Get Ready for Windows XP SP3 (and Learn More About Vista SP1)

Mark 'Marcus_Soperus' Soper — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:42:55 -0500

Getting Up to Speed on What's New in XP SP3

There are numerous signs that Windows XP Service Pack 3 is about to go live, very possibly on Monday (however, the Tech ARP website claims the release is being delayed until mid-April). Whether it launches this month or next, one of the best signs that XP SP3 is about to become a reality is Microsoft's reposting of the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Overview. It's become a Microsoft tradition to post operating system overviews shortly before a new operating system or service pack goes live. It's available in either PDF (requires Adobe Reader or other PDF reader) or XPS (requires XPS Viewer or XPS Essentials pack, both available here.

Here are a few highlights:

- SP3 consolidates previously-released updates into a single package (for more information, see our original article on Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate)
- SP3 is a cumulative release (you can install it over any previous Windows XP version)
- SP3 is for 32-bit versions of Windows XP only; the x64 edition of Windows XP Professional was updated by Windows Server 2003 SP2.
- SP3 takes about 70MB to download via Windows Update, or about 580MB via the download center
- SP3 introduces Network Access Protection (NAP) to help Windows XP users to use new features in Windows Server 2008
- IE7 haters can rejoice at this news: XP SP3 does not include Internet Explorer 7.

Keep clicked to this website for news of the official release of Windows XP SP3.

Updated Information for Windows Vista Users

Microsoft has rolled out a new release of its Windows Vista Product Guide that includes the changes made in SP1. This 334-page magnum opus includes seven sections:

- An introduction to Windows Vista
- Windows Vista versions
- Features for all users
- Features for home users
- Features for business users
- Features for IT professionals
- Appendices

You can download it in your choice of XPS or PDF formats. If you're just now considering Windows Vista, it might be worth reading "cover to cover".

For existing Vista users who are mainly focusing on Vista SP1 changes, download the companion, Windows Vista Product Guide Revision Document, a relatively svelte 63-pager that covers only the changes from the original product guide.

Happy updating!

No Vista SP1 via Windows Update? We Have the Solutions!

Mark Soper — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:07:36 -0500

Microsoft Knowledge Base article 948343 lists eight reasons why Vista RTM (aka "original Vista") users might not be offered Vista SP1 through Windows Update. As you might expect, some of them are blindingly obvious:

If you're already running Vista SP1 (or a pre-release version of Vista SP1), Windows Update's not going to offer it to you again. D'oh!
As stated in our checklist of preparations for Vista SP1, you need to uninstall pre-release versions of Vista SP1 before WU will provide a link to the final version of SP1.
Right now, only users of English, German, Japanese, French, and Spanish versions of Vista can download Vista SP1. User of other languages must wait until later to get Vista SP1.
If you run Vista on a corporate PC, your company might be using the Service Pack Blocker Tool to delay installation.

However, some causes are a bit more subtle and require a bit more work to fix.

Bad Drivers, Bad! Update These Drivers, or You'll Never See Windows Vista SP1!

KB948343 finally gives us a list of known drivers that prevent WU from offering Vista SP1. Products with problem drivers include:

- Realtek AC'97 audio
- SigmaTel audio
- Creative Labs Audigy audio
- Conexant HD Audio
- Authentec and UPEK fingerprint sensors
- Intel integrated graphics
- TI Smart Card Controller
- Sierra Wireless AirCard 580
- Symantec Endpoint Protection and Network Access Control clients

Logitech QuickCam also has a problem, but it's a problem with a Microsoft-provided Vista driver - in other words, don't blame the camera! KB948343 has a complete list of affected driver versions and solutions, most of which can be summed up this: get updated driver versions!

CheckSUR to the Rescue!

Vista SP1 might not be offered to your system if your computer's file system, registry, or system files are fouled up. The new CheckSUR update, which I wrote about in the announcement of Vista SP1's release for download, is designed to fix problems that prevent Vista SP1 or future updates from running. If Windows Update offers you this update (KB947821 explains it in detail), run it to get your system in shape.

Got vLite? Maybe You Shrank Vista Too Much!

Another major reason Redmond lists for not being able to get Windows Vista SP1 via WU is if you're trying to update a vLite-customized version of Vista. As we warned you on page 2 of our vLite writeup:

Keep in mind, though, that a vLite-customized version of Vista isn't compatible with SP1.

This doesn't mean that everyone who used vLite to install Vista is up a creek until they do a reinstall of Windows Vista: only those who used vLite to discard Vista components need to perform a reinstall. If you fall into this category, read the next paragraph for some good news about vLite.

If you used vLite only to integrate hotfixes and drivers, you can remove a registry key to make your system "see" Windows Update's offering of Vista SP1. See the vLite Service Pack page for details. This page also ofers a link to a method you can try for creating a Vista SP1 install image from your Vista RTM disc through a process called "reverse integration."

Wait Your Turn, SP1!

The last major reason you might not be seeing Vista SP1 in Windows Update is that you might need to install other updates first. Make sure you install all recommended or important updates displayed when you check for updates. After that, if there are no other problems with your system, Windows Update will display Vista SP1 in your WU list - and you can update your system.

(a hat tip is in order to Neowin.net forum poster Chrono951 for the KB article link)

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