windows service pack 3????

[my right]

Just a couple of questions to people who have installed xp service pack 3. Is it worth the installation? What benifits are they? I did a little research and found a ton of info and a lot of people complaining about problems, would you recommend a person with mediocore pc problem solving skills install this?

[CarrotAndStick]

Wait for a while. The auto-update is a safer route to take.

[msnpatriot]

Using laptop with xp-pro, 1.4p processor, 1gb ram, and has been continuously updated, runs fine.

Read a little bit about SP3 and received the update notice couple weeks ago. Waited about a day or so, then clicked on the update notice. Absolutely nothing happened. The notice went away, and my system still shows SP2.

Anyone know what happened here?

[KirbDog]

Using laptop with xp-pro, 1.4p processor, 1gb ram, and has been continuously updated, runs fine. Read a little bit about SP3 and received the update notice couple weeks ago. Waited about a day or so, then clicked on the update notice. Absolutely nothing happened. The notice went away, and my system still shows SP2. Anyone know what happened here?

Most likely the systems are busy I've seen this happen many times. At some point you will get the files downloaded and the your computer will let you know it is ready.

[KirbDog]

One thing to keep in mind is this service pack isn’t cumulative. Most service packs in the past were but not this one. You would think it would be after all the iso image is over half a gig in size.

Kirby

[msnpatriot]

Thanks for the info, I would never have thought of the systems being busy as a possibility.

Since I was up to date before SP3 I figured there wouldn’t be alot there, but I had read that I might be able to run a newer level of security for wireless operations.

[raybbr]

I downloaded "xpsp3_5512.080413-2113_usa_x86fre_spcd.iso" from MS. What do you do to get the file to execute? I have a home made PC with XP Pro running an AMD processor.

What about a restore prior to installing SP3?

[Salgak]

.ISO files require a CD Burning program such as Roxio or Nero to convert the image into a CD-ROM. . .

[Malsua]

I’ve installed SP3 at least 30 times at this point. No issues. Go forth and multiply! (I’m an IT guy, quite up on these things, SP3 is solid)

[One_who_hopes_to_know]

The 2 or 3 additional "new" features are miminal

Amazing What Microsoft can do with 2 or 3 "minimal" features.

My Windows XP Professional computer was completely up to date. After installation the OS cannot find the graphics card, video capture device, or sound card.

AMD users simply drop into a coninuous reboot cycle.

We have seen proof once again that Windows users are really Microsoft QA testers.

[dayglored]

> Amazing What Microsoft can do with 2 or 3 "minimal" features. My Windows XP Professional computer was completely up to date. After installation the OS cannot find the graphics card, video capture device, or sound card.

That's darned curious. First I've heard of all those disappearing solely due to SP3.

I might hazard a guess that those peripherals were previously running on OEM or specialized drivers, and perhaps the SP3 roll-up installed more recent MS drivers "over" the right ones.

> AMD users simply drop into a coninuous reboot cycle.

Not all AMD users. Only those who had an AMD in a box from HP (possibly others) who had MISCONFIGURED the CPU patches, and were patching for the INTEL CPU INSTEAD OF THE AMD CPU.

That's hardly Microsoft's fault. THE OEM MADE THE ERROR. Worse, the OEM knew about it in advance and ignored the warnings. Cheap and lazy.

> We have seen proof once again that Windows users are really Microsoft QA testers.

Well, that's not news.

I'm hardly a Microsoft fan -- I prefer Mac, Linux, and Unix boxes, both at home and at work (I'm a System Admin). Nevertheless, not everything that happens in a Windows system in necessarily Microsoft screwing up. The OEMs who lap up the scum at the feet of the Lords of Redmond screw up on their own pretty often too.

[One_who_hopes_to_know]

I was not aware of the OEM culpability with the AMD mess. When I heard the symptoms it re-inforced my distain for untested releases from MS. It also seemed to fit with my problem as my video capture and graphics cards are Radeon ATI (now AMD).

MS did not overlay the old drivers, as Windows cannot even see the hardware. The device driver shows now graphics card. It is running on default VGA. I cannot install updated drivers because the hardware does not exist according to the OS.

I do not disagree with your sentiments. I have written software and managed software development teams for 25 years. We are about to spend $250K on MS Team Foundation Server because it is the best fit for our business. I am just frustrated knowing the extent to which I have our software regression tested for our customers and then seeing something like this.

Thanks for the reply

[dayglored]

> MS did not overlay the old drivers, as Windows cannot even see the hardware. The device driver shows no[w] graphics card. It is running on default VGA.

If it's able to run VGA mode, then XP can, in fact see the hardware, it just doesn't know how to deal with it. That does sound like a clobbered video/graphics driver. I've had that symptom before.

> I cannot install updated drivers because the hardware does not exist according to the OS.

I would try repeating whatever procedure installed the graphics and video drivers originally, since those would recognize the hardware, even if the OS does not. For example, there are video cards that aren't recognized by early releases of XP, and it comes up in VGA mode, but if you re-run the video install, it works even though XP didn't see it, and then the video works under XP (and XP sees it).

> I do not disagree with your sentiments. I have written software and managed software development teams for 25 years. We are about to spend $250K on MS Team Foundation Server because it is the best fit for our business. I am just frustrated knowing the extent to which I have our software regression tested for our customers and then seeing something like this.

Yep, I concur completely. Here's how I look at it:

Microsoft is not in the business of making and selling good software. They are in the business of making and selling software to maximize profits for their shareholders. To claim otherwise is disingenuous. They do a very good job -- their shareholders make money every year, often beyond their wildest dreams. They do it by testing only enough to allow them to release something that people will buy. Microsoft spokesmen have been quoted as saying, "It's not bug-free, but it's good enough for you."

I have no quarrel with that -- that's business, and the buyer should beware.

The onerous thing about it is the fact that Microsoft ALSO owns the marketplace.

Which (aside from technical and stylistic preferences) is another reason why I lean towards Mac, Linux, and Unix. Somebody has to provide competition against the juggernaut.

[One_who_hopes_to_know]

I have already uninstalled the previous drivers and tried to reinstall from the ATI media. Seems I was on the right path but not backing up in the process far enough. It turns out I also need to re-install the motherboard chipset drivers. I just received an email response from MS support which stated:

From our case log, I understand that the video card (ATI 9700 all in wonder) cannot be cognized properly after installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3). If I have misunderstood this issue please let me know.

I understand the inconvenience you have experienced. Please be assured that I will do my best to help you.

Regarding this issue, we need to remove the previous video card driver completely and install the latest driver as well as the motherboard chipset driver.

To find the properly motherboard driver please help me to collect the following information for further research.

Use "Everest" to collect the System Information. =============================== 1. Please download and install "Everest" from the following address: ...

[dayglored]

> I just received an email response from MS support which stated: From our case log, I understand that the video card (ATI 9700 all in wonder) cannot be cognized properly after installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)...

Sonofabeotch. That's a new one for me with SP3. Sorry you had to be the guinea pig.

Is Microsoft going to compensate you for your time and frustration as a beta  production tester for SP3?

I didn't think so...