Windows XP Service Pack 2 Removal Through Recovery Console

If the computer cannot start in either Normal mode or Safe mode, Service Pack 2 removal can be started through Recovery Console.

  1. Turn on the computer with the Microsoft® Windows® XP disc in the CD/DVD drive. When prompted to start from the CD, press any key. If you miss the message and arrive at a blinking cursor, restart the computer and try pressing any key again when the message appears.
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  2. Windows XP Setup prepares to run. If you need to install a third-party SCSI or RAID driver, press the F6 key during startup.
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  3. The option for an Automated System Recovery appears momentarily.
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  4. Setup loads the files necessary for the installation, and then starts Windows.
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  5. Press the R key to run the Recovery Console for Windows XP.
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  6. Press the number for the corresponding Windows installation for which you know the administrator password.
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  7. After selecting the appropriate Windows installation, type the administrator password when prompted.
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  8. The screen displays a C:\WINDOWS prompt.
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  9. At the C:\WINDOWS prompt, type: cd $ntservicepackuninstall$. Press the ENTER key.

  10. At the At the C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$ prompt, type: cd spuninst. Press ENTER.

  11. At the At the C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$\SPuninst prompt, type: batch spuninst.txt. Press ENTER.

  12. The batch file manually removes Service Pack 2 from the computer. This process takes several minutes.

  13. At the C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$\SPuninst prompt, type: Exit. Press ENTER. The computer restarts.

  14. From the Start menu, click Run. In the Run dialog box, type: Regedit. Click OK.

  15. Locate the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RPCSs.

  16. In the right pane, double-click ObjectName.

  17. An Edit String dialog box displays. In the dialog box, type: Localsystem. Click OK.
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  18. From the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.

  19. Restart the computer.

  20. Open Control Panel.

    • From the Microsoft® Windows® XP default Start menu, click Control Panel.
    • From the classic Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

  21. In Control Panel, open Add or Remove Programs.

    • If you are in Category View, click Add or Remove Programs.
    • If you are in Classic View, double-click Add or Remove Programs.

  22. In the Add or Remove Programs window, select Windows XP Service Pack 2, and then click Remove.
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  23. In the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Removal Wizard dialog box, click Next.
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  24. Service Pack 2 inspects the configuration, checks for necessary disk space, stops services, restores catalogs, and then runs processes before removal.
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  25. The computer deletes installed SP2 files and copies backup files to the hard drive.
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  26. In the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Removal Wizard dialog box, click Finish to restart the computer.
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Note: If removing Service Pack 2 through Recovery Console does not properly work, a repair installation of Windows XP will restore the original Windows XP files.