XP SP3: what are the improvements? Is it faster, smoother?

[Nice Bike]

I was planning to install the SP3 patch, but I read that AMD-CPU users
got BSO error's and allot of other problems such as boot failure's and
boot-loop's and such.

So, before I go thru all that, I would like to know if there are
_noticeable_ improvements or speed-ups.

 

[Johnny Reb]

Alot of bullshoit

 

[Big Al]

I was planning to install the SP3 patch, but I read that AMD-CPU users
got BSO error's and allot of other problems such as boot failure's and
boot-loop's and such.

So, before I go thru all that, I would like to know if there are
_noticeable_ improvements or speed-ups.

As much as SP3 is nothing more than SP2 with a ton of the updates
applied that you already have, it did put in some enhancements and
undistributed hot fixes. Some people are reporting speed
improvements, some say 'so so'.

Since its really not a "needed" item for the immediate future, you have
an option to wait. If you don't, then just backup the living daylights
out of your system and make sure you have any and everything you need to
reload. A reloadable image would be great as you could put things back
to square one real easy.

I can't see why a processor chip would make a difference myself. And
as I was reminded, this newsgroup is for posting problems, so if 1000
people complain, how many had no issues and no reason to post their
results? There is no poll taken to know that 1000 fail and 10 million
worked.

 

[John]

So, before I go thru all that, I would like to know if there are
_noticeable_ improvements or speed-ups.

Nope. No difference before and after installing SP3.

What I notice is the 95 blue colored folders ($NtUninstallKB******$) under
\Windows folder aren't automatically deleted although post SP2 patches are
all removed from Add/Remove Programs. Make me wonder if they're only removed
from Add/Remove Programs list or they really uninstalled. If they're
uninstalled, why would those folders not deleted?

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was 5/8/2008 11:57 AM, and on a whim, Nice Bike
pounded out on the keyboard:

I was planning to install the SP3 patch, but I read that AMD-CPU users
got BSO error's and allot of other problems such as boot failure's and
boot-loop's and such.

So, before I go thru all that, I would like to know if there are
_noticeable_ improvements or speed-ups.

I have an AMD CPU and had no issues, so it must not involve all of them.
Noticeable improvements? Not really. This mornings boot appeared to
start a little quicker (two reboots yesterday did not after the SP3
install), but other than that it just removed all the old patches in
Add/Remove Programs, so the list isn't as long. I upgraded 12 other
workstations yesterday and only had one have Explorer crash on reboot.
Subsequent boots seemed to not happen again (fingers crossed). I also
had some workstations require two or three reboots to clear the WU icon
stating SP3 was available (I downloaded the Network Installation Package).

The only issue I have it that some SP3 installs asked about setting
Automatic Updates on reboot (not all of them did). Whatever an
installation was set to prior to SP3 should remain the same, not have to
re-check it after updating.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

I was planning to install the SP3 patch, but I read that AMD-CPU users

got BSO error's and allot of other problems such as boot failure's and
boot-loop's and such.

So, before I go thru all that, I would like to know if there are
_noticeable_ improvements or speed-ups.

I have an AMD and no BSODs. It is a bit snappier, Wi-Fi is speedier
when connecting to secured / unsecured, LAN / Internet speed is a
little more responsive, disk access seems a bit quicker. A worthy
update.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Just.some.guy]

I can't see why a processor chip would make a difference myself. And as I

was reminded, this newsgroup is for posting problems, so if 1000 people
complain, >how many had no issues and no reason to post their results?
There is no poll taken to know that 1000 fail and 10 million worked.

You know though, I still wonder why the SP3 at the Windows Update wouldn't
work...but the one at IT/Developers did. I still can't figure that out.

 

[Just.some.guy]

You know though, I still wonder why the SP3 at the Windows Update wouldn't
work...but the one at IT/Developers did. I still can't figure that out.

Oh, I forgot to ask.... The WU SP3 update didn't work for me 4 times...so it
registers as a *failed* (4 times) there. However, in my System Properties it
says SP3, and in my add/remove I see it there. My question... if there are
any updates for SP3, will it *know* I have SP3 on my system? I only ask
because it says in Windows Update it failed?

 

[Big Al]

You know though, I still wonder why the SP3 at the Windows Update wouldn't
work...but the one at IT/Developers did. I still can't figure that out.

One of life's mysteries. Only thing I can see, is WU does it
different, and just that difference could be the difference. IE is open
and running. Shouldn't be an issue and should have been taken into
consideration, but.....
I ran the .exe I downloaded and had no issues.

 

[Doug W.]

"I can't see why a processor chip would make a difference
myself."- Big Al
-
Well, if you try to get a machine to load an instruction or pgm
designed for an Intel processor and your machine has an AMD
Athlon chip, don't you think that there could be a conflict?
Evidently so, as computers all over the world crashed as they
tried to run the XP SP3 update, mine bloody well included. Just
think, just one lousy change in the registry and bingo
everything works as it should.
-
Doug W.
-----------

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Shouldn't be. They both support the x86 instruction set.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I run XP Pro SP3 on an AMD64 Athlon x2 4400+ without issues and XP Home SP3
on an AMD64 on my wife's laptop without issues.

 

[Johnny Reb]

Patch?????

 

[Big Al]

"I can't see why a processor chip would make a difference myself."- Big Al
-
Well, if you try to get a machine to load an instruction or pgm designed
for an Intel processor and your machine has an AMD Athlon chip, don't
you think that there could be a conflict? Evidently so, as computers
all over the world crashed as they tried to run the XP SP3 update, mine
bloody well included. Just think, just one lousy change in the registry
and bingo everything works as it should.
-
Doug W.

If you think Microsoft is getting brain dead, then somehow forgetting to
support AMD chips would be the last nail in their coffin.

 

[TaurArian]

Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929


--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco


|I was planning to install the SP3 patch, but I read that AMD-CPU users
| got BSO error's and allot of other problems such as boot failure's and
| boot-loop's and such.
|
| So, before I go thru all that, I would like to know if there are
| _noticeable_ improvements or speed-ups.
|

 

[Nice Bike]

If you think Microsoft is getting brain dead, then somehow forgetting to
support AMD chips would be the last nail in their coffin.

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll skip SP3 for now, maybe later. I
have an AMD Athlon 64 X2 which is working fine with XP SP2, and if
there are no noticeable speed ups, I'm not gonna risk screwing up a
perfectly good system.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.