang fire for a few weeks and wait for you brave souls to give it a try (and I promise not to say "I told you so" if things go wrong). :D

Anyway, it'll take weeks before I can get the (genuine) disk out here.

[andsome]

I will make a fresh Acronis backup before installing it. :D

[Dencandy]

Not quite on topic but I have a friend with a problem after a recent Vista update giving her Internet access problems.

doug, the latest Windows Download notification email says that MS have released a System Readiness Tool for Vista to help ensure successful installation of future updates, service packs and software. It seems your friend isn't the only one having problems with Vista updates.

XP users beware - it's for Vista only (but only tells you this on the download page).

[doug]

I'll have to start a fresh thread on this.