Please Help Remove Service Pack 3

[dean_whu]

Hello, can somebody please help!

 

I have trawled the internet for literally hours with no luck as of yet.

I need to remove SP3 because it is causing various problems, and I never

wanted to install it anyway (somebody changed my automatic updates setting gggrrrr!)

 

I have tried everything possible so far......it does show in add/remove but comes up with the message that it cannot be uninstalled because it cannot find the file specified.

I have tried using the bundled uninstaller through Start --> Run and this gives the same

error message.

 

I have tried reinstalling SP3 and uninstalling, same problem.

 

I have tried going back to system restore points, and this works but then immediately reinstalls it,

whether connected to the internet or not. If I look back over the last few months there are

at least a several instances of Software distribution 3.0 having been installed at random intervals

but always at about 4am, so it seems if you go back to a restore point there is always

an earlier instance of the service pack having been installed.

 

Finally I ran the Recovery Console and followed all the instructions that are given here (How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer) to remove SP3

but again no luck. There must be a problem, as in as it was installed without my knowledge, maybe it was corrupted because Anti-Virus program was running etc.

 

Please, any help will be gratefully received. I have spent many hours on this already.

 

Kind regards, Dean

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Can we just ask why you didn't want to install SP3 in the first place?

 

Do you have your XP disk to hand?

[starams5]

Hi

 

If the answer to Wolfeymole question is yes (Do you have your XP disk to hand?) and it has the SP2, you might want to consider slipstreaming which is integrating the SP3. This may solve some of the issues you are having with the SP. Slipstreaming requires a some what advanced skill level, if you can't do it may be a friend can help. See link below.

 

Slipstreaming XP SP3

Edited May 13, 2009 by starams5

[dean_whu]

Hi, and thank you for your replies.

 

I do not want SP3 for various reasons. I have built several computers for people

and some are fine with SP3, on others I have had a lot of problems. Another of mine I had to do a complete refresh on after installing SP3.

 

Thanks for info re. slipstreaming, however, I would much rather remove SP3 in its entirety.

 

Any other ideas? Obviously I can bite the bullet and do a fresh install....but I was hoping there would be a more simple solution.

 

Thanks Dean

[dean_whu]

Oh and yes, I do have the XP disc.......

 

Thanks

[starams5]

Hi Dean, See if this link helps. How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer