Now that Windows Vista service pack 1 has been released, all eyes have shifted to Microsoft's plans for Windows XP service pack 3, the final package of updates for the trusty OS. And, according to at least one source, Microsoft will roll out XP SP3 next Monday. As of Wednesday afternoon Pacific time, the BitTorrent search engine Mininova listed a 568.73 MB Windows XP Professional SP3 5503 file available for download. The file, which had 112 seeds and 417 leeches, had been downloaded 2083 times since it was posted Tuesday, according to the listing.
According to the file description notes, Microsoft will release the final version of XP SP3 on March 24, but the 5503 test build passes all Windows Genuine Advantage checks and is able to download Windows updates that previous XP SP3 builds weren't able to, which suggests that it could, in fact, be the final RTM build. When Microsoft released Vista SP1 in February, the final RTM code was identical to the Vista SP1 Release Candidate (RC) 1 Refresh 2 test build that was released to a group of 15,000 testers two weeks earlier.
A Microsoft spokesperson, perhaps weary from the months-long barrage of Vista SP1 related inquiries, said the final version of XP SP3 is still on target to be released the first half of calendar year 2008, and the XP SP3 5503 build was a minor interim build released to address one specific issue for a subset of private beta testers.
News Source: CRN
According to the file description notes, Microsoft will release the final version of XP SP3 on March 24, but the 5503 test build passes all Windows Genuine Advantage checks and is able to download Windows updates that previous XP SP3 builds weren't able to, which suggests that it could, in fact, be the final RTM build. When Microsoft released Vista SP1 in February, the final RTM code was identical to the Vista SP1 Release Candidate (RC) 1 Refresh 2 test build that was released to a group of 15,000 testers two weeks earlier.
A Microsoft spokesperson, perhaps weary from the months-long barrage of Vista SP1 related inquiries, said the final version of XP SP3 is still on target to be released the first half of calendar year 2008, and the XP SP3 5503 build was a minor interim build released to address one specific issue for a subset of private beta testers.
















Until Windows 7....or maybe beyond that
You know, the day that comes after Easter Sunday.
Geez, some people can be so dense
Geez, you're a real ass.
Geez, you're a real ass.
Coming from a pickle...
You mean Monday?
You mean Monday?
Yes, Easter Monday is in fact a Monday.. The day after Easter Sunday surprisingly..
You mean Monday?
Yes, Easter Monday is in fact a Monday.. The day after Easter Sunday surprisingly..
Last edited by jrolson85 on 22 Mar 2008 - 06:56
That was Vista SP1.
Not exactly. I'm currently running the RC2 and it has kernal updates and other things that they don't roll out through Windows Update, so it is different than just a cumulative update. Fixes a number of annoying bugs that had recently started to get on my nerves in SP2. I'm quite happy with it.
http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/updatepack-sp2.html
I wouldn't even THINK about switching back to XP. It is OLD.
Vista x64 is a much better experience.
:: runs for his life ::
I'm NEVER EVER EVER EVER going back to XP. I can't stand using it any more.
I'm NEVER EVER EVER EVER going back to XP. I can't stand using it any more.
unreal tournament 3 is hardly a 16 bit game. Explain to me why it runs poorly on 32bit vista , even worse on 64 bit vista yet the same rig can run it on xp at a much higher FPS ? why is vista so poorly optimised for games ? i dont disagree that for everything else its alot better than xp.
I think Vista runs well with a lot of ram it does for me anyway and update your drivers you should be fine. It's better with SP1 now as well.
bollox to XP , what an old antiquated legacy OS
To be honest, i like Vista but prefer W2K8 as a workstation. (64bit)
1 x issue - no Securemote 64 bit (yet)
I'm NEVER EVER EVER EVER going back to XP. I can't stand using it any more.
unreal tournament 3 is hardly a 16 bit game. Explain to me why it runs poorly on 32bit vista , even worse on 64 bit vista yet the same rig can run it on xp at a much higher FPS ? why is vista so poorly optimised for games ? i dont disagree that for everything else its alot better than xp.
Lol..unreal tournament 3 doesn't run well in vista, it's "unreal tournament 3"'s matter not vista's matter.
