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Windows XP SP3 Released To Manufacturing

Posted by kdawson on Mon Apr 21, 2008 07:30 PM
from the last-in-a-distinguished-line dept.
Windows Operating Systems Software
mike_diack was one of many readers to send word that Windows XP SP3 been released to manufacturing. It will be available to OEMs and enterprise customers on April 29. Here is a summary of features and changes. The company will wait till "early summer" to enable SP3 downloads through Automatic Updates.
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Submission: Windows XP SP3 has released to manufacturing by mike_diack (254876)
[+] Last-Minute Glitch Holds Up Windows XP SP3 162 comments
An anonymous reader sends word that Microsoft Windows XP SP3, which had been scheduled to hit the Web today, was pulled back at the last minute. SP3 apparently broke a Microsoft application, Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System. Their solution is to set up a filter to make sure that no system running the affected software will get automatically updated; once the filter is in place, SP3 will be released to the Web. A fix for the incompatibility will follow.
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Windows XP SP3 Released To Manufacturing 50 Comments More /

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  • I will slipstream it and add the driver pack to my disks.

    http://driverpacks.net/DriverPacks/ [driverpacks.net]

    • Re:I will slipstream it and add the driver pack to (Score:5, Informative)

      by Gazzonyx (982402) on Monday April 21 2008, @10:55PM (#23154482)
      Just wanted to say thanks; driverpacks.net has saved me so much time and hassle slipstreaming and integrating images for work. Between driverpack.net, RyanVM, WPI, nlite and msfn.org forums, I've saved countless hours. I would have spent all that time either collecting files, writing scripts, etc. or just going through a Dell 'clean' install (which, even at my fastest, takes about 3 hours to slim down and then install the company apps, and configure/add to domain). Your driver packs saved my bacon a few months ago when the Dell cd drive died and I had to use one off the shelf. I've also pulled raw infs from them on occasion when I've needed a driver that I didn't want to hunt down. Thank you!

  • MS: Making the impossible possible! (Score:5, Funny)

    by EmbeddedJanitor (597831) on Monday April 21 2008, @07:36PM (#23153056)
    Remember when XP SP3 was impossible which was why everyone had to change to Vista?

  • Patching is AWESOME! (Score:5, Funny)

    by urbanriot (924981) on Monday April 21 2008, @07:36PM (#23153058)
    OMG, I can't wait, only 8 more days until I can patch my system with SP3! So exciting... patches... wooo!!!

      • Re:MS: "Our customers are our beta testers." (Score:4, Informative)

        by bigstrat2003 (1058574) * on Monday April 21 2008, @10:22PM (#23154266)

        Windows XP was first released in 2001. Windows XP created severe problems for us until SP2 was released in 2004.
        Unless you have something highly specific in mind, I call bullshit. I used XP SP1 for forever (SP2 broke all my games which used the Quake 3 engine, which was a good few at the time, for about six months to a year after it came out), and never had a single problem with it. I didn't use SP0, but XP SP1 was a damn good OS.

  • Umm... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by calebt3 (1098475) on Monday April 21 2008, @07:36PM (#23153060)
    Isn't it kinda late to be releasing to manufactures? How much more will they be able to use it?

  • So much service! (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Fluffeh (1273756) on Monday April 21 2008, @07:37PM (#23153074)
    While I love the fact that my OS is being helped along and that they are keeping it up to date, I am still a little annoyed that the "follow up" OS is really still about as useful as a bucket full of random sized bolts.

    Though I love gaming, each month seems to bring me closer and closer to blowing away all three of my windows boxes and replacing them with a distro of Ubuntu or something similar. My lack of knowledge is the one thing keeping that at bay for now.

    When will Microsoft simply get the fact that a flashy desktop DOES NOT COMPENSATE FOR A SHITTY OS.

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by aliquis (678370)
      Personally I wouldn't compare computer and console gaming, I like my RTS and Quake and neither works good on console I assume. Anyway, at a console you do indeed get gaming without a stupid OS ;D. So if there are any approriate time to mention console gaming this must be it.

      Regarding lack of knowledge have no fear, today there are so many more users, documentation, forums, and what not, and support for various things have improved and the desktops are better and so on. For just using Ubuntu I doubt you need

    • Re:So much service! (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Bandman (86149) on Monday April 21 2008, @08:13PM (#23153356) Homepage
      Wanna bet on whether or not it "accidently" breaks enough machines to convince people to upgrade?

