XP SP3 RTM - Hits Windows update on April 29

[sybrows]

Still waiting for the workgroup version ....

[dangel]

It did something odd to one PC - turned off themes (i.e. windows classic got turned on) - nothing fatal but an oddity. Didn't do that on a clean XP SP2 install on a virtual machine (which i then put SP3 on). Nothings died though.

[MarcLister]

If I nLite'd this I take it I'd need to add the SP2 pack first?

[this_is_gav]

Nope, SP3 includes SP1 and SP2.

I prefer to slipstream it using the installer's own method, then just use nLite to add drivers and make the .iso. There were a few posts of bugs using nLite to slipstream it in the MSFN forums.

I've been playing with it on our sysprep image in VMWare at work today, and it seems fine. No issues to report. I'll be doing more tests before it's rolled out, but given the limited improvements over a patched SP2, I'm not expecting them to take long.

[Giraffe]

There seems to be some doubt about SP3 needing a previous SP.

MS says SP1 at least and preferably SP2, on this page:

XP Service Pack 3 Installation

There's an article that I found useful here:

Tech ARP - Secret Pre-Release Details On Windows XP Service Pack 3

[2Cold Scorpio]

Hey, I'm using the uxThemePatcher tweak in nLite; when I remade my XP+SP2/IE7/Hotfixes-up-to-summer '07 install disk, I activated that tweak. WIll SP3 deactivate it? I remember SP1 deactivated a similar tweak I was using with RTM Xp many years ago, and the same happened with SP2 (I did without custom themes for years until I got nLite last summer). So do you think SP3 will kill it too? I hope not.

[this_is_gav]

I does, but there are updated UXTheme patchers out there for SP3, so just repatch after installing SP3.

[Stringent]

Having the 'special treatment' of getting SP3 before its release to the public, I can say it has made my XP machines a little quicker. I have also slipstreamed it into an install CD with no problems.

I think that SP3 doesn't need any previous SP.

[Giraffe]

Yes, MS' site says that it can be on basic XP.

I have a CD of XP Pro slipstreamed with SP2. Would it be OK to use tha and slipstream SP3 into it?

[MarcLister]

Yes, MS' site says that it can be on basic XP.

I have a CD of XP Pro slipstreamed with SP2. Would it be OK to use tha and slipstream SP3 into it?

Can't see why not. All you are doing is overlaying SP2 with SP3. Anything that is common to both service packs won't get done twice.

[2Cold Scorpio]

I does, but there are updated UXTheme patchers out there for SP3, so just repatch after installing SP3.

You know where to get it? I'd hate to lose my current theme.

[Agent]

You know where to get it? I'd hate to lose my current theme.

Just Google something like "UXTheme SP3 download" and use your noggin with the listed results

Don't get linking to any dodgy sites though here

[this_is_gav]

There's a collection here though I've not used any yet.

[finlay666]

I already have it, you can get a direct dl from Microsoft for it

TBH I haven't noticed much different, performance seems better though

[AndrewJ]

Tempted to get it, so everyone can verify it is worth the download? on a fully updated SP2 install.

[Giraffe]

When I looked yesterday the Download link wasn't there (just 2 for the docs>), so off to have another look :-)