sp3 due out feb 23?

[vbironchef]

I hear that microsoft will be releasing sp3 for xp on feb 23. I would like to hear feedback before I have the guts to install it myself. Let's see what happens.

[Bio-Hazard]

I've been running SP3 RC V 3264 for sometime now without any negitive issues................

[w00fd06]

I heard the same with the release date, but i have no idea what it will be like, i heard that it was going to make some visual changes so that it would look like vista, and also heard that there was a fair performance boost after installing the update.

[markkleb]

no visual improvements. There are a few small differences.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2200774,00.asp

Here is SP3 RC
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... layLang=en

[DMB2000uk]

Anyone that is using the RC, notice any performance gain? It was rumoured that SP3 was to take back some of the bloat that SP2 introduced, were they just happy rumours?

Dan

[markkleb]

I dont notice any speed increases, but others have said they noticed them.

[pavilion cooler]

i got v.3264 running it on my computer
it takes a little bit longer to open programs but if u close it out and click to icon again its fast
i recommend having more then 256 mb of ram
wmp 11 is the only wmp i got to work on it i like 10 a lot but its a sp2 thing only if u find out how to get wmp 10 to work on it let me know

[JohnnyVic]

The PCMag article says IE7 will be part of the SP but not according to Microsoft as of Dec 18th. The service pack will update IE 6 or IE 7 depending on which version is allready installed. Basically it is a good thing for people who are installing XP, they can slipstream all the latest hotfixes and there is a new option to speed up installs (you now enter the serial number after the install). If your computer is up to date then there will not be any noticable changes other than improved descriptions in the control panel security options and the removal of the address bar from the taskbar.

[Bio-Hazard]

I don't think SP3 is going to make it this month, they just released RC2 to their internal testers not that long ago and normally it will go public before they let it go RTM.............

[Robert]

Sp3 has serious issues with the onboard Realtek audio chips.Try installing the HD audio driver after or before installing of SP3 & it won't install or will give you errors if you are using the onboard Realtek audio (I know many are still using that ).For Realtek audio to work with Sp3 you must install the high definition audio hotfix from microsoft first b4 installing the HD audio driver.

This hotfix will need to install prior installing the Realtek HD driver :- http://couponmeister.com/blog/HD_Audio/KB835221.exe

[DMB2000uk]

thanks for the heads up.

Hopefully MSFT will include the hotfix as part of the sp3 when it officially comes out.

Dan

[Bio-Hazard]

I use onboard Realtek audio and SP3 installed fine afterwards without any errors............

But it will not install correctly if you install the SP first, I may have gotten lucky the first time, who knows................. . But when I re-loaded my HD the other day, I tried loading the SP first (slipstreamed) and it was a no go, so I had to revert back to my old SP2 disk............Oh well, live and learn.............

[killing-machine]

I wonder why they doesn't include the hotfix within the SP3 then. I also use Realtek audio & had to search Google untill i came across that hotfix.

[Bio-Hazard]

I would guess this is exactly why MS is currently on RC2 right now and not releasing it to the public............... . By the time it goes RTM I'm sure that problem will be worked out...........

The latest build version of SP3 is Microsoft.Windows.XP.SP3.Build.3300.RC2, which has been leaked to the web and can be found here.

http://www.mininova.org/tor/1155461

This version is more than a few steps further on in the process than what most public folks have tried so far.

On February 7, Microsoft delivered a new test build of XP SP3 to its inner circle of 15,000 pre-selected testers, company officials said. The newest test build is labeled as XP SP3 Release Candidate (RC) 2.

Microsoft’s statement (sent to me via e-mail on February :

“Yesterday, we released Windows XP SP3 RC 2 to private beta testers. This release catches the build up on previously released hotfixes and responds to critical feedback from previous betas. We are targeting 1H 2008 for the release of XP SP3 RTM, though our timing will always be based on customer feedback as a first priority.”

The RC2 build of XP SP3 follows the XP SP3 RC1 Refresh 2 build Microsoft provided to the same 15,000 testers in late January.

I asked Microsoft this week if there was any truth to a post circulating that claimed the company has decided to release the final XP SP3 bits in mid-March. A spokeswoman said the company’s official word on XP SP3 availability, as some time in the first half of 2008, is all that will be said on the planned release date.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1167

[Bio-Hazard]

A little more info if you're interested.................

In other Windows news, the still popular Windows XP operating system is getting another update courtesy of Microsoft's Connect website. The Redmond, Washington-based company uploaded Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 (RC2) for beta testers to try out.

The Windows XP SP3 RC2 update is available in five languages and weighs in at about 315MB for the English version.

http://www.dailytech.com/Microsoft+Rele ... e10648.htm

[stereo55]

Eh ... no love for x64 .

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/window ... as_arrived