For over a year I have had microsoft updates telling me that I need to download windows service pack 3, but every time I do it fails, after starting the process and running it for about 45 mins. It then aborts the process and a small window pops up saying "Access denied" so the whole thing then goes through uninstall mode which also takes about 45 mins. I've tried about 6 times over the last year to download this pack but it never works. No idea what to do next.
Incidentally, my laptop takes ages to work each time it is booted up-I am constantly met with unresponsive programmes such as msn messenger and internet explorer. Once they eventually load I have no problems. I'm thinking this is all linked to windows service pack 3 not installing but I might be wrong. Any help gratefully accepted.

Have you got SP1 installed? iirc SP2 is optional for SP3.

I have seen that happen with SP3 before, I re-installed the lot eventually and it happened again - it was down to a stupid video driver, cost me nearly a week to find that out (only found out because I had forgotten to install the video driver on the umpteenth install).

Also recommend disabling any Wireless adaptors whenever you have problems with Windows updates of any type.

Put SP3 on a usb pen.

I have no idea what I've got, I just assumed when prompted I only needed what was suggested. I think there is a partial transfer but how much gets loaded is anyones guess. I got the message SP3 not fully loaded some features may not work (or words to that respect), If they gave a diagnostic at the end of the transfer I might be able to whittle down what is causing the problem.

Do you have administrator permissions to let you install/use programmes,sounds as if you just have a guest account,goto control panel and user accounts and check if you have administrator rights

I'm the one with admin privileges

for what its worth lol-I know Nothing

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377

Start > Run > winver

Should launch an 'About Windows' screen that tells you the service pack you are running at the end of the second line.

I have SP2 and I used the website that AX 125 gave to try and install SP3 but after several attempts I gave up. Resorted to doing a non-destructive system recovery which resulted in me requiring 63 microsoft updates installing. None of them was SP3 however, so I am now about to try yet again, not holding out much hope tho

Click Here

The above click me will alow you to download the FULL SERVICE PACK 3 for windows xp without downloading a program to download it to install it.. Although the Download is over 300mb it might take its time dependent on what connection you have. But it should solve the Access Denide issue.. If it doesnt then reply back and let us know

Tried that already I'm afraid but that was before I did a system recovery, so I'm gonna try it again later-too busy following up posts on here at the mo-it's busy in here tonight lol

Is the machine an Athlon 64 bit by any chance ?

It's an Advent 7078 with centrino. Just ran yet another update showing 2 updates, didnt fully load and stated certain packs of SP2 not loaded. If SP2 isn't up to date then I doubt SP3 will load anyway. Losing the will to live on this one.

There's your answer, download SP2 and run it.

You're not supposed to need SP2 for SP3 (only SP1) but if it has a half-hearted SP2 then this may be causing problems.

With that in mind, I would be tempted to throw SP1 at it first just to play safe.

You could back up things and do a Fresh install Maybe theres been too many attempts of updating the service packs the Operating System is know confused to which service pack is actually installed.. Thats the only option i can give..

Get a proggy called Advisor it's free it tells you about your pc and what updates you have on it and flags up what updates are not installed correctly,it may help you decide to trash the lot and reinstall the OS or just try and repair,me I usually trash the lot and start again the only files I recover are outlook pst and any data that I hadnt'd backed up,most of the proggys you put on a pc are never/hardly used so it's a way of keeping the drive clear of the tat that accumulates.