To install, or not to install....

that is the question.
I am referring to SP3 for windows. The update has been waiting in on my computer for a while now. So I am wondering if anyone has had any trouble with it?
Any thoughts?

I have NOT installed it on my Mac... and it's working fine.

There is an SP3? I just reconfigured one of my laptops with XP, and let Microsoft have at it with updates... but see I'm still on SP2.

For what it's worth, my PowerBook crashes more than my Lenovo, despite Apple's proprietary bloat.

Great thread.

Faceking. It's called WindowsXP Service Pack 3 (KB936929)

You should be able to find it if you go to Start and then scan for Windows Updates. It's the biggest one out there now.

My techie says it's STILL not safe. I'm being prompted daily and it's purportedly riddled with potential problems one of which manifests itself in your pc NOT being able to sign onto the internet after installation or being bumped off-line incessantly.

I say wait.

I'm running fine without it.

Hi NCguy,

Both my brother-in-law and I install Microsoft Service Pack 3 several weeks ago, We had no problems on installation and have had no problems with our PC's since installing it. My opinion is INSTALL IT, to be on the safe side setup a system Restore point so in the unlikely event you have problems you can wind you PC back to the restore point.

My system clearly displays that I have SP3 installed on my computer.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Overview

Brief Description

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. This white paper summarizes what is new in Windows XP SP3.

Here is the link that will take you directly to the download page:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

At the end of the day its up to you and how comfortable you are at doing it

Hope this helps

Cheers

Smartalk

I heard the same thing about there being problems with SP3. Most Windows OS's and addons are like that til they've been out awhile.

If your PC is working fine and if you have an antivirus and firewall I would hold off for a while.

You can turn Automatic Updates off btw...so it doesn't keep asking you to install.

To turn automatic updates off click start > run and type in msconfig

Then go to the services tab and uncheck Automatic Updates

Click Apply and then OK.

I didn't have any problems with that particular update. I did have problems with KB951748. After I installed it I couldn't connect to the Internet, but that's because there was an incompatibility between the update and ZoneAlarm (my firewall). I don't know if any other firewall or security programs had similar issues, but ZoneAlarm released an update within a couple of days.

ZoneAlarm by Check Point - Award winning PC Protection, Antivirus, Firewall, Anti-Spyware, Identity Protection, and much more.

Getting back to Service Pack 3, you can always try installing the update. If you have problems like a lack of Internet connectivity, try temporarily shutting down or changing the settings on other programs that are running, such as your firewall, anti-virus program, and other security programs. If that solves the problem, then you know there's an incompatibility between the update and your security program. Contact the vendor of the security program for a patch or update.

If nothing else works and you're still having problems, you can uninstall Service Pack 3 by going to Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.

I installed it when it came out (windows XP). I haven't had any problems with it.