Important ! Read this before installing Windows XP Service Pack 3

Geekgirl · 05-07-2008, 03:55 PM

Windows XP Service Pack 3 is officially released and now available via Windows Updates

Windows® XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system.

Date Published: 5/6/2008

What you should know before installing Windows XP SP3
Computerworld 5/7/08

How to Slipstream Service Pack 3 into Windows XP

**justpassingby** · 06-01-2008, 07:14 PM

Please read this information from Microsoft before you install SP3 :

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (KB950717)

Also refer to the article from Computerworld mentioned in the previous post :
What you should know before installing Windows XP SP3.

Microsoft help and support center set up a collection of links related to Windows XP and its latest updates, incuding top issues with SP3 and possible solutions. Look there first if you have a question or problem that's not addressed in this thread :
Windows XP Solution Center

Users of Norton/Symantec products, please read :

Before you install SP3 :

Symantec advises users to disable the SymProtect security feature of its products before applying XP SP3.

• To do this in Norton Internet Security 2008 and Norton AntiVirus 2008, uncheck Turn on protection for Norton products on the Options pages of these programs prior to installing XP SP3. Once the service pack is in place, return to the Options page and re-enable this setting.

• In Norton SystemWorks 2008, open the Advanced Options under Settings, click Next, choose Norton SystemWorks Options, and select the General tab. Uncheck Turn on protection for my Symantec product.

For other Norton products, read Anschultz's post, which comments that other third-party security products may also cause problems unless some functions are disabled before SP3 is installed.

update (06/06/2008) : Symantec has developed a LiveUpdate solution that is available now, which prevents this issue from occurring. Ensure that you run LiveUpdate and restart your computer before installing Service Pack for your Windows. For more information on running LiveUpdate for your Norton product, read How to run LiveUpdate from your Norton 2008 product.

Sources :
Windows Secrets NEWS UPDATE • Issue 154a • 2008-05-29
http://norton.lithium.com/norton/boa...cending&page=2
Symantec tool cleans up XP SP3 registry corruption

If you installed SP3 on a computer with a Norton 2008 product installed :

If you experience one or more of the following symptoms :

* Windows Device Manager is empty
* Missing Wireless network adaptors or other hardware devices
* Unable to connect using a wireless adapter

Follow this link to download a fix from symantec (SymRegFix.exe) :
http://solutions.symantec.com/sdccom...080530144453EN

Source :
Symantec tool cleans up XP SP3 registry corruption

Users of AMD-based computers, please read :

After installing SP3 you may find that your computer is stuck in a never-ending reboot loop. The problem is caused by the presence of Intel drivers (intelppm.sys) on AMD-based systems. Follow these steps only if you know your PC uses an AMD processor; doing so on an Intel-based machine could render the system unusable.

Before you install SP3, download and run this vbs script written by Jesper Johansson :

Quote:

Originally Posted by MVP Jesper Johansson

If you have an AMD-based computer, and all you want to do is prevent the problem before installing Service Pack 3, then try the new tool I just wrote. It will first check whether you have an AMD-based computer. If you do it will check whether the IntelPPM driver is set to load. If it is it will offer you an option to disable it. The tool works by simply double-clicking it. If you need to check many computers on a network you can do that by running it from the command line, using this command:

removeIntelPPMonAMD.vbs <computer 1> <computer 2> <computer 3>...

If you don't want to run a .vbs script you can also use the manual method explained below.

If you have already installed SP3 and are faced with the aforementioned problem then use this fix :

Quote:

Originally Posted by MVP Susan Bradley

When the system is first booting, press F8 to enter Windows' Safe Mode. Log into the Administrator acccount, click Start, Run, type cmd, and press Enter. When the command window opens, type the following command (don't forget the space after the equals sign, which is required):

sc config intelppm start= disabled

If for some reason you can't enter safe mode you can also boot on an XP CD, access the recovery console and type the following from the command prompt :

disable intelppm

Sources :
Does your AMD-based computer boot after installing XP SP3?
Windows Secrets NEWS UPDATE • Issue 154a • 2008-05-29

Geekgirl · 09-04-2008, 03:25 AM

9/4/2008

Problems with Windows XP SP3 persist

Quote:

XP SP3 should ship with two aspirins

I'm sure Microsoft made every effort to ensure that the distribution of Windows XP Service Pack 3 would go smoothly. Unfortunately, the company's efforts didn't keep some Windows Secrets readers out of the update muck.

One of the many people who shared their SP3 pain with us was Almer Procyshyn, who was seeing the Internet Explorer customization screen every time he started IE 7:

"Recently, like many others I have noticed, I experienced problems with my laptop after SP3 was installed, one being the RunOnce setting for IE 7. Many forums suggest modifying the Registry, but the simple most effective solution is:

Tools, Internet Options, Advanced, Reset (under Reset Internet Explorer settings), OK.

"This allows you to [reset your] RunOnce settings. Simple, and it works."

If only all SP3 glitches were so easy to resolve. Note that this workaround changes all IE 7 settings back to their default values, which may not be what you want. To fix the problem with a specific change to the Registry or using local security policy, see an explanation at Online Tech Tips.

While most XP users who have installed SP3 experience no problems, the risk/reward balance suggests that there's no hurry to apply the patch, at least until Microsoft stops supporting SP2 — many months from now.

Renewal pop-ups tick off antispyware user

Reader Ted Cohen is mad as hell at SpySweeper, his antispyware vendor, and he's going to take his business elsewhere.

"I have used SpySweeper for years and agree it is among the best. However, 30 days prior to my subscription expiration, the software begins automatic renewal-notice pop-ups every time the machine reboots — for me, several times a day.

"SpySweeper support says the pop-ups cannot be removed. It is intrusive and annoying, as the pop-ups override my applications. I pay SpySweeper to stop hackers from installing trash on my machine, but it seems they are as guilty as the bad guys where their own revenue is involved.

"All it would take is the usual 'do not show this message again' checkbox to make me happy, but these guys are shameless. I like their software, but I am going elsewhere."

The computer industry may not own the patent on alienating customers (see Automobiles, American), but software vendors in particular have made an art form out of it.

How good does a program have to be for you to put up with such annoying renewal reminders, not to mention update pop-ups and other intrusions? How loathsome do a company's marketing practices have to be for you to toss a product you're otherwise happy with?

http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/080904

05-07-2008, 03:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 13,734 OS: 98SE/WinXP Home/WinXP Pro/Vista/Windows 7	Important ! Read this before installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 Windows XP Service Pack 3 is officially released and now available via Windows Updates Windows® XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system. Date Published: 5/6/2008 What you should know before installing Windows XP SP3 Computerworld 5/7/08 How to Slipstream Service Pack 3 into Windows XP __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* LETS GO PENS !! Last edited by Geekgirl; 05-07-2008 at 04:39 PM.