And Vista-bashing comments are stale and moldy...
And Vista-bashing comments are stale and moldy...
What else are we supposed to talk about? The whole industry is talking about this. On top of this, SP1 was just released.
If MS would stop releasing propaganda about Vista, maybe some of the criticism would die down. Every time Steve Ballmer opens his big mouth and says how great Vista is, it gets people in a fury, because that's not the experience they are having.
I doubt Ballmer even uses Vista. He probably uses a Mac like Bill Gates does.
And Vista-bashing comments are stale and moldy...
What else are we supposed to talk about? The whole industry is talking about this. On top of this, SP1 was just released.
If MS would stop releasing propaganda about Vista, maybe some of the criticism would die down. Every time Steve Ballmer opens his big mouth and says how great Vista is, it gets people in a fury, because that's not the experience they are having.
I doubt Ballmer even uses Vista. He probably uses a Mac like Bill Gates does.
You're nuts. The whole industry is not bashing Vista. It mostly comes small, noisy group of bloggers and a small, noisy group of Neowin users, (these groups probably overlap somewhat.) If you don't like the OS, just shut up and don't use it.
How about we all just shut up about it, that includes the "Vista is the best evar!1!1!!" group.
From wikipedia, via here.
****ers.
From wikipedia, via here.
****ers.
They really don't want folks switching to 64 bits anytime soon - that much is clear...
64 bit is not ready for the market, and they see this now
and would people please STOP calling it x64? that is so wrong its not even funny
and would people please STOP calling it x64? that is so wrong its not even funny
Windows XP Professional 64-bit is only hurt by the coming of Vista. Since Vista arrived, manufacturers pushed to make drivers for Vista, instead of XP 64-bit. Doing so, they've only hurt the adoption of the 64-bit OS. Now, the problem that lies with Microsoft is that they aren't moving to a 64-bit only OS. By allowing x86 platform to continue on, it simply puts more load on the manufacturers having to create two sets of drivers for one OS.
What's worse is that there will still be an x86 version of Windows 7. Honestly, I feel it's really time to move on. However, Microsoft likes being able to support every last piece of hardware, so it's understandable why they don't move in an x64 only OS.
Oh, and what's wrong with calling it x64? I do not understand...
and would people please STOP calling it x64? that is so wrong its not even funny
Very well. I believe that the x86 architecture with extensions to support native 64-bit integers is, in fact, ready for the market, especially now manufacturers have actually started making half-decent drivers to support it (this was, IMO, the major issue, especially in the early days of Vista).
Windows XP x86-with-extensions-to-support-64-bit-integers Edition (great name they gave it, eh?) was a bit of a screw-up on Microsoft's part. I don't think the market was ready for a 64-bit OS then, nor do I think it was needed. Now, on the other hand, there are applications and drivers to make it a good and usable experience.
At least with x64, I get great performance and stability.
At least with x64, I get great performance and stability.
Perhaps I just had bad luck with what hardware I had and those manufacturers' drivers for XP x64 - I had issues left, right and centre... I even once had games run at double speed, in a VAC-secured online game (CS Source, in that instance). NFS Most Wanted also did it, can't remember what else.
Very odd... But perhaps the drivers and stability are better now; it was a while ago I used it (although well past release).
Last edited by Esvandiary on 21 Mar 2008 - 18:05
and would people please STOP calling it x64? that is so wrong its not even funny
Very well. I believe that the x86 architecture with extensions to support native 64-bit integers is, in fact, ready for the market, especially now manufacturers have actually started making half-decent drivers to support it (this was, IMO, the major issue, especially in the early days of Vista).
