should service pack 3 be installed?

[aaronep]

about a year ago when service pack 3 for Windows XP was released,
there was some controversy about it, in that it caused problems.


Now that a year has passed, are there still reasons NOT to install
SP 3, but to remain on using only SP 2?

best, Aaron

 

[C]

about a year ago when service pack 3 for Windows XP was released,
there was some controversy about it, in that it caused problems.


Now that a year has passed, are there still reasons NOT to install
SP 3, but to remain on using only SP 2?

best, Aaron

No, you should install it. Just make sure you reboot TWICE after the
install and deactivate your anti virus resident scanner before and
during the install. I would create a system restore point before
installing it as well.

C

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Computers running WinXP SP2 will NOT be offered any further critical
security updates, Automatic Updates will cease to function, and Windows
Update website will not be available after 12 April 2010 until SP3 is
installed.

What do you think now?

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 for WinXP SP3 was
available from 14 April 2008 thru May 2009. Such support will cost you
US$59 per incident now.

 

[Mark Adams]

about a year ago when service pack 3 for Windows XP was released,
there was some controversy about it, in that it caused problems.


Now that a year has passed, are there still reasons NOT to install
SP 3, but to remain on using only SP 2?

best, Aaron
.

Only if you have "must have" applications that will not run with SP3
installed, and no replacement is available.

I have installed SP3 on all of my XP machines and the only trouble I had was
Norton Save and Restore wouldn't run. I called Symantec and they gave me a
free download of a SP3 compatible version of S&R and I have had no further
trouble.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

about a year ago when service pack 3 for Windows XP was released,
there was some controversy about it, in that it caused problems.

Now that a year has passed, are there still reasons NOT to install
SP 3, but to remain on using only SP 2?

It's really up to you, but my personal opinion is that it would be unwise
(at best) to continue to run Windows XP with less than SP3 and post-SP3
patches installed.

I once said that no one had given convincing arguments against Windows XP
SP3 installation - and although one person tried (albeit in a private email
instead of a public forum) I still found nothing convincing about *not*
installing Windows XP SP3. The problems it 'caused' were usually problems
it 'exposed'. Just because the problem was not visible before SP3 was
installed does not mean it wasn't there.

List of fixes that are included in Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480/

The article clearly states that the list of fixes it shows were added to SP3
only. If you want to know what was included in SP2 or SP1a - they have
links in the article. ("The following fix list includes only the updates
that were added in Windows XP SP3.")

So - out of those 1174 additional fixes (yes - there are 1174 listed in SP3
alone) - how many do you have installed Post-SP2? I had about 100-120 on a
good day. ;-)

Your definition of "about" in this case ('about a year ago') is definitely
different than mine. ;-) April 21, 2008 to December 5, 2009... That's 593
days (365.26 days in each year) or one year, seven months and fourteen days
difference. Maybe "about a year and a half ago" - but closer to two years
than one now. ;-P

So - in the spirit of getting SP3 installed onto your computer...

The following may seem long - but it will almost assuredly give you a
successful Windows XP Service Pack 3 installation every time. Many of the
things here - well - should have been done periodically anyway.

First - before anything else - answer this:

Do you have an HP branded computer with an AMD processor?
(If so - answer and wait for further advice.
If not, answer and continue with the steps.)

Fix your file/registry permissions...

Ignore the title and follow the sub-section under "Advanced Troubleshooting"
titled, "Method 1: Reset the registry and the file permissions"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377
*will take time
(** Ignore the last step (6) - you'll install SP3 shortly, but not now.)

Reboot and ...

Download/install this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

After installing, do the following:

Start button --> RUN --> type in:
"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g!
--> Click OK.
(The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.)

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.

Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

Reboot.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/...6F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en

Reboot.

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions here:

How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Reboot.

Now for SP3...

1) Download the full SP3 installation file.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for
IT Professionals and Developers (works just as well for you.)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4

You are just saving it right now - not running it yet.

2) Ensure (as well as plausible) you have no spyware/malware by doing a full
scan with SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes. If you are following
along, you have already done this!

3) CHKDSK
How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
* will take time and a reboot

4) Defragment
How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
* will take time

5) Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
manufacturer's respective web pages.) Never get hardware drivers
for hardware that was not created/sold by Microsoft from Microsoft.

6) Reboot right before you try to install SP3.

7) Disconnect from the internet before installing (physically disconnect -
pull the network cable or disable the router/modem.)

8) Disable your antivirus and antispyware applications when you are about to
install SP3. Usually right-click on the icon in the taskbar gives you
a choice to do so.

Install SP3 by running the downloaded executable. Reboot when requested to
do so. Logon and let the machine 'settle' for about 10 minutes. Reboot.
Give it 5 minutes after logon to 'settle' - reboot.

After that - there will be more updates.

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer
and visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a
CUSTOM scan...

Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time. Rebooting as needed.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones or
"Windows Live" ones for now. I would completely avoid the
Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do not see any urgent need to install
Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

Seriously - do all that. This is like antibiotics - don't skip a single
step, don't quit because you think things will be okay now - go through
until the end, until you have done everything given in the order given. If
you have a problem with a step come ask and let someone here get you
through that step. If you don't understand how to do a step, come back and
ask here about that step and let someone walk you through it.

Then - when done - let everyone here know if it worked for you - or if you
have more issues.

