XP SP3 Local Download

[cryptic1]

Just check the MD5 and the build number after you installed because the picture they have there shows build 3311 definitely not final.

There's no build number

 

[The_Techie]

I'm waiting for the official release (no cap left )

 

[CeeBee]

pffft! installed SP3 [non-final] on my old PC and... BSOD as soon as it started up. I though final was only being released at the end of the month?

hehehe... I also downloaded about 3 weeks ago (windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x8...)
put on several pcs, no ****, seemed to make improvement.
Today somebody put on laptop, (oldish Toshiba 1.3 Centrino) it goes thru install... complete... it tells user to restart... bam, BSOD, then blackscreen, nothing....
did chkdsk /p /r, no errors found, but same story when restart.
so he now gotta re-install win

 

[The_Techie]

hehehe... I also downloaded about 3 weeks ago (windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x8...)
put on several pcs, no ****, seemed to make improvement.
Today somebody put on laptop, (oldish Toshiba 1.3 Centrino) it goes thru install... complete... it tells user to restart... bam, BSOD, then blackscreen, nothing....
did chkdsk /p /r, no errors found, but same story when restart.
so he now gotta re-install win

Which is why you always a do a full backup before you install a service pack

 

[CeeBee]

luckily he only did "repair windows" so all the files still there.
maybe SP3 don't like 'old' pcs?

 

[Lydon]

Downloading now, thanks for the heads up. Engadget.com have also reported that the version going around is genuine if that's of any value to anyone

 

[HavocXphere]

The link in the Op is

bb25707c919dd835a9d9706b5725af58
Winver result: 2600.xpsp.080413-2111
WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU

Installs fine and appears to be RTM. However there is still confusing on the internetz because some of the config files still contain SP3BTA or something like that.

 

[Gnome]

The link in the Op is

bb25707c919dd835a9d9706b5725af58
Winver result: 2600.xpsp.080413-2111
WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU

Installs fine and appears to be RTM. However there is still confusing on the internetz because some of the config files still contain SP3BTA or something like that.

Sources? (Just want to check what they are saying)

But like I said you get tools to check that files match a catalog file distributed with them and the files I checked were, cmd.exe, kernal32.dll

Both contained Build 5512 in the version and matched the catalog file, SP3.CAT (which is unfakeable at this point as I understand it).
EDIT: Catalog files are like MD5 checks on files, so any change in the file will invalidate the file. It's the same system used for WHQL,etc.

Microsoft employees confirmed on Technet forum that the build number is 5512.

 

[HavocXphere]

Sources? (Just want to check what they are saying)

No, I'm saying the above download on uunet results in the winver & MD5 results I have posted. Judging by google, these match those of the RTM version...but like I said there is still some confusion on the interwebs regarding that.

ETA: For custom themes, this works:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=633040

I recommend the Luna Elements Blue theme.

 

[Gnome]

No, I'm saying the above download on uunet results in the winver & MD5 results I have posted. Judging by google, these match those of the RTM version...but like I said there is still some confusion on the interwebs regarding that.

I've asked a few people with MSDN/Technet subscriptions on msfn.org to check MD5 of their download and it matched the one I got from the Newsserver (Release group is Standalone) but yeah you never know

 

[Threepwood]

Do you still need to install service pack 2 first, or does 3 have everything from that in it aswell?

 

[Gnome]

Do you still need to install service pack 2 first, or does 3 have everything from that in it aswell?

For direct integration Windows XP Gold is fine, if you want to update a machine already running Windows XP you need at least Service Pack 1.

 

[medicnick83]

For direct integration Windows XP Gold is fine, if you want to update a machine already running Windows XP you need at least Service Pack 1.

Yeah, Tea can do that

 

[Threepwood]

Waaa?

What's Win XP Gold? How would I know if mine is SP1 or not? I know it's not SP2 as I have to install that manually every time...

 

[Gnome]

Waaa?

What's Win XP Gold? How would I know if mine is SP1 or not?

Windows XP Gold is the original release. I highly doubt you're still running Windows XP without a SP installed, but to check go:

Start -> Control Panel -> System.

There it should show your current Service Pack installed (or lack thereof)

Check this to see what I mean: http://img241.imageshack.us/my.php?image=examplehs6.jpg

Where mine says Service Pack 3 it will say Service Pack 1 or 2 or nothing at all.

If it's nothing at all that means you still have Windows XP completely unpatched (refered to as Gold, as in the original release).

If that is the case you have a seriously outdated system, you'll need to install Service Pack 1 or 2 first.

But like I said for integration you can do it directly on a Windows XP Gold.

Google "Windows XP integrate service pack" for more info if you're thinking of formatting.

 

[The_Techie]

Think "Vanilla XP" instead of Windows XP Gold

 

[Threepwood]

Windows XP Gold is the original release. I highly doubt you're still running Windows XP without a SP installed, but to check go:

Start -> Control Panel -> System.

There it should show your current Service Pack installed (or lack thereof)

Check this to see what I mean: http://img241.imageshack.us/my.php?image=examplehs6.jpg

Where mine says Service Pack 3 it will say Service Pack 1 or 2 or nothing at all.

If it's nothing at all that means you still have Windows XP completely unpatched (refered to as Gold, as in the original release).

If that is the case you have a seriously outdated system, you'll need to install Service Pack 1 or 2 first.

But like I said for integration you can do it directly on a Windows XP Gold.

Google "Windows XP integrate service pack" for more info if you're thinking of formatting.

Okay, that tells me my ver. of XP is "Gold", but I do have it patched to SP2 so no worries.

 

[Claymore]

Loaded XP SP3. Machine bluescreened on bootup, no safe mode possible - whining about something in GDI32.DLL. Booted off UBCD4WIN, expanded the file from the SP3 install folder to System32, and that fixed it. The one that was there had a newer date than the SP3 one, oddly.

 

[Gnome]

Hotfix perhaps?

 

[Browser]

Windows XP Gold is the original release. I highly doubt you're still running Windows XP without a SP installed, but to check go:

Start -> Control Panel -> System.

There it should show your current Service Pack installed (or lack thereof)

I think XP Gold was actually the first release with SP1 integrated and the disk is a Gold colour, I should still have mine somewhere. Maybe you're confusing Gold with the slang for when a product, normally games, are completed and "go gold".

A quicker way to check what Service pack you're running, if any, it to just press WinKey+Pause/Break, or from any Explorer window,,, Help > About.