XP SP2 to SP3 then died on me

Really need some advice here.

Have this laptop that is running on XP SP2.
Tried upgrading to SP3 on the Microsoft website.

During the upgrade, got this message "Setup cannot copy the file xpsp1res.dll"
So i solved it by do this "The specific dll file you are looking for is not under the directory you show. It should be at: C:\Windows\System32"
* i keyed in c:\windows\system32 for it to search.

So SP3 was installed. Then it prompted me to restart for effects to take place.

Restart was done and from there it keeps auto restarting. Unable to get into main page anymore. Keeps getting "kicked out"

Im unable to enter safe mode as well.

Can any kind souls offer me your solutions on what i can do to salvage my files and bookmarks in it. Dont mind forsaking the laptop, badly need the files inside.


Thanks for advices.

Originally Posted by Leftie

Really need some advice here.

Have this laptop that is running on XP SP2.
Tried upgrading to SP3 on the Microsoft website.

During the upgrade, got this message "Setup cannot copy the file xpsp1res.dll"
So i solved it by do this "The specific dll file you are looking for is not under the directory you show. It should be at: C:\Windows\System32"
* i keyed in c:\windows\system32 for it to search.

So SP3 was installed. Then it prompted me to restart for effects to take place.

Restart was done and from there it keeps auto restarting. Unable to get into main page anymore. Keeps getting "kicked out"

Im unable to enter safe mode as well.

Can any kind souls offer me your solutions on what i can do to salvage my files and bookmarks in it. Dont mind forsaking the laptop, badly need the files inside.


Thanks for advices.

If you have the original XP installation CD, a repair install should fix your problem.

You will have to reinstall all service packs and updates after doing a repair install.

XP Repair install

1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.

2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below
This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft
Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

3. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup.

do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you Do Not want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R".

4. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.

5. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair.


6. Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.

You may also want to try using Chkdsk from the Recovery Console before attempting a Repair Install. This may very well fix the problem for you, so try it first.

Running Chkdsk from the Recovery Console

Chkdsk is available from the Windows Recovery Console and can be a very valuable tool in dealing with a system that does not boot properly. Note that many systems have been rescued by the Recovery Console command

chkdsk C: /R

There are only two switches for the Chkdsk command in the Recovery Console:

/P : Does an exhaustive check of the drive and corrects any errors. Does not check for bad sectors

/R : Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. Includes functions of /P