When XP Service Pack 3 Is Released...

[Daddy]

When XP Service Pack 3 is released...which I know won't happen for a while...will I be able to use it to do a clean install?

My copy of XP is now almost 6 years old, and it's held up very well even though I've committed my share of mistakes. I'm thinking what the heck, lets have a fresh start with a clean install. I'm well-prepared for it.

My copy of XP came with my Dell computer, and I still have all the CDs that came with the computer (including the XP install CD.)

Daddy

 

[Andrew E.]

The while is already here,xp SP3 has & is available,go to downloads,type:
Windows XP in search,by date,scroll to the download...You can do a "clean xp
install" by formating the hd,then install xp from youre dell cds,but SP3 wont
be able to install till xp OS is up & running...

 

[Og]

Comments in-line:

When XP Service Pack 3 is released...which I know won't happen for a while
A Beta version (Release Candidate) is out there --
you are wise to wait until the final version is released to the public.

....will I be able to use it to do a clean install?

Not unless you slip-stream the service pack into a Win XP
operating system installation disk.

My copy of XP is now almost 6 years old, and it's held up very well even
though I've committed my share of mistakes. I'm thinking what the heck, lets
have a fresh start with a clean install. I'm well-prepared for it.

Why??? If you are experiencing problems, post them here --
it is likely that someone has a solution to the problem

My copy of XP came with my Dell computer, and I still have all the CDs that
came with the computer (including the XP install CD.)

Daddy

Good luck,
Steve

 

[PA Bear]

No.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Incorrect.
SP-3 for Windows XP is NOT released and it is not expected until early
next year.
What is available is the Beta of SP-3.

Beta is an incomplete product still undergoing testing.
It is not suitable for most and should only be installed by those
understanding the risks of installing Beta products.
Never install Beta unless you are prepared for data loss and the need
to perform Clean Installation of windows to resolve any and all
issues.
However remote, that is the nature of Beta.
This applies to Beta anything from any source, not just Microsoft.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Slipstreaming may be possible:
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49
Depending on how Dell made their media will determine if this is
possible.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar



When XP Service Pack 3 is released...which I know won't happen for a
while...will I be able to use it to do a clean install?

My copy of XP is now almost 6 years old, and it's held up very well
even though I've committed my share of mistakes. I'm thinking what the
heck, lets have a fresh start with a clean install. I'm well-prepared
for it.

My copy of XP came with my Dell computer, and I still have all the CDs
that came with the computer (including the XP install CD.)

Daddy

 

[Daddy]

Thanks to all.

Daddy

 

[AJR]

Politically correct : RC1 vice Beta.

Incorrect.
SP-3 for Windows XP is NOT released and it is not expected until early
next year.
What is available is the Beta of SP-3.

Beta is an incomplete product still undergoing testing.
It is not suitable for most and should only be installed by those
understanding the risks of installing Beta products.
Never install Beta unless you are prepared for data loss and the need to
perform Clean Installation of windows to resolve any and all issues.
However remote, that is the nature of Beta.
This applies to Beta anything from any source, not just Microsoft.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

When XP Service Pack 3 is released...which I know
won't happen for a while...

It is expected to be fairly early next year.

I see that Andrew E., in his indefatigable fashion, has mistakenly
told you it's already released. That's completely wrong. The latest
version to be released is Release Candidate 1, which is *not* SP3
itself, but just the latest test version of it. Do *not* install that.

will I be able to use it to do a clean install?

What you get is the collection of fixes and changes, not an
installation CD. However if you already have an earlier CD, you will
be able to slipstream SP3 into it to make an installation CD including
SP3. See http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7262

My copy of XP is now almost 6 years old, and it's held up very
well even though I've committed my share of mistakes. I'm thinking
what the heck, lets have a fresh start with a clean install.
I'm well-prepared for it.

If you are well-prepared for it, good, but I am almost always against
doing clean installations, unless there is a problem so serious that
all other attempts to fix it have failed. I'm *always* against doing
it for prophylactic reasons.

If you are not having problems, I strongly recommend against doing
this. It is more likely to cause problems than to solve any. You have
to restore all your data backups, you have to reinstall all your
programs, you have to reinstall all the Windows and application
updates,you have to locate and install all the needed drivers for your
system, you have to recustomize Windows and all your apps to work the
way you're comfortable with.

Besides all those things being time-consuming and troublesome, you may
have trouble with some of them: can you find all your application CDs?
Can you find all the needed installation keys? Can you find all the
needed drivers? Do you have data backups to restore? Do you even
remember all the customizations and tweaks you may have installed to
make everything work the way you like?

The idea that Windows needs to be reinstalled periodically is just
false. I've run every version of Windows from 3.0 to Vista (except for
Me and NT), each from the time it was first released until it was
superseded, without ever reinstalling any of them, and never had more
than an occasional minor problem that I was able to fix.

My copy of XP came with my Dell computer, and I still have all
the CDs that came with the computer (including the XP install CD.)

Then you will be able to slipstream SP3 into it. See above.
Slipstreaming is fine, so you have the CD when you need it. But I urge
you not to reinstall unless you need to.

