Possible Problems you may encounter while installing Windows XP SP3.

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When I installed service pack 3 on my Windows XP machine it was done through automatic updates via a DSL connection and on my eMachine T3410 I experienced only one problem.

The problem on each subsequent boot was that Windows Live Messenger kept trying to re-install and tossing an error. All I had to do to fix this was to un-install Windows Live Messenger, and then re-install it. Other than that the install went smoothly and only downloaded around 50mb of the 300mb or so total of the complete install file.

Jesper's Blog Jesper Johansson is a Microsoft MVP and on his blog he has posted a download link to a program which prepares an HP AMD system for the SP3 update so you don't wind up with the continuous reboot problem. The link is in the "Updates" section of this page and the link says "wrote a small tool". Download and run this program before updating to SP3 in Windows XP.

You receive a “Stop 0x0000007E” error message after you upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 on a non-Intel-processor-based computer. This is the infamous continous reboot problem that happens after upgrading an HP AMD based computer to SP3. The affected computers are ones which have an image loaded to their drives that was generated on an Intel based system. This causes an intel driver to try to load after the update which causes the crash and reboot cycle. This happens mostly on HP systems, and HP has a fix and instruction page for their computers with an Upgrade Utility. Also, a program has been written which fixes the problem and can be found in the next link below.

You cannot uninstall Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 after you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 This Microsoft Knowledge Base article tells you how to uninstall IE 7 or 8 if you've installed it before installing Service Pack 3. The gist of the article is do not install IE 7 or 8 before installing Service Pack 3, and if you have you will need to uninstall Service Pack 3 before you will be able to uninstall IE 7 or 8.

IE 8 Beta Warning - Windows XP Service Pack 3(SP3) users only This article basically repeats the information from the above Microsoft Knowledge Base article with a bit more detail and screenshots.

How to troubleshoot an unsuccessful installation of Windows XP Service Pack 3 This is a Microsoft Knowledge Base article that gives troubleshooting procedures for failed Service Pack 3 installations.

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