XP SP3 released

Lincoln Russell 29 Apr, 2008 at 10:47am ET Article published in Tech

Service Pack 3 has been released for Windows XP. It includes all 1,073 previous fixes to the operating system and ports four Vista-only features to XP related to network security, cryptography, and product activation.

It is unknown if there will be an SP4 for XP.

Comments

29 Apr 2008 ~ 12:01pm QCH An Q begins slipstreaming SP3 into Corporate Install CD in 5.... 4.... 3.... 2... 1...
29 Apr 2008 ~ 3:33pm Leonardo Running SP3 now on my work laptop. Will let you know if I find anything significantly positive or negative.
29 Apr 2008 ~ 3:45pm Jengo slipstreamed sp3 pro corp install FTW!!
29 Apr 2008 ~ 3:48pm mmonnin 1073 fixes since 2001....sigh
29 Apr 2008 ~ 3:50pm QCH 1073 since 2004, even worse. SP2 came out in 2004
29 Apr 2008 ~ 8:41pm Tim It has a Vista feature related to product activation? Details? That might not be good for me.
29 Apr 2008 ~ 9:32pm Middge As you guys go and start slip streaming every I386 directory within 5 miles of your eager little fingers, I will sit back and watch the crap hit the fan for the first couple months. Hehehe.
29 Apr 2008 ~ 10:23pm Thrax I've been running SP3 for 6 weeks w/o issue. Anyone who's been keeping their windows updated through WAU or WU already has all the updates SP3 delivers.
29 Apr 2008 ~ 11:16pm mmonnin

QCH2002 wrote:

1073 since 2004, even worse. SP2 came out in 2004

Oh, I figured it was since 2001 since a new SP contains all previous SPs and all previous fixes. Did they really release around 1 fix/week since 2004?
29 Apr 2008 ~ 11:21pm Middge

Thrax wrote:

I've been running SP3 for 6 weeks w/o issue. Anyone who's been keeping their windows updated through WAU or WU already has all the updates SP3 delivers.

Oh I didn't realize service packs were ONLY cumulative. I figured that maybe they added some patches for the sake of Vista in the SP only. I learned something new today. :-D
29 Apr 2008 ~ 11:26pm mmonnin I think what Thrax meant was that all the cumulative updates in SP3 have been available in WU as well as the new stuff in SP3. At least thats what I got out of his post unless by updates he meant just the fixes.
30 Apr 2008 ~ 9:19am GHoosdum I installed this on my laptop yesterday. I had to defrag the HDD afterward but I certainly didn't hit any speedbumps!

Tim, the product activation change that ported from Vista is actually a positive thing - you can install post-SP3 XP without a product code. Now it doesn't ask you until you're up and running with the OS.
30 Apr 2008 ~ 2:14pm Thrax They added four new features to the service pack, but none of them changed the kernel of the OS, so basic stability should be unchanged. Otherwise, all those hotfixes and bug corrections have been available on windows update at some point or another. It really is one of the safest XP service packs, from a design standpoint.
30 Apr 2008 ~ 2:26pm Leonardo I've installed it on three computers now - two quad machines and an old P4 IBM laptop. Only difference I can tell is that Office 2007 on one of the desktop machines loads much faster now.
30 Apr 2008 ~ 2:58pm Middge

Thrax wrote:

They added four new features to the service pack, but none of them changed the kernel of the OS, so basic stability should be unchanged. Otherwise, all those hotfixes and bug corrections have been available on windows update at some point or another. It really is one of the safest XP service packs, from a design standpoint.

All I remember is the horribleness of the "New and Improved" windows firewall from SP2... *shudder*