JoeSpareBedroom said:
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/details.aspx?FamilyId=68C48DAD-BC34-40BE-8D85-6BB4F56F5110
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.
It's a personal decision - like everything else. No one here really cares
in the end. It's your machine, if you get infested/infected or have other
issues, you'll come back and likely ask questions and likely be chastized
for not having SP3 if you still have not installed it - as it is *not new* -
and truthfully - only causes issues *if* your computer already had issues
for it to expose in my experience.
As with everything - you should have current backups or even a current
drive/partition image (many applications out there; some free, some not.)
Not having backups is just unwise - after all - if you could backup your own
life and go back to some point in time when something went wrong - I would
bet you would do it.
In the end - it is up to you. People still run Windows 98 as of today.
Soon enough you will be unable to get any updates for your Windows
XP system unless you have Windows XP SP3. If you have Windows XP
SP3 - you should be able to receive updates from Microsoft until April 2014.
List of fixes that are included in Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480/
The article clearly states that the list of fixes it shows were added to SP3
only. If you want to know what was included in SP2 or SP1a - they have
links in the article. ("The following fix list includes only the updates
that were added in Windows XP SP3.")
So - out of those 1174 additional fixes (yes - there are 1174 listed in SP3
alone) - how many do you have installed Post-SP2? I had about 100-120 on
a good day before SP3 was released. ;-)
While right now you can still download the patches from Microsoft if you
have not upgraded to SP3 - that will soon end. Combine that with the
hardware and software manufacturers who have already started cutting
their product support off at Windows XP SP3 or later operating systems and
you are building yourself a nice wall preventing yourself from using new
hardware and new software in a very short period of time (some cannot get
over your wall now.) That is something you should weigh in on when making
your final decision.
You'll likely live a long and happy life without them. Your computer
might stay running perfectly for many decades to come without SP3. You may
never change OSes, you may never upgrade applications and you may be
perfectly safe behind a router with your same antivirus/antispyware running.
Make sure you keep really good backups - no matter what - but especially if
you decide you are okay with not fixing your machine (cleaning up whatever
obvious issue it has now) so SP3 can install properly.
If it was me or someone I knew and/or cared about - I would be going
through the instructions I gave in order to remedy an obvious problem
with the system as Windows XP SP3 should install on a fully
functional/clean Windows XP system - and if it doesn't - something is
wrong with said system.
Want to go through a nice procedure, clearly laid out, that should get
Windows XP SP3 installed on your system and ensure it is in top-shape as
well? I've got one - given it many times - I'm going to post it here
again...
Also know that it is not long because of SP3 - but because of how people
unknowingly do not properly maintain their system. Most of these steps - if
not all - would be unnecessary on a well maintained and clean system.
However - it is also very easy these days to click on the wrong thing,
etc... So this covers all the bases.
If you do this - know this - it doesn't matter if you do some of the steps I
give everyday - you should do them *as given* without deviation, without
skipping around, without ignoring one because you don't think it is
necessary... It will ensure you have everything in order and ready.
My instructions *will* take time for you to get through - but they will not
only likely get SP3 installed on your Windows XP system - but probably make
the system snappier than it has been in some time.
First - please verify the exact edition, version and architecture of
Windows XP you have:
Press and hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and then press the
"Pause/Break" key. Let go of both. This is equivalent in Windows XP to
having right-clicked on the "My Computer" icon and chosen "Properties"
from the menu that appears. When the new window appears - ensure you are
under the "General" tab. Is there *anything* in there to indicate you
have a 64-bit version of Windows XP, like the words, "Windows XP
Professional x64 Edition Version"?
If there is, let everyone here know this and stop the quest - as you have no
SP3 for your operating system.
If there is not, let everyone here know this and continue the quest.
Next we will get the edition and version information...
Start button --> RUN
(no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard)
--> type in:
winver
--> Click OK.
The picture at the top of the window that opens will give you the general
(Operating System name and edition) while the line starting with the word
"version" will give you the rest of the story. Post _both_ in response
to this message verbatim. No paraphrasing - instead - ensure
character-for-character copying.
What version of Internet Explorer are you currently using? Easy to find
out. Open Internet Explorer and while that is in-focus, press and hold
the "ALT" key on your keyboard. With the "ALT" key still pressed, press
(just once, no holding) the "H" key. Now, with the "ALT" key still
pressed, press (just once, no holding) the "A" key. That will bring up
the "About Internet Explorer" window. It will give you the exact version
you are using - repeat what you see there in response to this message.
