What exactly are the upgrades since SP3?

[casey.o]

Since SP3 was released, there have been other upgrades for XP. And as
we all know, since April 8, these have stopped being made. But all
those prior to April 8 are still on MS. Since I'm on dialup, I cant
just let them self install. I'm running SP3 now, but I'm curious what
these upgrades really do.....

Besides security fixes (patches), what else was upgraded, and what
exactly is included? Besides the security patches, is there anything
which is really important?

Maybe there's a list somewhere on MS. I've always found the MS site
sort of hard to manuver and comprehend.

I'm posting this after just reading another post on here that shows a
"SP4" package, which claims to contain all the upgrades. I went to this
site and found a file of about 78 megs. Yet, other posts on here
suggest that all the upgrades are actually several gigabytes.

If that's not confusing, I dont know what is???????
Plus this so called SP4 package contains the Chrome browser, which is
NOT a Microsoft product, but a google browser. (and something I dont
want to use because of the google tracking). And that browser must be
about half of the 78m file, which means that the MS upgrades are all
contained in about 35 to 45m. If I wasn't confused before, I sure am
now!

Either way, it would be nice to see a list of what exactly the upgrades
are.....

 

[casey.o]

Whatever that file is, it cannot contain all the upgrades since SP3, and likely
includes some form of malware.

The WSUS file of upgrades I have for XP is almost 600MB, and I think that does
not include the .NET files, or upgrades to windows media player, or any other MS
software.

Your best bet to start is to find someone with a high speed connection, and have
them download the WSUS updates to their computer, and burn the whole WSUSoffline
directory to CD or DVD for you to use at home. This will get you most of the
"security critical" updates. After running the UpdateInstaller from that a
couple times(to get updates, then updates to those updates), run the windows
update, and see what else you need. If it is not on your origional OS disk, get
the IE8 full install file also also.

Getting upgrades from unknown sources is very risky.

Just what I thought..... I know I had read on here that all the
upgrades were LARGE .

I already upgraded to IE8. I downloaded that file. I hated IE6.
I prefer Firefox or Seamonkey, but IE8 isn't all that bad.

 

[Bob F]

Since SP3 was released, there have been other upgrades for XP. And as
we all know, since April 8, these have stopped being made. But all
those prior to April 8 are still on MS. Since I'm on dialup, I cant
just let them self install. I'm running SP3 now, but I'm curious what
these upgrades really do.....

Besides security fixes (patches), what else was upgraded, and what
exactly is included? Besides the security patches, is there anything
which is really important?

Maybe there's a list somewhere on MS. I've always found the MS site
sort of hard to manuver and comprehend.

I'm posting this after just reading another post on here that shows a
"SP4" package, which claims to contain all the upgrades. I went to
this site and found a file of about 78 megs. Yet, other posts on here
suggest that all the upgrades are actually several gigabytes.

If that's not confusing, I dont know what is???????
Plus this so called SP4 package contains the Chrome browser, which is
NOT a Microsoft product, but a google browser. (and something I dont
want to use because of the google tracking). And that browser must be
about half of the 78m file, which means that the MS upgrades are all
contained in about 35 to 45m. If I wasn't confused before, I sure am
now!

Either way, it would be nice to see a list of what exactly the
upgrades are.....

Whatever that file is, it cannot contain all the upgrades since SP3, and likely
includes some form of malware.

The WSUS file of upgrades I have for XP is almost 600MB, and I think that does
not include the .NET files, or upgrades to windows media player, or any other MS
software.

Your best bet to start is to find someone with a high speed connection, and have
them download the WSUS updates to their computer, and burn the whole WSUSoffline
directory to CD or DVD for you to use at home. This will get you most of the
"security critical" updates. After running the UpdateInstaller from that a
couple times(to get updates, then updates to those updates), run the windows
update, and see what else you need. If it is not on your origional OS disk, get
the IE8 full install file also also.

Getting upgrades from unknown sources is very risky.

 

[Paul]

Since SP3 was released, there have been other upgrades for XP. And as
we all know, since April 8, these have stopped being made. But all
those prior to April 8 are still on MS. Since I'm on dialup, I cant
just let them self install. I'm running SP3 now, but I'm curious what
these upgrades really do.....

Besides security fixes (patches), what else was upgraded, and what
exactly is included? Besides the security patches, is there anything
which is really important?

Maybe there's a list somewhere on MS. I've always found the MS site
sort of hard to manuver and comprehend.

I'm posting this after just reading another post on here that shows a
"SP4" package, which claims to contain all the upgrades. I went to this
site and found a file of about 78 megs. Yet, other posts on here
suggest that all the upgrades are actually several gigabytes.

If that's not confusing, I dont know what is???????
Plus this so called SP4 package contains the Chrome browser, which is
NOT a Microsoft product, but a google browser. (and something I dont
want to use because of the google tracking). And that browser must be
about half of the 78m file, which means that the MS upgrades are all
contained in about 35 to 45m. If I wasn't confused before, I sure am
now!

Either way, it would be nice to see a list of what exactly the upgrades
are.....

In Windows Update, there'd be a section for optional software
to install.

Examples of things in there would be:

1) Update to daylight savings time definitions.
To make your clock change on the correct date.

2) New root certificates. For things requiring certificates
as part of a secure protocol.

It's also possible some version of .NET would be in there.
But if you install .NET, then you'll need a ton of security
updates to it the next time you're in Windows Update.

Things not in Windows Update, would be items like:

1) exFAT file system support package
2) EMET for security (ASLR). Hardens the OS a bit against malware.
3) Support for DVD drag and drop burning. "IMAPI v2.0 support".
IMAPI 2.0 is "Image Mastering API" and is a means of making
a DVD from a collections of file folders, via drag and drop.
Some people love that interface, but I just find some
other way to do it. ("I wanna make it more complicated"... )

I would be very surprised, if they did a rollup for WinXP,
because the release of such, would start another support
timer ticking. They'd have to offer phone support for the
rollup, for a year after its release. I can't see them
doing that. Leaving Windows Update running for you (to deliver
older security patches), is expense enough.

HTH,
Paul

 

[BillW50]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:
... Leaving Windows Update running for you (to deliver
older security patches), is expense enough.

Expensive? For Microsoft? You are kidding right? Even a small tiny
company could afford to run those XP update servers. For Microsoft, it
is just pocket change. After all, they are paying XP users $100 if they
upgrade. Even this promotion is pocket change for Microsoft.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/cat/Upgrade-PC-Windows-XP/categoryID.67770000