New to XP Cottonmouth <noway[ at ]nohow.com> 12/1/2008 3:32:30 PM I just upgraded to XP from 98SE and need a little advice. The upgrade included SP2 and Windows wants me to add the SP3 patch. So far I haven't and I've heard conflicting stories about SP3. Should I keep refusing permission for the update? I'm not really happy with this damn thing calling home all the time,anyway. Is there any way to put a stop to that? I'll start monitoring this newsgroup on a regular basis and maybe learn something before I make any major errors, myself. Thanks!

Re: New to XP "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper[ at ]gmail.com> 12/1/2008 3:45:27 PM Cottonmouth wrote: [Quoted Text] > I just upgraded to XP from 98SE and need a little advice. The > upgrade included SP2 and Windows wants me to add the SP3 patch. So > far I haven't and I've heard conflicting stories about SP3. Should > I keep refusing permission for the update? I'm not really happy > with this damn thing calling home all the time,anyway. Is there any > way to put a stop to that? > > I'll start monitoring this newsgroup on a regular basis and maybe > learn something before I make any major errors, myself. What are the specs on that computer that you upgraded from Windows 98? (Specifically - processor type/speed, amount of physical memory, video card brand/memory, amount of hard disk drive space - total and available.) Everything you need to know about Windows XP SP3 (IMHO)... Like it or not - Windows XP SP3 is something that you probably should install if... - You are currently running Windows XP (32bit). - You care about keeping your machine current and running its best. - You wish to continue running Windows XP for some indeterminate time into the future. - You want to free support if you have any trouble installing it (SP3 that is.) Service Pack 3 is mostly all of the updates released after SP2 and until the release of SP3. You may think to yourself that you have been keeping your PC updated - so you probably have all those updates - fact is, you'd be incorrect. You may have all the publically released ones, but SP3 contains 1179 previously released updates - guaranteed you do not have them all installed without it. ;-) Most of the issues people have had with SP3 have to do with their particular configuration or a problem caused by a third party change/mis-configuration on their system - and almost all have a relatively simple fix. Before starting, know where you can get help: A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft* until April 2009... http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131 Other than "Automatic Updates" or the Windows Update web page - how can you get SP3? Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2fcde6ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&DisplayLang=en Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en Do a little reading - to ensure you are ready... WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2008/05/08/windows-xp-sp3-read-all-prerequisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717 Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3 http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm Key things to note: Internet Explorer: "If you have installed Windows Internet Explorer® 7 or a beta version of Internet Explorer 8, and then install Windows XP SP3, you cannot uninstall Internet Explorer. To avoid this, ensure Internet Explorer 7 or a beta version of Internet Explorer 8 is not installed before installing Windows XP SP3. If you have already encountered this issue, uninstall Windows XP SP3, uninstall Internet Explorer, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3." Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002: "If you install Windows XP SP3 on a computer running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002 with SP1, Windows XP Media Center Edition may malfunction. To avoid this, install Windows XP SP2 before you install Windows XP SP3. If this issue has already occurred, uninstall Windows XP SP3, install Windows XP SP2, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3." Did all that and have some issues you believe might be related to SP3? Check these out: It seems some people are unable to get further updates after installing SP3... Seems some have experienced a symptom similar to doing a repair installation on Windows XP - and the same fix seems to work for them for that... Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144 Some people experience an "endless reboot" issue... Workarounds: http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx [NB: The above has been updated many times and now includes "a small tool that will detect the IntelPPM problem and mitigate it before installing [WinXP SP3]." 1. Boot into Safe Mode and rename INTELPMM.SYS to INTELPMM.OLD. 2. After booting into Safe Mode: Start --> Run --> (copy/paste) sc config intelppm start= disabled --> OK --> Reboot into normal (Windows) mode. Other references include: 1. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?p=187790#p187790 2. http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx 3. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_crashes/ 4. http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9084418 5. You receive a "Stop 0x0000007E" error message after you upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 on a non-Intel-processor-based computer (Revised 06 May-08): http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372 Some people have gotten an "Access Denied" message when trying to install SP3... I suggest going straigh to Method 3 of this article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377 Beyond that - some simple maintenance might be needed - like installing the latest hardware drivers from your hardware vendors... Good luck to you! You shouldn't need it, however, with just a little planning. ;-) -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Re: New to XP RobertVA <robert_c72athotmail[ at ]invalid.com> 12/1/2008 5:41:50 PM Cottonmouth wrote: [Quoted Text] > I just upgraded to XP from 98SE and need a little advice. The upgrade > included SP2 and Windows wants me to add the SP3 patch. So far I haven't > and I've heard conflicting stories about SP3. Should I keep refusing > permission for the update? I'm not really happy with this damn thing > calling home all the time,anyway. Is there any way to put a stop to that? > > I'll start monitoring this newsgroup on a regular basis and maybe learn > something before I make any major errors, myself. > > Thanks! Try selecting the "Automatic Updates" applet on the windows XP control panel. It features options to "download updates but prompt for permission to install them, prompt for permission to download updates, and turn AUTOMATIC updates off entirely. You still can check for updates manually through "Help and Support" on the task bar's "start" button. The tool bar and menu differences on Internet Explorer version 7 take some getting used to, but the RSS feed capabilities and the tabs are handy.

