back to article Microsoft kicks out third Windows XP service pack

Microsoft has released to manufacturing Windows XP Service Pack 3. The fresh software disgorgement will be made available for download through the Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center services on April 29. SP3 wraps up all previous Windows XP fixes and throws in some new features that bring management in-line with …

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  1. Anonymous Coward
    Coat

    Cool.

    And the size is? Also, any antivirus software left alone?

  2. Steven Hewittt

    is that it?!

    Seriously, is that it? MMC 3 and MSI 3.1 have been out YEARS! Looks like MS have left all the new features for vista.

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Paris Hilton

    Anyone care to bet - another PR disaster

    Another chance for psychosoft to hackoff thousands of more customers. Correct me if I'm wrong but won't this update be forced on us?

    What happens when someone doesn't want it (trust?) and the PC is updated against their wishes and then the PC goes t*ts up?

    As we know - some will! Please someone tell me I am wrong.

    Paris because hers always goes t*ts up.

  4. Will Godfrey Silver badge
    Black Helicopters

    Maybe I'm paranoid

    but I can't help wondering what else thy are putting in that might, just by chance, degrade performance in about 6 months time.

  5. Colin Wilson
    Thumb Down

    WGA back again...

    "...users can now complete operating system installation without providing a product key during a full, integrated installation of Windows XP SP3. The operating system will prompt the user for a product key later as part of Genuine Advantage."

    I seriously detest jumping through "piracy" hoops even though I have a legit version on my Dell machine. I refuse, as far as is humanly possible, to let Microsoft update, tweak, reconfigure, authorise, validate or otherwise breach my security, and their feined allegiance to the Trusted Computing Group, wherein they agree to (quote follows with annotation):

    1. The owner controls personalization.

    ...nope...

    2. The owner controls the trust relationship.

    ...nope...

    3. The system provides private object storage and digital signature capability.

    ...with the friendly NSA back door...

    4. Private personalization information is never exposed.

    ...nope...

    5. Owner keys are encrypted prior to transmission.

    ...we don't know what the hell they're transmitting back to themselves...

    It is also important to know what the solutions are not:

    3. They are not fixed functions—they can be disabled permanently.

    ...like the recent *forced* Windows updates with updates switched off ?

    4. They are not controlled by others (only the owner controls them).

    ...LOL if only...

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Terminology

    Software disgorgement? Good god, people, there's a point where using the same synonym again is the best option!

  7. Matty B
    Flame

    I gotta say it, just once atleast...

    Install Linux, Problem solved.

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Gates Horns

    @Colin

    You seem to have misunderstood the term "owner", you must learn to look at things from Microsoft's perspective...

    Microsoft ownz ur Windoze

    Microsoft ownz all ur hardWarez

    Microsoft ownz u

    Microsoft is "the owner" duh

  9. Moss Icely Spaceport
    Thumb Up

    SP3

    With the new PHORM-a-riffic back-door-updater-thingy [tm]

  10. Captain DaFt
    Unhappy

    @ Matty B

    Nah, the system doesn't matter in the end, it's the clueless user.

    Set Joe Sixpack up with a nice Linux distribution, and nine times out of ten, it'll be borked in an hour!

    ("Honest. I dint do nuffin! All I did was go to www.phish.com to download the special linux codec to run that teen BJ video some bloke emailed me! Now when you fix that, can you get outlook runnin' onnit?")

  11. Matt Thornton
    Flame

    oh gosh, why not

    /strokes his Mac

  12. Chris Curtis
    Paris Hilton

    @Matty B

    That's rich.

    "install linux because they NEVER have updates".

    My memories of Ubuntu were having to install updates DAILY, and major releases were 6 monthly. Plus, the major updates were more often than not an excuse to reload from scratch.

    Linux may be more stable but do yourself a favour and throw those rose tinted glasses in the bin.

    Paris because SHE puts updates on the internet.

