Download Windows XP Service Pack 3

Help & Info about Windows XP Service Pack 3 for Windows

• What is Windows XP Service Pack 3?

  Windows XP Service Pack 3 is essentially a bundle of previously released security updates, hotfixes and other updates that a user may have missed downloading. There are updates for both IE 6 and 7, and the package would also update any version of Internet Explorer the user has it on the computer.

• Is Windows XP Service Pack 3 available for all?

  Earlier versions of Windows XP SP3 or the test builds were available to only select users, who received a Microsoft invitation to test the pack. The final release is available for all to download at Microsoft’s website. However, users would not receive automatic notifications and will have to manually download the pack.

• Why should one install XP SP3?

  Windows XP SP3 not just fixes existing Windows XP bugs, but it also addresses the security holes. In addition to having a firewall and antivirus updated and running, keeping a Windows computer updated with official Microsoft updates is equally important too.

• What XP versions does the bundle support?

  The versions supported include Home Edition, Home Edition N, Media Center Edition, Professional Edition, Professional N, Service Pack 1, Service Pack 2, Starter Edition, and Tablet PC Edition. But since Windows XP is no longer officially supported, it is recommended users switch to officially supported Windows platforms.

• How is the installation program like?

  Windows XP SP3 is approximately a 300MB file (could vary with download source/method) and works with almost every variation of XP, which includes Home Center and XP Home editions. The installation process is quite standard and should not take more than 20 minutes.

• Are there any interface changes?

  Windows XP SP3 doesn’t offer any cosmetic changes. In other words, the service pack won’t significantly alter a user’s experience and interaction with the OS. There’s no SP2 fanfare too and the system reboots normally, with users finding it extremely hard to find any difference.

• Are there any speed bumps or performance enhancements?

  Unlike Vista SP1 that improved on Windows Vista’s laggardly performance, the XP SP3 doesn’t provide any tangible speed or performance improvements, and there is no official claims made on the same too. In fact, the performance and speeds offered by XP SP2 and SP3 are nearly identical.

• What is Network Access Protection (NAP)?

  NAP is the highlight of XP SP3. The client provides users access to Windows Server 2008 OS features, which should come in handy for businesses and also individuals. Also, the program restricts or blocks network access to non-recognised machines or systems that haven’t cleared the base configuration level.

• How to install the XP SP3 pack?

  A Windows XP SP3 installation could be done from Microsoft Download Center (MDC), a shared network folder, or a CD. The disk requirements would vary with the file source. An MDC installation would require at least 1.5GB free system disk space. A folder and CD installation would need 1.1GB and 1.765GB of free space.

• Can one install XP SP3 with antivirus enabled?

  To install XP SP3, one would have to disable a computer antivirus program. Though this may not be the safest thing to do, certain antivirus programs could mitigate some system files from getting modified. This could, as a result, hamper XP SP3's installation process.