Install Date of Windows Service Pack 3

[Jason Sachs]

I have a version of Service Pack 3 downloaded from Microsoft some time last
year with the Date of 8/9/2008; I now download the same Service Pack which
has a date of 4/14/08. Are these two Downloads identical or different? I
also have a Disk of Service Pack 3 provided by Microsoft with the the Date of
4/14/08.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf (MVP)]

I have a version of Service Pack 3 downloaded from Microsoft some time last

year with the Date of 8/9/2008; I now download the same Service Pack which
has a date of 4/14/08. Are these two Downloads identical or different? I
also have a Disk of Service Pack 3 provided by Microsoft with the the Date of
4/14/08.

No that is probably when Windows Update downloaded it and installed it
for you. It was released publicly in April 08.

- Thee Chicago Wolf (MVP)

 

[Jason Sachs]

No that is probably when Windows Update downloaded it and installed it
for you. It was released publicly in April 08.

- Thee Chicago Wolf (MVP)

Thank you for your reply. I have a related question based on your response.
I take it the dates of the "sub-modules" are changed upon installation in my
computer and hence there would be no real "Build" date of the Service Pack
that would be visible to me upon examining either the Download or CD versions
of the Service Pack by either Windows Explorer or ISOBUSTER?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Thank you for your reply. I have a related question based on your
response. I take it the dates of the "sub-modules" are changed upon
installation in my computer and hence there would be no real
"Build" date of the Service Pack that would be visible to me upon
examining either the Download or CD versions of the Service Pack by
either Windows Explorer or ISOBUSTER?

No - you could probably figure that out as well.

Googling could also tell you when Windows XP SP3 RTM'd (released to
manufacturing.)

It is just that the purpose of the dates in Add or Remove programs is to
tell you when you added a given program - telling you the build date of it
there would not be as useful - as it is seldom you need that (you can
usually find the version of any app you want by other means.)

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Thank you for your reply. I have a related question based on your response.

I take it the dates of the "sub-modules" are changed upon installation in my
computer and hence there would be no real "Build" date of the Service Pack
that would be visible to me upon examining either the Download or CD versions
of the Service Pack by either Windows Explorer or ISOBUSTER?

Sure there's a build date. Do a Start > Run > Winver and press enter.

You'll see the build date after qfe in the YYMMDD-HHMM format.
Assuming you've not installed any updates for ntoskrnl.exe.

- Thee Chicago Wolf