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Windows XP Fans, Your Christmas Present Has Arrived

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A Different "RC" Flavor: Windows XP SP3!

Need some diversion after the last present is opened and the last piece of candy from the stockings have been devoured? Give Windows XP SP3 RC a try. It's a 336MB download.

Roll Up the Updates

SP3 rolls up all previously-released updates into a single package. Microsoft's documentation for SP3 highlights just a few you might have missed (but your system administrator probably didn't):

  • Microsoft Management Console 3.0 (KB907265)
  • Microsoft XML 6.0 Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 (KB907265)
  • BITS 2.5, a service used by Windows Live OneCare and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (KB923845)
  • WPA2 Wi-Fi Security, the strongest form of WPA security (KB893357
  • Peer Name Resolution Protocol 2.1, to enable XP SP3 programs that use PNRP to communicate with Vista programs that use PNRP (KB920342)

Other bundled updates include changes to IPSec virtual private networking and a new service for logging into domains (DIMS).

SP1 Users, Rejoice! SP3 Includes SP2 (and SP1)! 

Windows XP SP3 includes both SP1 and SP2, so if your system's been under a rock and missed SP2 (or if you're doing a fresh install from an original Windows XP or XP SP1 disc), you can install SP3 anyway. However, you must have SP1 installed to use SP3.

Here's What New in SP3 (Not a Whole Lot, to Be Honest)

SP3 adds the following new features:

  • "Black Hole" router detection is enabled by default
  • Support for Network Access Protection (NAP), a feature in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
  • The Security Options dialog in Control Panel now includes an "Explain This Setting" tab to help keep you from making security setting goofs.
  • Enhanced security for Administrator and Service policy entries in System Center Essentials
  • New kernel mode Cryptographic driver
  • No product key needed for SP3 installation; it's requested after installation

Microsoft's been warning XP SP2 users that SP3 wasn't going to include a lot of new functionality - and they were right. Most of the changes in SP3 are not going to be visible to end-users.

I've Got XP x64! Where's My Update?

Windows XP SP3 is for 32-bit versions of Windows only. x64 users should install Windows Server 2003 SP2, which has been around awhile (over a year, in fact).

For More Information

As usual, Microsoft has lots of documentation you can grab, including

Just a reminder: this is the Release Candidate, so it's a step better than beta, but it's not quite ready for prime time. You might want to try it on the experimental box, not your deathmatch special.

COMMENTS
avatarvery nice

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avatar Direct X 10? Just joking

Direct X 10? Just joking would be nice though :)

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avatar"Windows XP Fans,Your Christmas Present Has Arrived"

How about "With Linux Integration Tools".

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avatarinternet explorer 7?

but does it include the horrid internet explorer 7 ??? I dont want that trash installed on my hard drive.

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avatarSP1 Users, Rejoice?

SP3 includes everything from SP1 AND SP2. That's how service packs work. Period. See http://tinyurl.com/2pdoaj for more detail.

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avatarThank you for the corrections...

...the article's now been updated. Update to SP3 RC from any Windows XP release, old or recent.
-------------------------------------------------
It's amazing how illogical a business built on binary logic can be.

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avatarMy Bad. Sorry.

 Newly updated correction since your article first hit MaximumPC.com

 the following is a direct paste from http://www.winsupersite.com/faq/xp_sp3.asp

 

Q: Does SP3 include everything from SP1 and SP2 or do I need to install those first?

A: Though XP SP3 aggregates all of the previously-released XP fixes, Microsoft now says
that you will need to install at least SP1 on XP before installing SP3.
The company recommends installing SP2 first as well, though that is not
required.

 

----

Fanboys are annoying. Price/Performance is top priority. Patience=Awesome.

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