    • Re:So much service! (Score:5, Informative)

      by pizpot (622748) on Monday April 21 2008, @09:25PM (#23153846)
      How to do your Windows/Ubuntu PC, with 2 hardrives:

      drive 1,120GB (operating systems and windows programs)
      drive 2 200GB+ (linux data)

      partition drive 1 into four partitions of this size:

      1. 20G - for XP (fat32)
      2. 20G - for XP backup (fat32)
      3. 60G - for windows data (fat32)
      4. 20G - for ubuntu linux / (ext2)

      partition drive 2 into 2 partitions:
      1. 512 MB for linux swap
      2. the rest for linux /home (ext2)

      Google "hirens download" for a cd with partition and ghost programs.

      Install XP on drive 1 partition 1 and patch it up and install all your stuff. Put games in a folder called "programs" on part 3. Make sure you have a router firewall so XP not get hacked right away.

      Install Ubuntu linux (or whatever) to the 4th partition on drive 1, tell it to use the big partition on drive 2 as /home.

      Then ghost XP to partition 2 for when it goes to shit. When that happens, just ghost it back from 2 to 1: 5 minutes beats an hour or two.

      If you re-install windows, you will lose your boot menu that linux did for you. Just boot to the ubuntu cd, and click Apps, Terminal and then:
      grub
      find /boot/grub/stage1
      -->it replies with (hd0,3)
      root (hd0,3)
      setup (hd0)
      quit
      exit

    • Re:So much service! (Score:5, Interesting)

      by blindd0t (855876) on Tuesday April 22 2008, @12:00AM (#23154896)

      Though I love gaming, each month seems to bring me closer and closer to blowing away all three of my windows boxes and replacing them with a distro of Ubuntu or something similar. My lack of knowledge is the one thing keeping that at bay for now.

      In case you didn't already know, the next version of Ubuntu comes out Thursday this week (April 24th 2008). Though I would recommend waiting until the initial rush is over and you can actually connect to one of the mirrors (this may take a few days to a week), this new version includes a Windows installer which allows you to install (and uninstall, if you so desire) Ubuntu without having to worry about partitions and other aspects of OS installation you might be uncomfortable with. Here's a link to where it's mentioned [ubuntu.com] on the Ubuntu site. :-)

      • Unless your hardware isn't supported (ie Broadcom). Then you're pretty much boned. Other than that, it's all good.

          • Re:So much service! - Broadcom does work (Score:5, Insightful)

            by Perseid (660451) on Monday April 21 2008, @10:49PM (#23154444)
            We go from:

            Ubuntu most of the time requires no specific knowledge. Start the live cd, double click the install icon and click next. Wait fifteen minutes and you have a stable system.
            to

            No, this commment would classify you as a bit of a n00b. You still using Ubuntu? You can get broadcom cards to work using firmware from linuxwireless + the b43 kernel module. I personally prefer to just compile the Zen Kernel from git (not to be confused with Xen). It's bleeding edge and fast. http://waninkoko.info/?q=node/14 [waninkoko.info] Otherwise, just build the kernel module and get the firmware. I'm graduated from Kubuntu to Arch, and now am switching from Arch to Gentoo so I can have even more control and more speed.
            *blink*

      • Re:So much service! (Score:4, Funny)

        by MightyMartian (840721) on Monday April 21 2008, @10:15PM (#23154210) Journal

        I have at least one friend who gave up on Ubuntu on the grounds that it was too user friendly and didn't feel like real linux any more. Just something to think about.

        Yes, I'm sure the Ubuntu development team is going to lose sleep over some flaming lunatic.

        • Re:So much service! (Score:5, Insightful)

          by gnalre (323830) on Tuesday April 22 2008, @03:15AM (#23155698)

          Very true. I've been using Vista since it was available on Newegg, and have had almost no problems (not none, but then again, it isn't like people have no problems in any OS). It works beautifully, people crying about Vista are either a) unfortunate in the fact that their hardware/app isn't supported (and this isn't the majority of the problems), or b) spreading FUD.
          Hurrah for you. You have played Microsoft roulette and we have a winner!

          The truth is I am sure Vista is fine for many people. I do assume Microsoft did some testing before release, however even with a brand new PC you just don't know how Vista will run. And why bother when you do know windows XP will run just fine,(and probably faster). Also if you look at what Vista gives you over XP, there is not a lot there to make it a must have upgrade especially with the afore mentioned risks associated with it.

