[flavallee]

On Friday night, I did a hard drive format and fresh install of Windows XP SP2 in a Dell desktop. Once it was done, I installed the SP3 upgrade. Once it was done and the drivers for the sound device and network adapter were installed, I went online and validated the operating system. I then ran a scan at the Windows Updates site. The only critical update listed was Windows Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13.

Having the SP3 upgrade already burned to a CD-R and then installing it right after the initial SP2 install saved me from having to download and install over 100 critical updates that have been released by Microsoft since SP2 was released 4 years ago.

This desktop has an Intel processor and not an AMD processor, so I didn't run into any of the problems that others did who have a computer with an AMD processor.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/9-Cri...12-85266.shtml

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[bbearren]

As I said in my first post, I had been running RC2 of SP3 on the dual-boot of XP on my machines for some time with no difficulties, so I had no real fear of the RTM version of SP3 on the same hardware/software configurations. PLUS I have image files of my machines as backups, so I had nothing to worry about if something went south.

I ran AV and AM scans and HijackThis on each machine before I did the upgrade to make doubly sure that I didn't have any nasties lurking in the background. My desktop has an ATI graphics card, but RC2 got along with it quite nicely, and so does the RTM.

I downloaded the full IT package because I intend to slipstream it into a backup CD. And MS does indeed state very plainly when one launches the upgrade to have a full system backup before proceeding.

This is all very reminiscent of the release of SP2. Horror stories and MS bashing all around, but these days you can't get any XP updates unless you're running SP2. I expect the same from this SP3 release.

My advice is to do full malware sweeps, make a drive image and have at it. Sort through any difficulties and move forward.