XP PRO - Service Pack 3 (SP3) - To load or not to load?

[TPBigot]

We have approx. 20 TP's, T4x, T6x, and T400/T500. We have held off on loading SP3 because when it was first released, there seemed to be quite a few problems on TP's. I even had an IBM/Lenovo tech practically beg me not to load it.

Now that about 10 mths has passed since SP3 was released, I would appreciate a "general consensus" re: whether or not SP3 causes problems, or now runs just fine. With a very lean IT staff, we don't want to self-inflict any problems! I see quite a few people running it on this board...does anybody have any thoughts re: whether or not it will cause any issues to go ahead and load on all of our TP's?

Any/all thoughts/comments/advise are very much apprecaited!

Thansk, Jeff

[virge]

I have SP3 on all my XP machines ranging from Pentium II TP600 all the way up to an X61s. The only problem I've run into is that no matter which TP I'm using, SP3 just doesn't play nice with Intel 2200BG cards. I've had to switch them to Atheros chipped wireless cards. See http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=64794

Other than that, its been good.

[basketb]

What existing problem are you trying to solve with SP3? If you don't have any issues with SP2, then don't upgrade. It's that simple. If you think you must upgrade, then you surely don't want to upgrade all 20 TPs at once. Start with a couple of each. Test it for a months and if you don't encounter any issues, upgrade 6 six more and after another month upgrade the rest.

[TPBigot]

Thanks to both for your responses. Now that I think about it, the 2200BG card issue was exactly the symptom I remember having.

I am not really trying to solve any specific problem by loading SP3, but I am told it would save some time to rebuild a box by just loading SP3 instead of all the detail fixes in SP2 and after. Also, it's just kind of a pain to have to remember to treat these boxes differently, due to the 2200BG issue.

I would think that by now there is a fix? There are an awful lot of 2200BG's out there...they can't all be avoiding SP3?

Thanks much for your input!

Jeff

[GomJabbar]

I have a 2200BG card in my T42 and I am running XP SP3. Haven't noticed any issues.

[TPBigot]

The plot thickens!

DKB, how long have you been running SP3? and, what driver ver are you using?

Thanks, Jeff

[dsvochak]

T41, Intel 2200bg, XP SP3 since July, 08. No issues. Intel driver 9.0.4.33

[GomJabbar]

I see I downloaded SP3 05/04/08, so I must have installed it soon after. I am using the Lenovo 2200BG driver version 11.01.0.API, file name: 7KWC26WW.

In Device Manager the following files are listed.
w29n51.sys Intel version 9.0.4.36
Netw2c32.dll Intel version 9.0.4.95
Netw2r32.dll Intel version 9.0.4.95

[TPBigot]

Thanks to both of you....looks like it can work, with the right driver?

I appreicate the responses!

Jeff

[mazzinia]

I've an X31 with a 2200bg installed... never got a problem with the sp3.

IBM 2200BG Driver version 10.5.1.0 API

In Device Manager the following files are listed.
w29n51.sys Intel version 9.0.4.26
Netw2c32.dll Intel version 9.0.4.93
Netw2r32.dll Intel version 9.0.4.93

[killer]

SP3 was installed on my T43 last May. No problems have occurred.
So, I installed SP3 on my wife's T43p and no problems.
So, I installed SP3 on my mother-in-law's R50e amd no problems ... or I'd have had my ears bent.

Summary, SP3 seems OK to me.

[virge]

The SP3 and the 2200BG problem probably only comes up with certain setups. There are a few people with the problem, but certainly the majority seem to have to no problems. I haven't figured out what the issue is yet. I do know that on two T40 machines, a T42, a T42P, an X30 and an X31 I've had the same problems. Its basically every one of my Thinkpads that I try to use this card in and run SP3. That list is just off the top of my head.

I've thought about changing routers because that's the other common link. I have the same router at home and work and have the same 2200BG issues at both locations. Recently I acquired a Trendnet router and as soon as I get the chance, I'm going to give that a try. I've been saving a lone 2200BG card just for this purpose.

[mazzinia]

Not to ask the obvious, but have you tried to (probably) downgrade access connections , the drivers and eventually the power manager ?

[Nameless]

Do folks having the problem use Access Connections or let XP do the wireless networking itself? I'm really interested because I'm about to do a clean install of XP & drivers and my XP install media has SP3 slipstreamed.

[killer]

If it any help, I am using all the latest Lenovo updates together with Win XP SP3 and no problems. I cannot understand why you are having difficulties. Maybe you have malware?

[jdhurst]

There are a couple of things to think about before installing SP3:
(1) Do all the updates to but excluding SP3, then SP3, then the remaining updates.
(2) Have the Network Card drivers on hand in case something happens.

I updated my own machine to SP3 with zero issues, and numerous clients. It was in updating client machines that it became evident to have all the pre-SP3 updates in place before forging ahead. Having fixed those, anywhere we have SP3 running, it is running reliably.
... JDH

[rkawakami]

This may not be a valid datapoint for the OP but I have re-imaged a couple of T23 XP machines recently and do the following:

- load the factory recovery disks
- run the SP2 update using a disk ordered from Microsoft (now out of print from what I understand)
- then run the SP3 update; downloaded the image online and burned onto a CD
- go online and download all of the latest Windows updates from Microsoft
- remove all of the temporary and uninstall files from the system (after having first run SP3 for awhile on a test machine and finding no detectable problems)

So far I have had no issues with anything. I don't run Access Connections and use either the factory Actiontec wireless combo card or install a Broadcom card in its place. The only thing I did have a problem with was installing the S3 driver update that Microsoft suggested. It trashed the video and I had to roll back to the previous driver.

[Nameless]

Another datapoint in the SP3/2200BG discussion:

- clean install of XP Pro with SP3 and post-SP3 hotfixes slipstreamed (this install also had IE7 and WMP11 slipstreamed)
- installed .net 1.1 & 2.0 via switchess installers from http://www.doitrightconsulting.net.
- had downloads of all latest Lenovo drivers for the machine (T43) on hand prior to all this
- installed drivers in the following order:
- chipset drivers directly from Intel (9.0.0.1008)
- video drivers from Lenovo (8.383.1.1.3)
- monitor inf file/driver from Lenovo (2.00)
- audio driver from Lenovo (5.12.01.5300)
- ethernet driver from Lenovo (10.35.0.0)
- modem driver from Lenovo (7.58.00.00)
- WLAN driver from Lenovo (12.01.1000)

The WLAN driver is reported by device manager as 9.0.4.37(?). When I installed it I let it install MS WMI support. Under this config, using the Intel app to manage wireless connection, I get a working connection.

My router is a D-Link DGL-4300. Channel set to 6 I think (whatever the default is).

Also double checked that the SP3 installer I slipstreamed was the latest available from MS, ie. re-downloaded it and compared it to the installer I had already used to do the slipstream. They were identical.

FWIW there's my experience.

EDIT: forgot to mention that this was on a T43, type 2686-M5U.