Apparently SP3 is out http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=75ed9...layLang=en


does anyone know if i should install it or not?

I'd wait.

A "release candidate" is only ready to be a final version pending that they find no bugs in it. Wait a few weeks and see how the gold launch of SP3 goes. If things are well, then install it.

I installed it on a test rig middle of last month, with no apparent issues, but as Michael mentioned, it's probably a good idea to wait until the gold release before installing it somewhere important.

Michael Adames (Admin) said:

Thats the funniest thing I've read all day!

Most people advise not to install it if you have a stable, secure sp already installed.

The article provides detailed instructions on slipstreaming XP SP3 RC1 with an XP Installation CD and support files.

Note that the author indicates a requirement to have an already slipstreamed XP with SP2 install CD. If you need to make one of these first, follow the separate instructions below for SP2. Note that I've included the majorgeeks hyperlink pointing to 32bit SP3 RC2 beta. I'm fairly convinced it's a link to build5508.

In the articles I'm pointing to, I assume that the instructions provided for SP3 RC2 are the same as those for SP3 RC1. I can't think of a reason why they'd differ. The described changes between RC1 and RC2 shouldn't entail a procedural change.

As I understand it, before installing any new version of the SP3, any previous beta or RC version first must be UNINSTALLED. Others have told me that installing any version of an OS, when slipstreamed with any SPx, works most reliably on an OS that has never had any prior version of the same SPx ever even installed on it. So, I'd make a copy of my pre-SP3 disk since I'm going to be playing with multiple versions of SP3, and before each SP3 install I'd reload the base non-SP3 OS copy.


Creating Slipstreamed Windows XP CD Using SP3 RC1
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp3_cd.htm

Requirements:
Slipstreamed XP Installation CD with SP2 (see article for details)

ISObuster
http://www.majorgeeks.com/IsoBuster_d4717.html

XP SP3: (downloaded file or CD copy)
Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 RC2 Refresh
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4323.html
(As of 20080326 316mb 32bit version. This is what I've identified via comparing info at tipandtrick.net as possibly build 5508). It's easier to get at it at majorgeeks.

And to burn the CD, you'll need something like:
Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator 6
Roxio Easy Media Creator 9
Nero Burning Rom 6SE or 8
(personally, I recommend NOT using any Roxio software)



Video Tutorial
Note: this was originally for slipstreaming XP+SP2, but should be comparable for SP3. It will at least make it easier to follow the text instructions by familiarizing you with the procedures. Keep in mind the SP3 differences between using a "Gold" XP Install CD and an already slipstreamed with SP2 copy of the Install CD.
http://www.isobuster.com/tips.php?tips_page=15

Text Instructions for Slipstreaming XP with SP2:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

Alternate set of instructions:
http://www.technipages.com/how-to-slipstream-windows-xp-service-pack-2.html

For more info on SP3 from Microsoft go to microsoft.com and search on "kb936929"

More info on SP3 update procedures, including new Microsoft Update Registry Requirements
http://www.tipandtrick.net/2008/download-official-windows-xp-s...alone-exe/


edit-removed non-related info and added CD burning program info into requirements
edit-add info on uninstalling prior versions of SP3 and build ID info
edit-cleaned it up a bit

That's a helpful post, John.

Any chance that could be split into a seperate topic and listed in the Optimization Guides and Other Important Threads list at http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/70743/ ?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Kieran Blenkarne said:
I agree. It's why I always play/learn with a non-critical drive and system rather than my primary working system.

Some folks have reported performance improvements and reduced boot times by uplifting to SP3. However, I'm just treating it as a learning exercise until the gold comes out.

Does anyone know of a freeware CD burning application (similar to Nero Burning ROM) that allows one to perform the detailed/advanced setup required to slipstream XP and SP2/SP3? These are the advanced functions involving "No Emulation", "Load Segment", "Number of Loaded Sectors", etc as detailed in the instructions listed at the URLs below, especially the telegraph.co.uk set of instructions.

SP3 is finally here, and I've not been successful creating a bootable WinOS+SPx slipstreamed CD.

I've been trying to use Nero Express (ver 6) which provides for compiling files and creating a bootable CD, but it doesn't provide the "advanced" functions in "Nero Burning ROM" ver6. The "bootable" slipstream test CDs I create won't boot, yet other bootable CDs boot just fine. I've verified the "Microsoft Corporation.img" bootloader image that I extracted from my InstallCD is "good".

Apparently, one must change the special parameters as described and that requires an application that allows one to change those parameters while making a bootable CD. Nero Express doesn't let you change these parameters when you use it even though it does allow you to make a bootable CD.

I suggest infrarecorder for burning an ISO image..

~Vel said:
Burning a simple .iso image with a typical vanilla .iso burner simply doesn't work. I wish it did...I've tried.

