Is the SP3 update necessary ?

[Roy]

Hello Group!
Recently my PC notified me about the recent windows update which is
about the installation of the SP3 update. As I have heard in the past
about the bad performance of PC with such update I am reluctant to
just follow the suggestion of the windows update.
I would like to know the current consensus of the group that have
experience of this particular update…?
Is this for the better stability of my WinXP OS or for the worst?
Please help as I am in quandary regarding this manner…
I don’t believe what Windows is claiming and I want a frank opinion
from experienced users…
Thanks in Advance!
Roy

 

[Malke]

Hello Group!
Recently my PC notified me about the recent windows update which is
about the installation of the SP3 update. As I have heard in the past
about the bad performance of PC with such update I am reluctant to
just follow the suggestion of the windows update.
I would like to know the current consensus of the group that have
experience of this particular update??
Is this for the better stability of my WinXP OS or for the worst?
Please help as I am in quandary regarding this manner?
I don?t believe what Windows is claiming and I want a frank opinion
from experienced users?

It is always important to keep your operating system patched. I have
installed SP3 on hundreds of systems with no problems and have experienced
no issues afterwards, either with my own XP machines or on clients'
computers. Proper preparation is key. Always back up data before doing a
big upgrade like a Service Pack.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals
and Developers (Microsoft Download Center)
http://tinyurl.com/6k9zo3

Release notes for WinXP SP3 - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929
List of fixes that are included in Windows XP Service Pack 3 -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480

Prerequisites for a successful installation - MVP Harry Waldron -
http://tinyurl.com/6nf4k4
Steps to take before you install WinXP SP3 -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717
WinXP SP3 Installation -
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsxp/cc164204.aspx
The hard disk space requirements for WinXP SP3 -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947311

SP3 Post-Installation Cleanup -
http://www.aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33827

Malke

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Hello Group!

Recently my PC notified me about the recent windows update which is
about the installation of the SP3 update. As I have heard in the past
about the bad performance of PC with such update I am reluctant to
just follow the suggestion of the windows update.
I would like to know the current consensus of the group that have
experience of this particular update…?
Is this for the better stability of my WinXP OS or for the worst?
Please help as I am in quandary regarding this manner…
I don’t believe what Windows is claiming and I want a frank opinion
from experienced users…
Thanks in Advance!
Roy

Depends. It brings a few new features as well as updates some
components of XP to current standards. It is a worthwhile update so
long as you read some of the caveats on the Microsoft web site. If you
have an Intel based PC, you'd not likely run into any issues. If you
have an AMD based PC from HP or similar, you might want to know about
the issue you might face if you update to SP3 with first running a
patch that will prevent a non-booting system after updating.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[db.·.. >]

no, its not necessary and
having your pc functional
and operational as is, is
proof enough.

however, if you do choose
to install it then be advised
that your windows sp2 setup
cd, will be worthless except
for the recovery console.

therefore, if you want to have
sp3 and want to be prepared
to have a method to repair your
system in the future or reinstall
your sp3 os , then you will have
to create a slipstream installation
disk with sp3.


--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>


Hello Group!
Recently my PC notified me about the recent windows update which is
about the installation of the SP3 update. As I have heard in the past
about the bad performance of PC with such update I am reluctant to
just follow the suggestion of the windows update.
I would like to know the current consensus of the group that have
experience of this particular update…?
Is this for the better stability of my WinXP OS or for the worst?
Please help as I am in quandary regarding this manner…
I don’t believe what Windows is claiming and I want a frank opinion
from experienced users…
Thanks in Advance!
Roy

 

[Daave]

If you have an Intel based PC, you'd not likely run into any issues.

I would amend the above into:

If you have an Intel-based PC and you are careful to turn off
anti-malware programs during the installation (best done via a clean
boot), you'd not likely run into any issues when upgrading to SP3. If
you have an AMD-based PC that still has the factory image on the hard
drive, it's important to look at this page first:

http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jes...ed-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx

(or http://tinyurl.com/6zs52d )

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

...As I have heard in the past

about the bad performance of PC with such update I am reluctant to
just follow the suggestion of the windows update.

Users who have installed WinXP SP3 successfully and have not encountered any
problems after doing so usually do not post to these newsgroups about it!

I would like to know the current consensus of the group that have
experience of this particular update…?

See above. Anyone who's installed WinXP SP3 and hasn't encountered a
problem most likely will not reply to this thread.

Is this for the better stability of my WinXP OS or for the worst?

Unlike WinXP SP2, SP3 is not a major upgrade. It's basically a roll-up of
post-SP2 security updates and hotfixes. See these KB articles:

List of fixes that are included in WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480

Release notes for WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929

Please note:

1. Free installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 (and only WinXP
SP3) is available but only until April 2009.

