While installing Windows XP Service Pack 3, the install stopped halfway through. A message came up and said "access denied" and then proceeded to uninstall the product. I sent an e-mail to Microsoft and got a reply a few days later. I had mentioned in the e-mail that I was a beginner when it comes to fixing these types of problems, however the response was 3 pages long and so technically involved that I had no idea what the service agent was suggesting that I do. The only thing that i was able to do was confirm that Service pack 2 was installed. The rest was as they say "Greek to me".
Can anyone suggest a plan that is simple and easy to do for s"a newb" like me?

This can be caused by a number of things, but generally due to registry restrictions. Make sure you have installed all other updates including optional ones. Download SP3 from the link below. Boot into Safe mode and try installing it that way. To boot into safe mode - start computer and repeatedly press F8 key. Select Safe Mode from the available options.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Please let us know if you still get errors.

Thanks for getting back to me on this problem. I tried it and sad to say it didn't work. When I went to "safe" mode it gave me an option to sign in as either "Gary" or "Administrator" I have never used "Administrator" before as my updates have always gone smoothly and with no problems. So I signed in as Gary. About half way through i got the same message that I had received before, "access denied" and that was it.
Again, thanks
Gary

Log in to Safe Mode as the Administrator as you have more access rights that way, and not Gary.

Then install SP3, it should install successfully this way...

Usually the Administrator account won't have a password. So you shouldn't need to enter one. If it does have a password but you don't know what it is, do the following to reset it.

Log into Windows in normal mode with your Gary account.
Click Start > Run > type: control userpasswords2 > Click OK
Highlight the Administrator account > click Reset Password.
Type in a new password.

Thanks guys, long weekend ending here (Labour Day) and wife wants to go for a walk!! so will give this a try later on and let you know what happens.
Again, thanks

Sorry guys, still didn't work.