KB936929 - SP3 Failed - Access Denied

Results from my POST #19 changes.
5th Attempt to install SP3.

Changing the last line in the script (to make it proper for XP) allowed the script and SP3 update process to install with NO halts or errors issued to screen. Reboot had a pause to logon screen After logon, long pause, with very long screen build to Desktop.

Unfortunately it left the system crippled.
Normally there is 5 svchost.exe running, after update only 2.
aVast normally has 5 processes running, after update, only 1.
Normally I have about 35 processes running, after update 22.

System level.
Either no or crippled app's include Event Viewer crippled, Services and Disk management views would not load. User Accounts would load, but that was it. With only 2 of normally 5 svchost.exe running, this was no surprise. The one good thing, when checking "Device Manager' no yellows, so I think (??) it is recognizing all the hardware. I tried to copy off some of the "Install Logs" created during the update. I could copy, but "Paste" was not available. So I loaded Acronis (within Windows) just to copy data and capture logs, failed at "RPC Server" not available. Overall, system not functional. Besides many system level apps not running, I feel my User Account was put below "Guest" / permissions if that is possible.

So booted from Acronis Rescue disk.
First I copied as many log files as I could find onto my external HDD. Yes I do have "Svcpack.log file" plus numerios others. After that I restored image file which has no SP3 update history. System works fine.

I don't know what I'm going to do next.
Will wait and monitor and hope I can find a solution.
Have not called MS yet, will give them more time to come up with more solutions. I have 3 more computers to update. I'm getting more friendly to Linux by the hour. What I just don't understand ... SP3 brings very little to XP at system level. Why are a number of users having these problems. Users that do not have images to restore from are going to be in a world of hurt. If you have failed more than a couple of times, starting over with a clean install/SP3 disk may be inevitable.

 

Finally - SP3 is installed and system is fine.
I took a suggestion from mflynn and used Dial-A-Fix (ran only "Repair permissions" from program). The one thing I notice when using MS script (see MS Article ID-949377 url in post 1) to repair permissions, my registry was damaged. The first time I ran and rebooted, had to restore from image. The 2nd time I ran MS script, I did not reboot, went immediately into SP3 update, it completed without screen error, but after reboot, the same crippled system. I've spotted more than one discussion in which some feel MS script has some entries errors. That is for MS and others more knowledgeable than myself to persue. So with little to lose and another fresh image to restore from I ran Dial-A-Fix "Repair Permissions ". I rebooted, system was solid. This is good, gosh on a roll. So I started the SP3 install process, after I clicked the 2nd "next" away she went and 4 minutes and 54 seconds later (I do love my new system) SP3 install completed with no screen errors and asking for reboot. Reboot was a slower than normal, but after logon screen my desktop jump to view and I checked running processes/Task manager and they were all there. I did have to toggle "On Access Protection" Off/On in aVast to get my connections restarted in Thunderbird, but that was it.
I will never understand why MS script (Method 3) to repair permissions crippled my system. Possible their was something non-standard in the OEM XP Home licensed version I purchased. Was sourced from a reputable Internet site and MS is happy / validated the license. I can now start updating the other 3 computers in the house.
I would like to thank all who contributed to this thread, and yes mflynn, you wear that smile with pride, you earned it.

Thanks to all
Dennis

 

Late to this party, but I thought this page would be extremely helpful to anyone who had problems, even after taking the excellent suggestions in this thread:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

This MS Support page offers support by email, live chat, or telephone, free of charge, until 04/14/09, for Windows XP only, in the US and Canada.