[b]Method 3:[/b]
Reset the registry and the file permissions
Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322756 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows
Important This method is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced workarounds, you might want to ask someone for help, or you might want to contact Microsoft Customer Support Services. To contact Microsoft Customer Support Services, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/ (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/)
1. Download and then install the Subinacl.exe file. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e8ba3e56-d8fe-4a91-93cf-ed6985e3927b&displaylang=en (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e8ba3e56-d8fe-4a91-93cf-ed6985e3927b&displaylang=en)
2. Start Notepad.
3. Copy and then paste the following text into Notepad.
cd /d "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Resource Kits\Tools"
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=administrators=f /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=administrators=f /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=administrators=f /grant=system=f
subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=administrators=f /grant=system=f
subinacl /subdirectories %windir%\*.* /grant=administrators=f /grant=system=f
secedit /configure /cfg %windir%\repair\secsetup.inf /db secsetup.sdb /verbose
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure. However, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.
4. Save this Notepad file as Reset.cmd.
5. Double-click the Reset.cmd file to run the script.
Note This script file may take a long time to run. Additionally, you have to run this script as an administrator.
6. Install Windows XP SP3.
Full text available here from the M$ Knowledge Base Web Site.
http://tinyurl.com/5nacly
This has solved every problem that I have yet had with SP3 for XP.
If it isn't the required Solution Post back with a better description of the actual events that are happening when you try to install SP3.
OH and just in case you don't have it SP3 is available here as a Download.
http://tinyurl.com/6k9zo3
Col