  13. Mat
    Coat

    @ Matt Thornton

    is that a euphemism? I knew that Mac owners were tossers but don't you think you are taking it a bit too far?

  14. Kevin Fields

    Ubuntu for Windows on April 29

    Just announced as well, next version of Ubuntu Linux will have an option to install/run inside a Windows installation. Get your feet wet, then make the switch.

  15. Kevin Mac Uistin
    Gates Horns

    Vista Features

    I don't know about anyone else, but the only good thing that Vista has, and that M$ should bring over to XP is the sidebar.

    I can't think of one other thing that I liked about Vista when I bought a shiny new PC from Dell (and then replaced the OS with an Ubuntu/XP dual boot).

    And if Micro-shaft is quietly dropping Vista in favour of Windows 7 next year, why don't they at least offer the nicer features of Vista as an add-on (free or for a nominal amount).

  16. Mike Crawshaw
    Joke

    @ Matt Thornton

    Is that a euphenism?

    "What did you do last night?"

    "Oh, just watched Paris Hilton on tv and stroked my Mac..."

  17. James Dunne

    @Colin

    Drowning in your own half empty glass I see?

    I doubt with the kind of budget the NSA has it would need a backdoor to break in to most computers..

    Whats the chances this new palava from MS will include a sorely needed update for xp64?

  18. dervheid
    Gates Horns

    @ Steven Hewittt (ish)

    "Looks like MS have left all the new features for vista."

    That'd be 'cause they just know that vista is like a big ol' empty supertanker with both the rudder and throttle jammed. it's only a matter of time befor it runs aground completely.

    If they leave it till it does then they figure they can maybe salvage something from the wreckage (god alone knows what), but if they'd given XP SP3 a whole load of vista 'functionality', it'd be like a full torpedo broadside and vista would sink without trace (we wish!!!)

    Kinda ties in with "Microsoft promised updates won't "significantly change" customers' experiences with the operating system"

    Now THERE'S a scary statement!

    Personally, I'll be waiting a while and see what the fall-out is like.

    (ie, install SP3 and see what else "falls out" of your system!)

  19. Steve

    Re: Vista features

    "I don't know about anyone else, but the only good thing that Vista has, and that M$ should bring over to XP is the sidebar.

    I can't think of one other thing that I liked about Vista when I bought a shiny new PC from Dell"

    I liked the colour scheme - although that's hardly something on which I'd recommend an OS. The startup sound was also less annoying, but that might be because I've only heard it a handful of times.

    @ Colin: What has the size of the budget got to do with it? It will always be easier to use a backdoor that's built in to the system than to try and create a new route in.

  20. Andrew Baines Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    It's a Service Pack, not a feature pack

    Why are so many people expecting something new and shiny - a Service Pack is meant to be a roll up of all the patches. SP2 was an exception.

    When MS kept adding new stuff via service packs, people complained, now they don't people still complain.

    XP is a good, stable operating system. You can add security yourself. I tried Vista, went back to XP. Let's not try and turn XP into Vista - it works as it is.

  21. Geoff Mackenzie

    Ubuntu updates

    The frequency of updates on Ubuntu systems is because the updates apply to the OS plus all (or nearly all) the other software installed on the machine. I rarely get OS or basic service updates - my stripped down servers (Ubuntu server plus Apache, PHP, MySQL on one, and Ubuntu server plus nfsd, vs-ftpd, Apache and Samba on the other) only receive patches occasionally. Also, I'm completely in control of whether and when they install, and I've never had one break anything on any of my machines or 'significantly change my user experience' (I presume this means disabling my USB keyboard and mouse or throwing my machine into a continuous reboot cycle...).

  22. Neil
    Coat

    I'll wait

    For SP3 Service Pack 1....

  23. John
    Coat

    Windows 3.1

    I almost missed the word 'installer'

  24. Bruce Sinton
    Happy

    To Matty B

    Linux- Ubuntu 8.04 will be installed in a couple of days.

