Microsoft released the 3rd service pack for Windows XP about three months ago. Microsoft packages many operating system updates and fixes into one large package and then releases it as a service pack. Because these are extremely large files that apply many updates and changes to our systems, they can sometimes have trouble.
Initially Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) did have some issues that seemed to be mostly resolved. However, I have not had a lot of hands on experience with SP3 yet. In three cases that I have seen, all three installed ok and the installation can take up to one hour. Microsoft even warns that some installations may reach 90 minutes. The update should come across to your system as an automatic update (high speed users only), but then it asks your permission to install.
Today, I picked up a relatively new laptop from a customer who attempted to install XP SP3 and after the computer attempted to restart, it froze and could not get to a desktop.
My question to all of you who use Windows XP is whether or not you have installed SP3 and what your experience with it has been so far. Let me know by leaving a comment below. Thanks.
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I’m reluctant to install it if there could be problems. Any downside to waiting a while? The notification to upgrade to SP3 came right while I was in the middle of doing something and it made me nervous that the instructions said to backup up my system. Geez! So I didn’t let it install.
I had installed SP3 on windows XP and it gave me all kinds of trouble I had to uninstall it but it didn’t clear my problem the SP3 had cause, I had to do a partial System restore and had to install my programs that didn’t come with my PC. I’ve installed SP2 but had to get some drivers but I couldn’t find any for SP3
I downloaded SP3 and it gave me nothing but headaches, I kept getting the Windows is not Responding error everytime I went to any website!! I uninstalled and my computer is working fine now!
Rick:
I downloaded the SP3 on two computers here. Had no trouble and it seems to be working fine on these computers. They are both “hp pavillion a335w” machines from wal mart. It did take an hour or longer to download but otherwise everything seems to work fine. Been useing it now for about a month.
Lee Graham Raton NM.
Installed with no difficulty although I had anticipated them after reading some of the TSG posts. Have used for several months.
Installed sp3 on 3 computers. A little tricky but no problems.
I just installed sp3 on a new Dell Inspiron 530 with xp pro. No problems.
Hi Rick,
Installed SP3 no problems. Works fine on my 10 year old machine. Use Firefox 3.0 [IE very rarely]. AVG Free and Defender does very well.
Keep up the good work
Chalmers
I downloaded and installed no problem, although I do have dial-up so it took about six years. The problem I have though, is that since I’ve downloaded it, my Internet speed (downloading) has decreased significantly. If I try to download something (pictures, music, video, etc.) through my browser its noticeably slower. But, if I download something through my peer-to-peer, the download speed is where is should be so its not my Internet connection. Frustrating to say the least.
Rick,
We downloaded SP3 to 3 computers. 2 of the 3 computers installed the SP3 just fine. One of our desktop computers crashed when we installed the SP3. After downloading,and installing we restarted the computer and all we got was the dreaded blue screen. We started the computer in safe mode and tried to use a previous directory to restart Windows and that didn’t work. At that point we had to reinstall Windows. When we tried a second time to install SP3 after reinstalling Windows, the computer crashed again. We have still not attempted to install the SP3 a third time.
We have no clue why one out of three had problems.
I haven’t even tried to install SP3 yet — heard too many bad things about it. I’m just waiting for the dust to settle and someone to say that it’s now safe to install. I’ve heard nothing very reassuring yet. I hope we don’t have to wait too long.
I downloaded SP3 it downloaded OK but now I have trouble logging in to Outlook express 6 I have to shut down my modem to get on, also my PC is slower ans was thinking of removed it, if there a way?
Can anyone help?????