XP Service Pack 3

**MorseLady** · May 7th, 2008, 01:21 AM

I do not want to install SP3 on this computer at least until I have tried it on my spare XP computer. I am concerned about comments I have read in the IT press and also I do not want it if I have to have IE7 and the new version of Outlook Express because I don't like them. However I am concerned that by not having SP3 I may be missing out on essential security updates.

I cannot find a hide button for SP3 so cannot put it in hidden updates which means I am getting annoying reminders in the system tray.

Can anyone advise me please?

**CCT** · May 7th, 2008, 05:43 AM

IE7 isn't part of SP3 for XP.

In any case, right click the yellow shield icon, uncheck the SP3 download box, click 'close' and when the box appears saying 'don't notify me about these updates again' check that box and click 'ok'.

You can always get the download by going to the MS update site and you can also reset the automatic notification, if you want, at the same place.

**MorseLady** · May 7th, 2008, 08:35 AM

Thank you. If IE7 isn't part of SP3 then I hope the horrible new version of OE is not also?

**CCT** · May 7th, 2008, 08:47 AM

324 Kb pdf file here explains what you get: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

**emr** · May 7th, 2008, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by MorseLady

Thank you. If IE7 isn't part of SP3 then I hope the horrible new version of OE is not also?

Windows Mail; no it is not and is not even available as a download for XP.

The document in the link CCT supplied specifically mentions at some point that SP3 does not install IE7 but contains security updates for both IE6 & 7, which are applied system dependant.

As for SP3 I have it installed since this morning only so can't give a definitive answer (can you ever with MS SP's?) but so far so good and reading other tech's comments it seems there are few issues so far.

I haven't found a known incompatibilty list yet although I'm sure there is one out there somewhere. It does have an issue with Microsoft Dynamic Retail Management apparently but that's all I could find so far.

**wizzbagg** · May 7th, 2008, 10:57 AM

Most of SP3 is a rollup. However, we found an interesting issue with AVG if you are using it--it seems to hose SP3. We found that if you have it installed, uninstall it, install SP3 and then reinstall AVG. I found this in my classroom with approximately 40 computers...I am sure that someone will say that it is not a problem....but that is what my students found (by the way it is versions 7 and 8 with the AVG issues)

**slgrieb** · May 7th, 2008, 06:29 PM

Interesting observation about AVG, wizzbagg! I haven't seen it reported before. I have some client's machines running AVG that I'll be seeing installing SP3 over the next day or two, but frankly, I have to play Devil's Advocate here and suggest that malware is the source of your problem; not AVG. Otherwise, I think this issue would be better documented by now. I mean, SP3 was only held up as long as it was because of some really minor compatibility issues. AVG isn't an obscure piece of software, so I find this puzzling. Thanks for the heads up and I'll see how this plays out for my customers.

**CCT** · May 7th, 2008, 06:37 PM

Why not just download the package as a 'save', go offline, and then stop AVG and run the install and then reboot and restart AVG and Bob's Your Uncle.

**slgrieb** · May 7th, 2008, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by CCT

and Bob's Your Uncle.

Oh, I hope not!

**wizzbagg** · May 8th, 2008, 09:15 AM

To one and all....the issue with AVG was with a number of bulk-purchased laptops over 3 classes that I teach at a SUNY school in New York State. Of course, if students have possession of their own laptops, then one will install different software than others, but the one thread that I found between all of them was AVG. Just a word so that someone else might not have an issue......

**slgrieb** · May 8th, 2008, 01:02 PM

Wizzbagg, I'm not saying you're necessarily wrong here. Rather, I don't find AVG extremely effective against traditional viruses, and it is almost useless against other forms of malware.

So, I think the reason that AVG is your "common thread" is that AVG "protected" computers are likely to be "infected" computers. You're dealing with an age group not particularly noted for being security savvy. Here's a case in point. Yesterday I did a malware removal for a client whose AVG had reported 4 infections, and had supposedly removed them. I ran Spybot S&D 1.5 and removed 226 infections from a total of 9 different products. Courtesy of their (former) 20 year old web designer.

You have a demographic here that is very prone to downloading all sorts of "free" junk. "Free" Starware screensavers and wallpaper. "Free" porn videos. "Free" music via file sharing programs. Zwinky. "Enhanced" search bars. The vast majority of problems I encountered installing SP1 and 2 were malware related. But, once again, thank you for the heads up on a potential problem with the SP3 installation.