Could someone please advise me if it's very important that I
upgrade from SP2 to SP3 as soon as possible ? I am on a telephone
line but have set the computer to "Automatic Upgrading", but since
I connect to the net only 1 hour a week it could take a long time
for the upgrade, but I could leave the connection on all night.
The importance of SP3 is determined *by you*. After all you are
asking about an update for a particular operating system on a
particular machine with particular software and you have a specific
way you likely use said machine. You don't *need* a computer to
survive, so its criticality can only be determined by your own needs.
(E.G. - Many people are still running Windows 98 - so SP3 has no
meaning to them what-so-ever.)
In your case (dial-up) I suggest ordering the CD and/or getting a
friend/family member to download it and copy it for you and/or doing
it at some place with high-speed Internet yourself.
Like it or not - Windows XP SP3 is something that you probably should
install if...
- You are currently running Windows XP (32bit).
- You care about keeping your machine current and running its best.
- You wish to continue running Windows XP for some indeterminate time
into the future.
- You want to free support if you have any trouble installing it (SP3
that is.)
Service Pack 3 is mostly all of the updates released after SP2 and
until the release of SP3. You may think to yourself that you have
been keeping your PC updated - so you probably have all those updates
- fact is, you'd be incorrect. You may have all the publically
released ones, but SP3 contains 1179 previously released updates -
guaranteed you do not have them all installed without it. ;-)
Most of the issues people have had with SP3 have to do with their
particular configuration or a problem caused by a third party
change/mis-configuration on their system - and almost all have a
relatively simple fix.
Before starting, know where you can get help:
A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from
Microsoft* until April 2009...
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131
Other than "Automatic Updates" or the Windows Update web page - how
can you get SP3?
Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&DisplayLang=en
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT
Professionals and Developers
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en
Do a little reading - to ensure you are ready...
WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx
Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717
Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm
Key things to note:
Internet Explorer:
"If you have installed Windows Internet Explorer® 7 or a beta version
of Internet Explorer 8, and then install Windows XP SP3, you cannot
uninstall Internet Explorer. To avoid this, ensure Internet Explorer
7 or a beta version of Internet Explorer 8 is not installed before
installing Windows XP SP3. If you have already encountered this
issue, uninstall Windows XP SP3, uninstall Internet Explorer, and
then reinstall Windows XP SP3."
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002:
"If you install Windows XP SP3 on a computer running Windows XP Media
Center Edition 2002 with SP1, Windows XP Media Center Edition may
malfunction. To avoid this, install Windows XP SP2 before you
install Windows XP SP3. If this issue has already occurred,
uninstall Windows XP SP3, install Windows XP SP2, and then reinstall
Windows XP SP3."
Did all that and have some issues you believe might be related to SP3?
Check these out:
It seems some people are unable to get further updates after
installing SP3... Seems some have experienced a symptom similar to
doing a repair installation on Windows XP - and the same fix seems to
work for them for that...
Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from
Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a
Windows XP installation:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Some people experience an "endless reboot" issue...
Workarounds:
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jes...ed-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx
[NB: The above has been updated many times and now includes "a small
tool that will detect the IntelPPM problem and mitigate it before
installing [WinXP SP3]."
1. Boot into Safe Mode and rename INTELPMM.SYS to INTELPMM.OLD.
2. After booting into Safe Mode:
Start --> Run --> (copy/paste)
sc config intelppm start= disabled
--> OK --> Reboot into normal (Windows) mode.
Other references include:
1.
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?p=187790#p187790
2.
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jes...ed-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx
3.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_crashes/
4.
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9084418
5. You receive a "Stop 0x0000007E" error message after you upgrade to
Windows
XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 on a non-Intel-processor-based
computer (Revised 06 May-08):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372
Some people have gotten an "Access Denied" message when trying to
install SP3... I suggest going straigh to Method 3 of this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377
Beyond that - some simple maintenance might be needed - like
installing the latest hardware drivers from your hardware vendors...
Good luck to you! You shouldn't need it, however, with just a little
planning. ;-)