Windows XP x86-with-extensions-to-support-64-bit-integers Edition (great name they gave it, eh?) was a bit of a screw-up on Microsoft's part. I don't think the market was ready for a 64-bit OS then, nor do I think it was needed. Now, on the other hand, there are applications and drivers to make it a good and usable experience.
people have bought the hype that 64-bit = performance upgrade
they are mistaken, at this time its currently nothing more then a headache since nothing supports it and any 32-bit programs have issues running under emulation
they are mistaken, at this time its currently nothing more then a headache since nothing supports it and any 32-bit programs have issues running under emulation
Having not used Vista x64 since the late betas, I don't know what sort of performance you do get under it. However, I don't remember there being any headaches other than drivers; of course third-party apps will have issues, but the same happened between 16-bit and 32 - they'll get sorted out, given time. I don't consider 64-bit to be "essential" either, but the chances are most people will be fine with it (and get a slight performance boost on applications designed to take advantage of it). If you know it won't be good for you, then don't use it.
and would people please STOP calling it x64? that is so wrong its not even funny
Very well. I believe that the x86 architecture with extensions to support native 64-bit integers is, in fact, ready for the market, especially now manufacturers have actually started making half-decent drivers to support it (this was, IMO, the major issue, especially in the early days of Vista).
Windows XP x86-with-extensions-to-support-64-bit-integers Edition (great name they gave it, eh?) was a bit of a screw-up on Microsoft's part. I don't think the market was ready for a 64-bit OS then, nor do I think it was needed. Now, on the other hand, there are applications and drivers to make it a good and usable experience.
people have bought the hype that 64-bit = performance upgrade
they are mistaken, at this time its currently nothing more then a headache since nothing supports it and any 32-bit programs have issues running under emulation
I've yet to find any 32bit programs that have issues running under emulation, other than the odd AV or a poorly coded install (I don't mean 16bit stuff, I mean programs that don't recognise windows and throw a fit). I get full speed on all my 32bit apps and a nice performance boost on any 64bit ones.
The biggest problem is drivers, but since all my hardware works fine (except for a webcam, that it's about 4 years old anyway and no big loss), I have no problems at all.
I disagree.
Agreed.
I'm going to be a jerk and say that in my case, going 64-bit is a performance upgrade. Specially if you play (and by play, I mean work/code/develop) with multithreading.
And my system is crippled (can only use just 2GB, ASUS mofo mobo).
At least with x64, I get great performance and stability.
Same here. XP Pro x86-64 is ****ing awesome. Rock solid and runs great.
My build is made with ~3 yo parts, with the exception of the display and the new graphics card (8800GT), all runs fine, with native drivers.
Very odd... But perhaps the drivers and stability are better now; it was a while ago I used it (although well past release).
And you didn't installed the AMD Dual-Core Optimizer..?. The issue happens in GTA
AMD Dual-Core Optimizer - The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer can help improve some PC gaming video performance by compensating for those applications that bypass the Windows API for timing by directly using the RDTSC (Read Time Stamp Counter) instruction. Applications that rely on RDTSC do not benefit from the logic in the operating system to properly account for the affect of power management mechanisms on the rate at which a processor core's Time Stamp Counter (TSC) is incremented. The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer helps to correct the resulting video performance effects or other incorrect timing effects that these applications may experience on dual-core processor systems, by periodically adjusting the core time-stamp-counters, so that they are synchronized. The most recent version was released on August 2007. Get it here.
This could help you.
64 bit is not ready for the market, and they see this now
and would people please STOP calling it x64? that is so wrong its not even funny
Why not call it x64? That's what it is. Mine says, "Windows XP Professional x64 Edition"
64 bit is not ready for the market, and they see this now
and would people please STOP calling it x64? that is so wrong its not even funny
Why not call it x64? That's what it is. Mine says, "Windows XP Professional x64 Edition"
x86 refers to x86-compatible processors (386, 486, 586, Athlon, etc). There aren't any x64 processors, so it doesn't make any sense.
64 bit is not ready for the market, and they see this now
and would people please STOP calling it x64? that is so wrong its not even funny
Why not call it x64? That's what it is. Mine says, "Windows XP Professional x64 Edition"
because 64-bit IS x86
always was and always will be
64 bit is not ready for the market, and they see this now
and would people please STOP calling it x64? that is so wrong its not even funny
Why not call it x64? That's what it is. Mine says, "Windows XP Professional x64 Edition"
x86 refers to x86-compatible processors (386, 486, 586, Athlon, etc). There aren't any x64 processors, so it doesn't make any sense.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X64
x86-64 (Redirected from X64)
There is no such thing as an x64 processor despite some people calling them that. Some people also refer to Pepsi as Coke.
#REDIRECT[[x86-64]] is pretty self explanatory.
