On 4/22/08, Microsoft showed the update gold shield telling us to
download/install and update. I proceeded to use Microsoft Update and the
system scanned our laptop Acer Aspire AMD base.
After a long wait it inform us that we had the SP3 to be installed.
Proceeded to install it and although I understand it is a large release, it
took over 1.5 hrs to come back with the Service Pack 3 Setup Error: "A device
attached to the system is not functioning".
It does not tell you what device, just to select OK to Remove Changes.
It goes to another long, long time before indicating that it failed.
Now, over four weeks later, another gold shield showed up about SP3.
Follow the same process as before, but it showed that the install was zero
MB size, and after 1.5 hrs, came back with the same SP3 Setup Error.
It is obvious that it is detecting something but it does not help you to
know what you can do. Any suggestions?
--
HP Pavilion Elite m9040n 2.4gh 3gb mem 640gb hard drive, dvd lightscribe
technology burner, Vista Home Premium, Office 2007

"KingMe" <nospam******.com> wrote in message
news:DF1B5603-235A-4912-8011-120C8BC2C742@microsoft.com...
| On 4/22/08, Microsoft showed the update gold shield telling us to
| download/install and update. I proceeded to use Microsoft Update and the
| system scanned our laptop Acer Aspire AMD base.
| After a long wait it inform us that we had the SP3 to be installed.
| Proceeded to install it and although I understand it is a large release, it
| took over 1.5 hrs to come back with the Service Pack 3 Setup Error: "A device
| attached to the system is not functioning".
| It does not tell you what device, just to select OK to Remove Changes.
| It goes to another long, long time before indicating that it failed.
| Now, over four weeks later, another gold shield showed up about SP3.
| Follow the same process as before, but it showed that the install was zero
| MB size, and after 1.5 hrs, came back with the same SP3 Setup Error.
| It is obvious that it is detecting something but it does not help you to
| know what you can do. Any suggestions?
| --
| HP Pavilion Elite m9040n 2.4gh 3gb mem 640gb hard drive, dvd lightscribe
| technology burner, Vista Home Premium, Office 2007

You should never have been offered SP3 if you have Vista Home Premium. SP3 is for Windows XP
only.
At this point I would do a System Restore to a time and date just before you attempted the SP3
installation.

Now, could it be SP1 that was offered? There is a SP1 available for Vista.

Sorry for the confusion. My signature is for the Vista desktop, while I was
posting a problem with my wife's laptop XP SP2... mentioned as part of my
original message.
--
HP Pavilion Elite m9040n 2.4gh 3gb mem 640gb hard drive, dvd lightscribe
technology burner, Vista Home Premium, Office 2007


"Richard in AZ" wrote:

>
> "KingMe" <nospam******.com> wrote in message
> news:DF1B5603-235A-4912-8011-120C8BC2C742@microsoft.com...
> | On 4/22/08, Microsoft showed the update gold shield telling us to
> | download/install and update. I proceeded to use Microsoft Update and the
> | system scanned our laptop Acer Aspire AMD base.
> | After a long wait it inform us that we had the SP3 to be installed.
> | Proceeded to install it and although I understand it is a large release, it
> | took over 1.5 hrs to come back with the Service Pack 3 Setup Error: "A device
> | attached to the system is not functioning".
> | It does not tell you what device, just to select OK to Remove Changes.
> | It goes to another long, long time before indicating that it failed.
> | Now, over four weeks later, another gold shield showed up about SP3.
> | Follow the same process as before, but it showed that the install was zero
> | MB size, and after 1.5 hrs, came back with the same SP3 Setup Error.
> | It is obvious that it is detecting something but it does not help you to
> | know what you can do. Any suggestions?
> | --
> | HP Pavilion Elite m9040n 2.4gh 3gb mem 640gb hard drive, dvd lightscribe
> | technology burner, Vista Home Premium, Office 2007
>
> You should never have been offered SP3 if you have Vista Home Premium. SP3 is for Windows XP
> only.
> At this point I would do a System Restore to a time and date just before you attempted the SP3
> installation.
>
> Now, could it be SP1 that was offered? There is a SP1 available for Vista.
>
>
>

The date and time was 5/16/2008 8:08 AM, and on a whim, KingMe pounded
out on the keyboard:

> On 4/22/08, Microsoft showed the update gold shield telling us to
> download/install and update. I proceeded to use Microsoft Update and the
> system scanned our laptop Acer Aspire AMD base.
> After a long wait it inform us that we had the SP3 to be installed.
> Proceeded to install it and although I understand it is a large release, it
> took over 1.5 hrs to come back with the Service Pack 3 Setup Error: "A device
> attached to the system is not functioning".
> It does not tell you what device, just to select OK to Remove Changes.
> It goes to another long, long time before indicating that it failed.
> Now, over four weeks later, another gold shield showed up about SP3.
> Follow the same process as before, but it showed that the install was zero
> MB size, and after 1.5 hrs, came back with the same SP3 Setup Error.
> It is obvious that it is detecting something but it does not help you to
> know what you can do. Any suggestions?

I would start by downloading SP3 instead:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Then I would extract the files (dbl-clicking on the file). After that,
navigate to the \i386\update folder in the extracted location in a
command prompt. Type update /log:<path> , where <path> is where you
want the log file to be located. Make sure the path is the full path,
i.e. c:\sp3\log\

Then you can inspect the install failure more carfully.



--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

What devices are attached to the system (e.g., external HDD; USB key)?

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx

Steps to take before you install WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

How to troubleshoot an unsuccessful installation of WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950718

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.

• US:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• CA:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• UK:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• AU:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...spx?gprid=1173 | select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


KingMe wrote:
> On 4/22/08, Microsoft showed the update gold shield telling us to
> download/install and update. I proceeded to use Microsoft Update and the
> system scanned our laptop Acer Aspire AMD base.
> After a long wait it inform us that we had the SP3 to be installed.
> Proceeded to install it and although I understand it is a large release,
> it
> took over 1.5 hrs to come back with the Service Pack 3 Setup Error: "A
> device attached to the system is not functioning".
> It does not tell you what device, just to select OK to Remove Changes.
> It goes to another long, long time before indicating that it failed.
> Now, over four weeks later, another gold shield showed up about SP3.
> Follow the same process as before, but it showed that the install was zero
> MB size, and after 1.5 hrs, came back with the same SP3 Setup Error.
> It is obvious that it is detecting something but it does not help you to
> know what you can do. Any suggestions?