xp sp1 vs sp3

[M]

Without being able to pass WGA, many things MS won't be available to
you.

Like what? Defenseless? No thanks. Windows Media Player 11? BFD.

M

 

[Twayne]

Like what? Defenseless? No thanks. Windows Media Player 11? BFD.

M

Ignorance is bliss.

 

[Alias]

Ignorance is bliss.

Can't name them?

M

 

[Richard]

It is not as easy as it appears. I reformatted the hd. Load office and
installed sp3.
However, if I go to start, my computer and right click it still says sp1.
I havent even tried to load ZA. I cannot download IE7.

You can go directly from sp1a or sp2 to sp3, but not from sp1.

it appears to be a problem with the system as I have reformatted twice and
the system cannot recognize sp3. Can I remove sp3 and do sp2 and try
that

Yes, Install Windows, then sp2, then sp3, then make sure Windows firewall is
active, then goto Windows Update and get all critical updates offered. After
the operating system is fully patched, and everything works, then install
office, and whatever other applications you use. And only after you have
installed a good up to date antivirus should you connect to any other site
besides Windows Updates or Microsoft downloads.

HTH. --Richard

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

You can go directly from sp1a or sp2 to sp3, but not from sp1.

Sorry, that's not correct. SP1 is fine too. Microsoft probably doesn't
mention SP1, because of the legal issue that caused them to replace
SP1 with SP1a.

 

[Timothy Daniels]

Sorry, that's not correct. SP1 is fine too. Microsoft probably doesn't
mention SP1, because of the legal issue that caused them to replace
SP1 with SP1a.

More explicitly, does that mean that one can install SP3 without
having installed SP2 if one has either SP1 or SP1a installed?

*TimDaniels*

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I had to replace my old hd with a new one and am now going through
the problem of reinstalling everything. It is windows XP first
installed in 2005. I tried to reinstall Zone Alarm but it would not
install because it said I had sp1. I downloaded sp3, installed it
and rebooted it. Zone Alarm still said I had sp1. I downloaded sp3
and tried to install it a second time, but it would not install
because it found itself on my computer. However, when I went to My
Computer and right clicked on it, it said I had sp1.
I am stuck in the middle and cant get out. I need za to access the
web so I am desparate

It is not as easy as it appears. I reformatted the hd. Load office
and installed sp3.
However, if I go to start, my computer and right click it still
says sp1. I havent even tried to load ZA. I cannot download IE7.

it appears to be a problem with the system as I have reformatted
twice and the system cannot recognize sp3. Can I remove sp3 and do
sp2 and try that

You can go directly from sp1a or sp2 to sp3, but not from sp1.

Yes, Install Windows, then sp2, then sp3, then make sure Windows
firewall is active, then goto Windows Update and get all critical
updates offered. After the operating system is fully patched, and
everything works, then install office, and whatever other
applications you use. And only after you have installed a good up
to date antivirus should you connect to any other site besides
Windows Updates or Microsoft downloads.

Sorry, that's not correct. SP1 is fine too. Microsoft probably
doesn't mention SP1, because of the legal issue that caused them to
replace SP1 with SP1a.

More explicitly, does that mean that one can install SP3 without
having installed SP2 if one has either SP1 or SP1a installed?

Should work that way - yes.

As long as you have SP1 or above, you should be able to install SP3 - in
terms of Windows XP 32-bit. I have no definitive way of testing this (don't
have SP1 lying around nor do I think it is available for download anymore
for legal reasons - although I can get ahold of SP1a without a problem.)

The difference in SP1 and SP1a... Very minor.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813926

And you can also integrate SP3 into a pure RTM (no SPs at all) CD to make a
Windows XP installation CD patched through at least the latest service pack.

 

[Daave]

Sorry, that's not correct. SP1 is fine too. Microsoft probably doesn't
mention SP1, because of the legal issue that caused them to replace
SP1 with SP1a.

Actually, depending on which Microsoft page you read, they *do* mention
SP1:

"To install SP3, your computer ... must at least be running Windows XP
with Service Pack 1 installed."

From:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc507836.aspx

I have done this, and it does work -- just like Microsoft said it would.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

More explicitly, does that mean that one can install SP3 without
having installed SP2 if one has either SP1 or SP1a installed?

Yes, it does.