Windows XP SP3
May 9, 2008 – 10:17 amThe verdict is in. Unless you have a brand new fresh clean install of Windows XP, proceed with caution. Even then you might want to stick to SP2. If for some twisted, sadistic reason you need to install SP3, I beg you to read the following web page first:
Installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 - Things you need to be aware of.
Microsoft needs to put this URL and a warning in large letters on the first screen of the installer. There are a lot of people out there who simply click and forget when presented with an update. Most people have more important things to do, they just click yes and let the windows installer do it’s own thing. it is often easy to forget that you might be running anti-spy ware programs which can question the changes made to your computer and cause the installer to fail.
In addition to reading this page you should also make a complete backup of your system to somewhere safe. Most people should stick with SP2 or call a professional computer technician and have them install it.
I’ve also dug up a few other web pages regarding Windows XP SP3 to save people from having to search:
An overview of all the changes made with SP3
The ISO Image for XP SP3 so you can burn your own copy
The Network Installation Package - the whole thing in one nice executable
Error messages and troubleshooting for XP SP3
I had fun with SP3 yesterday. I took all of the precautions listed above and still managed to get an “Access Denied” message. The installer was able to roll back the changes and no real harm was done to my registry. I have spoken with other people who have managed to install it successfully. One person reported that it slowed his laptop down to unusable speeds, another person reported that it “creamed” his system. I did not get any specifics on that incident.
2 Responses to “Windows XP SP3”
XP SP3 is not really that big of an update. Only minor changes have been made. I have updated a few dozen systems since it came out and have had no issues.
By Zlob Removal on May 9, 2008
I’m glad to hear you have had success. I guess the people I have talked with may have had other configuration issues. As far as whether or not it is a major update, if you have kept up with all the regular updates, then no, it isn’t that major. It does however contain all the previously released fixes from Microsoft. Which means it can be a pretty big update depending on the state of your system.
By Philip Molloy on May 9, 2008