WinXP SP2 installation torture

Hi everybody
I use a Dell 2.53GHz/256MB RAM machine with WinXP Home as OS.
Recently as part of a housekeeping exercise (the computer is 3 years
old) I carried out a Repair-Install of the OS (following Michael
Stevens MVP instructions).
As expected, I had to re-install the SP2 for the OS after the
Repair-Install.
However, I have run into an apparently never-ending cycle of "Access is
Denied" errors, fixes and re-runs which fits known descriptions of the
Chinese water torture very well.
I am using the article in KB873148 which worked very well for me when I
installed SP2 for the first time some months ago.
Now, however, I seem to have run up against a chain of registry keys
with insufficient permission of the SP2 to install. Once I "fix" one
problem, another crops up to give me the "access is denied" error. As
each "trial" takes about an hour and because there are many thousands
of registry keys awaiting their turn, it is possible I could spend a
sizable part of the rest of my life trying to get SP2 to install.
Please help me before I go totally nuts.
PaulFXH

"Access Denied" error when trying to install SP2
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=8125

--
===========================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2006
===========================


"PaulFXH" <paul_hackett2@yahoo.com.br> wrote in message
news:1136406736.798861.285680@g14g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Hi everybody
> I use a Dell 2.53GHz/256MB RAM machine with WinXP Home as OS.
> Recently as part of a housekeeping exercise (the computer is 3 years
> old) I carried out a Repair-Install of the OS (following Michael
> Stevens MVP instructions).
> As expected, I had to re-install the SP2 for the OS after the
> Repair-Install.
> However, I have run into an apparently never-ending cycle of "Access is
> Denied" errors, fixes and re-runs which fits known descriptions of the
> Chinese water torture very well.
> I am using the article in KB873148 which worked very well for me when I
> installed SP2 for the first time some months ago.
> Now, however, I seem to have run up against a chain of registry keys
> with insufficient permission of the SP2 to install. Once I "fix" one
> problem, another crops up to give me the "access is denied" error. As
> each "trial" takes about an hour and because there are many thousands
> of registry keys awaiting their turn, it is possible I could spend a
> sizable part of the rest of my life trying to get SP2 to install.
> Please help me before I go totally nuts.
> PaulFXH
>

TaurArian,
Thanks for your suggestion which I read with interest.
The first two approaches suggested in the article don't help as I am
the administrator already and I'm installing from the Internet (I don't
have the CD) so I can't install from Safe Mode.
The third, however, looks very promising and seems to be changing the
permissions on all subkeys in the various registry hives. Have I got
this right?
However, I have no C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits folder on my
computer right now. I know I can very easily create one but should I be
concerned that it's not there already?
Thanks once again
PaulFXH

Just create the folder - also included additional information you may wish to read prior to
proceeding.

Also do a system restore point prior to making any changes or back up your registry

Description of the Microsoft Windows registry
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/

How to back up, edit, and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756

You may also be interested in reading the access denied section on this Web site
Cannot install Service Pack 2
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#C...Service_Pack_2

Then decide on what procedure you wish to undertake.

Other information you may be interested in:-

Windows XP Service Pack 2 - download - it's for single computers as well.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

SP2 CD can be ordered online.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...s/default.mspx


Service Pack 2 information
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm
http://www.windowstalk.org/sp2.htm

Detailed installation walkthrough for Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=875364


--
===========================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2006
===========================


"PaulFXH" <paul_hackett2@yahoo.com.br> wrote in message
news:1136409319.107684.260530@g44g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> TaurArian,
> Thanks for your suggestion which I read with interest.
> The first two approaches suggested in the article don't help as I am
> the administrator already and I'm installing from the Internet (I don't
> have the CD) so I can't install from Safe Mode.
> The third, however, looks very promising and seems to be changing the
> permissions on all subkeys in the various registry hives. Have I got
> this right?
> However, I have no C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits folder on my
> computer right now. I know I can very easily create one but should I be
> concerned that it's not there already?
> Thanks once again
> PaulFXH
>

changing registry permissions like this opens a system back up, thus
defeating many security patches.

Catch22

"TaurArian [MS-MVP]" <taurarianREMOVECAPS@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23OoFFKaEGHA.2704@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> Just create the folder - also included additional information you may wish
> to read prior to proceeding.
>
> Also do a system restore point prior to making any changes or back up your
> registry
>
> Description of the Microsoft Windows registry
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/
>
> How to back up, edit, and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows
> Server 2003
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756
>
> You may also be interested in reading the access denied section on this
> Web site
> Cannot install Service Pack 2
> http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#C...Service_Pack_2
>
> Then decide on what procedure you wish to undertake.
>
> Other information you may be interested in:-
>
> Windows XP Service Pack 2 - download - it's for single computers as well.
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
>
> SP2 CD can be ordered online.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...s/default.mspx
>
>
> Service Pack 2 information
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm
> http://www.windowstalk.org/sp2.htm
>
> Detailed installation walkthrough for Windows XP Service Pack 2
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=875364
>
>
> --
> ===========================
> TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2006
> ===========================
>
>
> "PaulFXH" <paul_hackett2@yahoo.com.br> wrote in message
> news:1136409319.107684.260530@g44g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>> TaurArian,
>> Thanks for your suggestion which I read with interest.
>> The first two approaches suggested in the article don't help as I am
>> the administrator already and I'm installing from the Internet (I don't
>> have the CD) so I can't install from Safe Mode.
>> The third, however, looks very promising and seems to be changing the
>> permissions on all subkeys in the various registry hives. Have I got
>> this right?
>> However, I have no C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits folder on my
>> computer right now. I know I can very easily create one but should I be
>> concerned that it's not there already?
>> Thanks once again
>> PaulFXH
>>
>