Windows XP Service Pack 3 (XP SP3) fixes a range of bugs and adds new features to Windows XP. The file is a large download and can be applied to any version of Windows XP Home, Professional, TabletPC or Media Center (32 bit only). In addition, it doesn't matter what XP patches you have previously applied to your system, SP3 will update any unpatched, partially patched or completely updated system (it includes all previously released patches, updates and features of Service Pack 1 and 2). Keep in mind that new patches made available after Service Pack 3 was released will still need to be applied.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes the following:
All previous security patches and fixes released for Windows XP.
All enhancements and new features that were included with Windows XP SP1 and Windows XP SP2
Only two new features have been added: Black Hole Router Detection Windows and Network Access Protection (NAP).
The following are already available for Windows XP in stand-alone updates. Windows XP SP3 includes them by default (System administrators must choose to install each of these updates): MMC 3.0, MSXML6, Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 v2, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) 2.5, IPsec Simple Policy Update for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP, Digital Identity, Management Service (DIMS), Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP) 2.1, Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2).
From the Release Notes: "Microsoft is not adding significant functionality from newer versions of Windows, such as Windows Vista, to Windows XP through XP SP3. For instance, Windows XP SP3 does not include Windows Internet Explorer 7, although Windows XP SP3 does include updates to both Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7, and it will update whichever version is installed on the computer. One notable exception is that, SP3 does include Network Access Protection (NAP)."
Deploying Windows XP SP3 Windows XP SP3 will be available through Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. The service pack will also be available to Volume License customers, TechNet subscribers, and MSDNŽ subscribers. Through Windows Update, the download size varies, but it is typically 70 megabytes (MB), depending on the computer’s configuration.
Through the Download Center, the download size is approximately 580 MB. Fundamentally, deploying Windows XP SP3 works the same as deploying SP1 and SP2 for Windows XP:
SP3 is cumulative, so users can install SP3 on top of Windows XP SP1 or SP2.
Windows XP SP3 supports the same languages as Windows XP did in its initial release.
You can run the SP3 update package on any SKU of Windows XP SP1 or SP2. For example, you can run the SP3 update package on a computer running the Windows XP Media Center Edition with SP1.
Tools and guidance for system administrators have not fundamentally changed from Windows XP SP2. For comprehensive information, visit the Deploy Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Service Pack 2 Deployment Information sites on Microsoft TechNet.
You can deploy SP3 using Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003, Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, or third-party solutions. The process has not fundamentally changed.
Note: Windows XP SP3 is for x86 editions of Windows XP only. The x64 editions of Windows XP were serviced by Windows Server 2003 SP2. For additional information, go to Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.
02.05.2008 kl 20:28IDG News Service Earlier in the week, Microsoft had cautioned against downloading such files. "It's possible that some third party websites are linking to the Windows XP SP3 software that we have published for MSDN and TechNet subscribers," a company spokeswoman said in an e-mail Wednesday. "Since we cannot confirm the source of every link, our recommendation is that customers wait until we've published Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and the Download Center."
Microsoft, however, has not pulled the standalone installers from its servers; as of today, the links were still live.
Computerworld downloaded the English-language installer -- a 316MB file -- used it to install XP SP3, and confirmed that the result is Build 5512 of Service Pack 3.
In response to a query today, a Microsoft spokeswoman said the company had no new information to share about when it would add XP SP3 to Windows Update and post an official standalone installer to its download site.