SP3 Automatic Update (WinXP SP2)

[rjstorms]

I have Automatic Updates set to "notify me but don't download or install updates." Somehow I inadvertently downloaded the installation file for WinXP SP3 -- which I do not want on my computer -- and now I continuously have a message popping up telling me that SP3 is downloaded and ready to install.

I performed the following steps in an attempt to remove the SP3 installation file and stop those messages:
(1) Stop the Automatic Update service (run: services.msc)
(2) Delete the contents of the Download Folder (run: %windir%SoftwareDistribution)
(3) Start the Automatic Update service (run: services.msc)

This did not solve the problem – the SP3 installation file and those annoying message are still there. How can I get rid of that file and those messages?

Thanks. Robert

[DocWatson]

If it is not in the MS download folder, you could look for a file of about 316MB. Or you could locate & delete the Windows XP SP3 standalone installer (typically windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu.exe in the US).

I do not have SP3 on my system and feel much as you appear to... don't want it now or ever. The above information about the installer was taken from Paul Theroutt's Supersite page on how to slipstream SP3 & your Windows XP install CD. The file size is common knowledge. Let us know if you find the installer and if removing it solves the problem for you.

[rjstorms]

Thanks for your reply. I searched for the .exe file with no results. I also searched for any file greater than 65MB with no SP3 results.

As stated above, the stuff that I deleted from the MS Download folder mainly included a 571MB folder named 59fc8f12b80caa991163249076d0bcca. I also deleted it from the Recycle Bin, but kept a copy on memory key. This folder contains over 3,000 files, the largest being msncli.exe @ 10,794KB.

The "ready to install" message still appears. What else can I do to get rid of it?

Robert

[Jim Cone]

Maybe...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
...Window Installer Cleanup Utility
--
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA

[rjstorms]

Thanks, but no luck with this either. The message still pops up. Any other ideas?
Robert

[Jim Cone]

Well, there is a windows update newsgroup...
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.p...wsupdate/topics
I have never used it. (so far)
--
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA

[JoeP517]

Check this thread AumHa Forums • View topic - Windows and Microsoft Update Problem Solver: AURESET for a workaround as the tool mentioned is not currently available.

Joe

[StuartR]

Just out of interest. What is the reason that you do not want SP3 on your computer ?

StuartR

[rjstorms]

Main reason as of now (previously had more reasons) is that I don't want IE7, which takes up too much real estate on my screen.
Robert

[Rebel]

"I don't want IE7, which takes up too much real estate on my screen."

Another "out of interest" question ...................... HOW does IE7 take up " too much real estate on my screen" ???????

[rjstorms]

Too much stuff at the top of the screen - toolbars and searchbars, etc. - even after what can be removed has been removed.
Robert

[Argus]

IE7 included in SP3? That's news!

[bigaldoc]

Hmmmm. Interesting to me too. Even though I don't normally use IE, I keep it AND Windows up to date. I notice that if I press the <big>F11 key</big> the browser is allocated 100% of the screen and the URL becomes a mouse-over viewing, sort of like the hiding task bar that most of us like. The attached is a composit of two clips, cut down to conserve Lounge resources.

[DocWatson]

As Argus suggests, IE7 is not part of SP3. Take a look here.

[rjstorms]

Thanks for clearing the IE7 issue up for me. But I still see too many warnings online and in newsletters against installing SP3 just yet. Apparently all the problematic issues have not yet been worked out (i.e., http://windowssecrets.com/2008/12/04/03-XP...curity-patches), so I will wait until I have no choice but to install SP3.

Meanwhile getting back to my original post, and taking into account the comments that followed, what can I do to get rid of the annoying "ready to install" SP3 prompt and the downloaded installation file which I cannot find anywhere on my system?

Thanks. Robert