Service Pack 3...

[Susie-Q]

I originally installed SP3 when it was first released and it pretty much
screwed up my whole system and I had to reload everything. System Restore
*did not* restore all my settings.

Needless to say I've been reluctant to try it again. Does it make THAT much
of a difference?

Has anyone had better luck with it now that it's been out for awhile? Any
suggestions other than backing up, etc.? It would be greatly appreciated.

Running XP Pro, Intel Duo Centrino and I'm not sure what else might be needed.

TIA,
Susie (have mercy - I'm a newbie!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I originally installed SP3 when it was first released and it pretty
much screwed up my whole system and I had to reload everything.
System Restore *did not* restore all my settings.

Needless to say I've been reluctant to try it again. Does it make
THAT much of a difference?

Has anyone had better luck with it now that it's been out for
awhile? Any suggestions other than backing up, etc.? It would be
greatly appreciated.

Running XP Pro, Intel Duo Centrino and I'm not sure what else might
be needed.

First thing - System Restore is not for your stuff - that's what backups are
for. System Restore is for restoring SYSTEM files - your files are not
system files. ;-)

With proper preparation - you are unlikely to have problems - and if you
have been performing proper maintenance all along - even if you do - you are
only out a short period of time (restoring from the backup/drive image you
made wisely before diving in...)

A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft*...
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

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

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

Suggestions:

1) Download the full SP3 installation file and/or burn the ISO download to
CD.
2) Ensure (as well as plausible) you have no spyware/malware by doing a full
scan with SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes.
3) CHKDSK
4) Defragment
5) Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
manufacturer's respective web pages.)
6) Reboot right before you try to install SP3.
7) Disconnect from the internet before installing (physically.)
8) Disable your antivirus and antispyware applications when you are about to
install SP3.

Some (if not all) of that is covered in the above links.


LONG:

Like it or not - Windows XP SP3 is something that you probably should
install if...

- You are currently running Windows XP (32bit).
- You care about keeping your machine current and running its best.
- You wish to continue running Windows XP for some indeterminate time into
the future.
- You want to free support if you have any trouble installing it (SP3 that
is.)

Service Pack 3 is mostly all of the updates released after SP2 and until the
release of SP3. You may think to yourself that you have been keeping your
PC updated - so you probably have all those updates - fact is, you'd be
incorrect. You may have all the publically released ones, but SP3 contains
1179 previously released updates - guaranteed you do not have them all
installed without it. ;-)

Most of the issues people have had with SP3 have to do with their particular
configuration or a problem caused by a third party change/mis-configuration
on their system - and almost all have a relatively simple fix.

Before starting, know where you can get help:

A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft*
until April 2009...
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

Other than "Automatic Updates" or the Windows Update web page - how can you
get SP3?

Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&DisplayLang=en

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for
IT Professionals and Developers (works just as well for you.)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en


Do a little reading - to ensure you are ready...
WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm

Key things to note:
Internet Explorer:
"If you have installed Windows Internet Explorer® 7 or a beta version of
Internet Explorer 8, and then install Windows XP SP3, you cannot uninstall
Internet Explorer. To avoid this, ensure Internet Explorer 7 or a beta
version of Internet Explorer 8 is not installed before installing Windows XP
SP3. If you have already encountered this issue, uninstall Windows XP SP3,
uninstall Internet Explorer, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002:
"If you install Windows XP SP3 on a computer running Windows XP Media Center
Edition 2002 with SP1, Windows XP Media Center Edition may malfunction. To
avoid this, install Windows XP SP2 before you install Windows XP SP3. If
this issue has already occurred, uninstall Windows XP SP3, install Windows
XP SP2, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."


Did all that and have some issues you believe might be related to SP3?
Check these out:

It seems some people are unable to get further updates after installing
SP3... Seems some have experienced a symptom similar to doing a repair
installation on Windows XP - and the same fix seems to work for them for
that...

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
installation: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

Some people experience an "endless reboot" issue...

Workarounds:
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jes...ed-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx
[NB: The above has been updated many times and now includes "a small tool
that will detect the IntelPPM problem and mitigate it before installing
[WinXP SP3]."

1. Boot into Safe Mode and rename INTELPMM.SYS to INTELPMM.OLD.
2. After booting into Safe Mode:
Start --> Run --> (copy/paste)
sc config intelppm start= disabled
--> OK --> Reboot into normal (Windows) mode.

Other references include:
1. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?p=187790#p187790
2.http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jes...ed-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx
3. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_crashes/
4.
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9084418
5. You receive a "Stop 0x0000007E" error message after you upgrade to
Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 on a
non-Intel-processor-based computer (Revised 06 May-08):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372

Some people have gotten an "Access Denied" message when trying to install
SP3... I suggest going straight to the third method of this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377

Beyond that - some simple maintenance might be needed - like installing the
latest hardware drivers from your hardware vendors...

Good luck to you! You shouldn't need it, however, with just a little
planning. ;-)

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I originally installed SP3 when it was first released and it pretty much
screwed up my whole system and I had to reload everything. System Restore
*did not* restore all my settings.

Right, that's one of things System Restore is not designed to do. It
restores the system files, not other settings.

Needless to say I've been reluctant to try it again. Does it make THAT much
of a difference?

Has anyone had better luck with it now that it's been out for awhile?

I installed it on several machines here as soon as it came out. I've
had *no* problems on any of them.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I originally installed SP3 when it was first released and it pretty much
screwed up my whole system and I had to reload everything. System Restore
*did not* restore all my settings.

Needless to say I've been reluctant to try it again. Does it make THAT
much
of a difference?

Has anyone had better luck with it now that it's been out for awhile? Any
suggestions other than backing up, etc.? It would be greatly appreciated.

Running XP Pro, Intel Duo Centrino and I'm not sure what else might be
needed.

TIA,
Susie (have mercy - I'm a newbie!

I have had zero problems installing SP3 on the more than a few systems I've
put it on.

However, I *never* allow Windows Update to install a full service pack. I
download it to CD, copy it to the drive, and run it from there after
disabling anti-virus software. If disabling A/V makes you nervous, simply
unplug the network cable.

And as to whether it "makes a difference", you're going to need it when apps
or further updates test for SP3.

HTH
-pk

 

[JS]

I think Shenan has pretty much covered all the bases.

Most people have not had problems but there are some that do.
I have installed SP3 on a test PC without problems but on my
PC that I use for every day use.

Also if I where to install SP3 I would choose to download the
file and not use Automatic Updates.

Your PC must be at least SP1 or SP2 level as SP3 will not
install on XP Gold.

Most importantly:
I would also create an "Image Backup" of your drive prior
to installing SP3 just in case you do have problems.
Don't have any Image Backup software:
Try "True Image" 2009 (has a 15 day trial version available)
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
Don't forget to create a "Rescue/Recovery" CD.
Acronis User's Guide:
http://us1.download.acronis.com/pdf/TrueImage12_ug.en.pdf

The Image Backup can be store to a second partition on
your hard drive, a second internal hard drive or an external
drive and even DVD media in a pinch. Image file takes about
40% less space than the amount used on the C: drive.

Should anything go wrong you can do a quick recovery
of your Windows XP OS just the way it was before you
tried to install SP3. The whole process takes less that 15 minutes.