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Why update to SP3?

Why update to SP3?

Submitted in Windows XP within the Operating System category.

None

#1 (permalink)

03-14-2010, 04:43 PM

JoeSpareBedroom

Why update to SP3?

I'm sitting here eating a nice bagel and reading a Microsoft white paper
which what's contained in SP3:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...kInfoContainer

I've just gotten some bugs OUT of my desktop machine as of a day or two ago.
It's running beautifully. I don't see anything in the white paper which
applies to my computing situation. Desktop machine, not wireless, never will
be. As close as I get to "networked" (other than the internetZ) is using
some VPN software once a month to connect with my employer's system. If a
service pack messed with that situation, I'd have to travel to Redmond with
a rifle.

Is there a favorite fix in SP3 which any of you would like to mention?
Something you think NO user should be without?

How about anything BROKEN by SP3 which any of you would like to describe?
Remember, please, that you are under oath.

#2 (permalink)

03-14-2010, 04:43 PM

Patrick Keenan

“ I'm sitting here eating a nice bagel and reading a Microsoft white paper
which what's contained in SP3:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...kInfoContainer

I've just gotten some bugs OUT of my desktop machine as of a day or two
ago. It's running beautifully.

And lots of people have SP3 systems that work very well.

“ I don't see anything in the white paper which applies to my computing
situation. Desktop machine, not wireless, never will be. As close as I get
to "networked" (other than the internetZ) is using some VPN software once
a month to connect with my employer's system. If a service pack messed
with that situation, I'd have to travel to Redmond with a rifle.

No, you'd simply restore from the backup you made. You shouldn't install
any major OS update without doing so.

“ Is there a favorite fix in SP3 which any of you would like to mention?
Something you think NO user should be without?

How about the ability to get subsequent updates?

“ How about anything BROKEN by SP3 which any of you would like to describe?
Remember, please, that you are under oath.

SP3 is basically a rollup of SP2 patches with a few extra things.

However, without it, support for your pre-SP3 install will end before too
long.

#3 (permalink)

03-14-2010, 04:43 PM

SC Tom

“
Originally Posted by JoeSpareBedroom

I'm sitting here eating a nice bagel and reading a Microsoft white paper
which what's contained in SP3:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...kInfoContainer

I've just gotten some bugs OUT of my desktop machine as of a day or two
ago. It's running beautifully. I don't see anything in the white paper
which applies to my computing situation. Desktop machine, not wireless,
never will be. As close as I get to "networked" (other than the internetZ)
is using some VPN software once a month to connect with my employer's
system. If a service pack messed with that situation, I'd have to travel
to Redmond with a rifle.

Is there a favorite fix in SP3 which any of you would like to mention?
Something you think NO user should be without?

How about anything BROKEN by SP3 which any of you would like to describe?
Remember, please, that you are under oath.

Without SP3, you won't get any automatic security updates. On all the
machines I updated to SP3 (friends, family, mine, and work), only one of the
~30 gave me a problem, and that was an HP with an AMD processor. After
applying the patch from HP, even it updated with no further problems.
SC Tom

#4 (permalink)

03-14-2010, 04:43 PM

Bruce Hagen

“ I'm sitting here eating a nice bagel and reading a Microsoft white paper
which what's contained in SP3:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...kInfoContainer

I've just gotten some bugs OUT of my desktop machine as of a day or two
ago. It's running beautifully. I don't see anything in the white paper
which applies to my computing situation. Desktop machine, not wireless,
never will be. As close as I get to "networked" (other than the
internetZ) is using some VPN software once a month to connect with my
employer's system. If a service pack messed with that situation, I'd
have to travel to Redmond with a rifle.

Is there a favorite fix in SP3 which any of you would like to mention?
Something you think NO user should be without?

How about anything BROKEN by SP3 which any of you would like to
describe? Remember, please, that you are under oath.

I am not going to say that no one has ever has issues with SP3, but they
are by far the minority, and nothing in particular is /broken/ with SP3.

FWIW, updates for SP/SP2 will end this July. Updates for XP/SP3 will
continue until at least April, 2014.

My personal opinion: Install it.

If SP3 was downloaded with an anti-virus, or anti-spyware, program
running, you may have a bad installation.

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3:
http://support.microsoft.com:80/kb/950717

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx

Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...1/relnotes.htm

Download Windows XP Service Pack 3 here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support for Service Pack 3:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...prid=11273&gpr
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA

#5 (permalink)

03-14-2010, 04:43 PM

JoeSpareBedroom

“

Without SP3, you won't get any automatic security updates. On all the
machines I updated to SP3 (friends, family, mine, and work), only one of
the ~30 gave me a problem, and that was an HP with an AMD processor. After
applying the patch from HP, even it updated with no further problems.
SC Tom

On a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 meaning "Drive to Redmond with a rifle", how
crippled was the HP machine?

