Windows XP SP3 leaps into the tubes

Faq.htm references SP2 on the iso.

Very well tested by those redmond jerks then. I just downloaded the iso and the faq.htm linked in by the installer says:

More information about installing Service Pack 2

How long will it take to install Service Pack 2?

How will the security of my computer be enhanced?

Where can I get more information about Service Pack 2?

How long will it take to install Service Pack 2?

Up to 2 hours, but it can be less, depending on your computer's configuration. When you see the progress indicator, no more input is required and you can leave the computer while installation is completed.

Progress Indicator

Progress Indicator

^ Back to Top

How will the security of my computer be enhanced?

Service Pack 2 includes the following new security enhancements for your computer:

OOOPS.

@ French ISO??

i wonder if the 'fre' stands for Final RElease

or Fixing Redmond's Errors?

Paris, cause she is ready for her next fix.

Previous 'buggy' release?

As far as I can tell, the original sniped from Windows Update is identical to the official release:

MD5 (windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu_c81472f7eeea2eca421e116cd4c03e2300ebfde4.exe) = bb25707c919dd835a9d9706b5725af58

MD5 (WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe) = bb25707c919dd835a9d9706b5725af58

Paris, because her previous release was buggy.

"What Gives"?

Its Microsoft. That what gives. No other explanation is necessary (or will be given).

Out the door. Over to the pub.

hmmmm

Just downloaded the iso, installed onto a machine that has been working for a couple of years = lockup, blue screen of death, dead (completely).

Probably just a horrible coincidence.

why install?

Cannot understand why anyone with any experience of microshaft is installing this. The rule is always wait at least 9 months.

If you didn't realise this, you do now. Remember.

@Chris C

I've had SP3 RCs and 'buggy' versions one the machines I need to put on for a while now as I have been testing them and it's caused no problems thus far.

Although I'm still 'testing' as far as I'm concerned, I don't expect to find anything scary in there; it's effectivly just an accumulation of patches, and these are clean install machines, so it's about the safest environment for an SP3 install - AFAIK problems that have been found have been related to strange, rare tools and dodgy third party components. Not virgin installations on widespread, mass manufactured [Dell] hardware. I'm not so niave as to just blindly accept that all will be bliss however, of course - but then my machines are not 'production' yet so I'm prepared to take a step into the dark on this.

In any case Automagic Updates have caused me *far* more problems than redistributable service packs over the years - and I'd rather have machines that are secure than machines that are only patched up to a level from three years ago.

Simple as. Contrary to popular belief, I *do* have a vague, wishy washy, rough idea what I am doing ;-)

Steven "fucked if he is spending 200 hours updating 50PCs over a 2meg DSL lin" Raith

NB: I'm not running a domain, I don't have WSUS and I don't have the option of slipstreaming the current 'up to SP3 level' patches into an image [neither of which I am happy about but my hands are tied], so I hope you can see why SP3 is of use to me!

Hmmm

Well, I installed the beta SP3 on several machines, and they're all doing fine. I'm not convinced about this 'release' version though, I think I'll wait for more public feedback. If it ain't broke, it ain't Microsoft. Er, I mean, don't fix it.

Noticably faster than sp2

I've installed it on an old dell laptop and it worked straight away (yes i was surprised). If it works for you i can say it is noticably faster, especially on a laptop with 256mb ram (wooop). I'm going to try it on my other computers and i'll let you know how it goes.

Thank Paris I didn't have autoupdate turned on...

current sp3 gets picked up by my XP MCE machine (both versions knacker the programme guide in the tv app.) Currently the yellow shield of uninstalled updates sits reproaching me in the sys tray.

Oh how glad Iv'e paid good money over the years for software that can't reach the standard of function of my "beardie wierdie free like beer, less routine maintenance than my toenails, more secure than a nun's chuff, threat to lazy self-serving capitalism like Microsoft" Ubuntu box.

I am down to 2 critical applications left in Microshafts's camp that whine under Wine or have no OS equivalents...

why install

microsoft have already stated that the end user will see no real benefit from installing this update, and I dont care much for the blue screen of death.

come back in 12 months as there is nothing to see here

Endless reboot

Appeared to install normally followed by an endless reboot cycle. Went into safe mode to uninstall.

Yay, Microsoft.

"Buggy" and "non-Buggy" the same?

I think the only thing that's changed is the "helper" that stops people affected by the bug installing SP3. The bug hasn't been fixed, only bypassed for those affected, allowing everyone else to beta-test SP3...

I expect there'll be a hot-fix or something to allow those using RMS to install SP3 without being hit by the bug in question, but as it's only one application, it seems sensible to allow others to go ahead as normal...

Not that it affects me, I only use a windows machine because my employers want to keep it around for dreamweaver and I got the short straw in having to have that machine as my workstation and I won't be installing any SP until it's been out and tested by cynics for a month or two!

Sam "SammyTheSnake" Penny

(penguin because some operating systems don't suck)

IE7

I installed this on a freshly built SP2 machine (mainly to save having to wait for all the usual updates and reboots etc.) and found once it was installed I couldn't install IE7. Admittedly I've only tried it on one computer so far but I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same experience?