X64 came as a Microsoft branding to simplify the terms (newbie/vendor friendly). But to anyone with knowledge of architectures/instruction sets... that's a bit screwed up **** to swallow.
Vista i might eventually try but i just aint sure on it yet.... cause i dont want to sacrifice any noticeable performance drops.
w00t!
ah well. it'll be nice to grab it and slipstream it for future use.
5503 contains an EULA for pre-release software so it's doubtful that's RTM.
Problem #2:
Tech ARP, who were spot-on with the Vista SP1 dates, say it's not coming until the second half of April,
http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=521
The only real problem I faced was drivers, but that happened under XP as well when it first came out. XP also used more resources than Windows 98/2000, so I don't see why people are up in arms about the resource requirements of Vista. It is only reasonable that once computers get faster and lesser expensive to upgrade, that software vendors would use the resources that are available in the marketplace to better their products. I can't see me ever going back to XP as it will soon be discontinued and not updated anymore. Why stick with older technology?
While XP is possibly faster in some areas, Vista uses memory better and has better security, which in today's internet marketplace is crucial.
My software all works with Vista, drivers are all properly updated, and frankly "feels" better than XP once I have used it more than a passing user.
While this is just my two cents on the matter, history is only repeating itself in the digital world.
The only real problem I faced was drivers, but that happened under XP as well when it first came out. XP also used more resources than Windows 98/2000, so I don't see why people are up in arms about the resource requirements of Vista. It is only reasonable that once computers get faster and lesser expensive to upgrade, that software vendors would use the resources that are available in the marketplace to better their products. I can't see me ever going back to XP as it will soon be discontinued and not updated anymore. Why stick with older technology?
While XP is possibly faster in some areas, Vista uses memory better and has better security, which in today's internet marketplace is crucial.
My software all works with Vista, drivers are all properly updated, and frankly "feels" better than XP once I have used it more than a passing user.
While this is just my two cents on the matter, history is only repeating itself in the digital world.
My feelings 100%. Back when XP came out, everybody was going off about how horrible it was, and nothing would ever be better than windows 2000, or 98 for gaming. Now everybody uses xp, practically. Same thing will happen with vista.
Soon ? Microsoft announced not too long ago that the support for XP was extended until 2014. It was originally set to 2012.
Soon ? Microsoft announced not too long ago that the support for XP was extended until 2014. It was originally set to 2012.
And I am betting that hardware vendors drop support for Windows XP in the next two years.
Legacy support costs will deter hardware and software manufactures from keeping it in the loop much longer. Windows 98 was axed from support, Windows 2000, and XP will follow soon enough.
As I stated before, this is just the natural evolution of the digital world.
Because older technology is known to be reliable. Why the urge to keep updating the latest? Just because it is newer doesn't make it better. (See Winamp 3)
The best thing to do is let the people who must have the latest of everything (beta) test the products and adopt them once they are ready.
To be fair, AOL forced Nullsoft to release Winamp3 before it was properly developed.. if it had been given the proper care/time it could've been great and instead of a Winamp 2 base with Winamp3 skin support, we might've had Winamp3 base with Winamp 2 plugin/skin support layer, and that wouldn't have necessarily been a bad thing. But that's the case with everything new lately in terms of computers I suppose: being released before it's ready, so you're right in a way. XP wasn't very good at all until SP1 rolled out, and then SP2 solidified it. I won't be moving to Vista until SP2 for it is out for that very reason.
has it gotten rid of the "click her to activate" on flash etc in IE?
from what i remember some time ago, it was gonna come out with sp3, and also come out as a seperate cumalative patch sometime in april (if i remember correctly)...
Last edited by osm0sis on 23 Mar 2008 - 12:09
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926185.
That's a good questions rm20010.
What are the major updates in this release?
The unbeatable eXPerience. Unbeaten by Windows Vista. New Windows XP by Microsoft.
</ad>
When you grow up maybe you will run a REALLY great 64-bit OS like 2008 Server Core.
Oh wait I'm getting confused, I can't remember which OS to hate.
Microsoft always releases stuff on Tuesday not Monday.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/
then the day comes and you turn around and say, next month
dont **** with us, we have been waiting years for this
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.