Was the problem with Windows XP service pack 3 on HP computers fixed?
Yes a simple Google search list’s many replies. here is one of them:
http://www.infopackets.com/news/security/2008/20080514_windows_xp_service_pack_3_gives_boot_to_hp_amd_machines.htm
Thats an message though. Its from May.
If you read it you’ll notice that the problem you mentioned has been fixed.
ok thanks so now i can just install service pack 3 without doing anything?
Hi…
Do you mean the “continuous loop” boot error that affected systems with AMD processors? If so, then yes, a patch was released by Microsoft last year, I believe. This error only affects systems with AMD processors, so if yours is from Intel, you should be fine. 
If your system is a Presario Desktop, there is a support page here that gives more information and assistance.
May God Bless you!
opps i didn’t save it to the desktop to do update like it said. Does that matter?
i didn’t see that it said that until after i saved the file.
Hi…
I’m not sure I understand what you mean. ???
Best Regards…
Go to windows update and download it from there it’s an update .
i just installed service pack 3. However on startup 2 command prompt windows came up and one of them said access denied a bunch of times…
is something wrong?
Did you run the file as an admin?
yes.
Ok. Somethings wrong.
Try another reboot.
How did you install it? Last I saw you’d downloaded it but forgotten where you saved it. Did you find it?
Was it the full installer file (~310MB) or did you do it via Windows Update?
What security applications were running at the time you attempted to install it?
I did try another reboot and the command prompt windows didn’t come up. Avast, Zone Alarm, and Spybot were running. I downloaded it via windows update. Do i have to reinstall it or am I ok?
If all is working OK now, and the update appears in “add/remove programs”, you should be OK.
Not a bad idea to disable security programs when installing major updates, and go offline when doing that. Then, a reboot (or two) and re-enable the security. That’s how I installed it, and not a single hiccup.
the update appears in add or remove programs but it doesn’t say when the service pack was installed and it has a different icon. Is that normal? The icon for the service pack is a computer with a disk.
Looks normal to me.
Access denied to what ?
If the avast folders, registry or files then it might be the avast self-defence module protecting avast, but this is speculation as we don’t know what access was denied to.