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Windows XP: Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2?

by eoneel - 8/8/08 8:15 AM
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Post 1 of 13

Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2?

by eoneel - 8/8/08 8:15 AM

Once I installed sp3, I could not get past the windows loading screen, so I started in safemode and uninstalled sp3 that way. My question is, does uninstalling sp3 remove sp2 as well. I can not see sp2 under add/remove programs, but my windows update history says I downloaded sp2 last May. Could somebody help me out?

Post 2 of 13

It's not assured or

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/8/08 8:18 AM In reply to: Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2? by eoneel

Not a sure thing. Microsoft doesn't seem to have a clear bead on this one.

-> But let's clear up one item. After you install SP3, the SP2 uninstall has to be removed so this will NOT show up ever again. That is proper and I'll stop here since the explanation would take far too many pages.
Bob

Post 3 of 13

Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2?

by Rich D. - 8/8/08 7:48 PM In reply to: Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2? by eoneel

Anmswer is NO. SP2 will still be there, but will not show up in the add/remove folder. You can check to make sure. Click on start, go to programs,accessories,system tools,system information. The first that comes up will tell you your OS. The next line will tell you the version SP2. Hope this answers your question.

Post 4 of 13

Misoptica

by broiled049 - 8/8/08 11:48 PM In reply to: Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2? by eoneel

Serwis pack 2 is here. It's work properly. You must cleaning pc.

Post 5 of 13

It depends

by GENE8 - 8/9/08 12:58 AM In reply to: Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2? by eoneel

If you cannot see SP2 in Add/Remove programs then that means that you probably uninstalled it when you uninstalled SP3,if neither came with your OS originally. Your Windows Update history just keeps a record of all the previous updates you made. If you uninstall a Windows update AFTER it was sent to you by Microsoft, then that will have no effect on your Windows Update history list.The uninstalled update will still show up on the list every time you check it.If SP2 came with your Windows OS when you purchased your PC, then it will always be on your system, regardless of rather you download or uninstall SP3 or not.Sometimes it might not apppear in the Add/Remove programs because Windows sometimes makes it a hidden file. And even if you do accidently uninstall SP2, you can always use your Windows OS installation disk to reinstall it again.

Post 6 of 13

It doesn't matter

by fjord_fox - 8/9/08 1:09 AM In reply to: Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2? by eoneel

It is still needed before you install Service Pack 3. The best method of installing SP3 is to go to the Windows Update website and download if from there. That is the best because it will scan your computer and see what other updates you need to install before it will even allow you to install SP3. There are downloading sites from Microsoft, which you can find by going to www.microsoft.com and in their search bar, type in: Windows XP SP3. However, if your computer is not ready for it, it may not install correctly, so it is best to use the Windows Updates website.

You can go there by opening your Start Menu and clicking on the icon that says "Windows Updates". That's the easy way. If you can't find that icon, you have to do it the harder way. Open Internet Explorer and type in windowsupdate.microsoft.com. That's all you need to type in... No www needed. However, when I tried to open it with FireFox, it told me that I could only download it with the latest version of Internet Explorer.

The first thing I would recommend when it opens is that you click on the button that says: Get Microsoft Update today! The difference is that "Windows Updates" only does what it says: It updates Windows--and Windows only. Microsoft Update updates ALL of your Microsoft products. If it doesn't say Get Microsoft today, then just look just above where it says "Welcome to Windows Update" and click where it says "Microsoft Update".

Once you are there, I would recommend that you use the "Custom" button, rather than the "Express" one. Then you are assured of getting all the updates--rather than just the "critical updates".

An overview of Service Pack 3 is located at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsxp/sp3/default.mspx. You will note that if you click on the link "Steps to take before you install Windows XP SP3", you will find that step number 4 is to make a complete backup of your computer before installing a Service Pack. You need to have a good backup program for that. I use Acronis TrueImage Home Edition, which you can download directly from their website at www.acronis.com, but if you go to C/Net's www.download.com and type in "backup", then you can find other programs to choose from.

Post 7 of 13

Thank you

by eoneel - 8/9/08 6:54 PM In reply to: It doesn't matter by fjord_fox

Thanks to all very much, I appreciate your time and knowledge.

Post 8 of 13

Uninstalling SP3 from XP

by shadowca1964 - 8/10/08 12:17 AM In reply to: Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2? by eoneel

By uninstalling SP3 , windows should roll back to your previous service pack level. Having said that, I can not guarantee that will be the case as it may not be a clean roll back

Post 9 of 13

NEVER EVER DO THAT OTHERWISE U WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT ANY PACK

by rd_compuhelp - 8/10/08 7:38 AM In reply to: Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2? by eoneel

Well i am a sys admin and have been working on windows env for the last 10 years....
first of all if you have installed win xp sp-3 then while installing the previous versions have automatically been removed therefore if u remove the sp-3 your system will not work....

Post 10 of 13

If you remove SP3

by PudgyOne - 8/10/08 9:29 AM In reply to: NEVER EVER DO THAT OTHERWISE U WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT ANY PACK by rd_compuhelp

You will get SP2 back except, you need to go and get all those Windows Updates again.

When SP3 RC1 came out, I was using it. To install SP3 RC2, you had to remove SP3 RC1 and you actually got SP2 back with a lot of the Windows Updates missing.


Rick

Don't believe me, try it. Start, control panel, add/remove programs, show updates, Windows XP Service Pack 3, remove.

Post 11 of 13

Sorry SYS-ADMIN. Pudgy is right!

by Rich D. - 8/10/08 10:09 AM In reply to: NEVER EVER DO THAT OTHERWISE U WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT ANY PACK by rd_compuhelp

If you are a system administrator, you should know this. If you uninstall win xp sp3 it should roll back to sp2. If it dose not you can do one of two things. Re-install sp2 or do a system re-store to a date before installing sp3. All said and done I would recommend doing a MSN update check, chances are you will find a lot of sp2 updates that will have to be re-installed. THIS CAN BE DONE, I know I've seen me do it! By the way, your system WILL WORK!

Post 12 of 13

Very scary

by bryang2k3 - 10/2/08 1:55 PM In reply to: NEVER EVER DO THAT OTHERWISE U WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT ANY PACK by rd_compuhelp

You're a sys admin? That is scary!
I uninstalled SP3 from my wife's computer and both installs on mine. Only one install had trouble and needed to have Windows re-installed, the other 2 OS's worked fine afterwords. Both let me install SP2 after removing sp3 with no problems.

Post 13 of 13

Quick way to find out

by BMFTECH4126 - 8/10/08 11:36 AM In reply to: Does uninstalling service pack 3 remove service pack 2? by eoneel

in the run box type in winver and hit enter.
This will display the current service pack installed.
As far as Service Pack 3 Problem goes, This is very common and it's quite simple to fix so that your machine will take the SP3 install perfectly. I am a level 2 Tech Support Agent, I have found that security software being installed when trying to install SP3 messes up the upgrade. Uninstall any type of security whether it's virus protection registry protection etc. Reboot your computer then run the SP3 Setup, Then reinstall your security apps

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