Windows XP Service Pack 3

[st george]

Just found this for anyone still on XP

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... layLang=en

[TSR2]

Its still in early beat mate, release is expected Q2. ;-)

[airboatr]

Q2 Now, Ben?

this started in 2006 mention to be out twice in 07
I was really counting on Q1 as I had read so avoid all the individual updates
I'm up against after the clean install I wanted it to do

and no way I'll think about installing a beta

:-(

somebody gimmie bill's home number I gonna have to straight this out :@

[DanKH]

To be honest I don't think there will very much difference between a RC and a final version. A few smaller updates/improvements here and there yes, but not some major changes.

The BETA-state is gone now it's turned into a RC.... you might see RC2, RC3 and maybe[/] RC4, but personally I think it will end on a RC2 just prior to the final.

No matter what, it will emerge at Microsoft update when it's there ;-)

[nigelb]

My recommendation would be to skip the release candidates and wait until SP3 is final....and then wait some more. It will be offered by Automatic Update and I have that configured so I can accept or decline the updates. After SP3 is offered, I plan to wait a few weeks to see if any problems in the update are discovered by others. I do this because Microsoft have issued updates in the past that introduced new problems and bugs, and have then had to issue patches to the patch. Another advantage of waiting a little is that the servers probably won't be as busy. Also, having read the white paper, it doesn't look that there is anything Earth shattering in the improvements for me. Of course, your situation may be different.

I have heard SP3 will speed up boot times, but I could not find any Microsoft mention of this.

[AndyG]

Well, having picked up comments on this one elsewhere I bit the bullet & went for it. So far (1 week in) I have had no problems, it has ironed out some instabilities I had previously and things do seem to be running a tad faster. Can't guarantee it for anybody else, but I'm certainly happy enough!

[tonymadge]

I had a snag witha recent auto update that meant I had to go back to a restor point. I am therefore loath to install anything just yet. SP3 sounds good but I hate IE7 and media player 11, can I download and install SP3 without these in my opinion lousy programs??