Windows XP Service Pack 3 arrives April 29

Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:24PM EDT

See Comments (23)

At long last, Windows XP Service Pack 3, certain to be the final Service Pack for the beloved XP, is off to "manufacturing." Of course, since there's nothing to actually manufacture, that just means they're priming the system for delivery to you via Windows Update. And that begins on April 29.

ZDNet has a helpful blog post answering just about every question you could have about SP3. The big info: Download via Windows Update will be about 70MB, and enhancements will be minimal. Security is the main focus, with some of Vista's enhancements (yeah, I'm nervous about this too...) showing up in XP. Of course, all prior XP updates are included in this roll-up as well, so if you missed something along the way, you'll be getting it come next Tuesday.

Answering one big question you all have sent my way numerous times: No, performance is unlikely to be affected by SP3 in any significant way.

Another biggie: Internet Explorer 7 is not included in the Service Pack, but updates to both IE6 and IE7 are packaged into the rollup, so your browser will be updated no matter what you're using.

One neat feature: If you have an XP CD with SP3 already on it (and these can be made by "slipstreaming" the update into your existing XP disc), you can install Windows without a product key, just like you can with Vista, and provide the key later when it's time to validate.

On the whole, don't expect an awful lot from SP3. While service packs normally bring with them extensive updates, remember that XP is a very mature OS, now seven years old, and Microsoft is trying to sweep it under the rug as quickly as possible. Still, an SP is an SP, and I'll take it. I'll have hands-on coverage as soon as possible.

Comments on Windows XP Service Pack 3 arrives April 29

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  • 6 Posted by mikeholland2004 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thats the official realese date , ive had service pack 3 for a month now , theres an option in microsoft updates to allow it to be installed with automatic updates...just alittle information for those that just cant wait hahaha

  • 8 Posted by jonathan_rucker on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would not get that product because the XP does not have Internet Explorer 7 and i would love to have a better explorer.

  • 9 Posted by lvmth on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    i use xp 2 its too good please wanna know the diferent between 2 and 3 and whats in 3 dont be in 2

  • 10 Posted by shaunmkeefe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it is horrible that they are pulling an obviously superior OS(XP) off of the shelves and forcing us to choke down the crapfest they called Vista. I think it is digital tyranny.

  • 11 Posted by mariovaor on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    Does the retail versions of XP will come with SP3?

  • 12 Posted by pengiranijam on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yeah, I hope if even still buggy but it doesn't mean have to be formatted again cause by SP3 http://webmaster.vpoint7.com

  • 13 Posted by pengiranijam on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yeah, I hope if even still buggy but it doesn't mean have to be formatted again cause by SP3 http://webmaster.vpoint7.com

  • 14 Posted by scottiecordes on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    Jonathan, you can get IE7 anytime you want from the windows update page. I have had it for a long time now. I do like it better. Mariovaor, currently, there are no plans to release an XP with SP3.

  • 15 Posted by lamebear49 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Don't get to rattled about the Vista thing everyone, just about everywhere I go on the internet, even a print out from my router, says I'm running XP Professional, when actually I'm running Vista Home Premium. Don't know why, it just does. Had a lot of problems with Vista when I first bought it a year ago, 99% of it was compatibility with other programs. I'm thinking MS, and other Programs have finally gotten the bugs, "almost" worked out of Vista. Have had very few problems in the last 3-4 months. Problems I have had, come from MS Updates, which get fixed eventually.

  • 17 Posted by agustin2489 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    At this point, Vista is following the same sort of path XP had. When XP came out, it too was buggy. I'm not saying I support Vista completely but I do tend to follow my own experience. Vista's alright by now, just a real drag on a computer with only 1 GB of memory.

  • 18 Posted by foggyblur on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Iv had XP SP3 (beta release canidate 2) on a laptop i play around with. It's been running stable as usual. Nothing really improved in SP3, just all the updates since SP2 was released in 2004 rolled up into a nice little service pack. The link below is a Windows XP Service Pack 3 Overview from Microsoft. http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/8/7/687484ed-8174-496d-8db9-f02b40c12982/Overview%20of%20Windows%20XP%20Service%20Pack%203.pdf

  • 20 Posted by rmhardy_2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have asked this question on so many sites, and still no answer. I use my computer for business purposes and personal information. Don't play games or watch movies. How will Vista help me make more money? If it won't, why would any user like myself, and all businesses using computers, want to change. Spend the extra money for what?

  • 21 Posted by linwood1095 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    If I have to start paying a monthly fee for the OS ... I'll go to Linux for sure. Micro-Shaft Win-Blows! XP is decent but far from perfect. But then what software is? Good grief, now they think they're a utility company. Subscribe.... gees Bill, how much money is enough? Next you'll think you're a petroleum company, show billions of dollars profit at the consumers expense. Better think twice Billy-Bob, Linux has come a long way, I do like Linspire, but they have become greedy lately too .... The whole system is going to collapse and maybe it should. Time to start over! Time to take back the country too. A little revolution once in while is good thing.... is it not?

  • 23 Posted by navin_naruto on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    it is very good sp3.I do not expect i will come to the market very early.i had download it.

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