XP SP3 Update
Posted on May 15, 2008
As much as I have touted XP over Vista, along comes Microsoft with Service Pack 3 for XP to foul everything up. Maybe they figure since they messed up with Vista SP1 and are getting plenty of bad press for that, they might as well equalize everything by fouling up XP. If users sense that XP has problems, they might be inclined to go ahead with the purchase of Vista. Sneaky?
XP SP3 was supposed to have been released in 2006. That release date was moved to 2007. We mentioned back on April 15 that the release was imminent. Finally, in late April, SP3 was unleashed, only to be pulled after a “compatibility issue” was found with another Microsoft program called Dynamics RMS, a retail business management package. Some users found that after installing SP3, business database files were gone. The conflict is so bad that Microsoft is telling RMS users to avoid SP3 until the problem is fixed, which they say will be by the end of May. Even so, SP3 has already become available to the general public.
Just check out the list of things that Microsoft says you should do before installing SP3.
Among the list of to do items, more than 1 Gig of space needs to be made available for the upgrade. Remember, unlike Vista, XP came on a CD. Now the latest SP needs more space set aside than the original OS.
The list goes on to describe more than 20 error messages that can appear while attempting to install, such as the ubiquitous, “an internal error occurred.” Only after performing all of the chores on the list will Microsoft even hint that an SP3 installation might be successful.
Many people are reporting successful installations of SP3 though, with some saying that it makes their computers run faster. Glad to hear it.
On the other hand, stories about SP3 causing many computers to become completely useless are out there as well. This is getting to be the norm for business at Microsoft, it seems.
XP SP3 is, for now, an optional update. However, Microsoft says that, beginning sometime “in early summer,” XP users that have Automatic Updates enabled (which many do) will find SP3 being installed without being given any choice in the matter.
I would start right away making sure all your files are being backed up on a regular basis. Go ahead and do the things they recommend for a successful install. I would then turn off Automatic Updates and install when I got ready to do so. Whenever that time is, the best move is to go here and download the full install. The compressed file is over 300MB so you dial-up folks can look at 12 hours or so to bring it home but that’s still the best choice. You can then run the install with the whole file on your computer rather than depending on your Internet connection.
As for me, I have already downloaded the file and burned it to a CD. I really have no plans to install it right now. Instead, I will look and listen to what’s going on with a few thousand other users for awhile and then make my decision.
» Filed Under Microsoft, Software
Comments
Leave a Reply