XP SP3 Beta 1: Any word yet?

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Rumors were flying around that an official Beta 1 would be out by now.
Anyone able to verify this or test it yet?

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Bob I]

It's still rumors.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Rumors were flying around that an official Beta 1 would be out by
now. Anyone able to verify this or test it yet?

Why is everyone so anxious for this Service Pack to be released *in beta* no
less?

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Why is everyone so anxious for this Service Pack to be released *in beta* no
less?

Some of us want to test NAP, per-user installing, and see the progress
with Server 2008 (and Vista) compatibility.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Rumors were flying around that an official Beta 1 would be out by
now. Anyone able to verify this or test it yet?

Why is everyone so anxious for this Service Pack to be released
*in beta* no less?

Some of us want to test NAP, per-user installing, and see the
progress with Server 2008 (and Vista) compatibility.

I test things such as this all the time - but I don't see the point in
asking about a product that will be going beta sometime soon in a
peer-to-peer newsgroup.

I usually just get on the beta testing 'crew' (for lack of a better name) if
I really am interested - so that I am notified and can provide feedback.
Sometimes it is a public beta - in which case - they (whomever that might
be) will announce its release publically and there is not need to ask about
it. If it is a private (have to sign up for it) beta - you can usually find
out about it through the same announcements and if they allow people to sign
up - do so. If it is completely private, usually those who have a copy are
*supposed* to remain silent about the fact it exists.

I suppose there is no harm in asking - but there's no harm in being patient
either. ;-) It'll likely be released at some point and when it is - all the
testing you want can be done for as long as you want. There are probably
still people out there 'testing' SP2. *grin*

 

[Gregory L. Forster, E.A.]

Rumors were flying around that an official Beta 1 would be out by now.
Anyone able to verify this or test it yet?

- Thee Chicago Wolf

I was told by a Microsoft Technical Help Rep that
WinXP SP3 would be available November 1, 2006

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Since that was last year, where is the download?

"| > - Thee Chicago Wolf
| I was told by a Microsoft Technical Help Rep that
| WinXP SP3 would be available November 1, 2006

 

[darkrats]

The SP3 Preview is already out and circulating on the net. All the torrent
sites carry it. It consists mostly of patches and hotfixes since SP2, does a
few MS application tweaks, but does not contain IE7 or MP11. The finished
product will be out shortly, so can't say if you would find the Preview
useful or not.

 

[John Hacker]

Why is everyone so anxious for this Service Pack to be released *in beta* no
less?

Just to be one step ahead of M$ should this monster clamps down even
further on pirated copies!! Just to be sure whether or not the serial
key is blocked!!

There are about 100 million pirated copies out there in the wild and I
am sure M$ would like them to contribute something towards their lavish
parties!

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Rumors were flying around that an official Beta 1 would be out by now.

I was told by a Microsoft Technical Help Rep that
WinXP SP3 would be available November 1, 2006

I've also heard either October 31st or early to mid November. We can
only wait and see.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

The SP3 Preview is already out and circulating on the net. All the torrent

sites carry it. It consists mostly of patches and hotfixes since SP2, does a
few MS application tweaks, but does not contain IE7 or MP11. The finished
product will be out shortly, so can't say if you would find the Preview
useful or not.

I have tried the preview and it was a bit buggy on the couple systems
we "tested." Since most insiders have already revealed that SP3 will
have some Longhorn code in it, it's important to see how it'll act on
production environments / networks ahead of time.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Rumors were flying around that an official Beta 1 would be out by
now. Anyone able to verify this or test it yet?

I was told by a Microsoft Technical Help Rep that
WinXP SP3 would be available November 1, 2006

I've also heard either October 31st or early to mid November. We can
only wait and see.

Notice the date given you are 'agreeing' to...
....2006...

Rumors are worthless.

Sure - it may be important to test things - but jumping the gun and testing
a release that may not resemble the final release by much (especially
pre-betas) is just useless.

Simply stated - there is no date for the release of a public beta or final
release of SP3 for Windows XP being announced/confirmed/denied by Microsoft.
The only official information on Service Pack 3 for Windows XP is here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/servicepacks.mspx

I have read the rumors, seen the screenshots, etc - but there is no
*official* word on the release of said service pack for Windows XP.

