Lock UP Service Pack 3 Help

I posted this previously But Need help NOW! (Cannot find previous posting on forum)

my wife clicked on "want to install updates" Now she has "software update wizard updating your system" "Please wait while setup inspects your current configuration, archives your current files and updates your files" "Finishing Installation" "Details: Performing cleanup" box on the screen. I cannot click on Back, Finish or Cancel (will not highlight). I think this is a service pack 3 upgrade. She has had this box for 36 - 40 hours. What Can we do??

14 more hours have passed no change still cannot get back, finish or cancel tabs to work. We have High speed internet through our cable provider. What are our options...Ctrl-Alt-delete...Crash???

 

I agree with MarkTrent, if it has been trying to update to SP3 for 40+ hours. You may try disconnecting your internet line to the computer first and see if the SP3 installer will stop then.

 

We can run other programs, the update is just locked up. We should be able to "restart" or "turn off".

 

Any update on this. I'm in the same boat and found this after I hit CANCEL... now I'm waiting on it.

 

If windows update locks up, you don't have much choice but to restart your computer any way you can. If that damages Window's system files, you will need to repair install your OS.

 

Alas! After a lengthy live chat with Microsoft support, my system is fine and on SP3.

Rather than restarting, since the system was not completely locked up, he had me do a system restore to before sp3 (which was the day before thankfully), then walked me through several steps (since the live support where he logged into my box wouldn't work) we were able to get all back up and functioning.

YAY Microsoft on this one!

 

We were able to do a system restart. It took a long time to come restart, but there doesn't seem to be any problems now. We are afraid to try the down load again.

 

Where do you find the link for live chat? The links I find say it's a paid service and they want $60.00 to talk....

Are you able to recall the "several steps" he had you go through? How is SP3 running and was it worth it?

 

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 (All Languages)

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

 

System specs
Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 3

but on my computer every thing is the same except it has service pack 2

 

Since my computer is "service Pack 2" should I download 3?

 

In post #0 I said that my wifes computer specs showed SP3, I used your "My Computer>Properties>General" to find them. When I checked my computer (that's a second computer) I found SP2. I'm sorry thatI did not make that clearer.