XP Update 3 Has Arrived

[Wesley]

Brian Krebs on Computer Security <H3>

<H6>Posted at 08:35 PM ET, 05/ 6/2008</H6><H3>Microsoft Releases Windows XP Service Pack 3

Microsoft today finally released Service Pack 3 for Windows XP users. The update should now be offered via both Windows Update or Automatic Updates. The company was expected to release it last week, but pulled the plug at the last minute due to a compatibility problem with an obscure product they offer.
Many readers have asked me whether this update is really necessary, given that there isn't a whole lot new in Service Pack 3 aside from all of the security and non-security updates Microsoft has ever released for the operating system.
The following are some of the things you should know about installing Service Pack 3 for Windows XP.
Microsoft says it is not adding any significant Windows Vista technology into XP with Service Pack 3. No surprise there, given that Microsoft has said Service Pack 3 will be XP's swan song: The company currently plans to stop issuing new licenses for the operating system this summer. However, some consumers and PC manufacturers are starting to make a big fuss about this. I'm sort of in agreement with them: XP isn't perfect, but I've grown used to it, known it like the back of my hand, and it is very stable. I cannot say any of those things for the machine I have that's powered by Windows Vista (Ultimate).
In addition to all the previously released security updates and hotfixes (some of which users may not have, even if they have been keeping up with security patches), SP3 includes "a small number of enhancements, which do not significantly change customers' experience with the operating system," Microsoft said.
So what gives? Most of the security and non-security additions contained in SP3 are features more likely to be used by businesses, not average consumers. So why install this, when there's a chance it could bork my machine, you ask?
I believe that chance is minimal: XP3 was offered to one of my machines via Automatic Updates today. After a short time, the Automatic Update icon disappeared and I began to wonder what was up, so I decided to reboot. Then it told me there were patches ready to install, and did I want to install them and then reboot? After clicking "yes" and waiting for about 15 minutes, the system rebooted. My machine seems to be no worse for the wear after making room for SP3, but then again your mileage may vary.
I think it's fine for people to wait a few days or weeks to install this service pack. Smart money is on the notion that some users with some class of hardware or software installations will have problems, some of them perhaps irreparable or difficult-to-fix.
However, if you were already planning to rebuild an XP system from scratch anyway, Service Pack 3 would be ideal for that task, as it would streamline the process considerably. Even if you install XP without any prior service packs, installing Service Pack 3 brings your system up to date on all security updates.
To minimize the slim chances that this update might brick your PC, it's probably a good idea to follow these steps that Microsoft recommends before installing SP3.
As the SANS Internet Storm Center notes, people who for whatever reason are still using Internet Explorer 6 will NOT be upgraded to IE7 after installing this service pack. However, if you already have IE7 on your system when you install Service Pack 3, you will not be able to migrate back to IE6.
Finally, Microsoft hasn't so much as fixed the incompatibility problem that prompted it to delay pushing out Service Pack 3 last week. Instead it put filters in place so that customers running the incompatible software installed won't be offered the update.
If your small to mid-sized business is running Microsoft Dynamics RMS, definitely hold off installing this service pack for now.




</H3></H3>

[cyfanatic]

I downloaded it via the Major Geeks site last week...all has run well since. It seems as though my computer runs a tad bit faster but I might be imagining that...otherwise I have not experienced any problems with SP3.

[cytech]

They didn't actually fix it yet either. It is the same version of the update that they pulled from general release last week. So if you use RMS (retail management system)( and I doubt many do around here)
Then do not load XP service pack 3.

I have yet to install it on my systems but I downloaded the ISO to make the CD.

[bostinelosd]

Im using on my desktop, but I wont roll it out to my network yet. Ill give it a bit.

[brianhos]

We are in the testing phases too. No issues here, but I have noticed no improvements either.

[cyismydog]

Question...what new things do we get with sp3?

[brianhos]

Originally Posted by cyismydog

Question...what new things do we get with sp3?

A bunch of things you will never have any use for.

[Cyberclone]

At my job, I have to support about 400 notebooks, that have XP. I started installing it on a few today, and it takes forever, or maybe it just seems like forever, I am now convinced, it is supposed to be motivation to not do all of them, and just move on to Vista. Before you give the go ahead to install, plan on it taking awhile.

[guitarchitect7]

Originally Posted by cytech

I have yet to install it on my systems but I downloaded the ISO to make the CD.

Is this what a lot of you do with updates? Instead of just automaticly downloading and installing, you put everything on a disk and install later.

I guess, my question is whats the better practice? Are you able to take older updates and add them to a disk.

As you can tell my computer knowlege is limited past being able to open the internet and go to CF

[cytech]

Well I work on alot of computers and what the CD has is all the XP updates since it was released. So if I reinstall XP on a system I just need to pop that CD in to update it. For the average home user they are better off just doing automatic updates

[bostinelosd]

If you want something easy for absolute configuration of an XP installation, use nlite nLite - Deployment Tool for the bootable Unattended Windows installation

Lets you slip any drivers, patches, services packs, etc that you want into your XP installtion disk. You can also tweak the heck out of windows so it will be configured the way you want it from the get go. Pretty slick.

I guess they just made a vista version called vlite as well.

[cytech]

hmmm starting to sound like it might be a good idea to hold off for a while longer

Windows XP SP3 sends PCs into endless reboot | The Register

[bostinelosd]

Great, here comes mass hysteria and uneducated panic. The reboot loop can be any number of things. It could be a rogue app that someone was using, a hardware driver, etc. I personally dont know anyone who has had this problem since installation even with the betas.

[c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s]

Originally Posted by cyismydog

Question...what new things do we get with sp3?

More security hole patches. SP1, SP2, and IE7 only patched about 150 of them.

[Wesley]

The problems involve use of AMD provcessors. The last time I looked, there were million of AMD processors under the hood.