WinXP SP2 install error

dlb · Dec 18, 2007

I'm installing SP2 on XP Home. I have an official Microsoft SP2 install CD. I have used this CD to install SP2 numerous times, so I know the CD is OK. When I insert the CD, the installation process begins, the files extract, and then after a bit, the install just stops, the window closes, and all that's left is a small window. It says "Service Pack 2 Setup..." at the top, in the title bar (the blue part; and it's too small to say anything else). In the window all it says is "Access is denied." and there's an OK button. That's it. Any ideas?

NICK ADSL UK · Dec 18, 2007

Hi

This article is taken from a fellow MVP Torgeir Bakken

Cannot install Service Pack 2
Service Pack 2 is not offered on the Windows Update web site
Please read the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 is not available to install from Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885627/

Access denied
This can be caused by parts of the registry having insufficient access rights. The following recites a Knowledge Base article that has been removed due to inaccuracies and is provided here as a stopgap measure with notes by my fellow MVP Torgeir Bakken, until a new KB article becomes known.

Knowledge base article 873148 (with some additional notes inline and after):

[Begin of obsolete KB article]

You receive an "Access is denied" error message when you try to install Windows XP Service Pack 2

Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), you may experience the following issues:

You cannot install the service pack.
You receive the following error message: Service Pack setup has failed. Access Denied
The Setupapi.log file contains references that indicate that one or more registry keys could not be deleted while the Setup program was running.
CAUSE

These issues may occur when permissions on one or more registry keys are restricted in a way that prevents the administrator who installs the update from updating the registry keys. Failure to update a registry key causes the Setup program to fail.

WORKAROUND

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.To work around this issue, examine the Svcpack.log file to find the registry keys that are causing this issue, and then modify the registry permissions to give access to the user who is trying to install the service pack. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the user who is trying to install the service pack is a member of the Administrators security group.

2. Open the Svcpack.log file. By default, this file is located in the C:\Windows folder.

Note by Torgeir Bakken:

Svcpack.log is the wrong file to look at, it is Setupapi.log you need to look at.

If you cannot see in setupapi.log at which registry key it fails, you need to enable Verbose logging.

To set the Verbose logging level, you can add a value to the following registry key, using regedit.exe:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\Software
\Microsoft
\Windows
\CurrentVersion
\Setup
Value Name: LogLevel
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value (hexadecimal): 0000FFFF

When finished, you should set it back to the original, Value (Hexadecimal): 20000000

3. Search the log file for references to registry permissions issues. Make a note of the registry keys that are referenced.

4. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK to start Registry Editor.

5. Locate and right-click the registry keys that you noted in step 3 of this procedure, and then click Permissions.

6. Examine the permissions that are configured for each user or group. Identify the restricted permissions that are affecting the user who is trying to install the service pack. Make sure the Administrators group has full access configured.

Note by Torgeir Bakken:
Click to expand...

dlb · Dec 18, 2007

Thanks for the quick response, but it looks like I've figured it out. I ran CCleaner (both HD and reg cleaning). Reboot. Ran Dial-A-Fix; check everything in the Registration Center and the SSL section. Reboot. Ran sfc /purgecache followed by sfc /scannow. Reboot. Tried SP2 install again, and so far it's loading OK. It's already much further along than it was before. Thanks again

NICK ADSL UK · Dec 18, 2007

Your welcome

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WinXP SP2 install error

dlb MajorGeek

NICK ADSL UK MajorGeeks Forum Administrator Staff Member

dlb MajorGeek

NICK ADSL UK MajorGeeks Forum Administrator Staff Member