    Down with Microsoft.etc

  25. Jason Togneri
    Alert

    XPSP3

    I've at least been trying out the beta release of SP3 for quite a few months now and truly, it doesn't seem to make things much different (from the UI point of view). No new programs and features álá SP2's Security Centre were added, and the boxen running SP3 have been as stable and happy as when it was only SP2. XP is a good OS and I think, with the sudden focus on W7, that even Microsoft have realised the mistakes they made with Vista. Remember, in between 98 and 2000 came ME, but after those came XPSP2. Microsoft always seems to need one ME/Vista 'transition' OS whent the technology is developing too fast for them to keep up with. I'm sure Windows 7 will be more XPSP2-alike.

  26. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    At long last

    If nothing else, SP3 save the hour or so of auto updates after a reinstall.

    All I have to do now is slip stream the thing....

  27. alistair millington
    Gates Horns

    Who cares what is in it, it will be better than Vista.

    We don't want XP SP3 to have anything from Vista as that would be the death knell of XP.

    Vista only has four good things about it. None of which bring it close to being anything other than sh*te.

    1. Power management, it actually sleeps instead of kills itself and hangs.

    2. Side bar - well I just like it as I can useful things there instead of having to run things.

    3. Network setup didn't use a wizard, it actuallly just worked and found my router.

    4. The most important for obvious reasons is the recovery tool bundled onto the DVD which is never shipped to you by a supplier which I think should be illegal as you paid vast amounts for it anyway.

    So be happy at only having a couple of features that have been around a while. XP SP3 is the death knell for Vista as only the foolish will upgrade before the next release of windows.

    Yes M$ own you but what did you expect when you bought that PC from people that believe blackmail and bully tactics are normal business practices?

  28. Christopher Rogers
    Boffin

    Whats all the moaning?

    Its the final SP for MS's old operating system. Ok the new one is a bit shit and has ME written all over it, but still, MS have a business plan to stick to and that's what they are gonna do. If ya wanna think your being a bit out there and cool, buy a Mac, I play with Linux myself, though to be honest it is not even close to matching the experience provided by MS to the standard web surfin-email checkin-facebook using-letter writing user. I know it can do all of the above, but still not in a way thats idiot proof. So i'd suggest you update to SP3 and sit tight until Windows 7 (which sounds like its gonna be here soon enough).

    I suppose we could wait for the Haiku project (http://www.haiku-os.org) to bare fruit.

  29. Nick

    Ubuntu lifecycle

    Chris Curtis wrote:

    "My memories of Ubuntu were having to install updates DAILY, and major releases were 6 monthly. Plus, the major updates were more often than not an excuse to reload from scratch."

    You're not forced to install the latest version when it's released. Minor releases are supported for 18 months. The long term support (LTS) release is supported for five years (and the patch frequenciy will be lower if you're not on the latest release).

  30. Ash
    Gates Horns

    What's the point?

    My new mobile contract will come with a free PS3 20GB. I may well end up selling my gaming PC on the web / local newspaper, buying a compatible laptop and sticking Ubuntu on it.

    I'm fed up with being bent over a barrel after jumping through flaming hoops, following The Microsoft Way. They can shove SP3, Vista, and all their other bloated crapware up their collective asses.

  31. Mark Lockwood
    Unhappy

    @Niel

    Recalling NT SP2 and the Lotus Notes episode, it'll be called SP3a...

  32. Stu
    Gates Horns

    Hmmmm

    Anybody smell a rat with SP3?

    MS want people to buy Vista - vis a vis, to do this they must show how much 'better' Vista is in relation to XP.

    What better way to do this than throw in very small, annoying bugs into their earlier product. Lots of them. Nothing that'll bring the house down, just enough to make it that little bit worse/annoying/slower to use than the Vista experience.

    Say helllooooo to XP SP3.

    Oh wait, Vistas pretty bad too. SP3 must be a fucking nightmare. I'm holding off judgement it till its done the rounds with all you other suckers!

