To Install... or Not to Install... SP3 (That is the Question)

Okay..........

As we might expect there are problems surfacing with the SP3 Update. My
question is: If I do not install this update, will future XP updates still
be applied to SP2?

Hamlet

Shenan
Fri May 09 12:44:16 PDT 2008

sasha gottfried wrote:
> Okay..........
>
> As we might expect there are problems surfacing with the SP3
> Update. My question is: If I do not install this update, will
> future XP updates still be applied to SP2?

For some time, yes.
SP2 was that way.
SP1 was that way.
The trend will continue that way.

You will continue to be able to get all (at least most) updates without
updating to SP3 for some time. Sooner or later, the support for SP2 will
end and you will not be able to get updates unless you have SP3 installed.
Historically - this is the way things work.

Install SP3 wisely.
Clean up your machine, update drivers, update software, back it up and go.

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm

Key things to note:

Internet Explorer:
"If you have installed Windows Internet Explorer® 7 or a beta version of
Internet Explorer 8, and then install Windows XP SP3, you cannot uninstall
Internet Explorer. To avoid this, ensure Internet Explorer 7 or a beta
version of Internet Explorer 8 is not installed before installing Windows XP
SP3. If you have already encountered this issue, uninstall Windows XP SP3,
uninstall Internet Explorer, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002:
"If you install Windows XP SP3 on a computer running Windows XP Media Center
Edition 2002 with SP1, Windows XP Media Center Edition may malfunction. To
avoid this, install Windows XP SP2 before you install Windows XP SP3. If
this issue has already occurred, uninstall Windows XP SP3, install Windows
XP SP2, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."

It seems some people are unable to get further updates after installing
SP3... Seems some have experienced a symptom similar to doing a repair
installation on Windows XP - and the same fix seems to work for them for
that...

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

With all that - you should be fine.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

MowGreen
Fri May 09 13:06:08 PDT 2008

Hamlet,

I've installed SP3 onto 5 systems now with no issues to report.
Use these: Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717/

For issues with SP3, MS is offering free support for installation and
compatibility issues:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&x=16&y=16&prid=11273&gprid=522131

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifecycle

MS states -

> Service Pack Support Policy
>
> * When a new service pack is released, Microsoft will provide either 12 or 24 months of support
> for the previous service pack

Lifecycle Supported Service Packs
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifesupsps

> Service Pack Support Retired
> Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 13-Jul-2010
> Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 13-Jul-2010

Does that clear up how MS is supporting SP2 ?


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2008]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============




sasha gottfried wrote:

> Okay..........
>
> As we might expect there are problems surfacing with the SP3 Update. My
> question is: If I do not install this update, will future XP updates still
> be applied to SP2?
>
> Hamlet
>
>

PA
Fri May 09 13:31:26 PDT 2008

Yes, for now, at least.

sasha gottfried wrote:
> Okay..........
>
> As we might expect there are problems surfacing with the SP3 Update. My
> question is: If I do not install this update, will future XP updates still
> be applied to SP2?
>
> Hamlet

gram
Fri May 09 20:17:28 PDT 2008



"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ebkAS0gsIHA.4360@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl
> sasha gottfried wrote:
>> Okay..........
>>
>> As we might expect there are problems surfacing with the SP3
>> Update. My question is: If I do not install this update, will
>> future XP updates still be applied to SP2?
>
> For some time, yes.
> SP2 was that way.
> SP1 was that way.
> The trend will continue that way.
>
> You will continue to be able to get all (at least most) updates
> without updating to SP3 for some time. Sooner or later, the support
> for SP2 will end and you will not be able to get updates unless you
> have SP3 installed. Historically - this is the way things work.
>
> Install SP3 wisely.
> Clean up your machine, update drivers, update software, back it up
> and go.
> Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717
>
> Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
> http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm
>
> Key things to note:
>
> Internet Explorer:
> "If you have installed Windows Internet Explorer® 7 or a beta version
> of Internet Explorer 8, and then install Windows XP SP3, you cannot
> uninstall Internet Explorer. To avoid this, ensure Internet Explorer
> 7 or a beta version of Internet Explorer 8 is not installed before
> installing Windows XP SP3. If you have already encountered this
> issue, uninstall Windows XP SP3, uninstall Internet Explorer, and
> then reinstall Windows XP SP3."
> Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002:
> "If you install Windows XP SP3 on a computer running Windows XP Media
> Center Edition 2002 with SP1, Windows XP Media Center Edition may
> malfunction. To avoid this, install Windows XP SP2 before you
> install Windows XP SP3. If this issue has already occurred,
> uninstall Windows XP SP3, install Windows XP SP2, and then reinstall
> Windows XP SP3."
> It seems some people are unable to get further updates after
> installing SP3... Seems some have experienced a symptom similar to
> doing a repair installation on Windows XP - and the same fix seems to
> work for them for that...
>
> Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from
> Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a
> Windows XP installation
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
>
> With all that - you should be fine.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

{To avoid this, ensure Internet Explorer 7 or a beta version of Internet
Explorer 8 is not installed before installing Windows XP SP3. If you
have already encountered this issue, uninstall Windows XP SP3,
uninstall Internet Explorer, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3}

This begs the question, what about all the installed Internet Explorer 7
hot fixes and security patches; Should they also be uninstalled?

--
gram