 

[Guest]

Yes, it should be installed but if you have a low-end spec machine then you
will notice degradation with the machine's performance. In that situation I
wouldn't install it, but if your machine can handle it easily then I suggest
you do it with the number of security updates afterwards

Example:

I go on-site to many places which cannot afford new equipment & are running
Pentium IV machines with under 1Gb RAM. In this case SP3 is a big no-no.
Then again, if you're PA Bear you install it on every machine in the world &
live with the consequences

 

[C]

Yes, it should be installed but if you have a low-end spec machine then
you will notice degradation with the machine's performance. In that
situation I wouldn't install it, but if your machine can handle it
easily then I suggest you do it with the number of security updates
afterwards

Example:

I go on-site to many places which cannot afford new equipment & are
running Pentium IV machines with under 1Gb RAM. In this case SP3 is a
big no-no. Then again, if you're PA Bear you install it on every machine
in the world & live with the consequences

I have it installed on an AMD Athlon XP 2200+ with only 512MB of PC266
RAM and it works just fine. Another half a gig of RAM would be nice but
it's quite usable without it. Maybe you're thinking of Vista.

C

 

[Guest]

Hi C,

Since when has SP3 been out for Vista? You are confused I think

I look after 600 networks around the country. Most are using XP, some still
have the odd 2000 being replaced, some have Vista and all have 2003 R2 or
2008 servers. Some of these workstations are Dell GX520's GX260's even the
Optiplex 755 struggle these days. None of those would I think of putting SP3
on

My example was based on slow machines like those listed above

What if you have an HP Compaq DC5800 that comes with SP2? Some machines
which I have upgraded to SP3 have had a fatal error on reboot asking me to
re-install the OS. At that point I flatten them & use MVL XP with SP3 media
instead

Remember that XP steals around 400Mb of memory just loading then if you have
MS Office on top of that you are already out of memory. If you then install
..NET Framework 2 it has a garbage collector that runs for a while too
hogging vital resourses. All of which has now given you -600Mb + memory

 

[C]

Hi C,

Since when has SP3 been out for Vista? You are confused I think

Not really but you sure are.

I look after 600 networks around the country. Most are using XP, some
still have the odd 2000 being replaced, some have Vista and all have
2003 R2 or 2008 servers. Some of these workstations are Dell GX520's
GX260's even the Optiplex 755 struggle these days. None of those would I
think of putting SP3 on

My example was based on slow machines like those listed above

What if you have an HP Compaq DC5800 that comes with SP2? Some machines
which I have upgraded to SP3 have had a fatal error on reboot asking me
to re-install the OS. At that point I flatten them & use MVL XP with SP3
media instead

Remember that XP steals around 400Mb of memory just loading then if you
have MS Office on top of that you are already out of memory. If you then
install .NET Framework 2 it has a garbage collector that runs for a
while too hogging vital resourses. All of which has now given you -600Mb
+ memory

I have even installed XP with SP3 on an AMD Athlon 800 Mhz with 256 MB
PC-100 RAM, a 32 MB nVidia graphics card and an old 5400 30GB IDE hard
drive. It ran very slowly but it ran. When I upped it to 512MB RAM, it
ran decently and was quite usable. I expect your expectations are a bit
on the high side.

C

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

about a year ago when service pack 3 for Windows XP was released,
there was some controversy about it, in that it caused problems.


Now that a year has passed, are there still reasons NOT to install
SP 3, but to remain on using only SP 2?

In my view there were never any good reasons not to install it. I
would certainly not put it off any longer.

 

[Norvin]

about a year ago when service pack 3 for Windows XP was released,
there was some controversy about it, in that it caused problems.


Now that a year has passed, are there still reasons NOT to install
SP 3, but to remain on using only SP 2?

best, Aaron

Is there an easy way to find out if SP 3 is already installed. I know
this may be a newbie question, but it fits me. Thanks

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<snipped>
<conversation was hijacked>

Is there an easy way to find out if SP 3 is already installed. I
know this may be a newbie question, but it fits me. Thanks

Start button --> Run
WINVER
--> OK

What does the version line say - verbatim?

 

[Norvin]

<snipped>
<conversation was hijacked>


Start button --> Run
WINVER
--> OK

What does the version line say - verbatim?

Damn, that was easy, I do have SP3 installed. It must have been in
one of the automatic updates that bug me all the time.
Ths for the quick response.

 

[Kevin]

In my view there were never any good reasons not to install it. I
would certainly not put it off any longer.

What you expect this planet to explode without SP3? You told us you
haven't formatted a HD since Win3 and we took you as religious nutter.
What made you think we would take you seriously this time? SO YOU ARE
NUTS then?

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Computers running WinXP SP2 will NOT be offered any further critical
security updates, Automatic Updates will cease to function, and Windows
Update website will not be available after 12 April 2010 until SP3 is
installed.

Hey Pig-Bear,

Why is M$ still pumping out "Critical Security Updates" especially
when the Operating system is 10 years old. Has M$ started recruiting
78 year old geriatrics like you to look after security updates?

In any case who cares about new updates when we are already with
Windows Se7en and you should do your bit to promote the new OS. You
are a genuine MVP right? Have you bought your burial plot so that
your kiddies don't have to worry about it when that critical time
comes. Perhaps you should take out that critical securty update on
your life.

 

[Bert Hyman]

In

Why is M$ still pumping out "Critical Security Updates" especially
when the Operating system is 10 years old.

Because XP is still a supported product.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Because XP is still a supported product.

Kinda/sorta...

 

[Guest]

You can install it but the running of the machine degrades significantly
with a poor/old spec

 

[Guest]

Right-click MY COMPUTER | PROPERTIES & it will tell you there too

Also SYSTEM INFORMATION will also show the info you require

 

[Daave]

What you expect this planet to explode without SP3? You told us you
haven't formatted a HD since Win3 and we took you as religious nutter.
TINW.

What made you think we would take you seriously this time? SO YOU ARE
NUTS then?

*plonk*