Windows XP - Service Pack 3 (SP3)

[kilroy0097]

Well this is being released officially tomorrow. As you know it will be the last service pack that Microsoft is coming out with for XP. So if you reinstall you will now have to update from core to SP1, to SP2 and finally to SP3 before doing any other security updates that may or may not come afterwards.

Are you interested to know a little bit more about what exact SP3 entails?

Visit this link and educate thy self hungry techie!
http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=536

[StevenNevets]

On a forum a bunch of people were talking about how it's supposed to be 12% faster yet on official pages I havn't been able to find anything like that. Is it really supposed to be?


Either way, if there's no horrible killer bug in this I'll try it.

[JustMeBF2]

I am thinking SP1 is built into SP2

but its early and 28 F degrees in Nebraska.

[FiLTHY_SNiPER]

I'm always wary of installing windows updates because of their Big Brother type agenda too..

If I hear some good feedback on this though, I guess I'll try it.

[sir_digalot]

yes sp2 will supercede sp1 (has all the updates in it already) i though sp3 was literally just all the updates since sp2 in one package and offered little in the wya of anything else....

[Uncle_Ho]

Just to let you know:

Netframework 3 is in this update. I had to remove it to use the server tool, when I did all hell broke loose leading to a format and reinstall of windows. So if you ever have to remove netframework 3 for any reason, don't do it.

[sir_digalot]

ballz to sp3..... sp2 FTW!

[Donavon]

...if you reinstall you will now have to update from core to SP1, to SP2 and finally to SP3 before doing any other security updates that may or may not come afterwards.

Each new service pack supersedes the previous service pack (it will contain all the updates from the previous SP's in addition to the new updates) so from a clean install of XP you would just need to install SP3. If it only contains the updates since the previous SP they normally call it a roll up pack (or something simlar) - it's what they did for 2000 instead of releasing a new SP.

Personally I prefer to slipstream the service packs into my installation disks, makes things a lot simpler, especially if you reinstall frequently.

Here is a pretty good site with instructions on making a slipstream disk.
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm
I imagine that they will be updating with SP3 instructions shortly.

[kilroy0097]

Yea my bad on the SP1 through SP3 installation comment. I think I've installed all the damn patches for PR way too many times. I'm thinking in version numbers and seeing them in my nightmares. :)

Oh and slipstream is the absolute bomb. If you can figure it out I highly recommend it. Makes reinstallation of Windows XP so much easier.

[[W33T] Joker]

where do you download this from..I can't find it..there are lot of link with SP3..where is the main download...

[kilroy0097]

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080429-microsoft-releases-the-long-anticipated-windows-xp-sp3.html

Read that article. It doesn't look like the updated build is available just yet openly.
Just the overview talking about it.



As per the unofficial timeline, Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has been uploaded to Microsoft's servers. Currently, the final build is only available on the download.windowsupdate domain in the following languages: Chinese (Hong Kong), Czech, English, French, German (Deutsch), Hebrew, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Simplified (Chinese), Spanish, and Traditional Chinese. According to Microsoft TechNet, the 300MB+ x86 standalone installer (build 5512) will not be available today on the Microsoft Download Center nor on Windows Update.

There will be no x64 version of SP3 released; Windows XP x64 will be updated at the same time Windows Server 2003 is updated, since it is derived from the codebase of the latter. Although Microsoft has still to confirm the date, SP3 should be rolled out via Automatic Updates on June 10, 2008.

So the only way to get it now would be an internal link, a stealthy pirated version or maybe a Beta version. Either way I'm just going to wait till it comes out officially and then download the standalone installer and then make a slipstreamed version of Windows XP SP3 and maybe Office 2003 on there as well. I'm not quite liking 2007 yet.

[Donavon]

Release has been delayed.

http://www.dailytech.com/Microsoft+Pulls+XP+SP3+Delays+Release+Indefinitely/article11635.htm

[Prowler130]

I'm always wary of installing windows updates because of their Big Brother type agenda too..

If I hear some good feedback on this though, I guess I'll try it.

yet your die-hard on supporting them and buying an xbox... what a peculiar stand point.

