Windows XP SP3 on Windows Update

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LanikSJ
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Windows XP SP3 on Windows Update

Post by LanikSJ »

M$ has released XP SP3 on Windows Update: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Direct download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en
IT Professionals download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en
XP SP3 downloadable ISO: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

More info: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 3a761.aspx
List of included updates: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480/

No significant changes, aside from Security Center being re-enabled when I installed it.
Make sure you have a working backup before installing the SP!!.
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Post by Hubird »

No significant changes, aside from Security Center being re-enabled when I installed it.
Same here, I read reports of speed increases but I am yet to notice any difference.
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Post by LanikSJ »

I heard the same thing and if replacing bunch of system files makes ones OS faster more power to them, for me its just another SP rollup. :)
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The Masked Marauder
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Post by The Masked Marauder »

XP SP3 Glitch a "Gotcha" For IE7 & 8
It's a fairly minor glitch for some users who install Windows XP SP3 over IE7 and IE8.

http://www.internetnews.com/software/ar ... IE7 8.htm
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Post by rick752 »

Oh great :roll:

I just installed SP3 at work.
Good thing that I really don't care about IE ;-)
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Post by LanikSJ »

Thanks guys, I don't care about IE6 and have no plans to remove IE7 either, I use it once a month to do Windows Updates. :)
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Post by The Masked Marauder »

I'm the sysadmin for a software development company, and we have to test our products with IE 6 and 7. This will be a PITA for anyone who has to uninstall IE7 for testing purposes. It'll probably get dropped in my lap. I'll have to:
  • Uninstall SP3
    Reboot
    Uninstall IE
    Reboot
    Reinstall SP3
    Reboot
Joy.... :roll:
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Post by rick752 »

Tell me about it, MM. I'm just not going to bother. I'm glad that I didn't do it here yet ... only at work.

Gotta love MS :roll:
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Post by The Masked Marauder »

Let the bugs begin....

XP update throws some for a loop
Owners of some AMD-based computers are finding that the move to Windows XP Service Pack 3 has sent their systems into an endless reboot cycle.

http://www.news.com/8301-13860_3-9941687-56.html
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Post by rick752 »

Wow. I'm glad I only did my Intel at work ... and not my Athlon here. :surprised:
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Post by LanikSJ »

My home machine is XP 3200 so I must have squeaked by. When has M$ gotten anything right, is anyone surprised?
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Post by Hubird »

I am running an Athlon XP 3200 also and I did not have any issues due to installing SP3. Probably the newer machines that have problems.
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Post by rick752 »

Looks like the processor of choice here. My home machine is also an XP 3200 :-)
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Post by The Masked Marauder »

The problem isn't with the CPU. Read the article again:
  • "While the root cause of this issue is complex, it results from OEMs improperly placing a Windows XP image created for an for Intel-based computer onto machines with non-Intel chipsets," Microsoft said in a statement.
If you installed Windows XP on an Intel machine, created a disk image, restored the image on an AMD machine, and unmangled the drivers so it would function, this is where the problem happens with SP3. Apparently, SP3 latches on to the traces of the original Intel setup, and this mangles something in the current AMD setup.

I don't like to do cross-platform installations with disk images. Windows XP "glues" itself to the hardware very closely, and I've seen problems with disk images between different Intel chipsets, let alone changing to an AMD chipset. I'd rather take the time and effort to do a fresh installation and make sure the drivers are correct for that particular platform.
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Post by The Masked Marauder »

More details:
  • The Intel processor driver (Intelppm.sys) may try to load on non-Intel-based PCs because of an errant registry key left over from the original Sysprep image that was intended for Intel machines only.
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/0 ... ames_oems/
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Post by rick752 »

The Masked Marauder wrote:The problem isn't with the CPU. Read the article again:
I didn't mean to sound like I thought the CPU was the problem. I just was commenting on the number of us using the same exact processor.

I read earlier that this is mostly a problem with AMD processors on factory installed Windows HP pcs (just what I got here :( )
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Post by The Masked Marauder »

rick752 wrote:I didn't mean to sound like I thought the CPU was the problem. I just was commenting on the number of us using the same exact processor.
My reply wasn't directed at yours. Some of the comments imply that having an AMD CPU puts you at risk for the endless reboot problem, and that isn't the case. I just wanted to make sure that people were clear about the cause.

SP3 installed fine on my system, which has an Athlon 64 4000+. But then I installed Windows XP from scratch, so there are no remnants of Intel chipset drivers lurking in the dusty corners of my registry.
rick752 wrote:I read earlier that this is mostly a problem with AMD processors on factory installed Windows HP pcs (just what I got here :( )
That wouldn't surprise me. Some system builders will take any shortcut to save a dollar. Now their laziness is coming 'round to bite their customers in the butt. :surprised:
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Post by LanikSJ »

I wasn't implying there were anything wrong with AMD CPUs either I'm just guilty of not reading. :cry:
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Post by The Masked Marauder »

The Intel chipset driver problem is the biggest issue with SP3, but it isn't the only one:

FAQ: Windows XP SP3 reboot hell (and how to get out of it)
http://www.computerworld.com/action/art ... Id=9085358

So far I haven't seen any problems with SP3. File this under "forewarned is forearmed".
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Post by LanikSJ »

Thanks for the heads up and I read it this time too. :)
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Post by rick752 »

Microsoft MVP in Windows Security, Jesper Johansson, has been working on a fix for this problem:

Does your AMD-based computer boot after installing XP SP3?
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/ ... p-sp3.aspx

Microsoft and HP are "finger-pointing" over this one.
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