Upgrading from SP2 to SP3

amateuruser

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Jun 3, 2009
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I'm trying to upgrade from Service Pack 2 to Service Pack 3, without losing my programs, files and settings. I ran the exe file and entered the Product Key, but the upgrading windows closed by itself and there wasn't any response. So after I restarted the computer, it gave me two boot options

1. Microsoft Windows XP Professional
2. Microsoft Windows XP Professional Set up.

Option 2 gave me the hal.dll file missing or corrupt. Option 1 was the original SP2, logging in just fine. How do I get SP3 installed correctly?

I need the SP3 since I was planning on cloning the drive with Acronis True Image which is compatible with only SP3 and above.
 
Solution


Sounds like you are trying to run the full Windows setup instead of just installing SP3...


Sounds like you are trying to run the full Windows setup instead of just installing SP3, SP3 would not ask you for the product key and would not give you a Windows setup prompt.

Download just the Service Pack 3 for XP from Microsoft and run that.

 
Solution