> Peter Buttuls wrote:
>> Could someone please advise me if it's very important that I
>> upgrade from SP2 to SP3 as soon as possible ? I am on a telephone
>> line but have set the computer to "Automatic Upgrading", but since
>> I connect to the net only 1 hour a week it could take a long time
>> for the upgrade, but I could leave the connection on all night.
>
> The importance of SP3 is determined *by you*. After all you are
> asking about an update for a particular operating system on a
> particular machine with particular software and you have a specific
> way you likely use said machine. You don't *need* a computer to
> survive, so its criticality can only be determined by your own needs.
>
> (E.G. - Many people are still running Windows 98 - so SP3 has no
> meaning to them what-so-ever.)
>
> In your case (dial-up) I suggest ordering the CD and/or getting a
> friend/family member to download it and copy it for you and/or doing
> it at some place with high-speed Internet yourself.
>
>
> 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