Windows XP Service Pack 3

Hopefully, this might be useful info for anyone looking to upgrade their Windows XP setup with Service Pack 3.


After a false start due to a bug, Microsoft have now released SP3 for Windows XP.

Last week I used the Microsoft Update website to try and upgrade to SP3 for my XP Pro setup. All appeared to be going fine ... the file downloaded ok and was verified ... the install process kicked off, but about half-way through the progress bar just ground to a halt although the hard disc was still thrashing about. Not knowing how long this process should take, I just walked away and left it. Shortly after I returned, nearly four hours later, an MS 'blue screen of death' appeared informing me that 'my world had come to an end and my PC was toast', or words to that effect, and that Windows would attempt to recover itself. Which I'm very relieved to say, it did automatically via a very protracted two stage roll back process to SP2 status using a restore point ... PHEW! I got very drunk that night!

Seems it was all my fault, I should have read the notes on the MS website before attempting the upgrade, and then I would have learnt that both Spyware and anti-virus software can interfere with the process by locking files they think are being illegally accessed.

So this morning, I repeated the attempt after disabling Norton Anti-Virus and Spyware Doctor. The result was a faultless install and cleanup taking about 20 minutes. Obviously you have to remember to re-activate your protection software immediately afterwards.

Apart from the above issues, it seems that the people having the worst problems with the SP3 install are those who have computers with AMD processors for which the supplier has installed Intel drivers ... something MS warned manufacturers not to do a long time ago. Those poor unfortunates with this combination can look forward to a PC stuck in endless reboot loops after installing SP3 ... oh joy! Latest info implies that HP are the biggest culprits in producing PCs this way.

As others have commented, although MS make no claims for improved speed with SP3, it does seem that my PC is more responsive and simply slicker. I'm a happy bunny.

--
Dave (Sgt. Pepper) Epsom, England
My photo galleries at http://www.pbase.com/davecq
"I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Updates
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    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
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  • Re: How Safe is it to upgrade to Win XP Sp3 ?
    ... There have been machines that had issues applying Windows XP SP3 ... Reboot right before you try to install SP3. ... Service Pack 3 is mostly all of the updates released after SP2 and until the ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: Cant update or download anything, PLEASE HELP!!
    ... running XP with service pack 2, cant find the normal service pack 3 ... Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan with the ... Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications. ... A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft*... ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: SP3
    ... important files.Why?If sp3 is not important,how do I remove notice ... Do *you* really need Windows XP SP3? ... Reboot right before you try to install SP3. ... Service Pack 3 is mostly all of the updates released after SP2 and until the ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)