SP3 Windows XP... what's the verdict?

Message

icantux · #31 Post by **icantux** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:46 am

True, true.

My line of thinking regarding these major "updates" remains unchanged:
- if your system's not broke - don't fix it
- if MS releases an "update" don't upgrade until it's proven to work as intended.
- expect to perform a clean install instead of "updating" using a SP, because it will break something.

dlai · #32 Post by **dlai** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:04 pm

Well, I decided to move forward and install SP3. Installed them on 2 T41s, 1 T42, and 1 T60, all without issues or problems. I fully expected my wifi to not work, but everything is working fine. So far, I don't notice anything different, things seem the same to me.

uberT, if your "Dan, is that you" question was directed to me, yes, it is me. And you are????

mattbiernat · #33 Post by **mattbiernat** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:37 pm

icantux wrote: - expect to perform a clean install instead of "updating" using a SP, because it will break something.

im sorry but could you clarify what you mean?

thuur · #34 Post by **thuur** » Fri May 09, 2008 2:17 pm

For what it's worth: it runs fine on my 570, no issues and seems a tad more responsive than SP2.

R,

#35 Post by **bill bolton** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:55 pm

icantux wrote:- if your system's not broke - don't fix it

At best a particular Windows XP system may be stablised, but all Windows XP systems are intrinsically and systemically broke at a whole host of levels, so your plan is also broke right out of the box.

The risk of not applying a Microsoft distributed operating system fix usually far outweighs any risk arising from applying it.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Tim M · #36 Post by **Tim M** » Fri May 09, 2008 10:00 pm

^ Though in this case, if one has been good about installing updates and hotfixes through Windows Update, how much additional benefit is gained from installing SP3?

I do think waiting a little bit before installing an SP to allow kinks to be worked out is a good idea, unless there is a host of critical security fixes.

bri · #37 Post by **bri** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:48 pm

does SP3 require the Genuine Advantage Validation thing to be installed? i refuse to install Genuine Advantage so i can only use Automatic Updates and not Windows Update. i received notification of SP3 via auto update but it just disappeared when i hit download. will have to get around to doing the standalone install for it but hoping that doesn't require Genuine Advantage.

Nick Y · #38 Post by **Nick Y** » Sat May 10, 2008 4:00 am

bri wrote:does SP3 require the Genuine Advantage Validation thing to be installed? i refuse to install Genuine Advantage so i can only use Automatic Updates and not Windows Update. i received notification of SP3 via auto update but it just disappeared when i hit download. will have to get around to doing the standalone install for it but hoping that doesn't require Genuine Advantage.

No -and you can download the whole of SP3 via the link I posted earlier in this topic.

#39 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sat May 10, 2008 11:36 am

You could also try http://windizupdate.com/
Runs via your Firefox browser.
No crap from Micro$haft to contend with!

Tim M · #40 Post by **Tim M** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:56 pm

Dr. Duke wrote:I have thinkpad 42p.

When I installed sp3 it caused access connections to work wierdly, not able to turn on or off wireless networking. In fact, I could not connect to my wireless network, and received contradictory messages such as wireless connected and turn on wireless. Even thought eh wireless light was on, it was obviously not working and could not find a wlan

even though there are two 25 ft. from me.

I tried updating and reinstalling TP access connections, still no go.

I had to do a system restore to get back on the INTERNET.

Thank God that worked.

Any suggestions?

I might just have to wait for some new updates from Lenovo, or some instructions from lenovo until install sp3 again.

I called lenovo service but an Indian chap told me they don't give tech support on software.

well.......

That is precisely what happened when I tried to apply SP3 to my T42.

aschb · #41 Post by **aschb** » Sun May 11, 2008 2:36 am

Installed SP3 on 3 PC's incl. T43P from Windows Update.
No problem at all. Time around 30 minutes for each of the PC's.
AC connection works fine.
Generally it seems the speed improved.

bri · #42 Post by **bri** » Sun May 11, 2008 12:18 pm

Nick Y wrote:
bri wrote:does SP3 require the Genuine Advantage Validation thing to be installed? i refuse to install Genuine Advantage so i can only use Automatic Updates and not Windows Update. i received notification of SP3 via auto update but it just disappeared when i hit download. will have to get around to doing the standalone install for it but hoping that doesn't require Genuine Advantage.
No -and you can download the whole of SP3 via the link I posted earlier in this topic.

