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    Win XP SP3 Question

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by hendra, Jan 19, 2009.

  1. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    hendra, Jan 19, 2009
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  2. ComputerMD82

    ComputerMD82 NX-74205

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    Never thought of that...

    You're right, I always have to install SP2 before I install SP3. Wonder why..
     
    ComputerMD82, Jan 19, 2009
    #2
  3. ComputerMD82

    ComputerMD82 NX-74205

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    It probably contains all previously released updates that came out after SP2 did and not just everything from day 1, but I still would like the all in one SP to save time lol :D
     
    ComputerMD82, Jan 19, 2009
    #3
  4. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    Do not question the ways of Microsoft... ;)
     
    swarmer, Jan 19, 2009
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  5. ComputerMD82

    ComputerMD82 NX-74205

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    To quote Doc from Back to the Future part III: "They probably would have burned me at the stake as a heretic or something." LOL

    :D
     
    ComputerMD82, Jan 19, 2009
    #5
  6. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Actually, if you read your second link - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/cc164204.aspx - carefully, you'll see that the only service pack you must have installed before you install SP3 is SP1. That TechNet article merely recommends that you also have SP2 installed.

    There is a TechNet forum thread discussing this precise issue here; although it doesn't conclusively resolve the issue, I believe the answer is that because there are still some customers who purchased extended support for service pack 1 (SP1), Microsoft had to allow SP3 to install over an SP1 installation; however, because no-one was still receiving any support for the original RTM version of XP, XP was under no obligation to design SP3 to allow users to install it onto an existing installation of XP RTM.

    Thus, in order to be able to install SP3 you have to have an existing installation of XP that is itself still eligible for support, which would mean only as far back as SP1.
     
    Shyster1, Jan 19, 2009
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  7. Deks

    Deks Notebook Prophet

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    To my knowledge, it is recommended you have SP2 (as it incorporates everything prior to it) and then install SP3.

    Or to be more precise, just slipstream both SP2 and SP3 onto the XP install CD and you're set.
    :)

    SP3 incorporates all of the updates from SP2 to the point of when SP3 was released (but not SP2 itself).
     
    Deks, Jan 19, 2009
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  8. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Actually, SP3 contains all of SP2 as well, which is why you can install SP3 directly over SP1 - you do not have to install SP2, it's merely recommended that you install SP2 first - my guess would be that doing so makes the upgrade to SP3 a little more reliable as you have effectively done half of the upgrade in one shot by installing SP2, so there's only half of the remaining upgrade to do by installing SP3.
     
    Shyster1, Jan 19, 2009
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  9. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    Update: it seems that you can directly slipstream SP3 to the original XP CD without previous SP installed. I follow the direction from here and I managed to get it to work with the original version of XP CD.
    But if you install original XP to the hard drive, you have to install SP2 first before you can install SP3. Otherwise, the Service Pack will refuse to install.
     
    hendra, Feb 4, 2009
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  10. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    From the horse's mouth :D

    Quoted.

    "Windows XP SP3 System Requirements
    * Supported Operating Systems: Windows XP; Windows XP Home Edition ; Windows XP Home Edition N; Windows XP Media Center Edition; Windows XP Professional Edition ; Windows XP Professional N; Windows XP Service Pack 1; Windows XP Service Pack 2; Windows XP Starter Edition; Windows XP Tablet PC Edition"

    I personally did not have to install SP1 first, but then I picked up the SP3 via Windows updates after the clean install of XP.

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Feb 4, 2009
    #10
  11. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Did you happen to notice what other updates you picked up along with SP3 after that clean install?
     
    Shyster1, Feb 4, 2009
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  12. Matt is Pro

    Matt is Pro I'm a PC, so?

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    I just did a clean install with my XP SP2 disc, then installed SP3 right on top.
     
    Matt is Pro, Feb 4, 2009
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  13. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    They did come up with some XP updates. I ignored them and just apply the SP3, after that, another update check only showed the relevant ones pertaining to SP3.

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Feb 4, 2009
    #13