service pack3 still present in add/remove program window

I did a repair install on a laptop. the laptop had service pack 3. The repair is service pack 2. I rebooted the pc in safe mode because the ntoskrnlpa.exe is causing a bsod. The machine says service pack 2 is present on the computer but in the add/remove window sp3 is listed to be removed. I clicked to uninstall and a window appeared with a list of files and the message said these files may not function correctly if you remove sp3. I can't reinstall the service pack 3 on the pc the machine kicks back a message saying "access denied".

If anyone out there know how to handle this, please post:confused

The machine is xp professional 32 bit
Thanks

 

I still need help. I did not want to delete the post just the edit.

If any has any helpful info please post

 

I think that rather than doing a repair install you will be better off doing clean install with a full format. If you have data/files that need saving from that drive then I would suggest using a live linux cd like ubutunu or puppy to access them and pull them off onto a flash or external drive.

iain.t :major

 

can i still save those files while in safemode? also if i save the drivers in the windows folder will they work if i put them back in once i clean install

 

If you have access to the files through safemode then I can't see you having any problems transfering them to dvd/cd/flash or external drive. Did you create any restore discs when you originally bought the machine or were you supplied with them with the machine?? do you have an XP OS install disc ?? If you supply me with the make and model of your machine I will be able to link you to its drivers page, then you can create your own driver install disc by downloading and saving the drivers to a disc (cd -r are IMO the best to use for this type of media), when re-installing the vital drivers it is best to install them in this order......
1.) Chipset
2.) Video
3.) Audio
4.) Lan (Ethernet)

iain.t :major

 

I have a dell repair disk service pack 2. I can go to dell and get the drivers for the machine on another computer. I have been trying to get to the internet on the broken machine but I can't even in safe mode. Is there a way to get to ms website so I can download the sp3 from them. I know they should have fixes to any problem that's encountered during the sp3 install

 

Have you tried "safemode with networking" if that is not an option then i would suggest downloading SP3 for IT professionals here.....

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4

this can be burned to disc from another machine and loaded on any machine that needs the SP3 update.

iain.t :major

 

The machine will not allow me to install the sp3. It says access denied during the install process in safemode with networking. I still can't connect to the internet

 

Instead of driving yourself crazy over trying to install SP3 onto a corrupt OS, it would be a lot easier to do a format and clean install of your XP SP2 OS and then once you have every thing that is vital to your system running smoothly i.e ... motherboard chipset/video/audio and lan ... you can then slip SP3 onto your system through windows update... then you can upload all of your software/programs and files.

iain.t :major