I'm about to update to SP3 on my computers and looked at the instructions Ravencajun linked above: Call your computer's manufacturer or check their support website to see if there are any compatibility issues with your computer. Confirm that your BIOS firmware and device drivers are up-to-date. At minimum, your XP computer must be running Service Pack 1 for SP3 to install. To cover every installation option, make sure that you have at least 1.8 GB of free space on your computer's hard drive. Take this opportunity to confirm that you have enough available storage for optimal performance of your computer. Delete any unused programs and data. Perform complete antivirus and spyware scans with up-to-date virus and spyware definitions. Back up your data and make certain you can reinstall it. Remove any Microsoft applications, such as Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit and Remote Desktop Connection (RDP), that will prevent SP3's installation. ------------------------------------- Some of these I don't know how to do. How do I do this?: Confirm that your BIOS firmware and device drivers are up-to-date. -------------------------------------------- Other things I want to doublecheck I really have to do: Remove any Microsoft applications, such as Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit and Remote Desktop Connection (RDP), that will prevent SP3's installation. Do I really have to remove IE8. Some of our computers have IE7 - others have IE8. I am not sure if I have Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit and Remote Desktop Connection (RDP). Would I find these in add/remove programs? What do they do? If I have them, do I really have to remove them? And if so, where do I go to re-install? Same with IE8. Thanks. Lynn. PS - I did order the installation CD a while back and have that to use. I gather it's preferable to downloading?

it is obviously some part of the basic setup that has the issue so any part of office you would have could have the "hole" I have not looked at the specific updates yet so I really don't know what it is patching. Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for September 2008 icrosoft Security Bulletin(s) for September 9, 2008 Note: There may be latency issues due to replication, if the page does not display keep refreshing Today Microsoft released the following Security Bulletin(s). Note: »www.microsoft.com/technet/security and »www.microsoft.com/security are authoritative in all matters concerning Microsoft Security Bulletins! ANY e-mail, web board or newsgroup posting (including this one) should be verified by visiting these sites for official information. Microsoft never sends security or other updates as attachments. These updates must be downloaded from the microsoft.com download center or Windows Update. See the individual bulletins for details. Because some malicious messages attempt to masquerade as official Microsoft security notices, it is recommended that you physically type the URLs into your web browser and not click on the hyperlinks provided. Bulletin Summary: »www.microsoft.com/technet/securi···sep.mspx Critical (4) Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-054 Vulnerability in Windows Media Player Could Allow Remote Code Execution (954154) »www.microsoft.com/technet/securi···054.mspx Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-052 Vulnerabilities in GDI+ Could Allow Remote Code Execution (954593) »www.microsoft.com/technet/securi···052.mspx Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-053 Vulnerability in Windows Media Encoder 9 Could Allow Remote Code Execution (954156) »www.microsoft.com/technet/securi···053.mspx Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-055 Vulnerability in Microsoft Office Could Allow Remote Code Execution (955047) »www.microsoft.com/technet/securi···055.mspx Please note that Microsoft may release bulletins out side of this schedule if we determine the need to do so. If you have any questions regarding the patch or its implementation after reading the above listed bulletin you should contact Product Support Services in the United States at 1-866-PCSafety 1-866-727-2338. International customers should contact their local subsidiary. As always, download the updates only from the vendors website - visit Windows Update and Office Update or Microsoft Update websites. You may also get the updates thru Automatic Updates functionality in Windows system. Security Tool Find out if you are missing important Microsoft product updates by using MBSA. from Microsoft Security Bulletin

Well, that suggestion about the Microsoft Update page sounded good, but now I am more confused. The following are listed as high-priority updates for me: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 and .NET Framework 3.5 Family Update for .NET versions 2.0 through 3.5 (KB951847) x86 Download size: 69.2 MB , 22 minutes Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 is a full cumulative update that contains many new features building incrementally upon .NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, and includes cumulative servicing updates to the .NET Framework 2.0 and .NET Framework 3.0 subcomponents. The .NET Framework 3.5 Family Update provides important application compatibility updates. This combined Service Pack and update is applicable to .NET versions 2.0 through 3.5. Details... Update for Windows XP (KB967715) Download size: 0 KB , 0 minutes (Downloaded; ready to install) Install this update to resolve an issue in which AutoRun features were not correctly disabled. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. Details... Microsoft Office 2007 Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 2 (SP2) Download size: 35.6 MB , 11 minutes Service Pack 2 provides the latest updates to the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack. Details... According to Add/Remove, I already have SP3 installed (though there is no mention of when that was done), so why would I need SP1 and/or SP2? Not only that, but the middle one in the above list, KB967715, is in Add/Remove as already installed on my computer, and so is SP1. So who's crazy here? Maybe I am going to be! Should I just go ahead and tell them all to be installed?

"DA, you are right, as usual." Yup, my friend! Second time this year. Really a little deep here, but you might want to review the below link. Also just a desperate shot in the dark. Run CCleaner with a reboot before and after. My thought is clearing the TEMP files and establishing a clean boot sequence. Finally a Google search using the keywords "windows update failure remove" (sans quotes) has a lot of information. Some of it dated and some of it more current. You would have to go through it to be sure what is XP dedicated. DA Here is a link that might be useful: Microsoft