 

[Daddy]

"The idea that Windows needs to be reinstalled periodically is just false."

I agree. And there's nothing seriously wrong with my PC - just minor annoyances that really aren't a big deal. In other circumstances, I would even think of doing a clean install, but I have all my installation media, including downloaded applications burnt to CDs, and all my registration information; I store My Documents (Incl. Pictures, Music , Video) on a separate partition that won't be touched (and is backed up anyway); I'm fully prepared in other ways; and if anything goes wrong I have my good friend Acronis True Image by my side. Sure, there are no guarantees in life, but sometimes you just feel like going for it. Just for the experience, if for nothing else.

Daddy

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

"The idea that Windows needs to be reinstalled periodically is just false."

I agree. And there's nothing seriously wrong with my PC
- just minor annoyances that really aren't a big deal.
In other circumstances, I would even think of doing a clean
install, but I have all my installation media, including
downloaded applications burnt to CDs, and all my registration
information; I store My Documents (Incl. Pictures, Music ,
Video) on a separate partition that won't be touched (and is
backed up anyway); I'm fully prepared in other ways; and if
anything goes wrong I have my good friend Acronis True Image
by my side. Sure, there are no guarantees in life, but
sometimes you just feel like going for it. Just for the
experience, if for nothing else.

Your choice, of course. I've said my peace, and won't try to convince
you further.

 

[MAP]

My advice-DO NOT install SP3 the moment it is released,wait about two
months.Others will find the problems both major and minor for you, then
decied if you still want it.

 

[Daddy]

Oh yes, agree absolutely. I always wait a while whenever a major upgrade to software is announced.

Clearly, this (clean install) is not going to happen until, when, the summer? Early fall? By then I might even decide to buy a new computer altogether.

I don't need a new installation. If I go ahead, it will be mostly for the fun and the thrill. I just like computers, is all. Maybe I need to get out more.

Daddy

 

[Poprivet`]

No, no, NO, NO!!! All that's available for SP3 is a
BETA version!!! A BETA version is not completely
tested and can have bugs!!!! Only advanced users
wishing to look for and report bugs should be using
BETA software! Wait for the Released version sometime
next year.
Ignore these dummies that keep claiming it's already
released. All that's released is a "test" version for
testing purposes, if those same dummies would just take
a second to READ what they are downloading. Because it
works on one machine does NOT mean it'll work onthe
next machine even if it's the same brand.
If my calling some people "dummies' pisses them off,
then so be it; BETA software is NOT for the masses!!
RTFM applies! Too many people are confused by this
BETA business and refuse to learn.

HTH

Pop`

 

[Poprivet`]

Comments in-line:

When XP Service Pack 3 is released...which I know
won't
happen for a while A Beta version (Release
Candidate)
is out there -- you are wise to wait until the
final
version is released to the public.
...will I be able to use it to do a clean install?

Not unless you slip-stream the service pack into a
Win
XP operating system installation disk.

....

That's silly. Doing a "clean install" has nada,
nothing, to do with whether anything is slipstreamed or
on separate media.

AFAIK, yes to the OP. But, better to wait until the
Release version comes out later this year, not release
candidates (misnamed BETAs) et al, unless you want to
test and report bugs you might find. Wait for it to be
released.

HTH

Pop`

 

[Poprivet`]

No.

Why not? Or is it a semantics/syntax issue with
"clean" install?

Pop`

 

[Poprivet`]

Daddy wrote:
....

I agree. And there's nothing seriously wrong with my
PC -
just minor annoyances that really aren't a big deal.
In
other circumstances, I would even think of doing a
clean
install, but I have all my installation media,
including
downloaded applications burnt to CDs, and all my
registration information; I store My Documents (Incl.
Pictures, Music , Video) on a separate partition that
won't be touched (and is backed up anyway); I'm fully
prepared in other ways; and if anything goes wrong I
have
my good friend Acronis True Image by my side. Sure,
there
are no guarantees in life, but sometimes you just
feel
like going for it. Just for the experience, if for
nothing else.

Daddy

....
Nice to hear; you sound prepared. Just for grins, your
Favorites folder and e-mails are part of your imaging
setup, right?

IMO your attitude is good re getting the experience,
especially when you have TI to back you up in case
something borks<g>. If nothing else it instills
confidence in how to do so and the best laid plans of
mice and men ... so being confident of alternate ways
to do things is always a plus in my book.
Then again, it's sometimes just plain faster to
reinstall than to troubleshoot (neglecting TI of
course<g>).

Best of luck,

Pop`

 

[PA Bear]

Unless OP slipstream SP3 with his WinXP CD, he's SOL. (And you wouldn't
want to slipstream an RC build.)

 

[Timothy Daniels]

"Poprivet`" fumed:

No, no, NO, NO!!! [..............]
Ignore these dummies that keep claiming it's already released.
[...........]

Pop`

The while is already here,xp SP3 has & is available, ....

Don't pop a rivet. Andrew E. is just a disinformation troll.
His m.o. is to put malicious b.s. somewhere in each posting.

*TimDaniels*