When Will Windows XP Service Pack 3 Arrive?

Reader Mary asks (in a nutshell): If people are so unhappy with Windows Vista, how does that impact the next Service Pack for Windows XP?

In short, not much. Windows XP development has years and years of history behind it, has tens of millions (perhaps hundreds of millions) of PCs running it, and continues to be actively patched by Microsoft. (Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11, and Windows Defender are all recent XP launches.) Microsoft would be crazy not to update it again... but then again, this is Microsoft we're talking about.

Windows XP will reach the end of "active support" on January 30, 2009, then enter "extended support" for five more years. (Extended support means you have to pay Microsoft extra if you want non-security-related updates or any other support from Microsoft, such as telephone tech support. If you aren't paying for the extended support plan, Microsoft won't help you any longer.)

Service Pack 3 for Windows XP has been in the theoretical works for quite a while, basically since Service Pack 2 was released. But Service Pack 3's release date (which has not been set) is a matter of some speculation. SP2 was released in August 2004, and many feel SP3 is now long overdue (and in fact has been oft delayed). Microsoft's website pegs SP3 for release in the first half of 2008. If you're into gossip, some believe that SP3 will never ship as Microsoft tries to funnel users to Vista, but I find that hard to swallow, even for a company like Microsoft.

Want a sneak peek at what's going to be in SP3? (Or possibly install it early?) TheHotfix, which already offers its own interpretation of Windows Vista SP1, has XP SP3 for you right here. It's really nothing all that exciting: Most of the fixes patch security holes (scroll through the above page for the word "Vulnerability" and you'll see what I mean). Though some have warned against installing these unauthorized "roll-up" updates, many have done so without complaint. I've never read of anyone having trouble with them. If you do decide to install one, please share your experiences here!