When I try to update WINDOWS I am sent to a page saying that I need SP3 in order to get updates. If I follow the links in the page eventually I find myself back at the same start page of this article.

This is a CLEAN install of XP and I INSTALLED SP3 but I am still sent on the Microsoft merry-go-round when trying to update. I installed SP3 from a cd, the cd was burned with teh downloaded SP3 from Microsoft.

I am using Security Essentials and that needs to be updated, along with all of the other missing patches.

I always get the annoying problems.

Any help is very much appreciated.

Windows XP SP3
hp dc5750
Check for a malware infection (which can cause this symptom), also you should use Internet Explorer (not Firefox or other browser) to access the Microsoft Update site, and some people have found that MANUALLY downloading and installing Internet Explorer 7 or 8 solved this issue.

It is a clean install of XP, there is no other browser but IE on the machine.

I will try installing IE 8 from a cd and let you KNOW how it goes.See Here...

Then Here...

These are what seems like common issues...hope the info helps...That was it. I installed IE8 from cd but got the same message, then installed the Windows Update Agent and now go straight to the update page. Thank you very much.Excellent...we love success stories here...