pubscout wrote:
> Inordinately long download and installation times, error messages,
> computer lockups..that's all I seem to read about this update. It's
> not what I'm used to on my Mac, for sure. Who can blame anyone for
> backing off this new update until the kinks are worked out?
Personally - and in my business where I have pushed Office XP SP3, Office
2003 SP3 and Windows XP SP3 out to a few hundred (thousands in the case of
the former two) machines so far - no issues.
Here - in the newsgroup where people come for help with Windows Update
issues - I have helped some people solve their issues with Windows XP SP3,
Office XP SP3 and Office 2003 SP3 for some time now...
No one has been *forced* to get SP3 by anyone in these newsgroups nor the
makers of said service pack. They may have been encouraged - but just
because someone encourages you to do something, doesn't mean it will be
done. So those who have taken the leap ill-prepared for an update that
contains 1174 (+?) patches all rolled into one with a few minor OS
enhancements thrown in for good measure - well - leaped without looking.
That's not to say there are not those who have had issues who thought they
were well prepared - there is always some - after all - millions upon
millions of hardware/software combinations means there is *no way* to
guarantee 100% compatibility.
I have/support Macintosh computers as well. Not all of their updates have
gone 'smoothly' and ones that are equivalent to SP1a, SP2 and SP3 usually
cost $100 or so to get - and then the problems start being exposed and there
are many posts about them in various places and then all is well after the
kinks have been worked out for the unthought of issues that ended up
inevitably happening.
No one is blaming anyone if they do not choose to get Windows XP SP3 right
now. In fact - if they aren't a little nervous and a little careful because
of that twinge of nervousness (if for no other reason) - then leaping before
you look gets you whatever it gets you. ;-)
As for the download times... 4 minutes? That may be pushing it. I think
someplace it took 20 minutes - but I personally just downloaded the EXE and
ISO for the CD and carry those around with me now. The slowest speed
(dial-ups) if they get the actual EXE - likely will have a 24+ hour download
on their hands. I recommend HIGHLY that they either get a friend with
high-speed Internet to get them the CD (get the ISO and burn a CD from it)
or they use
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and let it scan and
determine what 50-80MB of the 300+ MB they need and reduce it to 8 or so
hours - with the CD ISO being their best option.
Instead of griping - how about posting some of the facts and solutions that
have been tried and tested true? After all - this is the newsgroup to ask
for and obtain help with Windows Updates - not the newsgroup to grip and
complain just to gripe and complain. ;-)
WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx
Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717
Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm
Key things to note:
Internet Explorer:
"If you have installed Windows Internet Explorer® 7 or a beta version of
Internet Explorer 8, and then install Windows XP SP3, you cannot uninstall
Internet Explorer. To avoid this, ensure Internet Explorer 7 or a beta
version of Internet Explorer 8 is not installed before installing Windows XP
SP3. If you have already encountered this issue, uninstall Windows XP SP3,
uninstall Internet Explorer, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002:
"If you install Windows XP SP3 on a computer running Windows XP Media Center
Edition 2002 with SP1, Windows XP Media Center Edition may malfunction. To
avoid this, install Windows XP SP2 before you install Windows XP SP3. If
this issue has already occurred, uninstall Windows XP SP3, install Windows
XP SP2, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."
It seems some people are unable to get further updates after installing
SP3... Seems some have experienced a symptom similar to doing a repair
installation on Windows XP - and the same fix seems to work for them for
that...
Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Some people experience an "endless reboot" issue...
From PA Bear [MS MVP]:
Workarounds:
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jes...ed-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx
[NB: The above has been updated many times and now includes "a small tool
that will detect the IntelPPM problem and mitigate it before installing
[WinXP SP3]."
1. Boot into Safe Mode and rename INTELPMM.SYS to INTELPMM.OLD.
2. After booting into Safe Mode:
Start --> Run --> (copy/paste)
sc config intelppm start= disabled
--> OK --> Reboot into normal (Windows) mode.
Other references include:
..
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?p=187790#p187790
..
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jes...ed-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx
..
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_crashes/
..
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9084418
.. You receive a "Stop 0x0000007E" error message after you upgrade to Windows
XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 on a non-Intel-processor-based computer
(Revised 06 May-08)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372
A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft*...
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html