Windows SP3

[titus12]

I downloaded SP3 but I have not installed it because of Microsoft taking it
off their download page. shoule I install it? Will it be the same file
when Microsoft put it back on their Update page?

Thank you;
David

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I downloaded SP3 but I have not installed it because of Microsoft
taking it off their download page. shoule I install it? Will it
be the same file when Microsoft put it back on their Update page?

Up to you.
It will be.

(Do you use your computer to run a small/medium sized business with
Microsoft software beyond the Operating System?)

 

[Robert Moir]

I downloaded SP3 but I have not installed it because of Microsoft
taking it off their download page. shoule I install it? Will it be
the same file when Microsoft put it back on their Update page?

SP3 was pulled because of a specific bug with a specific microsoft program
which you probably don't run. Vista SP1 suffers the same problem but was not
pulled from release, which might give you some indication of how serious the
problem really is.

You _should_ take a full backup of your system as it is before making a big
change like this to it anyway, so my advice would be to install the service
pack if you think it will help you, secure in the knowledge that you can
restore your backup should you need to go back.

 

[Anna]

I downloaded SP3 but I have not installed it because of Microsoft taking it
off their download page. shoule I install it? Will it be the same file
when Microsoft put it back on their Update page?

Thank you;
David

David:
My advice is somewhat counter to the responses that you have received and
probably will receive. It's the same advice we're giving to customers &
friends.

As long as you have not yet installed the downloaded SP3 file, my advice is
to wait until MS releases the update for the general public. Presumably this
will be within the next few days or weeks. And when that version is
released, install it.

I fully realize that given the reason MS announced why they weren't
generally releasing the SP3 update there would *seem* to be no reason not to
install the supposed "final version" of SP3 since it appears there's a quirk
in the version already released that would not affect 99.9%+ of current XP
users in any material way. Perhaps.

But where MS is concerned, we have learned through bitter experience that
their announcements don't always jibe with "facts on the ground".

So...

In my view there is no compelling reason why any general user of XP should
*currently* install the already-released version of SP3 even though that
downloaded file has been made available through the usual reliable sources.
Wait until MS releases the update through their normal update channels.

One other thing...

Before installing SP3, it would be wise in my view for the user to
completely backup his or her entire system, preferably through the
disk-cloning or disk-imaging process.
Anna

 

[philo]

SP3 was pulled because of a specific bug with a specific microsoft program
which you probably don't run. Vista SP1 suffers the same problem but was not
pulled from release, which might give you some indication of how serious the
problem really is.

You _should_ take a full backup of your system as it is before making a big
change like this to it anyway, so my advice would be to install the service
pack if you think it will help you, secure in the knowledge that you can
restore your backup should you need to go back.

I agree!


Some good software such as Acronis true image can do the trick.
A full back-up of the system is very cheap insurance!

 

[Robert Moir]

I agree!


Some good software such as Acronis true image can do the trick.
A full back-up of the system is very cheap insurance!

Yes. Acronis true image is the one I use actually.
Anna also raises a good point -While I don't think there's any real big
problem likely to arise from installing SP3, it's also true that if Titus
doesn't have any immediate pressing need to install SP3 to solve a specific
problem that they're having right now, they probably shouldn't rush for the
sake of it either.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Safer yet is to just not install it in the first place.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

I have already installed in my group which has about 20 PCs and laptops and
none has reported any problems yet. In fact about 5 of them said their system
is working faster!!! Whatever this means.

I am assuming you are using your system for personal use and if this is correct
then I would install it any way because whatever bug there is (as announced),
it is not likely to impact on you.

hth