  33. Anonymous Coward
    Linux

    Windows 7 ?

    It will be vista sp3 !

    M$ need to do something completely radical like create a new OS from scratch with a windows compatibility layer a la OSX but M$ are too corporate to take this bold step. Windows (including vista) as we know it has to die so everyone can move on.

    There is a great article over at Ars(e) Technica on the subject that is well worth a read (sorry Reg!)

    http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/what-microsoft-could-learn-from-apple.ars

    As Darwin said:

    As many more individuals of each species are born than can possibly survive; and as, consequently, there is a frequently recurring struggle for existence, it follows that any being, if it vary however slightly in any manner profitable to itself, under the complex and sometimes varying conditions of life, will have a better chance of surviving, and thus be naturally selected. From the strong principle of inheritance, any selected variety will tend to propagate its new and modified form.

    Linux is changing and modifying quickly all the time !

  34. Test Man
    Happy

    Re: Windows 7 ?

    They will do (create a new OS from scratch). It just won't be Windows "7".

  35. kissingthecarpet
    Gates Horns

    @ Chris Curtis , @Captain DaFt

    a) Visiting a dodgy site is unlikely to "bork" any GNU/Linux install unless they are trying to infect Linux boxes specifically, which is uncommon & difficult.Also why would "Joe Six-Pack" want Outlook particularly - he'd probably get his Email online anyway - in these days of broadband most newbies don't know what an Email client is anyway.

    b) Debian, which Ubuntu is based upon, can contain up to 18733 software packages,including every type of application you can think of (per their website). Ubuntu is, I think based upon "testing" or "unstable" Debian packages & therefore will be updated very frequently.

    MS's updates are just the OS and a handful of apps.

  36. Tim

    Size...

    According to the bulletin on MS site, SP3 is 70MB through Windows Update or 580MB through the Download Centre (which presumably includes the whole os (???)).

    Sadly, Windows Update doesn't work on my pc either.

  37. Dangerous Dave
    Thumb Down

    SP3

    I'm not looking forward to this whatsoever.

    XP SP2 works perfectly well now (thought it did fudge a fair few machines when it first got released) - i would go as far to say that SP2 is a stable and usable OS (shock!)

    Did anybody have any trouble with Win2K SP4? When that was released it wrecked a fair few customers servers and workstations. But then miraculously after a week or so, if you re-downloaded it again it was perfectly fine (though microsoft swear blind that nothing was changed...hmm)

    I'll be double checking my WSUS configuration just in case SP3 manages to somehow roll itself out across my network....now that would NOT be a good day :)

  38. SmokeyMcPotHead
    Thumb Up

    At least...

    ...99.99% of people will be able to install XP SP3 - which is more than can be said for SP1 for Fista.

    OK maybe those with dodgy copies of XP will have to wait a few days for the Genuine Advantage Crackers\Work Rounders to go to town...but it will eventually install...

  39. Dick Emery
    Thumb Up

    Haven't you guys heard of...

    ...XP Pro student edition? :)

  40. Anonymous Coward
    Coat

    @Matt Thornton

    you call your wang 'mac' ?

  41. Dangerous Dave
    Coat

    XP Student Edition

    What....the one that doesn't work and consumes vast quantities of pot noodles and snakebite?

  42. SpitefulGOD
    Gates Halo

    Dear oh dear oh dear....

    What a bunch of moaning tossers, you Linux lot are ripping into an MS OS, and yet you still use that MS OS, if it's so bad and your Linux is soooo good stop using it, take it off dual boot, from what I hear here there is absolutely no need to use a MS OS.

    And your Vista taunts, what is the problem with this OS? The usual bugs (as per any new release of any new OS) sure and an increase in hardware to get the performance.... but apart for that it's a nice looking, responsive and stable. I am completely mythed by the level of hatred from people who don't even use it.

    As for the conspiracy theorist who thinks MS are spying on him, go lock yourself in a shiny metal box you freak.

