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Safe to install XP SP3?

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Release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)

Microsoft is now distributing Windows XP SP3 trough Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center from today. Does this mean that it is safe to install SP3? Or should I wait until Microsoft distributes automatically Windows XP SP3 in early summer?

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Clarifications

In reply to Safe to install XP SP3?

Clarifications

Most have found no problems.

In reply to Safe to install XP SP3?

I installed the version initially posted 29 Apr’08:

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080429-microsoft-releases-the-long-anticipated-windows-xp-sp3.html

I installed it in two computers, one running XP MCE, another running XP Pro. SP3 installed in 10 minutes. I have encountered no significant problems, but others have reported [i]crashes[/i].

That said, Microsoft has published a number of bulletins regarding troublesome SP3 installations:

http://support.microsoft.com/ph/1173

So I recommend that you make a complete backup of your OS configuration and data files. SP3 will actually do this automatically for you, if you don’t have imaging software such as Norton Ghost.

Once you have installed SP3 and you have determined that it’s working OK, you can delete the SP3-created backup file. [i]Beta[/i] tests have shown a 10% enhancement in performance with SP3 as compared to SP2, and SP3 includes certain Vista components for additional reliability.

In summary, go ahead and install SP3.

Rick/Portland, OR

I am

In reply to Safe to install XP SP3?

in the process of installing it now. I have created a Restore Point in case anything goes wrong. For me it is only 66.9MB. There were a lot of previous updates so that would probably account for the small size. If something does go wrong it shouldn’t be too hard to uninstall. 😉

Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
CPU Type Genuine Intel, 2433 MHz (4.5 x 541)
Motherboard Name Gigabyte GA-8IG (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 3 DIMM, Audio, Video)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Springdale-G i865G
System Memory 2048 MB (DDR SDRAM)
Video Adapter GeForce FX 5200 (128 MB)

It is really up to you to decide. 😉

If you are not sure then do not install SP3. Read more here.

In reply to Safe to install XP SP3?

http://www.normantranscript.com/commerce/local_story_131002329

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.

So far, no issues.

In reply to Safe to install XP SP3?

I have updated over ten workstations, desktops and laptops, so far.
I only had a problem with two of them and it was easily resolved. **

It should be noted that all of these machines had been regularly updated and had all the previously released High Priority and Optional releases.

All are running smoothly now. No complaints. In fact, three users tell me they think their boxes are running smoother than before. I’ll reserve judgment on that. 😉

** in both cases I encountered, an ‘Access Denied’ error came up about half-way through the installation and then a roll-back occurred. Both were resolved by installing SubInACL and running a script as prescribed in this article: http://tinyurl.com/5nacly

I suspect that spyware or a virus had removed administrator permissions to parts of the registry.

.

No issues here yet

In reply to Safe to install XP SP3?

But I have only a small base installed 8 Computers that I’m testing on.

If you don’t want to install SP3 get the SP Blocking utility from M$ here

http://tinyurl.com/48oojp

Col

I am waiting…

In reply to Safe to install XP SP3?

until I stop reading complaints to install it. My XP partition is working just fine as it is. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

I’m with Boxfiddler in this respect, but …

In reply to I am waiting…

Not in the Biblical sense! :^0

“If it an’t broken”

In reply to I am waiting…

update it…. ;\

What Boxy is saying here is

In reply to I am waiting…

If I’m unaware that it’s broke and not working quite right don’t patch it.

After all this is [b]Windows[/b] so we all know that at some level it’s broken or at least not coded properly.

Col

A bit of clarification appears to called for…

In reply to I am waiting…

I run AMD chips. And there appear to be problems with SP3 and AMD chips, particularly in regard to HP OEM setups. While I don’t do the OEM thing, I do do (!) AMD. Plus, IE7 sucks. Do not like it one bit, and do not want it at all. Nor am I willing to go through a huge pita process about which I know nothing to install SP3 without IE7.

Yes Oh Smeg – there is always something lurking about that needs to be fixed in Windows. But as long as folks are griping about SP3, it ain’t a goin’ on my machine! 😀

If it ain’t broke… 😀

XP SP3 seems to be OK , but what are the advatages?

In reply to Safe to install XP SP3?

Just finished the install of SP3.
Works fine and smooth and no errors or crashes. Did not however notice 10% improvement in speed. As a student or a home user there isnt much new visible for the eye.
Does anybody know what the advantages are with SP3 compared to SP2?

Check out this link

In reply to XP SP3 seems to be OK , but what are the advatages?

Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929/

Rum City !? … upside down letters !? …Musical font !? …

In reply to Check out this link

Sumthin’ I should know ? 😉

Some kind of http://tinyurl.com/yoph4n perhaps ?

Its Party Time ;)

In reply to Rum City !? … upside down letters !? …Musical font !? …

♪♫ ♪♪ ♫♫

< like my new Avatar > B-)

I reckon its B-)

Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man….

In reply to Safe to install XP SP3?

[b]IS IT SAFE?[/b]

couldn’t resist the funny parallel.
😀

Well apart for some hardware issues that seem to be present

In reply to Safe to install XP SP3?

The only real complaint so far is that you are unable to remove IE7 from the system after you apply SP3.

Apparently there have been some issues of computer’s rebooting or hanging that can be attributed to SP3 but these are minor and M$ suggest that you restore to a point prior to SP3 being applied.

If you want to keep the ability to remove IE7 M$ tell people to remove it apply SP3 and then reapply IE7 to the system. This way you will be able to remove IE7 from your computer.

Overall it seems reasonable stable at the moment and I have personally yet to see any problems with it yet.

But of course if you already have problems applying SP3 is unlikely to fix them and in all likelihood it will make matters worse. I’ve just Slipstreamed a SP3 install Disc and I’ll give it a try when I get the time.

Col

[Author]

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