I have 2 Windows XP Home update problems :
[1] The same 4 updates keep appearing, even though I've (successfully) installed them :
KB 839645, 841533, 841873, 873376.
They are in Windows\$hf_mig$

[2] When I attempt to install some programs (ie. Visual C# Express) a message appears
saying that SP2 must be installed, and the minimum required is SP1 !

I attempted to install SP3 (Beta) but had the same result as in 2.

Hello and welcome to PC Help Forum.

Have you installed windows installer 3.1?

Do you have SP1 or SP2 installed?

I would leave SP3 RC alone for now.

Do not delete that folder. Leave it alone. It is a necessary folder for future updates
etc.
Description of the contents of Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2003 software
update packages
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824994
%windir%\$hf_mig$ folder

You can delete these update uninstall folders/files -
Folders that have uninstall as part of the name (for example $NtUninstallKB282010$ which
reside in C:\windows (hidden folders) are Window Hot Fix Update folders/files) can be
safely deleted (providing you never wish to uninstall the updates). I would recommend
leaving these folders for a period of at least a month to make sure the update is working
correctly.

These updates can be deleted individually or in multiples. To find out more about the
update/s go to:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=XXXXXX
NB: XXXXXX = the actual number not including the "Q" or "KB"

Once you have deleted the uninstall folders/files, then go to Control Panel, Add/Remove
Programs. Select the matching Windows Hotfix Title relating the update folder/file you
have just deleted and select remove. You will get a Windows error. This is because you
have deleted the uninstall folder/files. Just choose OK and the entry will be deleted from
the Add/Remove Programs Listing.

Problem resolved. Eventually I had to re-install Windows - and the problem disappeared!
Is this the proper way to reply ?
Thanks Jelly Bean

Thankyou for letting me know it is resolved.

Yes just reply on your thread wether it is fixed or not.

So I will mark as resolved.