Is there a way how to revert back the SP3 to SP2 for windows XP without reformatting the computer?

You have not said which OS you are using so; from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

When you try to install Windows updates from the Windows Update Web site, the Microsoft Update Web site, or by using Automatic Update, you receive a message that the update is not installed successfully. Additionally, the update is not displayed in the update history.

You may experience this issue in the following scenarios:

Scenario 1 You try to install updates after repair a Windows XP installation by using the Windows XP CD.
Scenario 2 You perform the following operations before you try to install Windows updates:

You perform a new installation of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).
You visit the Windows Update Web site, or the Microsoft Update Web site.
Note When you visit the update Web site, the latest version of Windows Update software will be installed in your computer.
You install Windows XP Service Pack (SP3) without a restart.
You try to install Windows updates after the install of Windows XP SP3.

Then cause ;

This issue occurs because the Wups2.dll file that is included in the latest version of Windows Update is not installed correctly.

For scenario 1, the registry entries that correspond to the Wups2.dll file are missing after the repair install of Windows XP. The release version of Windows XP does not contain the Windows Update software.

For scenario 2, the registry entries that correspond to Windows Update are changed back to the Windows XP SP2 version if you did not restart the computer before you install Windows XP SP3. The registry entries for the Wups2.dll file are changed to pointing to the Wups.dll file that is included in the release version of Windows XP SP2.
To resolve this problem, use one of the following methods;

Method 1: Download and install the Windows Update Agent,
For an x86-based computer; http://download.windowsupdate.com/WindowsUpdate/redist/standalone/7.4.7600.226/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe

For an x64-based computer http://download.windowsupdate.com/WindowsUpdate/redist/standalone/7.4.7600.226/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x64.exe

Method 2: Register the Wups2.dll file,

To have MS register the Wups2.dll file in Windows for you, go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144#FixItForMeAlways.

If you prefer to fix this problem yourself,

To register the Wups2.dll file in Windows, follow these steps:

1. Stop the Automatic Updates service. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Open the Command Prompt window. To do this, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
b. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
net stop wuauserv

2. Register the Wups2.dll file. To do this, follow these steps:

a. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll

Note For a computer that is running Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
regsvr32 %windir%\syswow64\wups2.dll

b. Click OK if you receive a verification message.

3. Start the Automatic Updates service. To do this, type the following command at the command prompt, and then press ENTER:
net start wuauserv

4. Exit the Command Prompt window. To do this, type exit at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

Why xp SP1??.

If you dont update your OS, even with the best Antivirus you will be in big trouble with security breaches/holes.

IF your copy of windows will not pass the WGA then you are out of luck with Avira . Avira needs SP2 so you could try AVAST, its min requirements are.
Processor Pentium 3, 128 MB RAM, 100 MB of free hard disk space
Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7 (32/64 bit)

your game requirement says the minimum requirement is SP2 but recomemded SP3, your game still runs in SP2

Yes it will. I suggest that you download Windows XP SP2, and Windows XP SP3 and save to an external USB key or burn to a CD-R. If you save the downloads to your HD, restoring to factory settings will most likely overwrtite your HD. So with that. I also suggest that you backup all your personal data, such as documents, pictures, favorite, email contact list, emal messages, and any other personal data that you will need.

Once you have finished the restore to factory process, place the USB key or CD-R in the slots/drive, and install SP2 first, check no restart button, then install SP3. Reboot and now do your Windows Updates.

The reason I suggest sp2, then sp3 before running Windows update, is to save you time getting your unit back in production. If you did a Windows update after the restore to factory process, you would most likely be prompted to download and install SP2, then all the patches and updates would follow fro sp2. This way sp2 updates sp1, then sp3 updates sp2, and finally the updates and security patches for sp3 are all you need.

McAfee - Again download the software to a USB key or CD-R. Before you start the restore, open McAfee, select help, about, and print out or write down your subscription key. You will need these when you reinstall McAfee on your restored unit.

Hope this helps.............

God Bless !!!!!!!

Your computer does not reformat when installing SP3, updates will never reformat your computer

Go to start than to my computer and aftre that the properties of my computer there you can see exactly what Windows xp  and what service pack is installed.

go to control panel, administrative tools, computer management, services and applications, services, look for themes - if it is not started, start it - if it works, goto the properties of the theme service and set to automatic

G'luck

Did you try uninstalling the last batch of updates?
To see the updates under "Add or Remove Programs", you'll need to check the appropriate box at the top.
If uninstalling does not help, you may have to start over.

Possible approaches to avoid the same issue when starting over:

• Don't use SP3, unless you know that you *need* it. Check Wikipedia to decide whether you need it.
• Install OS with SP2 and all updates, only then apply SP3.
• Don't install all updates at once. Install them in batches of, say, 10 a batch. If the same thing happens, you know which batch was responsible.
  

if you don't want to install those updates you should have switch off your automatic updates. the problem is the your computer might not be compaitble with the update which was sent to you.XP SP3 have a higher system and hardware requirements than xp sp2. in order to resolve your problem you need to run your xp sp2 and press repair instead of format in this way it can return to your original system. you can also try the system restore press the start, all programs look for the system tools then system restore check what date you installed this sp3 then select the day before you installed this in order for you to return to your original operating system. hoping that this will help you, expecting your positive response.

Windows XP SP3 is not yet released. " SP3 for Windows XP Professional is currently planned for 1H CY2008. This date is preliminary. -Microsoft website "