XP SP3 Contents

[Ian D]

It is my understanding that SP3 includes SP2. Is that
correct?

The reason I ask is because I slipstreamed XP Pro SP3
with Autostreamer using XP Pro SP2 from a previous
slipstream, and the resulting .iso file size is 626,184 KB.

I repeated the process using the original 2002 XP Pro
disk with the SP3 update and the .iso size is 606,730 KB,
about 20 MB smaller.

The only reason I can think of for the different iso file sizes,
is that the SP2 content within the SP3 update is more compact
than that in the slipstreamed XP Pro SP2 iso file. I am curious
as to which file size corresponds to others' results.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

It is my understanding that SP3 includes SP2. Is that
correct?

The reason I ask is because I slipstreamed XP Pro SP3
with Autostreamer using XP Pro SP2 from a previous
slipstream, and the resulting .iso file size is 626,184 KB.

I repeated the process using the original 2002 XP Pro
disk with the SP3 update and the .iso size is 606,730 KB,
about 20 MB smaller.

The only reason I can think of for the different iso file sizes,
is that the SP2 content within the SP3 update is more compact
than that in the slipstreamed XP Pro SP2 iso file. I am curious
as to which file size corresponds to others' results.

As with all other service packs for Windows - it is cumulative. SP1a, SP2
and SP3. SP3 contains every fix that SP2 contains which contains every fix
SP1a contains. Beyond that - 1100+ other fixes.

634,956KB (Size of one of my Windows XP SP3 ISOs.)
929,844KB (Size of another one of my Windows XP SP3 ISOs - including a LOT
of drivers.)

If you have a Windows XP CD with SP3 integrated - you have everything that
was included in SP1a, SP2 and SP3. The size of your ISO could be affected
by a number of things.

 

[Xandros]

It is my understanding that SP3 includes SP2. Is that
correct?

yes

 

[Ian D]

As with all other service packs for Windows - it is cumulative. SP1a, SP2
and SP3. SP3 contains every fix that SP2 contains which contains every
fix SP1a contains. Beyond that - 1100+ other fixes.

634,956KB (Size of one of my Windows XP SP3 ISOs.)
929,844KB (Size of another one of my Windows XP SP3 ISOs - including a LOT
of drivers.)

If you have a Windows XP CD with SP3 integrated - you have everything that
was included in SP1a, SP2 and SP3. The size of your ISO could be affected
by a number of things.

Thanks. I burned both iso's to CD and got the following file/dir info:

XP Pro 2002 > SP2 > SP3 - 7119 files in 537 directories
XP Pro 2002 > SP3 - 7117 files in 537 directories

It looks like the extra 20MB is in the two extra files in the 'via SP2'
route to SP3 from the original.

 

[Farhan]

Than why we should have SP2 before installing SP3?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Than why we should have SP2 before installing SP3?

You don't have to. You must have at least Windows XP SP1, but SP2 is not
necessary for installation of SP3 on an already functioning Windows XP
installation. Also - no service packs have to be pre-integrated into a
Windows Xp RTM CD before you can integrate SP3.

As for *why* you must have at least SP1 installed on Windows XP before you
can install SP3 onto it - I cannot honestly say - I would assume you need
some component that did not exist until SP1...