  43. Anonymous Coward
    Thumb Up

    I'll wait...

    For one of those guys on the torrent trackers to test and knock up one of the all-in-one CDs with SP3 built in, then I'll use my paid for key with it! Saves all the hassle.

  44. Barry White
    Stop

    and more "oh dear".

    To be fair there must be an OS for masochists too... = Linux.

    Some people find Linux (W3.11 on steroids) interesting, as to why is not for us to reason.

    We do get fed up with them chipping in on discussions on other OS's praising their own for some vague reason.

    Get the message please, please, please... just because you love it does't mean someone else has to... seen it, tried it many times, sorry, but NOT interested.

    Thanks.

  45. Anonymous Coward
    Black Helicopters

    STFU fanboys and FUD merchants...

    ffs, why do all the fanboys lamers and FUD merchants just go forth and screw themselves.....

    the article is about the impending release of a service pack, it has nothing to do with apple, so apple fanboys STFU, it has nothing to do with linux so STFU...

    they will not add any functionality to the sp.... good, they were never going to anyway....

    and as for the FUD..... do you realy think MS would deliberately screw up a SP just to try and sell a few copies of a OS that they have admitted has flaws... MS may uses some un-ethical business tactics, but they are not stupid. i remember XP SP2, a month before its release, MS decided to release info regarding a security flaw which would alow the formating of your HDD.... the fix will only be included in SP2....

    problems will always arise with new service packs and updates, most of which are because of 3rd party software, written by developers who think they know better than to follow the guides set out by microsoft for programming for windows.... but overall they are in the minority compared with the masses of sucsessfuly updated computers.

    get real.... the world is not spying on you, and big corp's are not trying to make you spend money.....

  46. John Dawson

    SP3 needs an OS key for WGA? WTF?

    Both my desktop PCs, and my laptop PC run XP SP2.

    Both came with the operating system pre-installed, and no operating system CD/DVD (which I agree with someone earlier, is a rip-off).

    There may once have been a key told to me when I bought the machines, but I long ago lost it. I'm therefore *very* reluctant to even *try* SP3 if WGA (Advantage - what a joke!) will later ask for a key. WGA has already checked that my OS is genuine and registered to me - why should I have to jump through more hoops to prove it yet again?

    John

  47. Anonymous Coward
    Unhappy

    Disappointed.

    "...Microsoft promised updates won't "significantly change" customers' experiences with the operating system...."

    So, still a heap of slow buggy shit that freezes up all the time, then. Shame.

    I can't believe how badly MS has broken fundamental kernel features like the scheduling and shell features like ALT+TAB or the taskbar since w2k. I'm forced to use XP at work, but I'm sticking with 2k at home for as long as humanly possible.

  48. Stuart Castle Silver badge

    Sp3

    @ Tim

    "According to the bulletin on MS site, SP3 is 70MB through Windows Update or 580MB through the Download Centre (which presumably includes the whole os (???)"

    The full package includes everything that's updated (so you'll get updates for everything, including IIS but they won't install). Windows Update downloads updates only for the components and packages you have installed.

    @ AC

    Re "I'll wait".

    OK, so you'll wait for someone else to create the disk, possibly infect it with a virus, then for the torrent to download rather than just downloading SP3 yourself and typing <spname>.exe /integrate, or using a package such as nlite? Seems more effort to me..

  49. Anonymous Coward
    Heart

    @AC: Wang

    I don't think anyone would call their Wang 'Mac' - Wangs were much more reliable than Macs. My MVP froze only once in all the years I worked on it.

    (why do I feel like needing a shower now?)

  50. JC
    Paris Hilton

    @ John Dawson

    Any validly licensed, shipped as OEM XP systems would have the license key sticker on the case. Pity they do that instead of a certificate you can file away like years ago, but regardless that is your key and should at least be written down somewhere safe just in case you might happen to destroy that sticker somehow or get the urge to peel it off.

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