Hm, that's wierd then that it crapped out on 3 machines from Automatic Update. Anybody else have that happen?

#43 Post by **gator** » Sat May 17, 2008 2:57 am

I installed SP3 on my T60 (after a backup ofcourse) thursday morning and have had no problems yet. Nothing is broken, everything runs great. Bootup seems a little slower though and the machine is running a few degrees hotter than usual, gotta figure out why.

AIX · #44 Post by **AIX** » Sat May 17, 2008 3:43 am

I have it on my T41 for a week now - it feels faster but I upgraded the HDD a week ago - probably it's because of the fresh XP install and the better drive. No problems so far, AC 4.52 works fine.

K0LO · #45 Post by **K0LO** » Sat May 17, 2008 6:41 am

gator wrote:... Bootup seems a little slower though...

That will fix itself after XP has a chance to optimize the prefetch folder; give it a few days. If you always run on battery power, however, then the cleanup task will never run but you can force the issue with this command:

Code: Select all

Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks

I noticed the same thing after upgrading my X41T to SP3 - before upgrade the boot time was 60 sec and after it went up to 90 sec, but after a few days use it's now back to 60 sec.

HIPAR · #46 Post by **HIPAR** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:27 am

I installed it on my X60s. I notice no difference in performance. It turned on the Security Center that I had disabled. On bootup the display flickers and the Task Bar goes black until the WiFi (I think) initializes and connects. It then reappears and all is well.

--- CHAS

beGi · #47 Post by **beGi** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:35 am

HIPAR wrote: On bootup the display flickers ...then reappears and all is well.

If you have Intel's GPU use msconfig (or anything similar) to disable startup of igfxtray.exe and igfxpers.exe... No more startup flicker...

HIPAR · #48 Post by **HIPAR** » Sat May 17, 2008 11:24 am

beGi wrote:
HIPAR wrote: On bootup the display flickers ...then reappears and all is well.
If you have Intel's GPU use msconfig (or anything similar) to disable startup of igfxtray.exe and igfxpers.exe... No more startup flicker...

Done. It now works just as you say. I have to wonder what those two pieces of software do except for using memory. I can only guess they maintain the icon in the system area near the clock but I keep that turned off. Thanks.

--- CHAS

aarontring · #49 Post by **aarontring** » Sat May 17, 2008 11:12 pm

I was about to add a reply that I was having no trouble after updating to SP3 on my kid's 600E, but Firefox wouldn't let me log in. It would keep kicking me back to the main forum page or be stuck in a loop of asking me to log in. I already have trouble using the UltraNav button to scroll in Firefox, both with this machine and my 390X. I haven't updated the 390x, since I've only got one power supply at the moment (one is on order for the 600E). I do have about an hour or so of battery life on the 390X, but the updates on this one have taken... Well, I started at about 2PM CDT.

That's the only thing that I've had a problem with, though. With XP on this machine, I can't right-click on the start menu items, but I can right-click everything else. That's more a mild annoyance. I also was in mid-download on Firefox when Auo update started installing SP3, so I have no real baseline. Perhaps it was going to have problems with Firefox, anyway.

I have been browsing and streaming music from one of my desktops over the network, often with multiple tabs for a couple of hours, now, and the only real lag has been when loading some of the more Flash-intensive websites.

Both of the "newer" Thinkpads just got clean installs of XP, then Firefox, then Open Office, then AVG. The 390X took it like a navy town street walker, but I'm only up to Open Office on the 600E, and I'm already seeing the idiosyncracies with Firefox. I probably should test the office software. I see why programmers and "Nerd Herders" drink Mountain Dew. Bud Light kind of dulls the analytical senses...

Off topic, the sound and keyboard on the 600E kicks the 390X in the USB port!

