XP Service packs wont install....

[Little-Miss]

I'm trying to get an ancient XP laptop onto our mananged wireless. I soon realised that it certainly wasnt SP3 i was using so i checked and its only SP1.

I have both 2 and 3 on an external HDD so have tried to install them. The package extracts and then nothing. Thought there might be an issue with my files so went to the MS site to download them but are still having the same issues.

Any ideas why i cant get it to run the SP's? Got 18GB free so cant be that...

[pooley]

Event logs?

[jamesreedersmith]

Not got mains plugged in - SP;s wont install unless you are on mains normally.

[sted]

dosent sp2/3 require sp1 to be installed?

[Michael]

Try copying SP3 to C:\ then run it from there.

It's been a looong time since I have installed a Service Pack on XP. I think you can install SP3 directly on SP1 or SP1a.

You could also try installing/upgrading the Windows Installer to 4.5, reboot, then re-try SP3.

You may also find (even with XP SP3 installed), that you should manually update drivers for your wireless card. It does make all the difference and it will also mean WPA2 TKIP/AES will be supported.

[CHR1S]

You can go SP1 to SP3, however you cant install SP1 on a non SP XP install. If I remember from last time I did this you have to install 2 then 3 and maybe a patch or two.
If you go via windows update you will be redirected to the patch and or info site.