[kilroy0097]

Ok so it's delayed to make sure certain customers running certain application packages aren't included in the auto update because it breaks their machines. I'd say perhaps a month or two on the delay then. Unless they hustle a lot on this.

[[W33T] Jetfuel]

out and being pushed like crack cocaine on a 4th grader

[Crotch-Rot]

Jetfuel;268937']out and being pushed like crack cocaine on a 4th grader

That's funny! :D

[JustMeBF2]

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9084418

May 9, 2008 (Computerworld) Installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 sends some PCs into an endless series of reboots, according to posts to a Microsoft support forum.

Jesper Johansson, a former program manager for security policy at Microsoft Corp. and a prominent Windows blogger, has worked with users to tentatively identify the problem as involving only machines using processors from Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

Messages from frustrated users began accumulating on the XP SP3 support newsgroup Wednesday, just a day after Microsoft released the update to the general public.

"I just installed Windows XP SP3 and after completing the processes and when the system reboots, the system cannot proceed to load the Windows," said a user identified as "Olin" in a message that kicked off a long thread. "It just displays the flash screen of Windows then after it reboots again."

Most users who left messages on the forum said that they were unable to boot into Windows Safe mode — a last-ditch way to sidestep the normal boot process for troubleshooting purposes — or revert to a previously saved System Restore point.

Some were understandably upset. "Way to go, Microsoft, releasing the pile of dung called SP3 that hoses your system so bad even Safe Mode isn't working!" said a user identified as Mike Voss. "Props to your QA guys, they certainly have done their job."

Johansson, who watched one of his PCs repeatedly reboot after installing XP SP3, traded accounts with several other users on the newsgroup and summarized the results on his blog.

According to Johansson, there appears to be two separate issues. One affects only AMD-equipped PCs sold by Hewlett-Packard Co. "The problem is that HP, apparently along with other OEMs, deploys the same image to Intel-based computers that they do to AMD-based computers," said Johansson. "Because the image for both Intel and AMD is the same, all have the intelppm.sys driver installed and running. That driver provides power management on Intel-based computers. On an AMD-based computer, amdk8.sys provides the same functionality."

Running the intelppm.sys driver on an AMD-powered PC isn't normally an issue, but on the first reboot after a service pack installation, it causes "a big problem," Johansson said. The machine either fails to boot or crashes and immediately reboots.

The other problem, according to Johansson, also seems to affect only AMD machines, and involves an error message indicating trouble with the PC's BIOS. Johansson said that the ensuing recommendation to update the BIOS is "most likely not your problem," but said that the problem may be isolated to a specific motherboard. "Possibly, it is related to computers with the Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard in them," he said.

Johansson also spelled out workarounds for both problems on his blog. The HP issue can be solved by disabling the intelppm.sys driver, while the second fix requires the user to plug in a USB flash drive before booting.

Microsoft was not immediately available for comment early Friday, but someone identified as a Microsoft employee on the support forum had asked users to e-mail him information about the PC's system configuration and whether they were able to enter Safe mode, and to submit event viewer logs.

This isn't the first endless reboot problem Microsoft's faced in relation to a service pack recently. In February, the company pulled a Windows Vista SP1 prerequisite update from automatic delivery because it was crippling some machines.

[Crotch-Rot]

This sounds like a HUGE pain the butt for the AMD users with those configurations. Personally, I'm on Intel, and even then, I typically wait a few weeks for the kinks to get worked out before installing anything major like a Service Pack.

[Uncle_Ho]

Personally, I'm on Intel, and even then, I typically wait a few weeks for the kinks to get worked out.

Do you mainline that intel, or just smoke it?

Maybe I need to get on the intel wagon, every time I turn around it's something with AMD

[Crotch-Rot]

when i was building my current rig, Core2Duo is the shit compared with the AMD. So Intel was the hands down winner.

[flim flam]

the geek at best buy told me (in response to my resistance to vista) that microsoft will stop supporting xp within twelve months.

obviously that could have been a sales tactic, but somehow i believe it.

[Uncle_Ho]

November 30th 2008 or 2009 can't remember for sure, was the last date I saw posted on the XP Forums for microshaft.

