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The Windows Serviceability team is pleased to make available Windows XP Service Pack 3, Release Candidate 2 Refresh (XP SP3 RC2 Refresh).

The purpose of RC2 Refresh is to validate improvements to the Windows Update experience with Service Pack 3. Therefore, this beta release will be available only on Windows Update, in English, German and Japanese. Beyond fixes for common Windows Update issues and the inclusion of support for HD Audio, there are no substantial differences between this beta release (build 5508) and XP SP3 RC2 (build 3311).

XP SP3 RC2 Refresh includes all previously released updates for the operating system, similar to earlier service packs. It also includes previously released updates to the latest versions of some system components, as well as functionality that make it easier for enterprises to co-manage both Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista PCs within same corporate environment.

While this update is available for anyone, remember that it is pre-release software, is time-limited, and is intended for IT professionals, developers, and other technically-inclined individuals that are comfortable using pre-release software.

The application to enable download of XP SP3 RC2 Refresh is the same application as was used to distribute XP SP3 RC2. This is an application that can be found at the Microsoft Download Center. [..]

http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/Sho … amp;mode=1

Vista already has to compete with XP SP2. I wonder if SP3 will further illustrate the irrelevence of Vista by making XP noticeably better than it already is.

FutureDreamz wrote:

Ribtorus wrote:

Vista already has to compete with XP SP2. I wonder if SP3 will further illustrate the irrelevence of Vista by making XP noticeably better than it already is.

or SP3 can ruin XP. then you HAVE to get Vista.

They'd not get away with it. Pre release pretty much eliminates that possibility.

I bet MS has pretty much decided that Vista is an interim (ME) OS and will redouble their efforts to make their next OS acceptable to vendors.

Ribtorus wrote:

FutureDreamz wrote:

Ribtorus wrote:

Vista already has to compete with XP SP2. I wonder if SP3 will further illustrate the irrelevence of Vista by making XP noticeably better than it already is.

or SP3 can ruin XP. then you HAVE to get Vista.

They'd not get away with it. Pre release pretty much eliminates that possibility.

I bet MS has pretty much decided that Vista is an interim (ME) OS and will redouble their efforts to make their next OS acceptable to vendors.

Echo. SP3 doesn't seem to bring that much new to the table tho, just 3-4 fairly minor functions. Mostly it rolls up the updates since SP2, Aug '04, into one package.

They can read in Redmond, and the writing says to get cracking on 7.

Booksley wrote:

HackerJax wrote:

Booksley wrote:

hurray, no more downloading a massive number of patches when re-installing Windows.

You should be slipstreaming updates with nlite young man

You know, I actually did that for one install for Windows XP, but it's a pain to maintain the CD for a single computer.

Much the same for me. Wish I could wait for the RTM, but it's too long as is.

Confirmed.

..The initial reports from Neowin came true and Microsoft today officially announced SP3.

Microsoft's Chris Keroack posted the news in the TechNet Forums:

Today we are happy to announce that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has released to manufacturing (RTM). Windows XP SP3 bits are now working their way through our manufacturing channels to be available to OEM and Enterprise customers.

We are also in the final stages of preparing for release to the web (i.e. you!) on April 29th, via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. Online documentation for Windows XP SP3, such as Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and the Microsoft TechNet Windows XP TechCenter, will be updated then. For customers who use Windows XP at home, Windows XP SP3 Automatic Update distribution for users at home will begin in early summer.

Thanks to everyone here who installed the public betas -- you not only gave us detailed feedback but also helped each other out with timely troubleshooting. Through the beta program we found several important issues and were able to confirm some essential fixes. We couldn’t have done this without you.

We will still be monitoring this forum during the next few weeks in case you have more feedback about the release of Windows XP SP3.

Windows Connect and MSDN/TechNet Subscribers should be able to download soon. The public will have to wait until April 29, however, to download the update from the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update.

Windows XP SP3 Goes RTM

Out.

SP3 is finally available for download

Last week, DailyTech reported that Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP was released to manufacturing (RTM). At the time, Microsoft's Chris Keroack noted that consumers should expect to get their hands on the update April 29.
“We are also in the final stages of preparing for release to the web (i.e. you!) on April 29th, via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center,” said Keroack last Monday. “Online documentation for Windows XP SP3, such as Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and the Microsoft TechNet Windows XP TechCenter, will be updated then. For customers who use Windows XP at home, Windows XP SP3 Automatic Update distribution for users at home will begin in early summer.”

