Stand alone public download for XP SP3

[stinger608]

Yep MS just released the SP3 release candidate to the public today. Go grab it and give it a shot

It contains all of the past critical updates, as well as some new content. Not sure what the new content it, but I am going to give it shot LOL

Be sure to do a complete back up before installing this though, just in case it messes with your XP!!!!


Download details: Standalone Update Package for Windows XP Service Pack 3

[Yellowhello]

Kudos Stinger, DLing for my laptop...

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by stinger608

Yep MS just released the SP3 release candidate to the public today. Go grab it and give it a shot

It contains all of the past critical updates, as well as some new content. Not sure what the new content it, but I am going to give it shot LOL

Be sure to do a complete back up before installing this though, just in case it messes with your XP!!!!


Download details: Standalone Update Package for Windows XP Service Pack 3

You're just a week late. Panda posted the link to the standalone after I posted the downloader :P

Edit: Oh you got me there, I was still thinking Vista! Good one :D

[Zambini]

whats so special about SP3?



[edit] jk; found a pdf
Download details: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Overview

[Direct .pdf Link]

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Zambini

whats so special about SP3?

More than a hundred of patches since SP2
XP Explorer Reliability Pack, make XP even more stable
Vista'fied Security Center
Forced install of WMP11 and IE7
.NET framework 3.5 will be supported
Faster than SP2 (gaining back a bit of what we lost at SP2)

[screwballl]

Some quick notes I picked up:

Windows XP SP3 includes all previously released Windows XP updates, including security updates and hotfixes, and select out-of-band releases. For example, the service pack includes functionality previously released as updates, such as the Microsoft® Management Console (MMC) 3.0 and the Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0 (MSXML6).
Microsoft is not adding significant functionality from newer versions of Windows, such as Windows Vista, to Windows XP through XP SP3. For instance, Windows XP SP3 does not include Windows Internet Explorer 7, although Windows XP SP3 does include updates to both Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7, and it will update whichever version is installed on the computer. One notable exception is that, SP3 does include Network Access Protection (NAP) to help organizations that use Windows XP to take advantage of new features in the Windows Server® 2008 operating system.

As in Windows Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Vista, users can now Activation complete operating system installation without providing a product key during a full, integrated installation of Windows XP SP3. The operating system will prompt the user for a product key later as part of Genuine Advantage.

As with previous service packs, no product key is requested or required when installing Windows XP SP3 using the update package available through Microsoft Update.
Note: The Windows Product Activation changes in Windows XP SP3 are not related to the Windows Vista Key Management Service (KMS). This update affects only new operating system installations from integrated source media. This update affects the installation media only and is not a change to how activation works in Windows XP.

NAP is a policy enforcement platform built into Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, and Windows XP SP3 with which you can better protect network assets by enforcing compliance with system health requirements. Using NAP, you can create customized health policies to validate computer health before allowing access or communication; automatically Networking update compliant computers to ensure ongoing compliance; and optionally confine noncompliant computers to a restricted network until they become
compliant.

[Yellowhello]

Just got it installed in my laptop, and no changes that I can see so far.

[Tech Geek Deluxe]

I am going to wait and see what this stirs up. I read what they are going to ad ... and it simply doesn't appear to be of much benefit ... at least to me ... my XP machines are tuned and running well ... with the paltry offerings ... I will pass ... I was hoping serious tune and tweak in this SP3.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Tech Geek Deluxe

I am going to wait and see what this stirs up. I read what they are going to ad ... and it simply doesn't appear to be of much benefit ... at least to me ... my XP machines are tuned and running well ... with the paltry offerings ... I will pass ... I was hoping serious tune and tweak in this SP3.

Actually from what I heard it's faster. Fast can't be bad, ya? :)

[stinger608]

Originally Posted by polobunny

You're just a week late. Panda posted the link to the standalone after I posted the downloader :P

Edit: Oh you got me there, I was still thinking Vista! Good one :D

Um Polo, wasn't that SP1 RC1 for Vista that you posted????