Problem installing Window XP Service Pack 3 update

I have a friend who hasn't kept up on his maintenance and as a result, got
some viruses and Trojans. We managed to clean these infections off, but now
when he goes to Microsoft Update and is prompted to install Windows XP
Service Pack 3, he is told to disable his virus protection before installing.
I told him this sounds fishy and to hold off on installing it until I talk
to you guys. So, the million dollar question is, does he disable his
protection, or is he still infected with something??
Please help, he needs this computer to reliably operate for his employment.
Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions.

 

I NEVER disable my anti-virus software or Windows Defender when I am
updating or installing anything new on my systems. I have never had any
problems so far.

Please also note that when you have very serious infections with viruses
and trojans, don't ever rely on any anti-virus program to clear them.
There is no guarantee that they will do a proper job. They might also
delete some important systems files because they cannot be cleaned in
any other way.

If you have backed up all your personal documents, pictures, emails etc
and you have all the CDs and serial numbers handy then the best thing is
to perform a clean install of the Operating System and then start all
over again.

Hope this helps.


knowha wrote:
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>I have a friend who hasn't kept up on his maintenance and as a result, got
>some viruses and Trojans. We managed to clean these infections off, but now
>when he goes to Microsoft Update and is prompted to install Windows XP
>Service Pack 3, he is told to disable his virus protection before installing.
> I told him this sounds fishy and to hold off on installing it until I talk
>to you guys. So, the million dollar question is, does he disable his
>protection, or is he still infected with something??
>Please help, he needs this computer to reliably operate for his employment.
>Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions.
>
><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation


HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002



knowha wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> I have a friend who hasn't kept up on his maintenance and as a result, got
> some viruses and Trojans. We managed to clean these infections off, but
> now
> when he goes to Microsoft Update and is prompted to install Windows XP
> Service Pack 3, he is told to disable his virus protection before
> installing. I told him this sounds fishy and to hold off on installing it
> until I talk to you guys. So, the million dollar question is, does he
> disable his protection, or is he still infected with something??
> Please help, he needs this computer to reliably operate for his
> employment.
> Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

knowha wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> I have a friend who hasn't kept up on his maintenance and as a
> result, got some viruses and Trojans. We managed to clean these
> infections off, but now when he goes to Microsoft Update and is
> prompted to install Windows XP Service Pack 3, he is told to
> disable his virus protection before installing. I told him this
> sounds fishy and to hold off on installing it until I talk to you
> guys. So, the million dollar question is, does he disable his
> protection, or is he still infected with something??
> Please help, he needs this computer to reliably operate for his
> employment. Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Disabling the AV and disconnecting from the Internet is two of the things I
recommend during service pack installs on possibly troubled machines...

I would suggest following the advice I am about to give in order and no
matter what you think you have done in the past in terms of cleanup/etc.
This path - if followed as given - is pretty likely to get SP3 installed...

First - before anything else - answer this:

Do you have an HP branded computer with an AMD processor?
(If so - answer and wait. If not, answer and continue witht he steps.)

Fix your file/registry permissions...

Ignore the title and follow the sub-section under "Advanced Troubleshooting"
titled, "Method 1: Reset the registry and the file permissions"

*will take time
(** Ignore the last step - you'll install SP3 shortly, but not now.)

Reboot and ...

Download/install this:


After installing, do the following:

Start button --> RUN --> type in:
"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g!
--> Click OK.
(The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.)

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware


MalwareBytes


After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.

Download and run the MSRT manually:


Reboot.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )


Reboot.

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):

.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions here:

How do I reset Windows Update components?


Reboot.

Now for SP3...

1) Download the full SP3 installation file.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for
IT Professionals and Developers (works just as well for you.)


You are just saving it right now - not running it yet.

2) Ensure (as well as plausible) you have no spyware/malware by doing a full
scan with SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes. If you are following
along, you have already done this!

3) CHKDSK
How to scan your disks for errors

* will take time

4) Defragment
How to Defragment your hard drives

* will take time

5) Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
manufacturer's respective web pages.) Never get hardware drivers
for hardware that was not created/sold by Microsoft from Microsoft.

6) Reboot right before you try to install SP3.

7) Disconnect from the internet before installing (physically disconnect -
pull the network cable or disable the router/modem.)

8) Disable your antivirus and antispyware applications when you are about to
install SP3. Usually right-click on the icon in the taskbar gives you
a choice to do so.

Install SP3 by running the downloaded executable. Reboot when requested to
do so. Logon and let the machine 'settle' for about 10 minutes. Reboot.
Give it 5 minutes after logon to 'settle' - reboot.

After that - there will be more updates.

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer
and visit and select to do a
CUSTOM scan...

Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time. Rebooting as needed.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones or
"Windows Live" ones for now. I would completely avoid the
Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do not see any urgent need to install
Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

Seriously - do all that. This is like antibiotics - don't skip a single
step, don't quit because you think things will be okay now - go through
until the end, until you have done everything given in the order given. If
you have a problem with a step come ask and let someone here get you
through that step. If you don't understand how to do a step, come back and
ask here about that step and let someone walk you through it.

Then - when done - let everyone here know if it worked for you - or if you
have more issues.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way