The Run-Down: WinXP SP3

[Hairbautt]

“Service packs include security updates, DCRs, and Hotfixes (all updates that resolve issues discovered by customers or by the Microsoft internal testing team). Security Updates and Hotfixes are available on the current version of the service pack and for a limited time on the "immediately preceding service pack" as detailed in the Product Lifecycle Web [site]…”[1]

Lately, I have been wondering about my WinXP machine as to whether or not Microsoft plans to release another Service Pack (SP)—which would be the third in their never ending saga. Armed with the power of Google, I looked into the subject to see what I could find…

Apparently, in 2006 I took a leave of absence because all the articles I found from five minutes of searching were from that year. In January of 2006, SP3 was slated for mid-2007, but then in late 2006 Microsoft announced that it was postponing that release into 2008. Mary Jo Foley, writer for Microsoft-Watch.com and ZDNet blogger, has seemed to be the one who is keeping tabs on SP3 and has speculated that Microsoft maybe pulling the slip on consumers so that they may consider upgrading to their new Windows Vista operating system.

Microsoft has confirmed (in an article from October of ’06) that SP3 is being planned, but that Windows Vista is now their top priority.[2] According to Microsoft’s “Windows Service Pack Road Map (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/servicepacks.mspx)” WinXP SP3’s estimated release date is now ‘preliminary’. Meanwhile, Windows Vista is/was set to receive SP1 later this year, but there are rumors that it may have been canceled according to an article on Softpedia.[3]

All in all, there is a planned release for SP3 which should eventually arrive within the next year or so. However, please keep in mind that Microsoft has also stated that it “is under no obligation to release even a single SP under the terms of mainstream or extended support. It is solely at their discretion to release anything but separate bug fixes when they feel like it."[4] If you ever had to reformat or reinstall windows from your default system disc (which probably contains WinXP Sp1/Sp1a), take a trip to Windows Update to see all the wonderful download collections they have to offer. Hell, even with SP2, I think there is over 50 updates. ‘Til next time – hairbautt

References/Sources:
[1]http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/servicepacks.mspx
[2]http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=54
[3]http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Vista-Service-Pack-1-Canceled-50515.shtml
[4]http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/operating_systems/windows_xp_service_pack_3_not_until_2007.html

Related Articles:
:view: Neowin.Net: Paul Thurrott: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Not Coming (http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=39297)
---:source: WindowsITPro: WinInfo Short Takes: Week of April 9 (http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/ArticleID/95725/95725.html)
:view: Neowin.Net: XP SP3 is still on the schedule for Q1 2008 (http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=39417)
---:source: ZDNet: Microsoft: XP SP3 is still on the schedule for first half 2008 (http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=376)
:view: SoftPedia: It Lives! Windows XP Service Pack 3 (http://news.softpedia.com/news/It-Lives-Windows-XP-Service-Pack-3-55345.shtml)
____________
:source: Microsoft: Juniper Networks and Microsoft Announce Unified Access Control and Network Access Protection to Interoperate (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/may07/05-21MSJuniperPR.mspx)
--:view: Neowin.Net: Microsoft to Release Windows XP SP3 Later This Year (http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=40490)
____________
July 31, 2007
:view: View: Microsoft Confirms Windows XP SP3 (http://rcpmag.com/news/article.aspx?editorialsid=8875) (Dated July 26)
:view: Softpedia: What Good Does It Do to Confirm Vista SP1 and XP SP3 and Then Go Mute? (http://news.softpedia.com/news/What-Good-Does-It-Do-to-Confirm-Vista-SP1-and-XP-SP3-and-then-Go-Mute-61544.shtml)

[S!X]

Thanks for the info :)

[emsee]

Good to know :)

Thanks

[j0hn]

Hell, even with SP2, I think there is over 50 updates.
65, using sp2, and i dont have this months yet, another 3 waiting.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1737/untitledhz4.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitledhz4.jpg)
i dont care much for an sp3 for xp
like alot of other ppl, im going with vista once sp1 comes out. i remember switching from m.e to xp before any service packs, and i wont do that again.

[Hairbautt]

Hell, even with SP2, I think there is over 50 updates.i dont care much for an sp3 for xp
like alot of other ppl, im going with vista once sp1 comes out. i remember switching from m.e to xp before any service packs, and i wont do that again.
:lol: Nice, I didn't think to count the updates from Add/Remove, but I tried to go by memory when I was restoring my sister's laptop. Even with Vista SP1 I'm still reluctant to 'upgrade' because of games and other software.

Well, just games. :dabs:

[lightshow]

Thanks for the write up. I was also wondering that question myself.

