After releasing Service pack 2 in august 2004, it seems that yesterday, on 10th december 2007 the guys at Microsoft decided to Release Windows XP service pack 3 .

It was about time wasn’t it?

Although they released service pack 3 yesterday, Windows Xp Users along the years got updates via the Automatic updates system.

On the overview page of service pack 3 we find a brief intro supplied by microsoft:

Windows® XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system. This white paper summarizes what is new in Windows XP SP3.

On the bottom of the page you have the possibility to check out a more expanded overview of service pack 3( in excel format, or in PDF format)

Service pack 3 includes security fixes and hotfixes along with some new enchancements, and will fill in updates that the user declined to install during automatic updates.

Nothing unusual till now. But after this comes the cool part: Service pack 3 has some of the Windows S erver 2008’s capabilities such as NAP(Network access Protection).

The updates also contains Microsoft Management Console 3.0 along with Microsoft Core XML services 6.0.

Here comes the big kick in the face: Service pack 3 DOES NOT INCLUDE IE7(“Microsoft is not adding significant from newer versions of windows such as Vista to Windows XP trough XP SP3″) unctionality but it includes updates both fo IE6 and IE7 and updates will be installed to the IE version on your pc.

When i read this i said to myself: WHAT DA F***. I don’t understand this mentality, if they took the time to develop and release service pack 3 how much time would it have taken them to include it ?

We, the webdesigners and developers were very excited starting from the day when rumors of SP 3 appeared, that they will include IE7 in the service pack and the coding problems to optimise a webpage to IE6 also will mostly dissappear. Heh…this didn’t happen.

Quick reminder: Internet explorer 7 can be downloaded individually and can be installed on pirated versions of XP also(click)(you don’t need verification before installing)

You can read the full release notes at Microsoft support center

Overview and download of XP service pack 3 at Microsoft Download Center

General Info about the service pack + Installation

The Service Pack’s size is 336 MB.

The installation time is somewhat around 18-25 minutes + the time the installer takes to configure the updates after reboot.

Installation Step 1:

Read the license agreement and accept it.

Installation Step 2:

Choose the location where the system files will be backed up.

Installation Step 3:

Let the installer run and do its job.

Installation Step 4:

Reboot your pc and wait till your system gets configured, and voila! Service pack 3 is installed, up and running!

In case you encounter Problems:

Service pack setup creates a system restore point so in case something goes wrong reboot your pc, enter safe mode and select the restore point, and everything will be back to normal.

I hope everything will go as smoothly as it went for me and you won’t encounter problems .

PS: One more thing: If you are a BIG Internet explorer fan and don’t want to use an other browser PLEASE Upgrade to internet explorer 7.

Did you find this information helpful? Buy me a coffee.