Where am I going wrong?

Installed SP3 on my laptop last night without a hitch. Only 66mb through windows update and a single reboot. The whole process took about 30 minutes. Still working today as is my desktop which I updated last week. The one downside was the unwelcome reappearance of Messenger which I thought I had eradicated years ago.

As the title where am I going wrong????

Just a note...

Anyone who downloaded this last night, like me, the link on the page originally pointed to the Debug/checked package which I'm told isn't the best one to install on a real machine outwith development/debug environments - but the network install [IE the public redistributable that you can slipstream into an XP CD/install on an offline machine etc] is linked there now :-)

As for all those people going "Dur, why would you bother, SP2 ain't broke" ; format your hard drive, install XP SP2, and don't update it - until XP SP3 install discs are available, any clean install machine is two years out of date patchwise. SP3 redistributable lets you patch those up to April 08 levels in the space of an hour or so [excluding download, obviously].

Useful for those of us who work in IT for imaging, and to guarentee that a machine is patched to a certain level without worrying about Windows Update

A: taking hours and hours to download and install

B: Breaking halfway through and missing patches inbetween.

HTH :-)

Steven R

much to my surprise...

installed sp3 using windows update. it hung first time during install. cancelled it. ran windows update again. went straight to install as i guess the file had already been downloaded and seemed to patch everything properly. i have noticed a slight speed increase and everything feels a bit cleaner.

im not a fan of windows at all, but this seems to work well.

RE: why install?

Usually I'll wait a while before installing SPs but I'm reinstalling a mate's pc later so I'm sure he won't mind doing a little beta testing for redmond eh >:D

I'll pass on it myself for the moment.

SP£

Service Pack 3 seems to remove the Address Toolbar (one of the more useful features)

Microsoft seem to say that it was because of Legal problems (!?)

Seems the only way to get anything near the functionality is to install Windows Live Desktop Search

Go figure

x64?

And i'm guessing those of us that were cool enough to choose x64 will do without sp3 until Server 2003 is updated?

Yay. You'd think that Microsoft would be more concerned about releasing service packs for their Server os, given that its probably valued far higher by its more lucrative customers.

French ISO??

Why would a French ISO be marked "FRE", especially given that the French for French is "FRAncais" and that the three letter ISO 3166 code is FRA.

Avant de taper, engager cerveau!

Paris.... because I have been inside (the) Paris Hilton. Thats Paris, France for you Texans.

Ubuntu

I've been using Ubuntu since version 1 and there's no need for service packs on this excellent system - why bother on XP?

Terminal Service Client in SP3

The new TS client in SP3 doesn't support the /console switch. If you're going to use this function, don't upgrade. Just a heads-up...

@ainsley

"installed onto a machine that has been working for a couple of years"

Why..?

(We need a lemming icon)

@Terminal Service Client in SP3

The "/console" switch has been changed to "/admin". This was noted in a KBA several months ago. None-the-less, I think it's a silly change.

Paris, because she appreciates the heads-up.

Oh dear... DEFINITELY buggy...

NOT. My laptop (my workhorse) has been running SP3 in most of its incarnations and while the first release sometimes caused hibernation problems, that went away with the release candidate before publication.

I'll be downloading the new one tonight and spend two hours un- and re-installing SP3 to see what happens.

It is the Same as the Vista Activation

.

First I am a Micro Fan Boy but I am not installing this service pack.

Microsoft has changed the activation scheme on this version to the same as Vista. It will phone home and if it decides that you are NOT Authenic, it will then go into a Dysfunctional mode just like Vista.

Even a simple thing like flashing your BIOS will throw it for a loop.

Buyers Beware ...

Re: It is the Same as the Vista Activation

Funny that... cos Vista SP1 changed it so that it doesn't actually go into reduced-functionality mode (just nags).

So in other words, you're wrong.

Seems fine to me

I just whacked it on a clean install (inc sp2) on a old semparon 2200+ with 256mb ram (too lazy to dig out any more) and AVG for a machine for a mate of a mate who wants to do some *web* browsing and it runs fine (MUCH to my supprise) - it does seem to run noticbly faster than a machine with sp2 on it.

Not sure if I want to put it on any production machines just yet though

What I want to know is....

...are the ISP's geared up for all this downloading? The vast majority of home PCs are M$ based so are the ISP's going to be throttling the connections earlier than normal this afternoon? That is usually how they cope with large demand, simply "close the valves" to slow the flow!

Installing now

Yup, nearly two hours in and its still updating.

If I never add on comment on El Reg again you will know the update BSODed my machine.

Its like a ticking time bomb with a keyboard attached....

What I want to know is...

Hopefully Microsoft is still using content distribution services like Akamai. My local ISP has three Akamai servers on-site, and I know several other national ISPs have them installed as well. For the most part, bandwidth should be limited to internal usage, and hammer the hell out of the distro servers.

Paris, for getting hammered to hell.