As a New Member

SKY · 11. Mar 2009, 01:42 AM

I've noticed there isn't a general "Q&A" forum.

I have various questions from: firewalls, multimedia, etc, etc.

I wanted to ask about the importance of moving from SP2 to SP3, but wasn't sure where to post.

Clearly there are a lot of knowledgeable members on this board, maybe I'm out of my league here

kendall.a · 11. Mar 2009, 04:18 AM

You're definitely not out of your league and it's a great question. It's a question, in fact, that I've had.

Early on, I read many, many people say "hold off installing SP3". There were numerous reports of people having lots of difficulty with SP3. But, that was probably 3-6 months ago. Most of what I read now is "go ahead and install SP3". However, I'm one of those who has not yet installed it (though I did order the CD from MS). In fact, on another forum (not this site), I was basically lambasted for not having SP3 installed.

So, I'd be interested in people's response to your question as well.

christoph · 11. Mar 2009, 01:16 PM

... it was circulated by M1cr0s0ft to increase sales of Vista - obviously a joking perspective on the matter, but I also have not yet installed it. My system is working just fine, so it will need a bit to get me going...

mr6n8 · 11. Mar 2009, 02:08 PM

Any questions on firewalls could be posted in the Security forum.
Multimedia questions in the Multimedia forum.

I installed SP3 some time ago and have not had any issues.

A Service Pack (SP), is a collection of updates, patches, and enhancements for a software program all rolled into one download. If you keep your systems updated on a regular basis, you probably have most of the fixes that are in SP3 already.

From what I saw on the various boards I visit, SP3 was a pretty trouble free install (especially compared to SP2). Now there seems to be no issues with SP3.

Sope · 11. Mar 2009, 08:56 PM

I've updated 6 PC's (friends and relatives!) to SP3 - went smoothly on all of them. From what I've read, most advice now is to go ahead and update.

SKY · 12. Mar 2009, 12:05 AM

I guess the saying "if it aint broke..." applies here (at least for me). I've had no issues with SP2. I did see a lot of hype about SP3 on another board, which lead to my question.

I did make a few attempts to install 3 a few mo's ago & encountered various errors but I'm not going to concern myself with that right now.

chris.p · 12. Mar 2009, 06:09 PM

Yeah CJ, why not a general Q & A board??

XP SP3:- whatever way you go, I 'd strongly suggest that you download the SP3 ISO if you're on broadband. This is the CD image with the entire SP3 install on it.

It's also called the Network Administrator's Installer or the network ISO. You can install to any XP machine from it, it has all the required procedures and data for that. Installing it via the online check-and-install-what's-needed is not an optimal method.

Keep in mind you might well need that SP3 CD later if you re-install XP. Who knows what MS will / won't do, if you have the stuff you need on CD, any of that doesn't matter.

christoph · 12. Mar 2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris.p

Yeah CJ, why not a general Q & A board??

Too many Q & too few A

Also I believe W1nd0ze is not exactly freeware? Or open source? About the ISO you're probably right, have you also got an url?

grimbles · 12. Mar 2009, 10:02 PM

Yep, Chris.p is right. If you have broadband the ISO download is the only way to go. I used that method for SP1 in Vista, it's a much larger download but a much more efficient install too and you have it stored on for any future re-installs.

cheers....JIM

christoph · 12. Mar 2009, 10:31 PM

uhm, well, so done. As you didn't provide me with an url, I got it myself :sulk:
After some 2 minutes I had the iso (broadband

), and you have now my questions:

I do update my system manually twice a year. I use an update tool that
- firstly downloads the updates I want
- secondly installs them

Do I do this prior to install SP3?
Or do I install SP3 first?

11. Mar 2009, 01:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
SKY Full Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 77	As a New Member I've noticed there isn't a general "Q&A" forum. I have various questions from: firewalls, multimedia, etc, etc. I wanted to ask about the importance of moving from SP2 to SP3, but wasn't sure where to post. Clearly there are a lot of knowledgeable members on this board, maybe I'm out of my league here

11. Mar 2009, 04:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
kendall.a Foundation Editor/Forum Manager Intern Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,814	You're definitely not out of your league and it's a great question. It's a question, in fact, that I've had. Early on, I read many, many people say "hold off installing SP3". There were numerous reports of people having lots of difficulty with SP3. But, that was probably 3-6 months ago. Most of what I read now is "go ahead and install SP3". However, I'm one of those who has not yet installed it (though I did order the CD from MS). In fact, on another forum (not this site), I was basically lambasted for not having SP3 installed. So, I'd be interested in people's response to your question as well. __________________ <-------Is looking for his brain....

11. Mar 2009, 01:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
christoph Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Europe, Berlin Posts: 476	I've heard rumors, ... it was circulated by M1cr0s0ft to increase sales of Vista - obviously a joking perspective on the matter, but I also have not yet installed it. My system is working just fine, so it will need a bit to get me going... __________________ [URL="http://www.beste-freeware.de/kostenlose-programme.html"][SIZE=1]kostenlose programme[/SIZE][/URL]

11. Mar 2009, 02:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
mr6n8 Editor Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 303	Any questions on firewalls could be posted in the Security forum. Multimedia questions in the Multimedia forum. I installed SP3 some time ago and have not had any issues. A Service Pack (SP), is a collection of updates, patches, and enhancements for a software program all rolled into one download. If you keep your systems updated on a regular basis, you probably have most of the fixes that are in SP3 already. From what I saw on the various boards I visit, SP3 was a pretty trouble free install (especially compared to SP2). Now there seems to be no issues with SP3. Last edited by keroffs; 11. Mar 2009 at 02:14 PM.

12. Mar 2009, 12:05 AM	#6 (permalink)
SKY Full Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 77	Thanks for your responses I guess the saying "if it aint broke..." applies here (at least for me). I've had no issues with SP2. I did see a lot of hype about SP3 on another board, which lead to my question. I did make a few attempts to install 3 a few mo's ago & encountered various errors but I'm not going to concern myself with that right now.

11. Mar 2009, 08:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sope Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 809	I've updated 6 PC's (friends and relatives!) to SP3 - went smoothly on all of them. From what I've read, most advice now is to go ahead and update.

12. Mar 2009, 06:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
chris.p Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 1,595	Yeah CJ, why not a general Q & A board?? XP SP3:- whatever way you go, I 'd strongly suggest that you download the SP3 ISO if you're on broadband. This is the CD image with the entire SP3 install on it. It's also called the Network Administrator's Installer or the network ISO. You can install to any XP machine from it, it has all the required procedures and data for that. Installing it via the online check-and-install-what's-needed is not an optimal method. Keep in mind you might well need that SP3 CD later if you re-install XP. Who knows what MS will / won't do, if you have the stuff you need on CD, any of that doesn't matter. __________________ . . . . . . . Web Business Management

12. Mar 2009, 10:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
grimbles Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Queensland, Oz Posts: 95	Yep, Chris.p is right. If you have broadband the ISO download is the only way to go. I used that method for SP1 in Vista, it's a much larger download but a much more efficient install too and you have it stored on for any future re-installs. cheers....JIM

12. Mar 2009, 10:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
christoph Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Europe, Berlin Posts: 476	uhm, well, so done. As you didn't provide me with an url, I got it myself :sulk: After some 2 minutes I had the iso (broadband ), and you have now my questions: I do update my system manually twice a year. I use an update tool that - firstly downloads the updates I want - secondly installs them Do I do this prior to install SP3? Or do I install SP3 first? __________________ [URL="http://www.beste-freeware.de/kostenlose-programme.html"][SIZE=1]kostenlose programme[/SIZE][/URL]

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