Microsoft will be releasing the Windows XP Service Pack 3 in the first half of 2008 which means that users have to wait several months before they can install the new Windows XP Service Pack on their computer. As with most other Microsoft releases that are not yet ready for the prime time the Service Pack 3 can also be downloaded early.
Not by all users but by beta testers.. and you. The process is similar to the one that was used to get the Windows Vista Service Pack early. Create a new entry in the Windows XP Registry and use Windows Update to download the latest service pack for Windows XP.
Thankfully though there is no need to download and reboot the computer three times, a reboot is actually not needed at all.
Here are the two commands that you need. (you actually can bypass the first one if you have not installed the Service Pack 3 before)
reg delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\XPSP3 /f 2> NUL
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\XPSP3 /v RCPreview /t REG_SZ /d 1c667073-b87f-4f52-a479-98c85711d869 /f
Create a batch file (or download it here), put those lines into it and execute it. This creates the necessary key that makes Windows Update believe that we are one of the few that are allowed to download the Windows XP Service Pack 3. It should appear in the list of Updates right away.
Please Note: This is a Release Candidate. Do not download it if you do not know what Release Candidate means. It could break your system. The size of the service pack is roughly 80 Megabytes.
Update: The third service pack for Windows XP has been downloaded in the meantime. It is no longer necessary to download a release candidate build of it. Please use Windows Update or official Microsoft websites to download the Windows XP Service Pack 3 to the computer to install it.
Related Articles:
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta DownloadWindows 7 Service Pack 1 Download
Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta
Official Windows XP Service Pack 3 Download Links
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC Download
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will these updates ask for a new key (serial), sorry just curious
Dear Martin,
Thanks a Ton. Just installed SP3. Even though it was a release candidate, i was unable to resist the temptation to install it. The download and install takes an hour! Its a 70MB download. But i cant see any visible change in my system after install. Just going to properties tell me its SP3 thats all. If possible, please write article on whats new in SP3. Thanks a lot. You are really helpful.
Regards, BGM.
typo in the above post, pls read the 1st sentence as “unable to resist the temptation”
I’ve installed the Service Pack but I can’t see any difference from before.
What’s inside the new Service Pack?
Thanks
No visible changes noticed
I will think of trying the R2C version but can you tell Martin something about the previously mentioned autopatcher.com? I know it has been taken down by Microsoft but from where else i can get that.
And is there anyway that the updates which i have downloaded for xp can be compiled to a single exe file so that they can be used on other systems as well.
well if you have read the reviews before you installed the pack, then you’ll know that theres no major change except for the addition of wmp 11 and ie 7. The sp 3 is said to be a collection of old security updates and some vista security ported to windows xp.
When I download the sp 3, I was required to restart my computer once.
In the end, I uninstall sp 3 because I was having a hard time accessing my router’s web gui.
thanks for the guide…
after un installing sp3 will it shift back to sp2
any bady can tell me wat is window xp service pack 3 of key……………
if u download sp3 and apply it to ur win xp pro sp2 and if u dont like sp3 can u revert back to win xp pro sp2 and how?
hey, sorry if it was already mentioned, but every time I try and install it, it fails.
i think so its not working now
cos every time i go to update.microsoft.com
it does show sp3 rc 1 but the download dosent get started
can any body help out by posting some other method
use this link for sp3 it works
thanks any way esp to martin
http://download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v3-19990518/cabpool/windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu_a2ca583dedcd86837796111a632efa29a23f4cc0.exe
I want Window XP Service Pack 3. Please Give Me.
Thank You.
Thanks, it’s working.
Got Service Pack 3, v.3244
Grr…
This one is old(3244) , new release build 3264 can be downlaod at:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info.aspx?na=90&p=&SrcDisplayLang=en&SrcCategoryId=&SrcFamilyId=75ed934c-8423-4386-ad98-36b124a720aa&u=http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/e/4/ae43e777-d69b-4b96-b554-d1a2a0f40fac/windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu.exe
try this for RC SP3
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=75ed934c-8423-4386-ad98-36b124a720aa&DisplayLang=en
I am very happy by doenload Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate (exe)
I slipstream windows xp sp3 package to my original windows xp vlk, but the serial is invalid. Can any one fix this.
ihave been told that sp3 boost’s performance by 10%
THXXXXXXXXX
can download it from automatic update or not
This version of SP3-RC1 broke TCPIP on my Dell Dimension E520. Could not get network to function so had to revert back to SP2 with hotfixes. I guess I will wait until the official release version to install.
I have had it installed for a while now, have any of you noticed that Windows Update does not work with it? It works okay but never finds any updates! Now for 6 weeks! It also states Windows Update is for SP2! Can’t believe there has been nothing to update for the last 6 weeks!!
how can we download service pak 3.give me detailed information
good one of them is this
thankssssssssss
i was given service pack 3 by my best friend zen its one of the best os so far.thanks microsoft kip it up
i downloded it by net, service pack 3, its one of the best os so far.thanks microsoft kip it up
windows xp park 3 has mader me proud