Windows Xp Service Pack 3 (sp3) Information

For members updating to SP3, here are a few helpful links:

Overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3
"Includes all previously released updates for the operating system, in addition to a small number of new functionalities that will not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system."
Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
More Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
(addresses late-breaking issues and information about: IE7, RMS, MUI, Scripting, Remote Desktop Client 6.1, XP Media Center Edition 2002)

How to download Windows XP SP3

Installing Windows XP Service Pack 3
"The computer must be running Windows XP with Service Pack 1 installed. Microsoft recommends that you have Service Pack 2 installed before installing SP3."
Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3- Troubleshooting SP3 installation
Minimizing XP SP3 woes - Updated
Windows XP SP3 - What You Need to Know: New Features

SP3 Download links:
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers
Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image.

NOTE: Currently there is no SP3 update for Windows XP (x64) because the kernel is based on Windows Server 2003 (x64) which has a separate update time-line.
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XP SP3 CDs available from Microsoft:

Order online:
Asia
Europe and Africa
North America
South America

Order by phone (USA only):

Call Microsoft at 1-800-360-7561 and choose option 2 to Place an Order.
Next chose option 1 to Place Order for a Service Pack.

A representative will take your order and billing/shipping information.

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Important Notes! XP SP3 cripples some PCs with endless reboots - (HP/Compaq with an AMD (non INTEL) processor systems)

• Jesper's Blog: Does your AMD-based computer boot after installing XP SP3?
NOTE: The May 14th update to the above link includes a small tool: removeIntelPPMonAMD.vbs written by Microsoft MVP Jesper Johansson that will detect the IntelPPM problem and mitigate it before installing the service pack.

• HP has posted a work around with instructions to boot into Safe Mode and disable the Intel Power Management. See HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario Desktop PCs - Computer Restarts after Displaying Stop Error 0x0000007E (After Updating with SP3)

• HP also released a patch for AMD based systems: Microsoft Windows XP SP3 Upgrade Utility for systems with AMD processors.

• Symantec urges caution before SP3 upgrade

• Microsoft Hotfix (updated 6/25/08): Device Manager may not show any devices and Network Connections may not show any network connections after you install Windows XP Service Pack 3. See MS Article ID: 953979

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** Need Support from Microsoft?
In North America, free telephone support is available by calling (866) 234-6020 (support is available for Service Pack 3 until April 14, 2009).
Or click here for free E-mail or Chat Support.

A blocking tool is available for those who would like to temporarily prevent installation of Service Pack updates through Windows Update.

Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit

Edited by quietman7, 11 September 2012 - 01:36 PM.

Hamluis found these 2 articles also concerning AMD:

I just saw these two references to the issues some users have when using a boxmaker system and trying to install SP3:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=953356