Slipstreaming a Windows Install CD requires that those advanced CD burning parameters I mentioned in my earlier post must be changeable.

Based on your input, I downloaded and looked at InfraRecorder, the InfraRecorder documentation, and the InfraRecorder helpfile, and InfraRecorder seems incapable of modifying the parameters I stipulated earlier.

It's hard to believe that "Nero Burning ROM" and "Roxio Easy Media Creator" or "Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator" are the only programs that will permit adjusting these advanced parameters.



Anyone?



edit: add the actual text from the slipstreaming instructions for both Nero and Roxio non-freeware programs.

WinXP SP3 supposedly "FINAL" released hours ago:

Windows XP SP3 final RTM version 5.1.2600.5512

MD5 that I calculated for
XP_SP3Ver5512RTM-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe
bb25707c919dd835a9d9706b5725af58

SHA-1 hash=
c81472f7eeea2eca421e116cd4c03e2300ebfde4

IMPORTANT NOTE
This .exe version is an installer that when run creates a temporary folder on your C drive (approx 450MB in size), and then installs components from there. It does NOT create a bootable disc .iso image as some might assume.

Good download source is majorgeeks.com (9 minutes from one of its mirrors. A couple other sites were downloading in the ~1000 Bytes/sec range...yup...one-thousand bytes...not KB)

edit: add my calculated MD5 and SHA-1 hashes
edit: add note that it is an installer, not an .iso creator file

Ah, my bad. Well in that case, nLite also allows for images to be slipstreamed and burnt if I recall correctly.

SP3 includes 4 Vista Features Microsoft decided to add to XP. It also includes a few usability improvements to a couple of already existing features (apparently limited to security). I don't know if these 4 features additions are available as individual update downloads.

I've simplified things. Read the article for more detail.


http://lifehacker.com/385295/field-guide-to-windows-xp-sp3
*Network Access Protection This feature sets system health requirements to validate a remote computer's health before it allows connection to that computer.
*So-called "Black Hole" Router Detection: This feature detects when the router is losing or discarding packets and should help protect against such problems.
*Option to eliminate Product Activation during Installation. One can install XP before providing a product key. Validation post-installation will still be needed if you plan to use WGA.
*A supposedly easier to use data encryption capability.

There are just a few more new features that provide better descriptions of security options (something from which we can all benefit) and supposedly better admin security.

Bah, Humbug!
I downloaded the Vista SP1 DVD ISO image from Micro$oft so I could get my systems up to date. Come to find out that MICROSOFT doesn't support ISO image creation of DVDs.
Idiot that I am, I reached for a CD/DVD instead of searching for my downloads, and attempted to install a licensed copy of Roxio EZ-CD Creator version 6.x...dumb, dumb, dumb me!
My system (see profile) just stopped booting...period. I'm not sure if it was a issue with the Plextor SATA drive I'm using or Vista, but Vista allowed me to install it. BSOD after BSOD after BSOD later, I finally removed the Roxio Version 6.x code and was able to get back in the system. Then I purchased teh Roxio 10.x suite. The system works now, but I have to deal with an additional 5 processes/services on each reload.
Dangit! If MS is going to publish images, they should at least provide for the imbedded DVD creation...and isn't this something they should be doing by now?

My naivity astounds me...much less that of other users

Gerritt

john albrich said:

Earlier speculation said that another version of SP3 beyond build 5512 was coming out...a build 5573, the "real" SP3 Final.

However...

I've verified both MD5 and SHA-1 hashes are equal for the listed 5512 version and the currently available "SP3 Final" being provided on the Microsoft website as of 20080501.
windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu_c81472f7eeea2eca421e116cd4c03e2300ebfde4.exe

So, if you earlier obtained a "build 5512" version that has a valid hash, then it looks like you're set for SP3.

(Note that the c814---fde4 also happens to be the SHA-1 hash of the file...also verified by actual calculation)

Whether WinXP SP3 is worth installing...well...that still remains a topic of discussion.

removed as accidental duplicate

Gerritt said:

I've warned folks about Roxio software before. Tsk, tsk.

Also, I have not tried this...and maybe I'm missing part of the point, but I got a tip that DVDdecrypter allowed easily burning a .iso to DVD when certain versions of Nero, BurnAtOnce, etc. didn't.

Duh, me slow, me need gooder learning....

At least thats how I'm feeling at the moment...give me a few and I'll be back to believing I can solve all of the worlds problems!....or is that further proof of the first sentence?!?

Yet another SP3 download file was "released" by Microsoft 06May2008. However, it is IDENTICAL to the RTM'd ver 5512 file available as of 24April2008. Topic was raised in a separate thread on 15May2008. (Included here for convenience, trying to keep major SP3-related info in one spot)