SP2 to SP3 -- How to get SP3

[john]

Can somebody confirm my understanding of how to get SP3 onto a
computer these days?

I have a computer with SP3 that I'm about to give away to someone, but
before I do but I want to reformat it and reinstall Windows. The
install disc that I have is SP2.

I know SP2 is no longer supported and I think that means I won't be
offered SP3 (or anything else for that matter) by Auto Update. So I
think what I have to do is install Windows from my SP2 CD, then go to
MS and download the SP3 upgrade (all 300+ MB of it) and install it
manually.

Is this right?

Is there anything else I should know before I begin? (That is,
anything I should know specifically about this upgrade? I've instaled
XP half a dozen times on various computers and I know the basic
drill.)

Thanks

-- john
Reply-to address is real

 

[Paul]

Can somebody confirm my understanding of how to get SP3 onto a
computer these days?

I have a computer with SP3 that I'm about to give away to someone, but
before I do but I want to reformat it and reinstall Windows. The
install disc that I have is SP2.

I know SP2 is no longer supported and I think that means I won't be
offered SP3 (or anything else for that matter) by Auto Update. So I
think what I have to do is install Windows from my SP2 CD, then go to
MS and download the SP3 upgrade (all 300+ MB of it) and install it
manually.

Is this right?

Is there anything else I should know before I begin? (That is,
anything I should know specifically about this upgrade? I've instaled
XP half a dozen times on various computers and I know the basic
drill.)

Thanks

-- john
Reply-to address is real

You can run this, after you install with your WinXP SP2 disc.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

An alternative, is to use NLite from NLiteos.com, to prepare a slipstream CD.
WinXP SP2 disc + SP3 = WinXP SP3 disc. You'll need a blank CD to burn
your new installer CD. This tool will make an ISO file, and then a separate
burner program will burn the new CD.

http://www.nliteos.com/guide/part1.html

I used a technique like that, for Win2K. I took an older Win2K disc,
added SP4 download from Microsoft, and ended up with a Win2K SP4 CD. It
makes repair install a bit easier later (disc at same level as installed
OS). The tool at that time, was called Autostreamer. It was followed
by NLite. And I think there is something else for Windows 7 (haven't
researched that one yet).

If you've installed before, you've probably heard of using F6 to
install a driver for the disk interface. If you have some weird option
for a disk controller, then it might need a driver early in the install.
A WinXP SP3 disc would likely support SATA/IDE native or compatible, while
AHCI or RAID would need an F6 driver. As would any number of custom add-in
RAID controllers.

If you got an error like "inaccessible boot volume", on the reboot
after the install, then you probably need a driver. F6 plus a floppy
with the TXTSETUP.OEM file and friends, would be in order. Some retail
motherboards, come with a tool to prepare that floppy.

Paul

 

[Paul in Houston TX]

Can somebody confirm my understanding of how to get SP3 onto a
computer these days?

I have a computer with SP3 that I'm about to give away to someone, but
before I do but I want to reformat it and reinstall Windows. The
install disc that I have is SP2.

I know SP2 is no longer supported and I think that means I won't be
offered SP3 (or anything else for that matter) by Auto Update. So I
think what I have to do is install Windows from my SP2 CD, then go to
MS and download the SP3 upgrade (all 300+ MB of it) and install it
manually.

Is this right?

Is there anything else I should know before I begin? (That is,
anything I should know specifically about this upgrade? I've instaled
XP half a dozen times on various computers and I know the basic
drill.)

Thanks

-- john
Reply-to address is real

I recently upgraded from sp2 to sp3. It went well, no problems.
It runs a bit faster now, I think.
I got the sp3 up from MS downloads.

 

[Stefan Patric]

Can somebody confirm my understanding of how to get SP3 onto a computer
these days?

I have a computer with SP3 that I'm about to give away to someone, but
before I do but I want to reformat it and reinstall Windows. The
install disc that I have is SP2.

I know SP2 is no longer supported and I think that means I won't be
offered SP3 (or anything else for that matter) by Auto Update. So I
think what I have to do is install Windows from my SP2 CD, then go to MS
and download the SP3 upgrade (all 300+ MB of it) and install it
manually.

Is this right?

Is there anything else I should know before I begin? (That is, anything
I should know specifically about this upgrade? I've instaled XP half a
dozen times on various computers and I know the basic drill.)

I just did a complete "clean" install from the original vendor's install
CD of XP (no Service Packs at all, but the system was at SP2) on a 7 year
old system that was horribly infected. I just set the updates utility to
"Notify," but not install or download. When it notified, I checked and
verified what was listed, clicked Install, and it went its merry way to
installing SP1, SP2 and SP3, and all Security Patches. It did take most
of a day and about a dozen reboots, but I got the system fully updated
via the Internet without any problems.

Stef

 

[capitan]

For ISO.CD

<
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=2fcde6ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e

So you have one PC, Save it or give in a way with PC!

Is this download retail, oem, or vol. lic?

 

[N. Miller]

Is this download retail, oem, or vol. lic?

AFAIK, Service Packs are not differentiated along those lines. As long as
the underlying OS passes "Genuine (Dis)Advantage", the SP will install.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

Can somebody confirm my understanding of how to get SP3 onto a
computer these days?

I have a computer with SP3 that I'm about to give away to someone, but
before I do but I want to reformat it and reinstall Windows. The
install disc that I have is SP2.

I know SP2 is no longer supported and I think that means I won't be
offered SP3 (or anything else for that matter) by Auto Update. So I
think what I have to do is install Windows from my SP2 CD, then go to
MS and download the SP3 upgrade (all 300+ MB of it) and install it
manually.

Is this right?

Is there anything else I should know before I begin? (That is,
anything I should know specifically about this upgrade? I've instaled
XP half a dozen times on various computers and I know the basic
drill.)

Thanks

-- john
Reply-to address is real

You can get the full SP3 file from Microsoft. But I recommend you get
nLite and make a splipstreamed SP3 CD and install it that way. It's
free and you only need a blank CD-R.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[capitan]

AFAIK, Service Packs are not differentiated along those lines. As long as
the underlying OS passes "Genuine (Dis)Advantage", the SP will install.

Oh, maybe I misunderstood, is this an iso image of only the service pack 3?

 

[boatman312]

Oh, maybe I misunderstood, is this an iso image of only the service pack 3?

"Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released
updates for the operating system."

 

[john]

You can get the full SP3 file from Microsoft. But I recommend you get
nLite and make a splipstreamed SP3 CD and install it that way. It's
free and you only need a blank CD-R.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions, but as it turns out (and
much to my surprise) SP2 is still supported for updates. What
happened to me is what Stefan describes -- all the usual updates were
offered, up to and including SP3, by auto update. Within an hour or
two I was fully up to date and at SP3 without my having to do anything
except say "ok" each time the next batch of updates arrived.


-- john
Reply-to address is real