Windows XP SP3-my report and results (preliminary)

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mgo · #1 Post by **mgo** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:15 pm

As a Tech Net member, I was able to download XP SP3 tonight and installed it on a R50p. First, I imaged the drive and then ran the .EXE. It went without any problems.

As the installer ran, here is what happened:

1: made an inventory of my computer
2: did backups of hundreds of files, mostly DLLs and EXE files
3: did a backup of the registry
4: installed hundreds of files, mostly DLL and EXE files, plus some misc files
5: re-wrote the registry with new entries
6: created a restore point
7: cleaned up its work area
8: finished and asked for a re-boot. The re-boot was not mandatory, there was the option to re-start later.

Total time for this procedure was around 20 minutes.

The service pack as downloaded was around 344 mb.
The $NtServicePackUninstall$ supsequently placed in Windows was 473 mb. (I will leave that alone for the time being and not delete it) Most likely it could be deleted later if things are going ok. It's the usual uninstall program similar to other updates and patches.

I'm guessing most of the work was done in system32. It seems around 1080 files were given new dates in there.

So far, nothing earth shattering noticed on re-boot. Machine continues to run well, and there is a new Media Player icon in the Quick Launch toolbar. During final stages of re-boot, a CMD window opened up and something else was done in system32. That window then closed and my programs finished loading up.

Boot up seems pretty fast, but then it usually is with this machine anyway, since it has 2 gig of RAM and a 7200 rpm drive.

Generally, the whold process was unremarkable and went fine. Hope this info helps other "experimenters" out there in ThinkPad land!

flashstar · #2 Post by **flashstar** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:18 am

Did not notice any differences on my T23. Boot up times seemed to have not changed drastically, maybe 2-3 seconds (the machine takes 25 seconds to boot with service pack 2).

I will probably wait until the final version is released since with SP3, there is an error when I try to uninstall Windows components.

Brad · #3 Post by **Brad** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:43 am

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.

Was there anything specific that SP3 addresses or is it mostly a consolidation of recent updates.

I notice when recovering an XP system that even with the most recent recovery CD's that include SP2 there are almost 100 Windows updates required to bring your system up to date.

Would Lenovo create new recovery CD's DVD's that would include this new service pack? I wouldn't expect them right away but would they be issued at all.

Brad

mgo · #4 Post by **mgo** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:42 am

Brad wrote:Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.

Was there anything specific that SP3 addresses or is it mostly a consolidation of recent updates.

I notice when recovering an XP system that even with the most recent recovery CD's that include SP2 there are almost 100 Windows updates required to bring your system up to date.

Would Lenovo create new recovery CD's DVD's that would include this new service pack? I wouldn't expect them right away but would they be issued at all.

Brad

Not sure just exactly what is getting fixed in SP3, but based on all the new files that were planted during the SP3 install I'm under the impression that the service pack went in and refreshed or replaced many files that were already part of earlier fixes, and it simply re-did some of those, rather than go thru a complex search and replace as needed process.

More than likely the Microsofties just decided to "shotgun" the SP3 and cover everything even if it was redundant.

My reading of various articles here and there on the 'net indicate it's mainly an accumulation of patches and fixes already done, and some new, un-named tweaks.

Some people claim a 10% speed increase, but my machine is pretty peppy already, so I have not gotten my "doors blown off" by the service pack.

After running overnight and this mornng, the computer is still displaying no problems as a result of the SP3 install.

I'm going to run SP3 on this one machine for a few days and see how it does, and then think about installing SP3 on a couple other ThinkPads.

#5 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:42 am

I have read mixed opinions about SP3. The anti-Vista side claims that SP3 slows XP DOWN, to make the only marginal Vista-SP1 speed gain (1-2%) look better...
I'll wait till it comes out officially, then slipstream it into my XP-Pro.
I only ever installed the Express recommended files, and none of the other stuff. My XP install is about 3 years old now, without any re-installation, and runs like a Bugatti Veyron.

joester · #6 Post by **joester** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 9:35 am

When I get a chance, I'll install it on a fresh drive with SP2 and no updates. I'm betting the 1.21 jigabits of updates and security patches are included in the SP3 pack.

Joe

mgo · #7 Post by **mgo** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:14 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:I have read mixed opinions about SP3. The anti-Vista side claims that SP3 slows XP DOWN, to make the only marginal Vista-SP1 speed gain (1-2%) look better...
I'll wait till it comes out officially, then slipstream it into my XP-Pro.
I only ever installed the Express recommended files, and none of the other stuff. My XP install is about 3 years old now, without any re-installation, and runs like a Bugatti Veyron.

