Windows XP's SP3 is Malware!

S

Shenan Stanley

Enough said, don't use it.

Except that for the 1000's of installs I have done of Windows Xp SP3 - it
works fine - has for some time now.

The only 'known' issues with Windows XP SP3 are due to something specific
with certain computers - either hardware (fixed by software drivers) or
because of the method used to initially install Windows XP onto said machine
(AMD processor with image made from Intel processor machines - HP did this)
or some software installed on the machine(s) in question that intefere with
the proper installation of Windows XP SP3.

In other words - if your computer(s) have issue installing SP3 properly - it
is *your computer* that is likely to have the problem and you should likely
fix it. Or you could resign yourself to have a broken computer - if that so
makes you happy and it does what you need it to. Your choice.

A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft*...
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

Good luck to you!
 
D

db.·.. >

good advice.

the white paper clearly
states there is no dramatic
improvements to the o.s.

if people want to see
dramatic improvements,
then they simply need to
jump to vista.

in fact if people install sp3
with drivers that are tied to
only sp2 then there will
be issues, like what you
have experienced and
thousands of others.

further, if one installs
sp3, then their sp2 install
their cd will make a nice
window ornament.
 
S

Shenan Stanley

good advice.
the white paper clearly
states there is no dramatic
improvements to the o.s.

Okay... But it is also fact that at some point - further updates will not
be available to those who do not install SP3 - thus eventually leading to
vulnerabilities that (because of the choice not to install SP3) will not
have fixes.
if people want to see
dramatic improvements,
then they simply need to
jump to vista.

Hmmm... You left out (IMHO) "... and purchase a new computer that will run
it well ...". Jumping to Vista in comparison to installing SP3 onto a
working Windows XP setup that performs well as a Windows XP machine is not
even a close comparison.

Let's say I have a Windows XP SP2 system that is running great with Windows
XP - 768MB memory, 1.8GHz processor, 64MB video card, all of my applications
work, my 5 year old scanner and 4 year old printer works great. My 6 year
old network card has no issues, even my 4 year old wireless network device
works fine. My 3 year old TV capture card records what I need off TV and my
camcorder.

If I try to upgrade that machine - as is - to Windows Vista - there is a
possibility some of that hardware will not be supported in Vista by the
manufacturer who created it. It is the manufacturer's choice (for each
individual product) to decide when they stop providing support. It's
probable that many of the devices i have working in Windows XP didn't work
in *nix, OSX, etc from the start - so it not working in Vista may be a
decision easily made by the original manufacturer.

Also - my 768MB memory, 1.8GHz processor and 64MB video card means that my
Windows Vista 'experience' will be pretty miserable. It's much like taking
a pre-Windows XP machine with a 400MHz processor, 64MB memory and a 1MB
video card and installing Windows XP onto it. You can do it - but it's not
worth the time, effort or money.
in fact if people install sp3
with drivers that are tied to
only sp2 then there will
be issues, like what you
have experienced and
thousands of others.

There are *few and far between* of these. Yes - I recommend everyone update
their individual hardware drivers to the latest versions before installing
SP3 - but unlike SP2 - this is not a common occurance.
further, if one installs
sp3, then their sp2 install
their cd will make a nice
window ornament.

Except that anyone can easily make an SP3 integrated (and/or beyond) CD with
a few simple commands and some copying/CD burning or use a number of
applications that do all of that for you and put in even less effort.

I'm not saying anyone *has to* install SP3. The people still happily (and
arguing for it vehemently) using Windows 98 are proof that you can do
whatever you like and probably - if it does what you need - get away with it
indefinitely. However - the extreme view taken by the OP is just wrong.
Windows XP SP3 is *far from* being malware. That is likely just an
extremist viewpoint likely made by a frustrated user who may have had issues
installing SP3 because of some issue specific to their system.

For those who wish to fix whatever might already be wrong with their system
(likely only costing time and effort and you learn something along the
way) - I suggest some reading, following instructions and getting SP3
installed while you can still get free support for issues you might
encounter from those who put out the service pack...

A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft*...
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

For everyone else - I wish you luck and happiness with your decision to not
install Windows XP SP3 and hope it does not cause you trouble down the line.
 
J

JS

Well said,

My every day PC is a Windows XP SP2 system that is running great
with Windows XP - 512MB memory, 933Mhz P3 processor and
a 32MB video card.

All of my applications work, my 5 year old scanner (2400 DPI optical)
and 6 year old printer work great. No problems with CD Creator,
Photoshop, MS Office XP, Office 2003 and MS Access.