Next question has to do with what type of computer you own and what type
of processor it has. It's pretty straight forward: Is it an HP branded
computer and does it have an AMD processor installed?
If the answer to BOTH of those is YES, then you need to prevent a known
issue with that combination using the following instructions:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com:80/ewfrf/...ex?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&softwareitem=pv-60484-2
If the answer to EITHER of those is NO, then you are generally safe in
continuing on. But either way - answer back here so everyone can know
what you are doing/what you have step-by-excruciating-step.
Now that we have some base information, let's cleanup and get ready to
install Windows XP SP3 onto your Windows XP system.
Reboot so you start with a fresh machine. For everything here you will
need to logon as an user with administrative (installation) priviledges.
Fix your file/registry permissions...
Ignore the title and follow the sub-section under
"Advanced Troubleshooting" titled,
"Method 1: Reset the registry and the file permissions"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377
*will take time
** Ignore the last step (6) - you'll install SP3 shortly, but not now.
You will likely see errors pass by if you watching, even count up. No
worries *at this time*.
*After* that is done, continue on to the next part where you clean off
some excess (unnecessary) files. It only removes those you definitely
do not need, if you follow the directions *as given* and do not deviate.
So reboot (for each of these steps, it is just best to reboot right
before - but I will continue to point that out) and logon as an user with
administrative priviledges.
Download/install the "Windows Installer CleanUp Utility":
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
After installing, do the following:
Start button --> RUN
(no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard)
--> type in:
"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g!
--> Click OK.
(The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.)
It will flash by *quick*, don't expect much out of this step to get
excited about. But the cleaner your machine is to start with, the
better your luck will be later (not really luck - more like preparedness,
but that's not as fun to think about, eh?)
Yeah - you will get tired of rebooting - but let's soldier on and reboot
again and logon as an user with administrative priviledges.
This time (and this is one of the more time-consuming steps) you will be
running (one at a time with reboots in-between each) three different
anti-spyware/anti-malware applications to ensure you come up clean.
Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan with the following
(freeware version):
SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan with the following
(freeware version):
MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
You may find nothing, you may find only cookies, you may think it is a
waste of time - but if you do all this and report back here with what you
do/don't find as you are doing all of it - you are adding more pieces to
the puzzle and the entire picture just may become clearer and your
problem resolved.
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/...6F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the
root of the C:\ drive, do the following:
Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.
(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...
Reboot and logon as administrative user.
Visit this web page:
How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058
.... and click on the "Microsoft Fix it" icon. When asked, select "RUN",
both times. Check the "I agree" box and click on "Next". Check the box
for "Run aggressive options (not recommended)" and click "Next". Let
it finish up and follow the prompts until it is done. Close/exit and
reboot when it is.
Now for SP3...
Download the full SP3 installation file.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for
IT Professionals and Developers (works just as well for you.)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4
You are just saving it right now - not running it yet. There will be no
file size deviation - it is 316.4MB.
You should now perform a full CHKDSK on your system drive (C
...
How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
* will take time and a reboot
You should now perform a full Defragment on your system drive (C
...
How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
* will take time
Reboot right before you try to install SP3.
Disconnect from the internet before installing (physically disconnect -
pull the network cable or disable the router/modem.)
Uninstall any and all third-party firewall applications (ZoneAlarm, etc)
and utilize the built-in Windows Firewall only.
Disable your antivirus and antispyware applications when you are about to
install SP3. Usually right-click on the icon in the taskbar gives you
a choice to do so.
Install SP3 by running the downloaded executable.
Reboot when requested to do so.
Logon and let the machine 'settle' for about 10 minutes.
Reboot.
Give it 5 minutes after logon to 'settle' - reboot.
After that - there will be more updates.
Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer
and visit
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a
CUSTOM scan...
Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.
Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.
Reboot again.
If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time. Rebooting as needed.
The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones or
"Windows Live" ones for now. I would completely avoid the
Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do not see any urgent need to
install Internet Explorer 8 at this time.
Seriously - do all that. This is like antibiotics - don't skip a single
step, don't quit because you think things will be okay now - go through
until the end, until you have done everything given in the order given. If
you have a problem with a step come ask and let someone here get you
through that step. If you don't understand how to do a step, come back
and ask here about that step and let someone walk you through it.
Then - when done - let everyone here know if it worked for you - or if
you have more issues.
