Windows XP SP3

GaryS

None of the PCs at home have found SP3 whilst getting the normal XP updates.

I assume that it is part of Windows Update by now.

All are running legit copies of XP Home Edition.

Any ideas ?

inamabilis

Looks like it'll be on update later today -
http://www.pcworld.com/article/148110/microsoft_promises_xp_sp3_download_thursday.html

alared

When SP3 came out about two months,I downloaded it and installed,causing my PC to completely crash and ending up with the BSoD.

I had to wipe my hard drive and start from scratch,losing quite a bit of info.
So beware and don`t be too keen to install until it`s been up and running for a while.

peter_the_piper

Just for balance, I've put it on two lappys(Dell amd) with no hiccups. Mind you I did put it on the wifes first, just in case :-)
ps. Downloaded it as an iso first though as I was concerned that a hiccup downloading would screw up the install

deejayen

Likewise I have 2 PC's loaded with XP Pro SP3 and no problems -- All updates coming through OK as well -- Dave

chunter

If you've been downloading and installing all the windows updates, it'll not need to install SP3. most of SP3 is just the amalgamation of all those updates - so it's not deemed as a critical update.

I've installed SP3 on at least a dozen pcs with no problems.

isofa

You can download the full install direct from Microsoft at:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

Details of the patch can be found here: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=936929

Stompa

chunter wrote: »

If you've been downloading and installing all the windows updates, it'll not need to install SP3. most of SP3 is just the amalgamation of all those updates - so it's not deemed as a critical update.

True enough, and consequently I've not installed SP3. However, every time I go to Windows Update it first of all asks me if I want to install SP3 before allowing me to check for newer updates.

Oblivion

chunter wrote: »

If you've been downloading and installing all the windows updates, it'll not need to install SP3. most of SP3 is just the amalgamation of all those updates - so it's not deemed as a critical update.

I've installed SP3 on at least a dozen pcs with no problems.

I have no proof of this and it may just be wishful thinking on my part, but what I did notice when I installed SP3 was that it finishes off with a quite lengthy Cleanup phase which I assumed was removing a lot of the dross left behind by all those individual patches I'd previously downloaded under SP2.

As regards installation, I did have one false start. The download completed ok but the installation froze half way and the hard disk just kept thrashing around achieving nothing. I ended up having to abort and roll back to a previous restore point. The second time I attempted the SP3 install, I first of all turned off my Spyware and Anti-virus programs and the install went flawlessly. It seems that either Spyware or AV was locking files it thought were under attack but that the install process needed access to.

Dave.

unrich

I installed it and it seems my system is running slower than ever. Its an old athlon 2.4Ghz. It might just be me. It took ages to install so don't do this just before you leave the house.

u109230

alared wrote: »

When SP3 came out about two months,I downloaded it and installed,causing my PC to completely crash and ending up with the BSoD.

I had to wipe my hard drive and start from scratch,losing quite a bit of info.
So beware and don`t be too keen to install until it`s been up and running for a while.

Same happened to me 6 or so weeks ago & haven't gone near SP3 since (Dell 9200). At least it made me go out & get a good back up & boot solution - Acronis True Image 11.