Windows XP Service Pack 3

[jellyrole]

I was wondering can Windows XP SP2 users download SP3 to upgrade? I haven't been able to find a way to do that.

[Miker]

I was wondering can Windows XP SP2 users download SP3 to upgrade? I haven't been able to find a way to do that.

SP3 is just SP2 with all the updates. So if you have a clean install of XP SP2 you just put on SP3.

[jellyrole]

The computer has all the updates possible, but still shows up as Windows XP SP2

[Miker]

Having all of the updates doesn't turn it into SP3, but SP3 is just SP2 + all the updates. Why would you want SP3 if it is the same as what you already have? SP3 is just for people that want a up to date windows, with out 3years worth of updates or whatever it has been.

[jellyrole]

Alright, so I basicly have SP3, with the computer saying its SP2?

[alfhenrik]

Like Miker said, SP3 is just all the updates released after SP2 bundled up into one nice package, although SP3 brings in some performance increase apparently.

[Miker]

Like Miker said, SP3 is just all the updates released after SP2 bundled up into one nice package, although SP3 brings in some performance increase apparently.

Only performance is from not having 1000 small updates, but just one big one. A new disk with SP3 is the best you can do.

[jellyrole]

Okay, thanks for clearing this up for me!

[cvasquez]

You can also create a slipstream of all these updates onto one cd so if in the future you needed to reinstall, you did not have to go thru these updates again. ;)

[Miker]

You can also create a slipstream of all these updates onto one cd so if in the future you needed to reinstall, you did not have to go thru these updates again. ;)

Slipstreams are good for IT guys that install on 6000 PCs for your average user it is unneeded. Do you really want to use it, then have to uninstall the old Video and sound drivers, just to install new ones?

When I do a clean install I like to start over, clean XP install, newest drivers and everything. Slipstream takes 2 hours to make, to save 10minutes of time in the install.

[Xero (1)ne]

Slipstreams are good for IT guys that install on 6000 PCs for your average user it is unneeded. Do you really want to use it, then have to uninstall the old Video and sound drivers, just to install new ones?

When I do a clean install I like to start over, clean XP install, newest drivers and everything. Slipstream takes 2 hours to make, to save 10minutes of time in the install.

I would do a slipstream just because I can also intigrate drivers and programs and also do tweaks and customizations in advance as well as stripping out stuff you don't want. The last time I did that it took me just over a week (I did it in my spare time) but it was so worth it in the end just because it was cool and very functional right after install. And I'm not talking about what M$ refer's to as functionality, I actually use the programs I slipped in. :icon_tiphat:

[Methious]

I don't bother with slipstream, drivers change so much that it's just not worth doing. A month down the line some new driver comes out and your slipstream has to be modified.

Might be worth slipstreaming a SP3 once, but inside of a week of final release there'll be a downloadable version. Use a legit key on it of course.

[Miker]

The last time I did that it took me just over a week

Why take a week to do it when you can just install the normal way and spend 10 minutes installing drivers?

[Kougar]

SP3 hasn't actually been released yet... There are a few enhancements in it to boost multithreaded performance (For those Quad users mostly). Currently it is still in the beta release candidate 2 stage.