As we all know Microsoft has released the final version of Windows XP SP3 to public and its available via Automatic Updates, Windows Updates and Downloads Center.
Earlier we posted about it at following link:
Windows XP SP3 RTM Available on Windows Update, Automatic Update and Download Center
You can download the SP3 from the above mentioned link.
A few people are facing a problem while installing SP3. Whenever they try to install it, Windows shows following error message:
Service Pack 3 setup error. Access is denied.
OR
Service Pack 3 setup error. Service Pack installation did not complete.
If you are also facing the same problem, then follow these simple steps and your problem should be solved:
1. Download and install the Subinacl.exe file from here.
2. Open Notepad and paste following code:
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%\inf\defltbase.inf /db defltbase.sdb /verbose
3. Save the file with name "SP3.bat".
4. Now right-click on the file and select "Run as administrator". It might take some time to complete.
5. After completion, restart your system and now you should be able to install SP3.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows XP.
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Donald
I have asked for help with SP 3 , Twice and I still haven't had a reply yet.
DB
Many many thanks, have been looking for a fix for this for the best part of two months, cannot believe how easy your fix is to work, uninstalled Spybot as suggested, seems to have worked a treat
Most grateful for your advice
MHA
After running installation of both files, I am getting "NTLDR is missing" message and I am not able to access windows....please help!!!
VG
^^ Please check the Help & Support topic mentioned in top menubar.
Steve
excellent solution, problem was solved. A BIG THANK YOU!!!!
RufflesTheSalty
Thank you so much for this .bat file. It worked perfectly and without flaw!
American Mom
Unbelievable! I was so frustrated and you made it so easy. The fix worked perfectly after several failed attempts with the Microsoft fix suggestions. I have the Media Center Edition of Windows XP Home. Thank you so much VG!!!
Josh
VG,
I was wondering if there is a work around for having admin access to get SP3 installed on a network of computers. We are not running SMS so here lies the issue. Users do not have admin access for the SP3 to update. The genuine advantage update has to run first before the SP3 can run.
Is there a way to create a script for users to be able to click on......rather than get the update from M$ I want the workstations to get the source from our server. Any suggestions?
JL
I wanted to uninstall SP3 (mistakenly installed by user) and when attempts were made to uninstall I was getting the Access Denied error. I installed Subinacl.exe and ran SP3.bat and I was able to uninstall SP3 with no problems.
Very helpful...thanks.
Jack L
Windows XP Pro - 8/13/2004 installed on Dell 8400
Norton System Works 2008 - problems upgrading to the 2008 version. Customer Support finally got program installed on 3/11/08
Attempted to upgrade to Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite #3 on 10/2/08 - Customer Service attempted to install but claimed that the Windows Installer was not working properly and concluded that the XP Pro system files were corrupted. They suggested a Repair Install to correct the problem.
I have attempted the Repair Install several times. Sometimes the Repair booted from the CD states that it is unable to find a hard drive.
I have attempted to install SP3 on the system. It fails to install with an error message access denied.
I have a slipstreamed Disk with SP3 on it. It gets almost to the end with the access denied error message.
I have attempted to unlock the registry files using Vishal's bat file and I get through about 2 million files and have 15 failures at which point the program ends. I am still unable to Repair Install or upgrade to SP3.
I have even tried using Safe Mode. Still access denied error message.
This is a single user sysytem. I am the administrator there are no other users.
I took the precaution of making a second duplicate drive by creating a new boot hard drive and using the newly created, larger hard drive for all this experimentation.
What's happening .... how do I fix it to either upgrade to SP3 or do the Repair Install.