It appears that the time has come and everyone can now download SP3. A link to the 316MB service pack was posted on BetaNews yesterday afternoon. Although Microsoft isn't yet hosting a download page for SP3, the download links directly back to Windows Update.

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=11625

DLing now; 25%. W00t.

Downside, 'new' box still not quite there (darn shoulder). Upside, the Ark can install SP3 rightnow after XP SP2 finishes, no Net connection needed. Sneakernet FTW, or even SP3 on an installed HDD, ready to go. Might even have the needful chipset drivers and dual core whatsamawhozits integrated.

Good deal.

Ribtorus wrote:

Bat wrote:

...whatsamawhozits integrated.

Always with the jargon, eh?

That's me, Joe Acro/Confuse-A-Cat Ltd.

Now the bad news...

Microsoft Pulls XP SP3, Delays Release Indefinitely

DailyTech reported earlier today that Windows XP's third service pack was ready for full deployment via Windows Update, as promised by Microsoft.  However, in an eleventh hour move sure to draw criticism, the service pack was yanked by Microsoft and will not be released on April 29th as previously promised. 

The pack was pulled because it breaks or otherwise compromises the Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS).  The RMS application is relatively uncommon and is chiefly used by small/midsize businesses, making Microsoft's decision to pull the pack seem a bit unusual.  A Microsoft spokesman released the following statement about the problem:

I wanted to update you on today’s planned release to web (RTW) (of XP SP3). In the last few days, we have uncovered a compatibility issue between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) and Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1).

In order to make sure customers have the best possible experience we have decided to delay releasing Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center.

To help protect our customers, we plan to put filtering in place shortly to prevent Windows Update from offering both service packs to systems running Microsoft Dynamics RMS. Once filtering is in place, we expect to release Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and Download Center.

Until we have published a fix for this issue, we advise Microsoft Dynamics RMS customers to not install either service pack. Microsoft Dynamics RMS customers running Windows XP SP3 or Windows Vista SP1 should contact Microsoft Customer Support Services for additional information.

The fix is currently in testing and will be available as soon as that process is complete.

Say what?

Microsoft released the service pack to manufacturers last week.  After complaints from Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and TechNet subscribers, it released the service pack to them as well.

Microsoft acknowledges that some users have downloaded the file through direct links.  It is advising against doing so.  It states:

Customers should not download Microsoft software from links posted on non-Microsoft websites, when those links point directly to the executable as is the case here. Customers should always download from a page on Microsoft.com that provides all relevant download details, installation instructions, and release notes. In this particular case, it’s possible that some 3rd party websites are linking to the Windows XP SP3 software that we have published for MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Since we cannot confirm the source of every link that 3rd parties provide, out recommendation is that customers wait until we’ve published Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and the Download Center.

I'm a-scared... ok, I'm not.

Apparently the RMS glitch applies to Vista's first service pack as well.  Unlike XP SP3, Microsoft will not be pulling Vista SP1, but it is halting automatic downloads of the pack. [..]

more

Well, I've got mine. I'm not running the RMS whatchamawhozit. And since you're retired, we can't even blame you, Rib.

Maybe the slugabeds who blinked can.


ed sp

Last edited by Bat (2008-04-29 7:05 pm)

Ribtorus wrote:

It's all over P2P if I want it now. Is SP3 even worth bothering with?

It is if you are interested in setting up an XP machine. Right now there are about 100 patches that have to be applied to a newly setup XP SP2 computer. Even if you have them all downloaded and apply them directly, they collectively can take 45-90 minutes depending on the speed of the PC involved. With any luck there will be a method of slip-streaming the XP SP2 installation disk so that they will make an XP SP3 installation disk (so I'll only have to worry about applying the 2-3 dozen patches for MS Office, WMP, etc. ).

And considering the security problems, I'll not bother with any version available through P2P and wait until I can download SP3 directly from Microsoft, thanks.

I have been running SP3 on a laptop for quite a while now. Of course it was a prerelease.

On features:

Service Pack 3 adds several networking and security improvements, and compatibility with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 security credential providers. It also incorporates features previously available individually as separate updates, such as Microsoft Windows Imaging Component (WIC), Microsoft Management Console (MMC) 3.0, and Wi-Fi Protected Access 2.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1 … 074,00.asp

Just got notified by my thinkpad that SP3 is waiting to be downloaded and installed. Told it to go ahead. We will see.