Re: New to XP "Xandros" <aarron.neusremove[ at ]gmail.com> 12/1/2008 6:04:29 PM You don't need it until you need it for some reason. I have systems that do not have SP3 installed and they are fine. -- Xandros "Cottonmouth" <noway[ at ]nohow.com> wrote in message news:Xns9B6761F4E1561myemailemalecom[ at ]216.77.188.18... [Quoted Text] >I just upgraded to XP from 98SE and need a little advice. The upgrade > included SP2 and Windows wants me to add the SP3 patch. So far I haven't > and I've heard conflicting stories about SP3. Should I keep refusing > permission for the update? I'm not really happy with this damn thing > calling home all the time,anyway. Is there any way to put a stop to that? > > I'll start monitoring this newsgroup on a regular basis and maybe learn > something before I make any major errors, myself. > > Thanks!

Re: New to XP "philo" <philo[ at ]privacy.net> 12/1/2008 8:57:30 PM "Cottonmouth" <noway[ at ]nohow.com> wrote in message news:Xns9B6761F4E1561myemailemalecom[ at ]216.77.188.18... [Quoted Text] > I just upgraded to XP from 98SE and need a little advice. The upgrade > included SP2 and Windows wants me to add the SP3 patch. So far I haven't > and I've heard conflicting stories about SP3. Should I keep refusing > permission for the update? I'm not really happy with this damn thing > calling home all the time,anyway. Is there any way to put a stop to that? > > I'll start monitoring this newsgroup on a regular basis and maybe learn > something before I make any major errors, myself. > > Thanks! Yes I'd go for SP3 In addition to the latest security updates...It actually improves performance.

Re: New to XP "Twayne" <nobody[ at ]devnull.spamcop.net> 12/2/2008 1:00:16 AM [Quoted Text] > "Cottonmouth" <noway[ at ]nohow.com> wrote in message > news:Xns9B6761F4E1561myemailemalecom[ at ]216.77.188.18... >> I just upgraded to XP from 98SE and need a little advice. The >> upgrade included SP2 and Windows wants me to add the SP3 patch. So >> far I haven't and I've heard conflicting stories about SP3. Should >> I keep refusing permission for the update? I'm not really happy >> with this damn thing calling home all the time,anyway. Is there any >> way to put a stop to that? >> >> I'll start monitoring this newsgroup on a regular basis and maybe >> learn something before I make any major errors, myself. >> >> Thanks! > > > Yes I'd go for SP3 > > In addition to the latest security updates...It actually improves > performance. Yes, go for SP3 but be CERTAIN, as with all service packs, to visit the MS web site and read the requirements for a smooth installation. There ARE a few instances where there could be problems and they are detailed there. There are a couple computer brand names in particular that have problems so if you have one of those you'll want the work-arounds provided on the site. If for no other reason, SP3 negates the need for about a hundred updates when you're using SP2. You're not very likely to see performance improvements unless you have one of the few specific applications they mention for the service pact or your SP2 setup is having a problem to begin with. Other than those few specific application-specific enhancements, SP3 is basically SP2 with all of its following updates up to SP3. It's pretty well explained on the site: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717 HTH Twayne