#50 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun May 18, 2008 10:14 am

Just installed it on my main PC. Took all of 13 minutes.
Not a single problem so far

aarontring · #51 Post by **aarontring** » Sun May 18, 2008 11:07 pm

I figured out the unrelated Ultranav problem, which turned out to be a driver issue. While I was doing that on my 390X, I was adding SP3 to my "family" computer (media center hooked up to 40" LCD TV). THAT got a BSOD that I have to work out, so now I'm holding off on my 390X. 600E is still running, though. I know everyone else in this thread is talking about newer machines, but I think it's interesting that my oldest machine (the 365X project is spread out all over my workbench at the moment) is the one that takes the freshest updates...

l2karl · #52 Post by **l2karl** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:54 am

Thinkpad T40 here with XP PRO SP2.

Downloaded SP3 and tried to install it. Aside from minor issues, it was going well until I got a message that said the install had failed and that is was likely that I would be unable to revert to SP2. (Can't recall the exact message). After a couple of power reboots, XP reloaded and I used a system restore to go back. Am hesitant to try again and wonder if there are incremental updates that will do what this monster, but flawed SP3 does?

Tks for any help.

RoadHazard · #53 Post by **RoadHazard** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:13 am

SP3 showed up in Windows Update on my T40p. But once I proceeded with the installation, it did nothing and it never showed up in WU ever since. Now I'm still stuck with SP2. Because of what happened, I'm reluctant to install SP3 manually using one of the dowload links because the previous attempt seemed to give a hint that something is not right. Until it shows up again in WU, I'll keep the SP2 for now. BTW, other patches show up in WU fine, so I know my WU is not broken.

dr. zoidberg · #54 Post by **dr. zoidberg** » Sat May 24, 2008 4:31 pm

For those that had problems with wireless not connecting after installing SP3, I solved it by enabling the Extensible Authentication Protocol Service. I posted this in the T4x subforum so this is just a heads up.

akhavan · #55 Post by **akhavan** » Wed May 28, 2008 2:37 pm

Hi,

I installed XP-3 without any problem on my T60P.

But I'm having problem installing it on my T41P.

When I try to install it on my T41P half way through I get an error 'Access denied for installing XP-3"

I tried it with the window update and CD and got the same error.

I uninstalled KIS and have more or less the same programs as I have om my T60P but no joy.

Anyone has any idea what the problem is?

Thanks

Sepehr

#56 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed May 28, 2008 2:52 pm

You pretty much need Windows completely updated (especially .NET Framework) before installing SP3. Then download the file (sorry if I misinterpreted what you wrote) and apply the Service Pack manually. It has worked on any T30/T4x I have tried of my own or clients. ... JDH

akhavan · #57 Post by **akhavan** » Thu May 29, 2008 12:55 am

Hi jdhurst,

My window and all the T41P drivers are up to date. I'm going to try in safe mode and see what happens.

Sepehr

CZOLG · #58 Post by **CZOLG** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:39 am

akhavan wrote:Hi,

I installed XP-3 without any problem on my T60P.

But I'm having problem installing it on my T41P.

When I try to install it on my T41P half way through I get an error 'Access denied for installing XP-3"

I tried it with the window update and CD and got the same error.

I uninstalled KIS and have more or less the same programs as I have om my T60P but no joy.

Anyone has any idea what the problem is?

Thanks

Sepehr

I had the same problem.
Googled an came up with a solution, albeit a slightly fiddly one.
When I get back to work I can post it here.
Anyway, after this I was able to install SP3, but feed updating in IE7 stopped updating. Nothing would bring it back.
So I ended up recovering my system from a backup (made with basic system and my apps) and installed SP3 from there.
No problems, everything fine now.

akhavan · #59 Post by **akhavan** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:56 am

Thanks. I finally up dated the T41P as well.

took a solution from MS.

Sepehr

nxman · #60 Post by **nxman** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 8:47 am

After installing XP Sp3 on my T61 i noticed the system was faster specially office however i noticed more crashes and my T61 freezes often.

SP3 Windows XP... what's the verdict?

Re: sp3 wierded out access connections and disabled wireless

SP3 on a 600E

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