If the "$NtServicePackUninstall$" folder does not exist, you cannot
uninstall SP2. It appears your Windows XP installation was installed
with SP2 integrated and therefore cannot be uninstalled.

Using programs and hardware with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://support.microsoft.com/xpsp2swhw

Some programs 'seem' to stop working after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/842242

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Joe Thorne" wrote:

| I need to unistall SP2 in order to install some incompatible software.
| Unfortunately, the unistall folder doesn't exist. There are no system restore
| points prior to my SP2 install, and the hidden folder
| "$NtServicePackUninstall$" doesn't exist. There is no icon for removal in the
| add/remove program window. I even tried the recovery console, but "cd
| $ntservicepackuninstall$\spuninst" is not recognized. I cannot figure out why
| the uninstall doesn't work. I do use the program TuneXP, and one of the
| options prevents SP2 from being uninstalled, but this is only a guess. If
| there are any suggestions in order to unistall SP2, even specific registry
| keys to edit, please tell me.
|
| Thanks