[Hairbautt]

I just found this on BetaNews. It deals with Vista SP1, but still offers some more insight as to why service packs are considered to be better than hotfix releases.

:view: BetaNews: Microsoft: Ignore Third Party Vista "Service Packs" (http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_Ignore_Third_Party_Vista_Service_Packs/1175715717)


...what's bad about installing fixes created by Microsoft? Potentially quite a bit, notes White.

"These hotfixes represent specific fixes for specific customer scenarios and typically have not undergone full regression testing. When they are integrated into a future service pack, they will receive full regression testing and beta testing. So, installing a collection of unnecessary hotfixes may cause more problems than are fixed."
...Unecessary hotfixes - some are critical releases...:ph34r:

Looks like there is now an example of this, Neowin: Latest MS Update Causing Major Headaches (http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=39249)

[phantom]

yap... this is the strategy... first the new born VISTA and after the old man XP...
However, XP need this SP3 because a lot of hotfixes and updates are now releases from Sp2 until today, and if u want to reinstall or to install a fresh copy of Xp u need to make a lot of updates... not so good, no? :)

[InTooDeep]

Well I guess we all have to wait this one out to see what Microsoft is planning to do..I am switching to vista soon, hope it works out for me!

[Hairbautt]

There's now a post at Neowin.Net from Paul Thurrott who speculates that WinXP SP3 will never arrive.

:view: Neowin.Net: Paul Thurrott: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Not Coming (http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=39297)

[phantom]

:) ... this will force us to use Vista???? :)

[Hairbautt]

:) ... this will force us to use Vista???? :)
Doubtful. At least for me. I really have no plans to convert (or 'upgrade') to Vista regardless as to whether or not they release SP1 for it.

I've said it and I'll say it again. It has to do with Compatibility.

[drfunkm]

my sp2 works fine... i'm not worried about it

[Hairbautt]

Ahh, as I mentioned in the original post, Mary Jane Foley is still keeping on top of M$'s WinXP SP3 development.

:source:Source: Recent blog post at ZDNet (http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=376)

[Appzalien]

What concerns me, because MS is such a unscrupulous company, is that they are releasing hotfixes that are meant to cripple XP and insert bugs to get people fed up and purchase Vista. I myself have noticed that the more criticals I install the less stable and more problematic my system becomes. As soon as I reformat and reinstall, the system runs smoothly on SP2 only but after visiting the update site, wham, the instability is back. God I hate that company.

[TorrenTy]

Thanks for the information you provided . we know now better .

[Hairbautt]

This is sort of taken out of context, but check it out: "Microsoft is announcing that Windows Vista supports this protocol today and Windows Server® 2008 and Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) will support it [the Juniper UAC solution/Networks Infranet Controller, if you must know] as well later this year."

A closer look at the press release: "Customers running Windows Vista or Windows XP SP3 will be able to easily realize the benefits of a Juniper UAC deployment without requiring the need to deploy additional client software."

:source: Microsoft: Juniper Networks and Microsoft Announce Unified Access Control and Network Access Protection to Interoperate (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/may07/05-21MSJuniperPR.mspx)
--:view: Related: Neowin.Net - Microsoft to Release Windows XP SP3 Later This Year (http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=40490)

[stove]

Thankyou very much. This is good information to know.

[bad_andy]

Until SP3, this might be useful.. :)

http://www.autopatcher.com/

[Hairbautt]

Until SP3, this might be useful.. :)

http://www.autopatcher.com/
That does look useful. :) I think I've heard something about this at JoeJoe - anyhow /bookmarked.

;)

[Hairbautt]

And...check this: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Leaked Details! (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-XP-Service-Pack-3-Leaked-Details-57825.shtml)

:) From Softpedia.

[WHRST]

hmm...

[Colt Seevers]

Ahhh...

[Hairbautt]

Ohhh...

[suprafreak6]

as long as its got no security checks, im good

[Skiz]

All it really says is that SP3 will have updates for IE7 (which I don't use) and updates for WMP (which I also don't use). :dabs:

[bad_andy]

Until SP3, this might be useful.. :)

http://www.autopatcher.com/
That does look useful. :) I think I've heard something about this at JoeJoe - anyhow /bookmarked.