Rumor mill:
- http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=630
- http://4sysops.com/archives/windows-xp-sp3-beta-release-date-news/
-
http://www.wincert.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2205&Itemid=1
-
http://www.intelliadmin.com/blog/2007/08/windows-xp-sp3-beta-released-to-testers.html
-
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Micr...-Pre-Beta-Release-and-2008-Launch-62284.shtml

And the reality is - it is all rumors... Check out this link:
http://www.computerworld.com/action...asic&articleId=105194&intsrc=article_more_bot

.... dated October 06, 2005 about SP3 rumors. It never ends nor is it
something anyone should be overly concerned with. I install XP quite often
and since I integrate all the updates I can into the media *and* unattend
most other setups (or apply images) --> when SP3 is released (or if it ever
is) really isn't a concern to me. Sure thing or not - if/when it happens,
it happens. 114 less downloads and maybe a few features to give Windows XP
a little more life time... *shrug*

 

[jim w]

Will I be able to get a cd or dvd by snail mail as I only have dialup?
tnx

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Notice the date given you are 'agreeing' to...
...2006...

Rumors are worthless.

Sure - it may be important to test things - but jumping the gun and testing
a release that may not resemble the final release by much (especially
pre-betas) is just useless.

Simply stated - there is no date for the release of a public beta or final
release of SP3 for Windows XP being announced/confirmed/denied by Microsoft.
The only official information on Service Pack 3 for Windows XP is here:

I'm sure the guy meant 2007, not 2006.

Aside from a couple features additions, all people involved with SP3
testing have said it includes all post SP2 patches so what's out
currently is already stable and running on people's systems if they've
been using Windows Update. That's no rumor. The release date, meh,
people at conventions have heard the oopsies and slip-ups from
Microsoft folks and even though the SP schedule posted on the MS sites
says 1st half 2008, I don't buy it. We'll all have to wait and see.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[SAM-R]

There are several KB articles on Hotfixes that have not been released to
Windows Update. Many if not all should be part of SP3. And yes, there will
be updates for Networking, etc.

Q. Which versions of Windows support Network Access Protection as a
client?

A. NAP clients must run either Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.
For computers running Windows XP, Microsoft is including the NAP Client for
Windows XP (now in beta testing) in Windows XP Service Pack 3.

Q. When will Windows XP support Network Access Protection as a client?

A. Microsoft is including the NAP Client for Windows XP (now in beta
testing) in Windows XP Service Pack 3.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/nap/napfaq.mspx

 

[SAM-R]

There is information on XP SP3 on different Microsoft sites if you look for
it. Here is something else on NAP and XP SP3, links to White Papers etc.
Q. What is Network Access Protection?

A. NAP is a policy enforcement platform built into Microsoft® Windows
VistaT, Windows Server® 2008 (now in beta testing), and Windows® XP Service
Pack 3 (which includes the NAP Client for Windows XP, now in beta testing)
that allows you to better protect network assets by enforcing compliance
with system health requirements. With NAP, you can create customized health
policies to validate computer health before allowing access or
communication, automatically update compliant computers to ensure ongoing
compliance, and optionally confine noncompliant computers to a restricted
network until they become compliant.


http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/nap/napfaq.mspx

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

There are several KB articles on Hotfixes that have not been released to

Windows Update. Many if not all should be part of SP3. And yes, there will
be updates for Networking, etc.

The update for WiFi is a bit rough but the preview does give a little
bit of an indication of where it's going. Wi-Fi folks will be happy
campers when it's final.

Q. Which versions of Windows support Network Access Protection as a
client?

A. NAP clients must run either Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.
For computers running Windows XP, Microsoft is including the NAP Client for
Windows XP (now in beta testing) in Windows XP Service Pack 3.

Q. When will Windows XP support Network Access Protection as a client?

A. Microsoft is including the NAP Client for Windows XP (now in beta
testing) in Windows XP Service Pack 3.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/nap/napfaq.mspx

Yup, it's a nice plus and lots of Admins have been waiting for this
NAP addition. I just hope thet code they're allegedly importing from
Vista doesn't make XP post-SP3 a dog like Vista gold is.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Unknown]

They usually always provide one.

Will I be able to get a cd or dvd by snail mail as I only have dialup?
tnx