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Maybe I can help you with that.

What is it lately with Microsoft Service Packs? To be fair, once the Windows XP Service Pack 3 is installed everything works just fine. However, I tested the SP3 install today and came across a problem. The install went through most of the install then would, nearly upon completion, die when attempting to write to the registry. So, then, I tried making sure the antivirus program was off and not just disabled, disabled everything in the start tray, killed any other non-necessary processes in the Task Manager. After these checks were made I then ran CCleaner to ensure any temp files were gone. So, at this point, I feel fairly confident that regardless of the outcome the install would not fail due to any firewall or antivirus program or any other running process. So, I run the install it fails again with the end result “Access Denied”.

Since this is a known legit install of XP that’s not of concern. I mention this as when many on the internet would post in forums and mention this problem the first question asked was “Is your XP install legit?”. OK, it’s legit so I continue Googling for possible solutions. Google is your friend and was mine once again today (although the solution I am about to post came from one of a few possible websites – so… I can’t quite give the credit where it duly belongs but, for full disclosure, it is not from my brain – I just happened to have success with this particular suggestion and thought I would post the steps I took and paste the code I discovered).

OK. here we go (You can just jump straight to here to skip my blabbering on and get to the solution).

Step1: Install subinacl.exe if you do not already have it installed. I already had it installed but most people will not. No worries. If you’re one that doesn’t have the file you can download it quickly and easily from Microsoft, here.

Step 2: Open notepad.

Step 3: Copy the following text, below, and paste it in notepad.
cd /d "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Resource Kits\Tools"
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=administrators=f /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=administrators=f /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=administrators=f /grant=system=f
subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=administrators=f /grant=system=f
subinacl /subdirectories %windir%*.* /grant=administrators=f /grant=system=f
secedit /configure /cfg %windir%\inf\defltbase.inf /db defltbase.sdb /verbose

Step 4: Save the file as reset.cmd.

Step 5: Run reset.cmd. This process can take a while to run (took me about 8-10 minutes, I believe).

After those 5 steps I was able to successfully install the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Update.

If I helped anyone from having a headache let me know. Comments should be working now and registration is not required.

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