[JustMeBF2]

AMD was king till the Intel C2D came out.
I do hope that AMD comes out with something to compete with Intel
to keep the prices as low as they have been lately
but till then Intel has the SHIBBY

[Gruthar]

the geek at best buy told me (in response to my resistance to vista) that microsoft will stop supporting xp within twelve months.

obviously that could have been a sales tactic, but somehow i believe it.

They're going to stop selling it at the end of this year, but they'll still support it for a few more years. The Geek Squad guy (as many of them are) was misinformed. Mainstream support ends in April of next year, but there will still be support for XP after that (mostly security fixes from the sound of things). This is the article Kilroy posted earlier in another thread:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9070119

[sir_digalot]

i am now charged with testing our systems for compatibility with sp3 t osee if we can roll it out in wsus soon, so far i have had no issues, but this was a virgin install

[Cheify0]

we'll wait for your comments...ty!!!

[Gruthar]

I'm offering up my laptop as a guinea pig for SP3... this will also be done on a fresh install of XP, albeit Home Edition...

[Uncle_Ho]

My wife installed SP3 on my computer when she saw it on windows update. So far firefox, yahoo messenger, and Outlook express are not working. Getting all sorts of errors on them. I am getting ready to reformat and reinstall.

Bill Gates Sucks Root

FUMS

[Gruthar]

No issues here so far... knock on wood...

[sir_digalot]

so far on all the systems i have installed it on there has not been an issue

[Uncle_Ho]

It seems the only time you have trouble is when you un-install netframework 3.0 so the server control software for BF2 will work. It makes things not work. I have yet to get an answer from Microshaft on this or the people that make the server software.

[lamah]

ok, is it safe to install sp3 now???

[redish16]

Still haven't ...

[Uncle_Ho]

Yes, It's working although I see no performance advantage

[sir_digalot]

we have had no problems on any of our test platforms, the only other platform that has issues is because of an old legacy app which dies from certain windows updates (which are included in sp3) so if any of the updates since SP2 killed your system DO NOT install SP3 since it contains those updates..

other then that everything seems to work fine and the victims we installed it on have not been able to tell the difference between before and after installation.....

great, another 200 mb of uneeded bloatware crap from M$ *LOL*

[Killerfurby6]

i am glad it isn't out for xp 64 bit yet!!
so all of you can check it out ... and i am save... :D

[Nsane]

Yeah, well, running fine is one thing, however, what about calling home? Have any of you noticed any packet flow to MS that was uninitiated by the user?

[sir_digalot]

any more then usual? xp has always called home to make sure you are legit... erm, to ensure quality and stability of the operating system... :D

[Nsane]

any more then usual? xp has always called home to make sure you are legit... erm, to ensure quality and stability of the operating system... :D

Yeah, anymore than usual.

[[W33T] Joker]

is it good to install SP3 now..or still no good :dunno:

[sir_digalot]

we have had no issues and it has been deployed to our entire corp of 200 plus users, so i guess it is fine

[CHAOS]

we are getting ready to deploy it to our 10,000 users. We have had it in testing enviroment sine it came out and we are scheduling deployment in september.

[[W33T] Joker]

ok ya..we are deploying SP3 out to lot of ppl so..I just want to know..if it still good or not..i mean we had it running on few machines but nothing big happen..but I DON"T TRUST MICROSOFT AT ALL!!

[Uncle_Ho]

I only had a problem when I installed it and removed net frame work 3.0 to use the admin utility for BF2. After I removed the whole service pack and re-installed it everything worked again. I did end up reformatting my second machine before I figured it all out though.

[StevenNevets]

amd64agent;279393']ok ya..we are deploying SP3 out to lot of ppl so..I just want to know..if it still good or not..i mean we had it running on few machines but nothing big happen..but I DON"T TRUST MICROSOFT AT ALL!!I installed via windows update. No problems for me.

[sir_digalot]

i am sure it will break something it always does... in our case there was a legacy app that failed to work right, it was strange, it worked when you did the upgrade from any other windows release version, but if you did the clean install of sp3 in a slip streamed version the app failed to work made no sens as the part of the app that was failing was nothingto do with windows at all and a report that is generated... but we fixed that and all is fine, no one actually knew we performed the update...