#6 (permalink)

03-14-2010, 04:44 PM

Daave

“ I'm sitting here eating a nice bagel and reading a Microsoft white
paper which what's contained in SP3:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...kInfoContainer

I've just gotten some bugs OUT of my desktop machine as of a day or
two ago. It's running beautifully. I don't see anything in the white
paper which applies to my computing situation. Desktop machine, not
wireless, never will be. As close as I get to "networked" (other than
the internetZ) is using some VPN software once a month to connect
with my employer's system. If a service pack messed with that
situation, I'd have to travel to Redmond with a rifle.

Is there a favorite fix in SP3 which any of you would like to mention?
Something you think NO user should be without?

How about anything BROKEN by SP3 which any of you would like to
describe? Remember, please, that you are under oath.

There is a better way to reach your decision.

If you want to ensure that your system is secure and if you plan on
using it beyond April, you should upgrade to SP3. SP2 security patches
will stop being issued this coming April. SP3 will be supported through
2014.

There is a tried and true method to upgrade to SP3 without any
consequences, which has been discussed in this newsgroup many times.
Should you decide to do so, if you are unable to locate the threads that
outline the "best practices" method, start a new thread and we will be
happy to guide you.

Finally, if you want to calm yourself down and make it less likely you
would someday travel long distances with anger and a rifle, you need to
get into the habit of regulalry imaging your hard drive. Before any
major upgrade (including SP3), you would of course make sure you have a
recent image which can be restored just in case. This backup plan would
also save your butt in the event of *any* problem (malware, corrupted
hard drive, etc.).

#7 (permalink)

03-14-2010, 04:44 PM

JoeSpareBedroom

“
There is a better way to reach your decision.

If you want to ensure that your system is secure and if you plan on using
it beyond April, you should upgrade to SP3. SP2 security patches will stop
being issued this coming April. SP3 will be supported through 2014.

There is a tried and true method to upgrade to SP3 without any
consequences, which has been discussed in this newsgroup many times.
Should you decide to do so, if you are unable to locate the threads that
outline the "best practices" method, start a new thread and we will be
happy to guide you.

Finally, if you want to calm yourself down and make it less likely you
would someday travel long distances with anger and a rifle, you need to
get into the habit of regulalry imaging your hard drive. Before any major
upgrade (including SP3), you would of course make sure you have a recent
image which can be restored just in case. This backup plan would also save
your butt in the event of *any* problem (malware, corrupted hard drive,
etc.).

Got an imaging program you like?

I'm only asking these questions because as we all know, there have been
various horror shows connected with minor and major Windows updates. Some of
them have not been acknowledged by Microsoft for a period of time known as
"not acceptable", a measurement whose validity is defined ONLY by the user.

#8 (permalink)

03-14-2010, 04:44 PM

well, I would leave well enough
alone especially if you are feeling
very happy with the system and
your setup.

upgrading to the newer o.s., i.e.
vista or win7 would be the
advantageous thing.

however in doing so it would likely
require an upgrade in hardware
as well and this is an added cost
but a vast improvement over xp.

if you choose to install the sp3
update and update your current
o.s.

sp3 can be uninstalled via a/r
programs.

in doing so, the system will
revert back to sp2.

incidentally, one thing to keep in mind
if you choose to update the system

is to do a clean boot and ensure
that nothing is loaded up with
windows.

antivirals have a tendency to
impede the installation.

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

“

“ I'm sitting here eating a nice bagel and reading a Microsoft white paper
which what's contained in SP3:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...kInfoContainer

I've just gotten some bugs OUT of my desktop machine as of a day or two
ago. It's running beautifully. I don't see anything in the white paper
which applies to my computing situation. Desktop machine, not wireless,
never will be. As close as I get to "networked" (other than the internetZ)
is using some VPN software once a month to connect with my employer's
system. If a service pack messed with that situation, I'd have to travel
to Redmond with a rifle.

Is there a favorite fix in SP3 which any of you would like to mention?
Something you think NO user should be without?

How about anything BROKEN by SP3 which any of you would like to describe?
Remember, please, that you are under oath.

#9 (permalink)

03-14-2010, 04:44 PM

JoeSpareBedroom

“ well, I would leave well enough
alone especially if you are feeling
very happy with the system and
your setup.

upgrading to the newer o.s., i.e.
vista or win7 would be the
advantageous thing.

OK - I'll bite. Why would it be to my advantage to switch* to Vista or Win7?

* "upgrade" not proven yet in this discussion.