  • Here's a possible link... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Adam Zweimiller (710977) on Monday April 21 2008, @07:40PM (#23153108) Homepage
    Windows XP SP3 rev. 5503 [mydigitallife.info]

  • Added "Features" (Score:5, Informative)

    by Shikaku (1129753) on Monday April 21 2008, @07:58PM (#23153262)

    Windows XP SP3 also includes a small list of previously unavailable functionality, including NAP and an update of Windows Product Activation.
    I love the term "functionality" because it reminds me of the DRM things in Vista. Anyway, here's what they are adding besides all previous fixes:

    "Black Hole" Router Detection Windows XP SP3 includes improvements to black hole router detection (detecting routers that are silently discarding packets), turning it on by default.
    Seems nice

    Network Access Protection (NAP)
    More for enterprise/admins. See http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/nap/napfaq.mspx [microsoft.com].

    Descriptive Security Options User Interface The Security Options control panel in Windows XP SP3 now has more descriptive text to explain settings and prevent incorrect settings configuration. Figure 1 shows an example of this new functionality.
    Cool I guess.

    Enhanced security for Administrator and Service policy entries In System Center Essentials for Windows XP SP3, Administrator and Service entries will be present by default on any new instance of policy. Additionally, the user interface for the Impersonate Client After Authentication user right will not be able to remove these settings.
    More admin stuff. I'll skip some of it from the PDF

    Windows Product Activation As in Windows Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Vista, users can now complete operating system installation without providing a product key during a full, integrated installation of Windows XP SP3. The operating system will prompt the user for a product key later as part of Genuine Advantage. As with previous service packs, no product key is requested or required when installing Windows XP SP3 using the update package available through Microsoft Update. Note The Windows Product Activation changes in Windows XP SP3 are not related to the Windows Vista Key Management Service (KMS). This update affects only new operating system installations from integrated source media. This update affects the installation media only and is not a change to how activation works in Windows XP.
    I'm not so sure about this though. WPA update... I wonder what Microsoft is sneak in on this.
    • The product activation upgrade doesn't have any effect on patching existing systems - it's for slipstreamed media. Basically adds the feature to add the license key and activate (WGA) after installation instead of being prompted for it in the middle of the installation. They're not backporting the whole Vista activation / KMS / etc scheme to XP. If they did, their corporate customers would go nuts. Nobody wants to have to re-engineer XP deployment techniques at this point. And a bunch of corporate customers
      • Unless it smells bad simply by association. "It's from MS, it must smell bad, therefore it must have something sneaky." Not necessarily good logic.

  • Nice work there Lou^h^h^hBill (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Linker3000 (626634) on Monday April 21 2008, @08:14PM (#23153360)
    Overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3.pdf - 428 KB Download
    Overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3.xps - 634 KB Download

  • Direct X 10 (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Satanboy (253169) on Monday April 21 2008, @08:19PM (#23153398)
    Still no directX 10.

    But at least I got some patches!

  • For those of us in New Zealand... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 21 2008, @08:25PM (#23153440)
    ... does "early summer" mean we have to wait until next March?

  • Six months then. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by downundarob (184525) on Monday April 21 2008, @08:43PM (#23153564)
    Early Summer!

    So somewhere around December then?

  • Update Rollups every 6 months please! (Score:5, Insightful)

    by ScottCooperDotNet (929575) on Monday April 21 2008, @08:59PM (#23153654)
    As someone who's had to build many a Windows XP system since SP2 came out, it would be very handy if Microsoft offered a single file (similar to Windows 2000's Update Rollup) that has all patches since the last service pack. It would save me (or my company) time, and would save Microsoft on bandwidth.

    I'm aware there are third party ways to update fresh builds of XP in a more straightforward fashion (or integrate the updates in to the install disc), but where is mighty Microsoft on this? Where is the value here?

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by EXMSFT (935404)
      You're really installing Windows via winnt32 every time? You should just use Sysprep and keep your image up to date...

    • Re:Update Rollups every 6 months please! (Score:5, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 21 2008, @09:12PM (#23153730)
      I'm aware there are third party ways to update fresh builds of XP in a more straightforward fashion (or integrate the updates in to the install disc), but where is mighty Microsoft on this? Where is the value here?

      Ummm, you don't need a third-party tool, microsoft provides lots of information on how to slipstream patches into xp before you install. This documentation has been available for years, and it is the same technique as win2000 and win2003 (dunno about vista).

      You can also script your install (search google for winnt.sif or unattend.txt) so you just turn on the system and come back in 30 minutes with everything installed the way you like it. Go look at www.msfn.org [msfn.org].