2. Effective April 2010, you will not be offered ANY more security updates
if WinXP SP3 is not installed.

I don’t believe what Windows is claiming and I want a frank opinion
from experienced users…

I've installed WinXP SP3 on several machines and haven't had a lick of
problems.

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada. Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select "Windows
XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"

Good luck!

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

I installed SP3 as soon as it was released and have had no problems I
have been able to attribute to it.

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

I wouldn't want to be running without SP3.

 

[Roy]

I wouldn't want to be running without SP3.
--
DSH
Lux et Veritas et Libertas
Vires et Honor







- Show quoted text -

Hmm..now I check the file size of the so called update and it was just
66.9-316.4mb, ..does this imply that my particular PC is only given
this size of file so that it will update only what is necessary?
Meaning the superfluous hotfixes which might be already in my PC is
not included anymore?

I thought before that the file size cound be so huge that it needs
roughly a Gigabyte of file size in the hard drive...
Needs more comments on this matter...
Thanks!

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

My SP3 update was even smaller...

33 MB or so.

I had previously carefully installed all the hotfixes et al from
Microsoft Updates.

DSH

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Hmm..now I check the file size of the so called update and it was just

66.9-316.4mb, ..does this imply that my particular PC is only given
this size of file so that it will update only what is necessary?
Meaning the superfluous hotfixes which might be already in my PC is
not included anymore?

I thought before that the file size cound be so huge that it needs
roughly a Gigabyte of file size in the hard drive...
Needs more comments on this matter...
Thanks!

I do not know how the Windows Update version differs from the full
300+ MB version and nor have I seen any research or proof that it's
any different than the full SP3 package. It was designed for those
with a slow Internet connection is all I really know. The full package
backs up around 300-500MB of SP2 (and after) files before laying down
SP3.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Roy]

I do not know how the Windows Update version differs from the full
300+ MB version and nor have I seen any research or proof that it's
any different than the full SP3 package. It was designed for those
with a slow Internet connection is all I really know. The full package
backs up around 300-500MB of SP2 (and after) files before laying down
SP3.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

Hmm so what is the average size of the full SP3 package including the
SP2 back up?

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Hmm so what is the average size of the full SP3 package including the

SP2 back up?

The FULL SP3 file is some 330MB and the backup, if I remember, is
around 400-500MB. So, it rounds out to a gig, give or take.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Roy]

The FULL SP3 file is some 330MB and the backup, if I remember, is
around 400-500MB. So, it rounds out to a gig, give or take.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

Thats a cause for concern I just have 2.4 Gig left of free space in
the C drive

 

[windmap]

Hello Group!
Recently my PC notified me about the recent windows update which is
about the installation of the SP3 update. As I have heard in the past
about the bad performance of PC with such update I am reluctant to
just follow the suggestion of the windows update.
I would like to know the current consensus of the group that have
experience of this particular update…?
Is this for the better stability of my WinXP OS or for the worst?
Please help as I am in quandary regarding this manner…
I don’t believe what Windows is claiming and I want a frank opinion
from experienced users…
Thanks in Advance!
Roy

I have updated several PCs with SP3 ,I had no problems in instaling
them.All the installation were smooth and successfull.Before you
install sp3 i would recommended you back up all the Important
Documents and files to a seperate backup media.then perform a clean
installation of windows xp .After the clean install perform sp3
update.

Also Check out Sipstreaming details for sp3 at below address
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/xpsp3_slipstream.asp

 

[Roy]

I have updated several PCs with SP3 ,I had no problems in instaling
them.All the installation were smooth and successfull.Before you
install sp3 i would recommended you back up all the Important
Documents and files to a seperate backup media.then perform a clean
installation of windows xp .After the clean install perform sp3
update.

Also Check out Sipstreaming details for sp3 at below addresshttp://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/xpsp3_slipstream.asp

Hmm. that means lot of work just for upgrading for Sp3?
As my notebook pc comes with preinstalled win XP Sp2 that would too
much a hassle for me I think....
I was thinking having WinXP Sp2 already installed I just have to top
it with the SP3 and that it...
Is it not a simplier way of just following the windows update in my
PC where you can choose from express and custom install.
When youre finished, restart then your back to normal....?
Any comments?

 

[Jila0]

I have tried many times to instal SP3 but could not. same error message
"Access Denied. Installation did not complete"
Any suggestions welc.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Error message when you try to install WinXP SP3: "Access is denied" or
“Service Pack installation did not completeâ€
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377

[Possible fix:
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/reset-the-registry-and-the-file-permissions-in-windows-xp/]

How to troubleshoot an unsuccessful installation of WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950718

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada. Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select "Windows
XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

I have tried many times to instal SP3 but could not. same error message
"Access Denied. Installation did not complete"
Any suggestions welc.

<snip>