Windows SP SP3 Release Date News (for those keeping score at home)

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Apparently next Monday, April 21st is release day for OEMs and TechNet
folks, April 29th for everyone else. Just passing along http://neowin.net/news/main/08/04/15/windows-xp-sp3-release-dates

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Thanks for the post.

Of note is that Product Support Services is already supporting the product.
That may mean there were no changes to SP3 RC2 refresh that some users have
already downloaded as pre-release software.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Thanks for the post.

Of note is that Product Support Services is already supporting the product.
That may mean there were no changes to SP3 RC2 refresh that some users have
already downloaded as pre-release software.

It's possible. I thought I read that even SP3 RC2 Refresh was
time-bombed.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

How do I remove SP3 RC2 from my computer? I went to add remove and found it

but all it did was remove it from the list of add remove. So now I'm stuck
with SP3 RC2 and can't figure out how to remove it so I can install SP3 when
it comes out.

Thanks for the help, Rich

This is better discussed on TechNet but you should be able to go to
C:\Windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$\spuninst and run spuninst.exe. If
that doesn't work, pray that you can install the RTM over the RC2 you
have.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

He should be able to.

This is better discussed on TechNet but you should be able to go to
C:\Windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$\spuninst and run spuninst.exe. If
that doesn't work, pray that you can install the RTM over the RC2 you
have.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No timebomb in mine. Also, there is no "Evaluation Copy" watermark in the
lower right of the screen.

This was the pattern with Vista SP1. The last RC refresh had the same
characteristics and it turned out that MS was pretty sure that the build
would not be changed and did send it to manufacturing a few weeks later. As
a result the TechBeta testers wound up not only with not having to do
another update, they had integrated dvd images of the final besides.

But we shall see.

 

[SAM-R]

This is from the build 5508 EULA.

2. TERM. The term of this agreement is until
30/06/2008, or commercial release of the
software, whichever is first.

3. PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE. This software is a
pre-release version. It may not work the way
a final version of the software will. We may
change it for the final, commercial version.
We also may not release a commercial version.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Yes, it does. But that is not the timebomb. When the software is
timebombed you should see the 6/30/08 expiration date when you run Winver.
If you are seeing that then the software will expire. Otherwise it won't.
Personally, I don't think the RC2 refresh will turn out to be the final.
The real question is, will WU offer the final if the RC2 refresh is still
installed? I think it might but we won't know for a few more days.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Yes, it does. But that is not the timebomb. When the software is

timebombed you should see the 6/30/08 expiration date when you run Winver.
If you are seeing that then the software will expire. Otherwise it won't.
Personally, I don't think the RC2 refresh will turn out to be the final.
The real question is, will WU offer the final if the RC2 refresh is still
installed? I think it might but we won't know for a few more days.

I guess you could use the oldest trick in the book and set your BIOS
clock to be July 1st 2008 and let us know what happens. ;-)

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Webster]

I think that's the SECOND oldest trick in the book.

The oldest trick in the book is to have someone ELSE install SP3RC2 and set
THEIR BIOS clock to July 1, 2008.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

And get the oldest boomerang in the book and find out the time lapse is an
absolute value.