Realse Date for XP SP3: March 23-24th

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

For what it's worth, here's a link to the news article for those
interested:
http://bink.nu/news/windows-vista-sp1-and-windows-xp-sp3-official-release-dates.aspx

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Shenan Stanley]

For what it's worth, here's a link to the news article for those
interested:
http://bink.nu/news/windows-vista-sp1-and-windows-xp-sp3-official-release-dates.aspx

Well... Hmm...
Windows Vista SP1: February 18th or 19th
Is RTM already - I don't expect it to be in Automatic Updates or available
for download via Windows Update/download center until March or April.

Windows XP SP3 - I haven't heard much - but it would be nice to get it soon.
;-)

Doesn't mean it won't be available in other ways or that I am not completely
off...

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

As a matter of fact, XP SP3 RC2 just released to beta testers this morning.
(There was no rtm date in the announcement, of course).

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Well... Hmm...

Windows Vista SP1: February 18th or 19th
Is RTM already - I don't expect it to be in Automatic Updates or available
for download via Windows Update/download center until March or April.

Windows XP SP3 - I haven't heard much - but it would be nice to get it soon.
;-)

Doesn't mean it won't be available in other ways or that I am not completely
off...

I've heard Vista SP1 at the end of Feb to coincide with Server 2008
launch so it's a surprise to me as well. SP3 will be a bit more
welcome to those who'll be wanting to test against their current
install base. We'll see what happens.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

As a matter of fact, XP SP3 RC2 just released to beta testers this morning.

(There was no rtm date in the announcement, of course).

Hmm, that's news to me. Do you happen to know the build?

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

3300

Hmm, that's news to me. Do you happen to know the build?

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I've heard Vista SP1 at the end of Feb to coincide with Server 2008
launch so it's a surprise to me as well.

Vista SP1 was released to manufacturing two days ago, on February 4th.
It is expected to be available for downloading to end users around the
middle of March.

Server 2008 was released to manufacturing on the same day.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

3300

That's about what I thought it would be. As of Monday they ought to
have been on build 3306 so if the release date holds true, we'll
likely see 3320-something to 3330 as the final build number. Or not.
Ha! It'd be funny to start a pool.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Vista SP1 was released to manufacturing two days ago, on February 4th.

It is expected to be available for downloading to end users around the
middle of March.

Server 2008 was released to manufacturing on the same day.

Right. A lot of places were reporting this too and the official quote
from Redmond was:

"Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) was released to manufacturing
today and will start being available to customers in March, starting
with Microsoft Volume Licensing customers. Windows Server 2008 was
also released to manufacturing today and will be available for
purchase to new customers on March 1. Microsoft Volume Licensing
customers with active Microsoft Software Assurance coverage or an
Enterprise Agreement will be able to download the server software
toward the end of February," coinciding with the company's SQL Server
2008, Visual Studio 2008 and Windows Server 2008 launch event."

That's why it seemed to conflict with the bink.nl page reporting
mid-Feb. A lot can change in 24 hours I guess.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The last release candidate for Vista SP1 turned out to also be the rtm
build. It did not have a time-bomb date nor did it display "evaluation
copy" on the desktop. If XP SP3 has those characteristics then there may
not be any more builds and MS may be hoping that, barring a showstopper bug
showing up, 3300 could rtm.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

fwiw, build 18000 (Vista SP1 rtm) is already in use by several thousand
techbeta testers who will not have to do anything when SP1 begins
distribution in a few weeks so be prepared for all sorts of scenarios that
sound unlikely but will turn out to be true.

 

[Gordon]

Vista SP1 was released to manufacturing two days ago, on February 4th.
It is expected to be available for downloading to end users around the
middle of March.

Server 2008 was released to manufacturing on the same day.

Why have certain people got this OBSESSION with SP3? My machine runs
perfectly well at the moment without it, and when it comes along I'll
install it, but it it's not a life-or death matter WHEN it comes out....

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

The last release candidate for Vista SP1 turned out to also be the rtm

build. It did not have a time-bomb date nor did it display "evaluation
copy" on the desktop. If XP SP3 has those characteristics then there may
not be any more builds and MS may be hoping that, barring a showstopper bug
showing up, 3300 could rtm.

Yep, that is true. I'll have to keep an eye on the technet forums.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

fwiw, build 18000 (Vista SP1 rtm) is already in use by several thousand

techbeta testers who will not have to do anything when SP1 begins
distribution in a few weeks so be prepared for all sorts of scenarios that
sound unlikely but will turn out to be true.

MS and unlikely scenarios? The scandal! Cheers.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Kris]

Why have certain people got this OBSESSION with SP3? My machine runs
perfectly well at the moment without it, and when it comes along I'll
install it, but it it's not a life-or death matter WHEN it comes out....

ease of use would be my guess. I had to reinstall for new mobo my
slipstreamed sp2, so when I saw sp3rc was out I backed it up and installed
it. As opposed to putting on 90 express fixes to SP2. Very ho-hum : the
only difference I have noticed is that when I go to windows update there's
only 1 there. So when sp3 final comes out I'll just restore back, and
install sp3 and continue. Might take me 20 min. Then I'll go make a new
slipstream with XP and just SP3.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Why have certain people got this OBSESSION with SP3? My machine runs

perfectly well at the moment without it, and when it comes along I'll
install it, but it it's not a life-or death matter WHEN it comes out....

For people who are planning new deployments of XP on hundreds of new
workstations, having the ability to slipstream SP3 into a fresh
install is a HUGE TIME SAVER. People are planning ahead so they can
prepare for this, not because they are obsessed with anything. It's
also to test currently installed applications against it to make sure
there are no software conflicts or other odd bugs.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Kris]

For people who are planning new deployments of XP on hundreds of new
workstations, having the ability to slipstream SP3 into a fresh
install is a HUGE TIME SAVER. People are planning ahead so they can
prepare for this, not because they are obsessed with anything. It's
also to test currently installed applications against it to make sure
there are no software conflicts or other odd bugs.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

- especially since sp3 *includes* sp1 and sp2 - it's going to be a killer!
(as in GOOD!!!)

 

[Shenan Stanley]

For people who are planning new deployments of XP on hundreds of new
workstations, having the ability to slipstream SP3 into a fresh
install is a HUGE TIME SAVER. People are planning ahead so they can
prepare for this, not because they are obsessed with anything. It's
also to test currently installed applications against it to make
sure there are no software conflicts or other odd bugs.

I've had that discussion before (perhaps with you) but I roll out to many
machines - used to roll out to many machines on a periodic basis (College
Labs - ~1200 machines every 4-5 months - fresh installs, 100+ applications,
etc.) and I just keep my installation media updated each month since SP2.
You can integrate MOST post-SP2 updates. ;-)

Sure - SP3 is a nice clean "everything between SP2 and SP3" slipstream - but
then i will continue each month integrated the new updates so my install
stays as current as possible.

As for testing - totally agree - need to do that and it is nice to do it
well before rollout and then again right before rollout.