XP SP3 Imminent
 

More details at http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1...9386036,00.htm

including the 'you're going to get it whether you want it or not' type message from M$.

How sweet.

The beta version has been around for a few months now, I've not heard of any adverse comments about it, so hopefully the shrink-wrapped version should be fine.

If you really don't want it then turn off automatic updates. Easy.

SP3 isn't a major OS overhaul like SP2 was, so there shouldn't be as many problems for people this time.

I personally prefer all the hotfixes and security updates rolled into one service pack rather than tons of individual ones from Windows Update.

I run IT Services for a large company 3000 PCs and we have only recently applied SP2 . Dont automatically take updates from Microsoft .

No probs here. I put it on a non mission critical machine & it dropped in hunky dory. Vista SP1 is the one I'm putting up the shutters against.

Are you using WSUS? If not, you should be. In conjunction with a Domain Group Policy, it lets you control what gets applied, and when, with the added benefit that each update gets downloaded once, and not 3000 times. :8

SP3 sounds good, but I'm a little concerned that MS may use it to stuff up XP installations in order to force folks onto Vista :yuk: (or at least to make Vista feel less awful).

I certainly wouldn't put it past 'em - they've done that sort of thing before.

Maybe my tinfoil hat is on too tight....

:ok:

Does the SP3 installation (I assume it is a single big .exe like SP2 was) check WGA?

SP2 didn't, and Office 2003 SP3 didn't check OGA either.

This is quite funny because people with systems which don't pass WGA (like that PC running a copy of XP from Amazon which turned out to be bootleg) don't get the auto updates.

The main advantage of SP3 will be the integration of all previous updates and hotfixes, some of which are WGA updates, so if MS won't activate your install, then it might be wise to avoid it unless you are prepared to pay MS to activate it.
Slipstreaming SP3 into the XP SP2 disk should still be possible, which will save a lot of updating time on future installs.

Hi,

Me think you must read more :)

Read on many forums beta users with problems from small glitches to BSOD ... and with the beta CR2 ... !

Cheers.

I was referring to comments from IT professionals who were trailing the beta copy. I'm afraid listening to people on forums is meaningless unless you know their capabilities............. Bit like on here really . :E

Thats not quite true as even systems that don't pass WGA can get critical security updates.
AFAIK, SP3 will only check for a number of blacklisted VLK keys, and will only refuse to install if it finds that your PC is using one.

There will always be problems with any service pack release, however I'll bet that SP3 has far less issues than when SP2 hit for the majority.

GG,

Thanks for that vote of confidence.

SP3 Beta did not work for me. The Beta version was about 370Mb whereas the release candidate was said to be a lot slimmer. I ran the install but the system then crashed. I had no need for SP3 so I reverted to SP2.

From what I was told, the only advantage of SP3 is for reinstalls as it sweeps up the earlier changes from SP1 and SP2 and the various patches since then. As it is patched to a recent standard reinstalls will be quicker.

If you have SP2 and are patched up to date then you are already at SP3 standard.

Well, that is what I was told.

Wader2 Nothing personal I assure you :O, there will always be someone who has problems with installing something or another. I agree with you that if you have auto updates on so that you're up to date with the security patches etc then you don't really need SP3.

SP3 has been "released to manufacturing" i.e. it's been locked down. It does contain a few new functions "which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system". More details in the documents here.

Microsoft never forced a SP1 or SP2 download, so I have no reason to believe they'll force a SP3 download. What I expect they will do is make it a condition of getting other updates, eventually - like a year later. By then it'll be on magazine cover CDs, if that huge download will be a problem.

Maybe they didn't, but if you want the latest security updates from Microsoft, you can only get them if you have installed SP2. :8

Which makes sense. You draw a line from the previous service pack and start patching again. No point in keeping hundreds of individual patches available, some of which would be outdated anyway by now.

For those who keep their PC's updated through WU or AU, then SP3 wont be a big deal anyway, as ONLY the files still needed will be downloaded.
Its not going to be a 330mb download unless you're going from an unpatched XP RTM, SP1 or SP2 PC.

That's what I said, just in different words. My point was that they do that much later, not straight away. Plenty of time to get SP3 at your convenience e.g. from work, or off a magazine cover CD.

do not bin old Kit if it still works
 

Just to keep things in context, the M/C that I'm posting this msg on, has just been upgraded from ME to XP (SP2) two days ago - from a purchased disk WGA enabled - broad band Update of 92 fixes - 40 mis to do and no probs - 310 MB of ram & a 10GB hard disk - Norton 2008 installed this morning - works just fine and only prob is a slow boot sequence re swap file creation - takes 6 mins - otherwise no issues - if you have old kit like my little Compaq lap top consider upgraging to XP (specs permitting) while you can. PS Windows firewall & free AVG anti virus seems to work OK as well - if you need a backup M/C - consider this option.
:8

Your slow boot is probably that resource hogging pile o !!!!!e Norton tbh.