[aarhus2004]

Hello,

I have been trying to understand what happened when I installed Windows XP SP3 from Windows Updates. (I have since got rid of it!)

This site helped me.

Ben.

[oshwyn5]

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
Has a brief description and links to more detailed descriptions of what SP3 includes.

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...20Pack%203.pdf
is the PDF overview
It is well worth reading the whole thing but here are some excerpts

"Windows® XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system,
and a small number of new updates to ensure that Windows XP customers have the latest updates for
their system. Windows XP SP3 will not significantly change the Windows XP experience"

Windows XP SP3 does not include Windows Internet Explorer 7,
although Windows XP SP3 does include updates to both Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7, and it
will update whichever version is installed on the computer.

SP3 does include Network Access Protection (NAP) to help organizations that
use Windows XP to take advantage of new features in the Windows Server® 2008 operating system.

Other new features it adds are
"Black Hole" Router Detection ((detecting routers that are silently discarding packets)
CredSSP is a new Security Service Provider (SSP) that is available in Windows XP SP3 via Security Service Provider Interface (SSPI).
Descriptive Security Options User Interface
Enhanced security for Administrator and Service policy entries
Microsoft Cryptographic Module
Enhancements to Windows Product Activation / Window Genuine Advantage which allow upgrade and download of additional components without requiring you to enter your product key as would otherwise be necessary.

==================================================================

Essentially there are several major reasons to install this update.
One is that as with XP with no service packs, and XP SP1 ; SP2 will eventually no longer be supported through windows update or direct product support.
Secondly it ensures that you have all the security updates which are critical to a safe and stable machine.


Yes, there are a few reasons not to install; such as if you have one of the HP machines with AMD processors which had an Intel based image installed and crash when the update is installed. Or if you have a malware infestatation.

But if your computer is otherwise up to date, it is well worth installing.


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929
Contains the release notes

[aarhus2004]

Hello oshwyn5,

Your position is clear. Your post is, as far it goes, excellently crafted.

You may wish to add to it something about the version of WMP which cannot be uninstalled?

Cheers.

Ben.

[managed]

aarhus2004, what did happen when you installed SP3 and why did you remove it ?

[aarhus2004]

Originally Posted by managed

aarhus2004, what did happen when you installed SP3 and why did you remove it ?

Hello, managed,

Can I take it that you have not, as yet, installed XP SP3?

I am a newcomer to XP - about four weeks of intensive adjustment after WinMe.

I was prepared to take all care of the system, and in the most generally accepted ways. So I proceeded to accept the SP3 update..

My immediate impression was that the system had been changed. Not as was suggested by the reading I had done in preparation. This was to have been an essentially slight update in terms of criticality. Two or three fixes only related to threats or potential threats. One doesn't know what is going on, such a large package it is and my reading about it made little sense to me. I am no geek.

I became convinced that the update was less in consideration of the user and more the means of exerting controls over one's system. Of preparing system and user for the desired next step, i.e. Vista. I was puzzled to begin with. I expect I pestered the update site for every last one available until nothing showed as needed. I cannot recall the details except that my XP system had all thought necessary. By Microsoft i.e.

My question of the the poster of the first response concerned the WMP ( v.11). I couldn't believe the GUI when I finally got around to opening it. It was, to put it mildly, in travesty of good taste. I immediately sought to remove it. In it's place was a more familiar but not removable programme GUI. WMP v.10.

WMP has, in my view, always been an option. One could pick and choose the flavour!. And it would allow whatever extensions one offered it. WMP 10 was no longer user friendly. (I assume v.11 was just the same). I hated its appearance but did not attempt to use it. I quickly found out using v.10 that there had been a massive leap by MS in terms of DRM. The first CD I offered it was a burn. There could be no play back of this unless... - since it was a "Ripped" disc. The hoops of DRM (Digital Rights Management) were awesome and so limiting that I declined to have anymore to do with WMP10 as well..

I did a re-install of XP and SP2. And I am very pleased with what it offers in spite of my being 79 updates adrift - according to Belarc. I had been pleased for four weeks and thought highly of the system. Today I feel I have a chance of remaining in control of my computer. Which is precisely the way I feel about Windows Millennium and especially since MS lost all interest in it!

That's about it.

Cheers, managed,

Ben.