  • One question. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Allnighterking (74212) on Monday April 21 2008, @09:40PM (#23153944) Homepage
    Will it make it out before the proposed "EOL" for XP in June?

    • Re:So the bad guys will have MONTHS. (Score:5, Informative)

      by edugeek-au (1163405) on Monday April 21 2008, @07:52PM (#23153220) Homepage
      Windows XP SP3 - detailed by channel schedule
      Channel / Release Vector
      Planned dates (US)


      RTM (release to manufacturing) - Apr-21
      OEM Channel - Apr-21
      Windows Update - Apr-29
      Download Centre - Apr-29
      MSDN/Technet Download - May-02
      Windows XP SP3 Fulfillment Media - May-19
      VL Customers via download - Jun-01
      Automatic Updates - Jun-10

    • Re:So the bad guys will have MONTHS. (Score:5, Informative)

      by MarkLR (236125) on Monday April 21 2008, @07:54PM (#23153234)
      SP3 is not a bug fix but rather a rollup of previous fixes that users should already have and a few new features - mostly related to networking. There is no "patch" to exploit.

    • Re:So the bad guys will have MONTHS. (Score:5, Informative)

      by fyrewulff (702920) on Monday April 21 2008, @07:57PM (#23153250)
      Uh, SPs are just packaged updates since the last major release. XP SP2 was the exception this time around. You already have most of SP3, if not all of it, if you've been staying up to date.

      The most notable new feature of SP3 is that it allows more CD keys to be entered into it, since they are extremely close or have run out of new ones to print that XP, XP SP1 and XP SP2 will recognize.

      The SP3 via automatic updates seems to mean to me that they are waiting that long to have a special SP3 download (like the massive 300MB or so SP2 offline installer)

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by QuantumRiff (120817)
        Your missing one of the best reasons for SP3. I just installed a fresh copy of XPSP2 on a new model of computer to get the images ready. 110 MS patches later, it was caught up! Thank god for Windows Software Update Services or I would have had to download them all from Microsoft. Would have taken all day!

    • Re:RTM? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by The Second Horseman (121958) on Monday April 21 2008, @08:25PM (#23153444)
      You're not really the customer for this if you're thinking retail. Sure, it's a patch set for end-users, but the main target is corporate / volume license customers (for example, higher ed) customers who want updated media, drivers, etc. and don't want to move to Vista yet. They're still going to be able to get and use XP (downgrade rights) via their license agreement, and many will probably use XP for another couple of years.
    • ??? What planet do you live on? Vista is as efficient as an elephant in a phone booth. ???

      • Re:RTM? (Score:5, Funny)

        by Unnngh! (731758) on Monday April 21 2008, @08:51PM (#23153600)
        Something must have been pretty damn efficient to fit an elephant into a telephone booth.
        • not really, there's no specifics on the size of the elephant (or the phone booth)

        • Re:RTM? (Score:5, Funny)

          by smitty_one_each (243267) * on Monday April 21 2008, @09:28PM (#23153864) Homepage Journal
          Legend has it that Vista the Elephant was wandering about on the beach, minding its own business, when it spied a piano on a small island just offshore, at his favorite bar, The Funky Trunk. TFT had a land bridge briefly at low tide, but the water formed a moat to keep out the riff-raff most of the time. The durable unit sat outside on the deck, adjacent the call box. (But don't let the delightfully retro rotary dial, the old style mouthpiece, or the earpiece with the frayed, cloth-covered cord within the weathered, almost out-house-ish callbox distract you from the ivories on the piano, or the ivory on the shore, or you'll screw up the pacing of this admittedly predictable short story).
          Something of a piano aficionado , the elephant wandered out to the island to relive an Anderson and Roe [andersonroe.net] moment.
          Suddenly, a shark appeared between the elephant and the island, water barely deep enough for the sleek menace to move!
          Turning in alarm, the elephant started to move back to the shore. Another shark! What to do? Arriving at full panic, the elephant leapt with stunning mechanical efficiency clear over the first predator, landing in the phone booth.
          Now you know the story of how Vista jumped the shark [wikipedia.org].

            • Re:RTM? (Score:5, Funny)

              by alshithead (981606) on Monday April 21 2008, @10:46PM (#23154434)
              "You sir have made me go log in for the first time in years to post a reply to Slashdot. Incorporating the only animal that can't jump, and Microsoft into a legendary parable... We need to invent new words to describe awesome."

              Wait just a minute. I'm sure elephants can jump. I've seen it in lots of cartoons.

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