XP SP3's Aches, Pains, and User Complaints
I had an easy time with my Windows XP SP3 update, as did a bunch of my buddies and many PC World readers. But maybe yours didn't.
Today I've got a smattering of reader complaints and a fix for one of the most common errors.
Don G. said, "I restarted and the screen went all blue with the following message: 'stop:c0000139 (entry point not found) can't find Gdi32.dll' -- etc, etc. I tried everything to get XP Pro to start -- getting into the Bios or safe mode, or anything else -- to no avail. F8, F9, and any other 'F' I could think of and none worked. I just kept getting the same screen and message over and over again."
Don found details and a partial solution on Microsoft's TechNet forums; read Windows XP will not start after SP3 install. Unfortunately, it cost Don $94 to have a local tech support guy use the info to fix his PC.
There's a wealth of SP3 incident reports, along with solutions for many of them, on Microsoft's TechNet.
You can also read the threads about SP3 hassles in "Windows XP SP3 Sows Havoc, Users Complain" and "XP SP3 cripples some PCs with endless reboots." [Thanks Leo and Karl.]
Safe SP3 Solutions
Jesper Johansson has a good write-up for dealing with SP3 problems and PC Hell talks about resolving the continuous rebooting problem. [Thanks, Jon.] Microsoft's euphemistic "change in functionality" Knowledgebase article has a short list of programs that may not, uh, work so well after installing SP3; it includes ATI's Catalyst and NeatReceipts. Oddly enough, I had no trouble installing or using NeatReceipts. I'm sure the list will grow as more people complain.
More than one of you experienced a failed SP3 installation with the error "Service Pack 3 Setup cannot update a checked (debug) system with a free (retail) version of Service Pack 3, or vice versa."
That's gibberish, of course--but lucky for us, Microsoft supplied a solution:
1. Manually download the installation file of SP3 from Microsoft's Download Center.
Note: The above link is also appropriate for home users. Please save the file to C:\ (The root directory of partition C).
2. Install SP3 in Safe Mode. To do this, we can avoid third-party programs conflict and make sure the installation can be performed completely.
3. Restart the computer and keep pressing the F8 key until the Windows Startup menu appears.
4. Choose Safe Mode, and press Enter.
5. Double-click the downloaded file "WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe" on "C:\" to install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) in Safe Mode.
Note: In Safe Mode, your system display and Desktop will look and perform differently than in Normal Mode. This is only temporary. To return the system back to Normal Mode, simply restart the computer.
Talkback
Have something to say about SP3? You can use Comments below or if you'd prefer, fire an e-mail right into my inbox.
PC World's Marketplace
PC World's Free Whitepapers
tech news tech blogs community & forums laptop prices software reviews downloads
My computer, an Averatec 1000, downloaded and installed SP3 with no problem. Unfortunately, that was the end of my wireless. It cycled on and off in 5 second intervals, never able to resolve the connection. After trying everything I could think of, I had to use a restore point and roll it back to just prior to the installation. Now it works perfectly again. Unfortunately, I am left with the vast amount of SP3 code floating around. I tried to remove it with System Clean-up, but don't know if it did or not. Now what do I do?
Only problem that I have had with SP3 was actually getting it from WU. If the restriction on its being offered to IE8b users was talked about earlier than a couple of days ago, then I missed it. Within minutes of uninstalling IE8b (which was problematic for me any way except in IE7 mode), WU site offered SP3 and I installed. Haven't really noticed any difference, but at least no problems so far.
The only problems I have had thus far (not with my own computers, but with clients) has been getting Windows Updates to work, as well as any Microsoft-based installation (mainly Windows Live). The solution took some time to uncover, but it appeared that the main cause was an incorrectly registered DLL. If this is happening to you, Click on Start, then Run, and type in "regsvr32 wups.dll" and click OK. If that doesn't work, your next stop should be Google...
I downloaded the SP 3 on my Intel Quad Core without a hitch but it crashed my friends AMD Dual core machine. We had to reformat and then reinstall the SP 3 download and the same thing happened. We reformatted and have left it off of his machine all together.
I did the SP3 upgrade on the three network computers and the laptop,All four updated fine. The newest box I built,core duo, 2gigs Ram, very nice video and audio looses the sound when it comes out of hybernation mode. I havn't seen any updates from my cards mfg, nor any blogs related. I do like the fact the SP3 resolved the flash card issue of when it's removed from the drive the system will continue to respond instead of freezing. Rj Oregon