I tried to install the Service Pack 3 on my WinXP Professional running computer but at a certain point a Setup Error
appears saying “An Internal error occurred”
Microsoft support article 949384 referring to this error says that the cause lies in the svcpack.log file, and lists 9 entries in this file that can be a cause for this error, but I couldn’t find any of these entries this log file.
Please help
Thanks

Can you still use your computer? Did it roll back the install [ie reverse the install]. How did you try to install it? Through a download or through MS's automatic updates? I did a download of the installation file & that worked just fine. If you can still use your computer I suggest that you try that. Visit this website on troubleshooting a SP 3 install.

While technically, you do not have to have SP2 first (only SP1), I have a 100% success rate at updating when starting with SP2.

Do note that installing a service pack is not recommended for fixing a broken computer. Did your computer work fine before this?

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3

Originally Posted by Digerati

Do note that installing a service pack is not recommended for fixing a broken computer.

Installing SP 3 did fix a minor problem that I had with XP. I had corrupted my ability to play DVDs but thats all it wouldn't do so I left it alone considering the sensitivity of my tv tuner. After Sp 3 I could play DVDs. However thats not why I installed it. Also I only have experience installing Sp 3 through the downloaded application and not from the automatic updates which worked fine each time. Its a very big download though.

Do note that installing a service pack is not recommended for fixing a broken computer.

Installing SP 3 did fix a minor problem that I had with XP

Sorry, I worded that poorly - what I meant was upgrading to SP3 is not a standard recommended fix for a broken computer. Certainly, if a needed file is corrupt, and SP3 included a new version of the file, it may correct a problem. But normally you should make sure your computer is working fine before major upgrades to ensure the upgrade is a success.

I agree not to install sp 3 if you have major problems that are keeping you from using your computer or from using it effectively but what about for my problem or similar minor issues which are more mere inconveniences? I couldn't use Xp to play dvds but I could do anything else that I wanted especially being able use my tv tuner [which is finicky] so I decided not to reinstall xp. I didn't install sp3 to solve that problem, that just happened to be the outcome.

No doubt simply installing a major patch may fix many issues - after all, the process of installing SP3 is similar to running a repair install, but with newer versions.