How good is SP3?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ben Stevenson
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Ben Stevenson

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My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
computer in many cases.

I would appreciate some expert advise.

TIA
 
Re: How good is SP3?

"Ben Stevenson" <casiopie963@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e5NKgv0LJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
> afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
> computer in many cases.
>
> I would appreciate some expert advise.
>
> TIA


I would say do it, but follow these precautions.

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3:
http://support.microsoft.com:80/kb/950717

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm

Download Windows XP Service Pack 3 here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support for Service Pack 3:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gpr
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA
 
Re: How good is SP3?


"Ben Stevenson" <casiopie963@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e5NKgv0LJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
> afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
> computer in many cases.
>

I take it that these "many cases" are the dozen or so problems that have
appeared on this newsgroup (and probably others). The millions of people
who have installed SP3 haven't bothered to tell us of their success.
 
RE: How good is SP3?

It is not better; it is not worse.
XP with SP3, still runs great.
It is only an acculumation of all the updates you have already downloaded;
if you update monthly.
--
Mad Mike


"Ben Stevenson" wrote:

> My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
> afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
> computer in many cases.
>
> I would appreciate some expert advise.
>
> TIA
>
>
>
 
Re: How good is SP3?

SP3 for XP or for Office

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Ben Stevenson" <casiopie963@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:e5NKgv0LJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
> afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
> computer in many cases.
>
> I would appreciate some expert advise.
>
> TIA
>
>
 
Re: How good is SP3?

>It is not better; it is not worse.
>XP with SP3, still runs great.
>It is only an acculumation of all the updates you have already downloaded;
>if you update monthly.

This statement is completely false. SP3 contain OVER 1000+ updates
which included out of band updates and hotfixes NEVER pushed to
Windows Update. Windows Update had a few hundred updates between SP2
and SP3 that were pushed out to users.

- Thee Chicago Wolf
 
Re: How good is SP3?

>My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
>afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
>computer in many cases.
>
>I would appreciate some expert advise.

The common misconception is that SP3 is just the updates from Windows
Update over the years since SP2 was released. It is that plus hundreds
of other updates not released publicly or available only via tech
support or via a hotfix. There is a little bit of performance to be
gained from SP3 but there are some precautions as was posted by
someone earlier. Some new features have been introduced, both
documented (NAP borrow from Vista, WiFi brought up to the most current
standard as of Fall 2007) and undocumented (RDP 6.1) features. It is
worth updating to it. Be wary if you have an AMD based system as you'd
need to run a patch to make sure you don't get stuck with a
non-booting system as a result. The usual caveats apply, backup what
you want to keep. I would recommend downloading the full service pack
3 file instead of doing things via Windows Update.

- Thee Chicago Wolf
 
Re: How good is SP3?

On Oct 16, 5:58 am, "Ben Stevenson" <casiopie...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
> afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
> computer in many cases.
>
> I would appreciate some expert advise.
>
> TIA

SP 3 is good, as with any Microsoft product.

It is just that there is a specific "method" to recommend (at least by
me) is to deactivate all anti-virus software prior to its install.
These can block the update of several "core" files.
 
Re: How good is SP3?


"Ben Stevenson" <casiopie963@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e5NKgv0LJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
> afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
> computer in many cases.
>
> I would appreciate some expert advise.
>
> TIA
>
And most of the problems are those of the ****pit. At least one major faux
pas was caused by an OEM.
Jim
 
Re: How good is SP3?

On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:58:47 +0800, "Ben Stevenson"
<casiopie963@hotmail.com> wrote:

> My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
> afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
> computer in many cases.



With *any* software or any updates at all, you can always find some
people who will report problems and complain about it. That doesn't
mean you shouldn't install it.


> I would appreciate some expert advise.


I have had no problems with it here, on several machines. In the great
majority of cases, those people who report problems have done
something wrong themselves.

Read the following and follow its advice before you install it, and a
problem is very unlikely:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

Also:

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3): Installation Guide
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33296

Windows XP 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

Internet Explorer and WinXP SP3
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=33210

XP SP3: Post Installation Cleanup
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33827

XP SP3: IMPORTANT SUPPORT INFORMATION
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33244


If you run into problems during or after the installation, these may
help:

XP SP3: "Fixed" Reboot Loop / Safe Mode Only after Install
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33241

XP SP3 Installation Failure Troubleshooter
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33295

XP SP3: Registry Corruption & Norton SymProtect
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33522

XP SP3: Hotfix - Device Manager and Network Connections
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=34129

XP SP3: FIX -- Svchost.exe Uses 100% CPU Resources
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33303

XP SP3: Problems? How To Uninstall Service Pack 3
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33246

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
Re: How good is SP3?

On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:28:08 -0400, "Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> SP3 for XP or for Office


Although granting the possibility that he means Office rather than
Windows XP, it's a very reasonable assumption (and one that I always
make) that since he asked in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general, he's
asking about Windows XP.



> "Ben Stevenson" <casiopie963@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:e5NKgv0LJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> > My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
> > afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
> > computer in many cases.
> >
> > I would appreciate some expert advise.
> >
> > TIA
> >
> >

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
Re: How good is SP3?


"Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.> wrote in message
news:greef4pdpgvug29ua2eifr84o86ujj74ij@4ax.com...
> >It is not better; it is not worse.
>>XP with SP3, still runs great.
>>It is only an acculumation of all the updates you have already
>>downloaded;
>>if you update monthly.
>
> This statement is completely false. SP3 contain OVER 1000+ updates
> which included out of band updates and hotfixes NEVER pushed to
> Windows Update. Windows Update had a few hundred updates between SP2
> and SP3 that were pushed out to users.
>
> - Thee Chicago Wolf

I have not installed SP3, however "hot fixes" listed in my PC include over
100 labelled as SP3.
(From Belarc Advisor scan))
 
Re: How good is SP3?

>I have not installed SP3, however "hot fixes" listed in my PC include over
>100 labelled as SP3.
>(From Belarc Advisor scan))

Perhaps it's a misnomer on Belarcs part. Hotfixes are normally
something a person requests from MS, not what you'd get via Windows
Update.

- Thee Chicago Wolf
 
Re: How good is SP3?

On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:08:42 -0500, Thee Chicago Wolf <.@.> wrote:

> >I have not installed SP3, however "hot fixes" listed in my PC include over
> >100 labelled as SP3.
> >(From Belarc Advisor scan))
>
> Perhaps it's a misnomer on Belarcs part. Hotfixes are normally
> something a person requests from MS, not what you'd get via Windows
> Update.


Not true. Many of the updates you get via Windows Update are called
hotfixes, and they are installed routinely; no request to Microsoft is
required to get them.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
Re: How good is SP3?


"Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.> wrote in message
news:0qlff4thmlc3gn7esinp800r34mh3e7laq@4ax.com...
> >I have not installed SP3, however "hot fixes" listed in my PC include
> >over
>>100 labelled as SP3.
>>(From Belarc Advisor scan))
>
> Perhaps it's a misnomer on Belarcs part. Hotfixes are normally
> something a person requests from MS, not what you'd get via Windows
> Update.
>
> - Thee Chicago Wolf

Not correct.
 
Re: How good is SP3?

It just came in as SP3 for install which I have not done so far. I would not
know if it is for Office or XP. It came thru the normal automatic update
route.

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:cclef4tmjcdfpi2kdhqrmis4tlgt1c5nmr@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:28:08 -0400, "Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> SP3 for XP or for Office
>
>
> Although granting the possibility that he means Office rather than
> Windows XP, it's a very reasonable assumption (and one that I always
> make) that since he asked in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general, he's
> asking about Windows XP.
>
>
>
>> "Ben Stevenson" <casiopie963@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:e5NKgv0LJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> > My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
>> > afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
>> > computer in many cases.
>> >
>> > I would appreciate some expert advise.
>> >
>> > TIA
>> >
>> >
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
Re: How good is SP3?

I use Avast anti-virus. On right click I do not see any means to deactivate
it. Would anyone know?

"smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:850bfbb6-56f2-4df8-94d2-25d8874f8518@k30g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
On Oct 16, 5:58 am, "Ben Stevenson" <casiopie...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
> afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
> computer in many cases.
>
> I would appreciate some expert advise.
>
> TIA

SP 3 is good, as with any Microsoft product.

It is just that there is a specific "method" to recommend (at least by
me) is to deactivate all anti-virus software prior to its install.
These can block the update of several "core" files.
 
Re: How good is SP3?

Oh my god! So much to read up and do? Would I be disadvantaged if I don't
install it? How do I get the install icon out of my Systems Tray. It keeps
reminding me everyday to install.

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:ptkef4d95qos3nk090t468nt05dd12brap@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:58:47 +0800, "Ben Stevenson"
> <casiopie963@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am
>> afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the
>> computer in many cases.
>
>
>
> With *any* software or any updates at all, you can always find some
> people who will report problems and complain about it. That doesn't
> mean you shouldn't install it.
>
>
>> I would appreciate some expert advise.
>
>
> I have had no problems with it here, on several machines. In the great
> majority of cases, those people who report problems have done
> something wrong themselves.
>
> Read the following and follow its advice before you install it, and a
> problem is very unlikely:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717
>
> Also:
>
> Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3): Installation Guide
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33296
>
> Windows XP 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
>
> Internet Explorer and WinXP SP3
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=33210
>
> XP SP3: Post Installation Cleanup
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33827
>
> XP SP3: IMPORTANT SUPPORT INFORMATION
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33244
>
>
> If you run into problems during or after the installation, these may
> help:
>
> XP SP3: "Fixed" Reboot Loop / Safe Mode Only after Install
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33241
>
> XP SP3 Installation Failure Troubleshooter
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33295
>
> XP SP3: Registry Corruption & Norton SymProtect
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33522
>
> XP SP3: Hotfix - Device Manager and Network Connections
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=34129
>
> XP SP3: FIX -- Svchost.exe Uses 100% CPU Resources
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33303
>
> XP SP3: Problems? How To Uninstall Service Pack 3
> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33246
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
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