Ha! Let's hope it your computer gets better mileage and remember the Veyron is made by (choke, gasp) Volkswagon!

#8 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:27 am

Volkswagen (not -wagon) also make Bentleys.
With a car like the Bugatti, who cares about mileage if you have that kind of small-change in your pocket?

I will install XP from scratch when I build my next PC, but I see no need for that in the immediate future.
I don't want to see Vista for a looooong time to come.

Brad · #9 Post by **Brad** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:52 pm

I do need to be able to travel at 252 mph especially in my driveway.

Brad

#10 Post by **bill bolton** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:57 pm

I've installed SP3 RC1 on two Pentium 4 based IBM desktop systems without any problems. There's no noticeable difference in performance of functionality so far.

I'll put it on a T43 soon as well.

Cheers,

Bill

ashleys · #11 Post by **ashleys** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:06 am

XP SP3 overview from Microsoft ...

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... layLang=en

davidspalding · #12 Post by **davidspalding** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:43 pm

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.

The PDF lists the new or enhanced functions, and I was frankly underwhelmed. A few people might need something here (like "Enhanced 'Black Hole' router detection").

k2jsv · #13 Post by **k2jsv** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 5:04 pm

Page 4... In the graphic

"Performance
Updaets"

Whoops!

There are several spelling and grammatical errors throughout that document.

gunston · #14 Post by **gunston** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:21 am

where to download SP3???

mgo · #15 Post by **mgo** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:35 am

gunston wrote:where to download SP3???

Right now, the SP3 download is only available to subscribers of Microsoft's "Tech Net", and one other Microsft site. It will be available to everybody else in a few days.

agarza · #16 Post by **agarza** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:49 pm

Will SP3 be available before 2008 begins?

gunston · #17 Post by **gunston** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:57 pm

everyone is still pending for the official release!

ArtShapiro · #18 Post by **ArtShapiro** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:50 pm

I've installed it within the past hour on the XP parition of my dual boot XP / Vista T42.

Only one obviously weird thing so far: Windows insists my wireless network isn't connected, and that no wireless networks are available. That's clearly bogus. There was some indication that I initially connected to a neighbor's network, and if so I'm surprised at the speed I'm getting on that normally weak signal. I can't find any of my own network's shares and see an unfamiliar network listed along with my own.

If this weren't a dual-boot machine, I think I'd uninstall it immediately. Guess I'd better check the Vista partition! Over and out.

Art

ArtShapiro · #19 Post by **ArtShapiro** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:05 pm

ArtShapiro wrote:I've installed it within the past hour on the XP parition of my dual boot XP / Vista T42.
Art

Turns out I couldn't subsequently boot XP except in safe mode...tried several times and it just black-screened with no disk activity. I've successfully System Restored and the machine is back up and functional.

Clearly this is an unacceptable release cantidate, at least on this T42.

Art

#20 Post by **bill bolton** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:04 am

bill bolton wrote:I'll put it on a T43 soon as well.

I installed SP3 on a T43 last night without any problems. There are no noticeable changes (good or bad) in the system performance of any of the systems I have installed it on so far.

Cheers,

Bill B.

gunston · #21 Post by **gunston** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 7:15 am

bill bolton wrote:
bill bolton wrote:I'll put it on a T43 soon as well.
I installed SP3 on a T43 last night without any problems. There are no noticeable changes (good or bad) in the system performance of any of the systems I have installed it on so far.

Cheers,

Bill B.

release?

#22 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:00 am

I would strongly advise any one to make a full backup, set a Restore point, or take an image of your hard disk, before you install SP3!

kev009 · #23 Post by **kev009** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:48 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:I would strongly advise any one to make a full backup, set a Restore point, or take an image of your hard disk, before you install SP3!

The uninstall works pretty well.

See here for my experience:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=54050

#24 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:28 am

I read your post. Luckily I don't have to worry about CSS on my T23 or T30. Don't even (want to) know IF that works on those Types.
I am the only user (or let my immediate family use them), so I don't want/need that type of security.
I'll wait at least a month after the official SP3 is out, before I try it.

gunston · #25 Post by **gunston** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:14 am

everyone is still waiting.

ashleys · #26 Post by **ashleys** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:32 am

The last I heard the official release of SP3 will be somewhen during the first half of 2008 (no more specific than that).

Windows XP SP3-my report and results (preliminary)

Windows XP SP3-my report and results (preliminary)

My SP3 Experience

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