XP - Service pack

Dollardog

Hi,
I have a pc which is on XP and a laptop which runs Windows 7.

Since having the laptop, I only really use the pc when I want to print something as my printer is only attached to that and I don't have a wi-fi printer. That's ok, not bothered about changing it, at least it keeps the pc working.

Both of them have automatic updates, another reason to want to switch the pc on, even if only once a week or so,

I know that Microsoft are going to stop supporting XP sometime soon. As far as I know, the pc is still on XP service pack 2, and has been regularly updated as it does it automatically.
Someone mentioned on here on another thread that there is a Service pack 3.
Would I be better to update to Service pack 3 before the support stops?
Has it been out long enough to have ironed out any problems with it as my pc is running happily enough on service pack 2?
It wouldn't have updated itself automatically to service pack 3 with one of the updates that comes through would it?
What benefit would I get by changing it to service pack 3?
Would I just be best to let sleeping dogs lie?

Also, my laptop is Windows 7, again updated automatically, on srervice pack 1, are there any newer service packs for that? or again, am I best to leave it as it is as its quite happily running with what its got?

Thanks in advance.

Figment

XP Service Pack 3

To check which service pack you've already got, right click on My Computer, click Properties

Windows 7 is currently at Service Pack 1

Dollardog

Figment wrote: »

XP Service Pack 3

To check which service pack you've already got, right click on My Computer, click Properties

Windows 7 is currently at Service Pack 1

Thanks, the laptop is ok on that then.

Haven't got the pc on to find out what that is on, but I know I haven't manually updated it from Service pack 2, so I presume it will still be on that.

waddler_8

Dollardog wrote: »

I know that Microsoft are going to stop supporting XP sometime soon.

Window XP SP3 will be supported untill April 8, 2014.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/products/lifecycle

Dollardog wrote: »

As far as I know, the pc is still on XP service pack 2, and has been regularly updated as it does it automatically.

Support for Windows XP SP2 ended on July 13, 2010 - It won't have had any updates since then.

An unsupported version of Windows will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/help/what-does-end-of-support-mean

Dollardog wrote: »

Someone mentioned on here on another thread that there is a Service pack 3. Would I be better to update to Service pack 3 before the support stops?

As above, you are running an unsupported version of Windows.

Dollardog wrote: »

Has it been out long enough to have ironed out any problems with it as my pc is running happily enough on service pack 2?

Nearly 4 years - Where have you been? http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?DisplayLang=en&id=24

Dollardog

waddler_8 wrote: »

Window XP SP3 will be supported untill April 8, 2014.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/products/lifecycle


Support for Windows XP SP2 ended on July 13, 2010 - It won't have had any updates since then.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/help/what-does-end-of-support-mean

As above, you are running an unsupported version of Windows.

Nearly 4 years - Where have you been? http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?DisplayLang=en&id=24

I will have to check the service pack then when I switch it on because it is still definitely still receiving updates. It must have automatically update to service pack 3 without my realising.
I know it is still getting updates because often, when I go to switch it off, it installs them before it goes off.

Thanks for your help.

Notmyrealname

Dollardog wrote: »

Someone mentioned on here on another thread that there is a Service pack 3.
Would I be better to update to Service pack 3 before the support stops?
Has it been out long enough to have ironed out any problems with it as my pc is running happily enough on service pack 2?

Only 3 years or so.

Beware though that on an old PC with not a lot of RAM, installing SP3 will bring it to its knees. You'll want at least 1GB of RAM with SP3.

Easy to find if its running SP3. Click on Start and on the Start Menu, right click on My Computer and select Properties. It'll open up a window and on the right will be information about Windows, how much RAM is installed and which service pack.