My new network card has no issues, AND I use that most dreaded
of all software: Norton NAV 2008, Norton System Works 2006,
Norton Ghost. Along with Sunbelt's Counter Spy and Zone Alarm
and several other AV software packages.

There is no way Vista would run on this PC but XP does just fine!
(I have two other PCs that are fine for Vista but are running XP)

Ran a number of tests installing SP3 without problems.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com
 
L

Leonard Grey

No problems with SP 3 here, a virtual non-event.

There are some users out there who are as poisonous to their computers
as any malware. Present company excepted, of coutse ;-)
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp
Well said,

My every day PC is a Windows XP SP2 system that is running great
with Windows XP - 512MB memory, 933Mhz P3 processor and
a 32MB video card.

All of my applications work, my 5 year old scanner (2400 DPI optical)
and 6 year old printer work great. No problems with CD Creator,
Photoshop, MS Office XP, Office 2003 and MS Access.

My new network card has no issues, AND I use that most dreaded
of all software: Norton NAV 2008, Norton System Works 2006,
Norton Ghost. Along with Sunbelt's Counter Spy and Zone Alarm
and several other AV software packages.

There is no way Vista would run on this PC but XP does just fine!
(I have two other PCs that are fine for Vista but are running XP)

Ran a number of tests installing SP3 without problems.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com
 
D

db.·.. >

you make valid points, but
your situation and
others who are not experiencing
difficulties is different from
those that have experience
difficulties.

"this is a fact and not an opinion".

we all know that sp3 is
not functional on 100
percent of the pc's.

in regards to your drivers
experience, you have likely
benefitted from making
good choices.

however, ultimately making
software/drivers is costly
for some manufactures and
most depend on selling a new
piece of hardware instead of
spending money on re-engineering
updates for sp3 when they spent
all their resources on vista.

people forget that vista was a
big deal and came out way before
sp3, which many people believe
this to have been a mistake.

personally, i don't believe there
are any benefits for having produced
sp3 and everyone could have
cared less if about sp3 as well.

instead microsoft should have
stayed on course providing
smaller updates to the o.s. as
they have done methodically
and dependably for many years.

unless, microsoft had some belief
that they would market and sell
windows sp3, like they did with
sp2.

so if i were to make a calculated
guess, until sp3 is fully compatible
or until there are more updates provided
like sp3.1 or sp4, we will hear from
disgruntled window users.

we should not minimalize their
disappointments or their actual
experiences with sp3.

and for those who automatically
accepted the sp3 update because
they are not computer savvy, well
they will have to either order an
sp3 disk from microsoft or become
computer savvy and build an sp3
cd if they want some security to
repair their system in the future
if the need arises - which will be
likely.
 
J

James Silverton

wrote on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:25:15 -0500:

unless, microsoft had some belief
that they would market and sell
windows sp3, like they did with
sp2.

My sole reason for wanting to "install SP3" (supplied as a standard
update by Microsoft) is a fear that further updates may require it to
have been installed. I have failed to install it as I have mentioned and
I have actually bought but not yet received the SP3 disc from Microsoft.
I don't think they are making much of a profit on it at $4.95 tho' they
charge more than that for postage and packing.
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
 
D

db.·.. >

yeah, i see what you're
saying.

i was actually eluding
to the marketing and
selling of sp3, like that
which occurred when
sp2 was marketed and
sold after the marketing
and releasing of sp1 and
so on.

: )
 
L

~Laughingstar~

re: and for those who automatically accepted the sp3 update because they are
not computer savvy, well they will have to either order an sp3 disk from
microsoft or become computer savvy and build an sp3 cd if they want some
security to repair their system in the future if the need arises - which
will be likely.

Excuse us! Please explain what type of security danger we have been put in
by Microsoft, and what the symptoms are to look out for. Is SP3 not
un-installable????
 
D

db.·.. >

yes, sp3 can be uninstalled
by simply going to a/r
programs via control panel.

keep in mind that microsoft
has always pushed its updates,
unless the user was savvy
enough to mindful of them.

but in theory, if sp3 was pushed
but didn't install automatically as
it was designed to, then i always
suggest not to force it or try any
work a rounds.

in doing so, one is simply
asking for trouble and
headaches.

i think it would be fair
to say that sp3 should
have been born and
microsoft should have
stuck with their reliability
and consistency by simply
providing updates
individually.

only then could the o.s.
by customized by certain
updates to improve performance
or reliability instead of
terminal dysfunctionality.
 
U

Unknown

Who? Me? You responded to wrong person
Enough said, don't use it.

What's your "beef" with SP3? Works well and causes not problems, when
installed following the recommended install procedure.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top