;)

You and everyone welcome :01:

[onbit]

lol. I'm forced to say that windows sucks. But why do we still ise it? :\

[Hairbautt]

lol. I'm forced to say that windows sucks. But why do we still ise it? :\
Compatibility - apps are made for it

And yet again SP3 is officially confirmed by M$ from Redmond Channel Partner Online.
http://rcpmag.com/news/article.aspx?editorialsid=8875 /added to top post

[Racket]

Latest find

Rafael (2007) writes the following:
In addition to the previously reported Windows Vista SP1 drop to testers, Microsoft has just recently (few days ago) dropped a copy of Windows XP Service Pack 3 in the lap of the same small group of testers. Coming in at less than 350MB, the service pack includes fixes for over 900 reported problems, some of which have already been resolved with post-Service Pack 2 hotfixes [sic]. For the hardcore build string collectors, this build is tagged 5.1.2600.3180 (xpsp.070718-2058) (Thanks again C). Given the close proximity of the two betas we guestimate [sic] both 'packs will be released simultaneously. We'll let you know if we hear of a more solid release date. (n. pag.)
Rafael. (2007, August 7). Windows XP SP3 released to a small group. Message posted to http://www.aeroxp.org/index.php?categoryid=23&p2_articleid=118

[AmpeD]

I think im gonna go for vista once the 1st service pack comes out because then they will have a majority of the millions of errors micr0soft has created solved

[Necrophag]

I will be probably on Vista by the time this comes out, Vista for next year that is :p

[Hairbautt]

Latest find



Rafael (2007) writes the following:
In addition to the previously reported Windows Vista SP1 drop to testers, Microsoft has just recently (few days ago) dropped a copy of Windows XP Service Pack 3 in the lap of the same small group of testers. Coming in at less than 350MB, the service pack includes fixes for over 900 reported problems, some of which have already been resolved with post-Service Pack 2 hotfixes [sic]. For the hardcore build string collectors, this build is tagged 5.1.2600.3180 (xpsp.070718-2058) (Thanks again C). Given the close proximity of the two betas we guestimate [sic] both 'packs will be released simultaneously. We'll let you know if we hear of a more solid release date. (n. pag.)Rafael. (2007, August 7). Windows XP SP3 released to a small group. Message posted to http://www.aeroxp.org/index.php?categoryid=23&p2_articleid=118
Nice!

I see on 9down they posted the leak, but it says
This is the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Build 3180. Think of it more as a pre-beta build of SP3 than an actuall beta build. Full Build tag is: 5.1.2600.3180 (xpsp.070718-2058)Not that I'd grab a beta SP anyways, but just posting...:unsure:

[Racket]

Yeah, the leak was released by winbeta about 15 hours ago. Towerblocks put up the nzb (http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/f-software-miscellaneous-nzbs-107/t--216503) if anyone wants to check it out. I'm waiting on some users to do a comparison to see if anything is actually new. BTW, how'd you like my formatting/citations? :)

[Hairbautt]

I was wondering the same thing, but I suspect SP3 will just be a collection of security releases (not liek SP2)...and there's over +70 updates.

:lol: I like the indentions. If we ever get a complaint, I suppose we'll switch to higher standards with citing and that should be good enough. :yes:

[Hairbautt]

More details :happy: but it looks like it's just a collection of updates.
Getting inside the third service pack for Windows XP is a task accessible to all Windows XP users currently due to the fact that Microsoft's private, select and hush-hush refresh was leaked to torrent trackers worldwide.

Such a simple move obviously managed to ruin the entire translucent Windows Omerta that Steven Sinofsky, Senior Vice President, Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group set up once he took the lead of the Windows projects. Sinofsky is responsible for Windows Seven, Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP1 and comes from building the Office System with an intact reputation of not letting the product slip from its development path.

Unlike Vista SP1 delivered as a 3.2 GB ISO file, containing the operating system with the service pack already packed in, Windows XP SP3 is a standalone installer, according to APC's inside look into the refresh. Testers received a .exe file weighing in at just 330MB. This comes only to offer further proof that the version claiming to be XP SP3 available as a torrent download is in fact the genuine release from the Redmond company. The full build tad is 5.1.2600.3180 (xpsp.070718-2058) and the operating system's refresh even comes with its own knowledge base article: KB936929 (windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu). Unfortunately the additional resource is not available at this time.

Microsoft delivered Windows XP SP2 back in 2004, succeeding to throw the development of the then Longhorn project off track. SP3 was initially planned for 2006, then pushed back to 2007 and further postponed to 2008. Currently the only detail that Microsoft will officially confirm about Windows XP SP3 is that it's scheduled for launch sometime in the first half of 2008. There are however indications from independent sources that the Redmond company is actually getting ready for a release by the end of 2007. One thing is clear however from the leaked XP SP3: the refresh will not deliver any new features to the operating system and in this sense it will fail to be a repeat of XP SP2.
:source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Inside-Windows-XP-Service-Pack-3-62751.shtml





__________________________
Topic reposted with latest updates here: http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/f-news-section-95/t-windows-xp-sp3-available-download-in-two-weeks-225787