Re: New to XP The C. 12/2/2008 10:54:01 AM Create a restore point before you upgrade to SP3 just incase it messes up. I really think it will only beifit your system doing so. -- Computer Novice "And In The End... The Love You Take, Is Equal To The Love You Make" "Twayne" wrote: [Quoted Text] > > "Cottonmouth" <noway[ at ]nohow.com> wrote in message > > news:Xns9B6761F4E1561myemailemalecom[ at ]216.77.188.18... > >> I just upgraded to XP from 98SE and need a little advice. The > >> upgrade included SP2 and Windows wants me to add the SP3 patch. So > >> far I haven't and I've heard conflicting stories about SP3. Should > >> I keep refusing permission for the update? I'm not really happy > >> with this damn thing calling home all the time,anyway. Is there any > >> way to put a stop to that? > >> > >> I'll start monitoring this newsgroup on a regular basis and maybe > >> learn something before I make any major errors, myself. > >> > >> Thanks! > > > > > > Yes I'd go for SP3 > > > > In addition to the latest security updates...It actually improves > > performance. > > Yes, go for SP3 but be CERTAIN, as with all service packs, to visit the > MS web site and read the requirements for a smooth installation. There > ARE a few instances where there could be problems and they are detailed > there. There are a couple computer brand names in particular that have > problems so if you have one of those you'll want the work-arounds > provided on the site. > If for no other reason, SP3 negates the need for about a hundred > updates when you're using SP2. > You're not very likely to see performance improvements unless you > have one of the few specific applications they mention for the service > pact or your SP2 setup is having a problem to begin with. Other than > those few specific application-specific enhancements, SP3 is basically > SP2 with all of its following updates up to SP3. It's pretty well > explained on the site: > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717 > > HTH > > Twayne > > >

Re: New to XP "Twayne" <nobody[ at ]devnull.spamcop.net> 12/2/2008 4:49:25 PM [Quoted Text] > Create a restore point before you upgrade to SP3 just incase it > messes up. I really think it will only beifit your system doing so. Excellent advice; and part of the MS advice sheets too. > >>> "Cottonmouth" <noway[ at ]nohow.com> wrote in message >>> news:Xns9B6761F4E1561myemailemalecom[ at ]216.77.188.18... >>>> I just upgraded to XP from 98SE and need a little advice. The >>>> upgrade included SP2 and Windows wants me to add the SP3 patch. So >>>> far I haven't and I've heard conflicting stories about SP3. Should >>>> I keep refusing permission for the update? I'm not really happy >>>> with this damn thing calling home all the time,anyway. Is there any >>>> way to put a stop to that? >>>> >>>> I'll start monitoring this newsgroup on a regular basis and maybe >>>> learn something before I make any major errors, myself. >>>> >>>> Thanks! >>> >>> >>> Yes I'd go for SP3 >>> >>> In addition to the latest security updates...It actually improves >>> performance. >> >> Yes, go for SP3 but be CERTAIN, as with all service packs, to visit >> the MS web site and read the requirements for a smooth installation. >> There ARE a few instances where there could be problems and they are >> detailed there. There are a couple computer brand names in >> particular that have problems so if you have one of those you'll >> want the work-arounds provided on the site. >> If for no other reason, SP3 negates the need for about a hundred >> updates when you're using SP2. >> You're not very likely to see performance improvements unless you >> have one of the few specific applications they mention for the >> service pact or your SP2 setup is having a problem to begin with. >> Other than those few specific application-specific enhancements, SP3 >> is basically SP2 with all of its following updates up to SP3. It's >> pretty well explained on the site: >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717 >> >> HTH >> >> Twayne