XP SP3... Now 1H 2008

[+Batfink Subscriber²]

Back in January 2006 Microsoft announced that the next Windows XP Service Pack (SP3) would be launched in 2H 2007, Some three years after the RTM of Service Pack 2...

Neowin broke the news: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=421530

Well the Windows Service Pack Road Map was quietly updated on 17 October 2006... The major change:

SP3 for Windows XP is currently planned for 1H CY2008. This date is preliminary.

Thats right, The next major update for Windows XP (If there is one at all) is scheduled to be in the first half of 2008... Nearly 4 years after SP2!!!

Windows Server 2003 SP2 has also been delayed from 2H 2006 to Q1 2007

Leebobs

[Randolph]

damnit lol

[b0m8er]

ok! don't really care, cause i'm gonna move to vista assoon as it comes out ;)

[Buzz99]

I think it's because Microsoft want people to buy vista so they won't have to release SP3 for XP. Releasing SP3 before vista will litteraly kill the demand for vista, if SP3 is as good as SP2 was for XP.

[Saadu]

WTH NOOO!!! I want it soon!!! SP2 is already too old. After a clean install, i download about 100+MB of stuff from their download site. And with IE7 and WMP11 i expect that to go higher.

[Chode]

I think it's because Microsoft want people to buy vista so they won't have to release SP3 for XP. Releasing SP3 before vista will litteraly kill the demand for vista, if SP3 is as good as SP2 was for XP.

XP SP2 was a major overhaul, not just a regular service pack.

SP3 should just be a collection of miscellaneous fixes and updates, the same as anyone who keeps their windows up-to-date through Windows Update experiences.

People are placing too stronger definition on Service Packs since XP SP2

[macmax]

Long live autopatcher xp sp3 :p :p

[NightmarE D]

XP SP2 was a major overhaul, not just a regular service pack.

SP3 should just be a collection of miscellaneous fixes and updates, the same as anyone who keeps their windows up-to-date through Windows Update experiences.

People are placing too stronger definition on Service Packs since XP SP2

Service Pack 3 will most likely include IE 7, Windows Media Player 11 and any other new software they've released since SP2. It'll be more than just misc. fixes and updates

WTH NOOO!!! I want it soon!!! SP2 is already too old. After a clean install, i download about 100+MB of stuff from their download site. And with IE7 and WMP11 i expect that to go higher.

You can always slipstream updates into an XP CD. That's what I do every few months. Usually the only thing I have to install after a format is WGA. Everything else I need, like IE 7 or WMP 11 is on my other hard drive. I just download them everytime they're updated so I always have the recent versions ready for me to install. You could also get Autopatcher and burn it to a cd.

Edited October 19, 2006 by NightmarE D

[-Dave-]

IE 8 will be out by that time....

[lnmnky]

IE 8 will be out by that time....

It is doubted that IE8 will be for XP though.

The same way IE7 is not available on Windows 2000. IE7 has been put out for XP as a security fix...not sure what to read into that.

[Lexcyn]

This kinda sucks ... although it's good marketing for Vista. "Buy this OS because it's going to be more secure than XP!"

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Yeah, a service pack is just a collection of fixes. Windows Update takes care of that.

SP2 was the anomoly (as was SP4 on NT4 I believe). It really contained more than a service pack generally should.

People are going on about SP3 as if it's gonna be a big deal like SP2. IT WONT!

And it's not a marketing thing like "Buy vista cos XP is insecure". The message this would give to corporates is "Don't buy windows cos we will drop support for you version really quickly!"

[Kushan]

Put it this way, there's NOTHING in SP3 that you can't already download (and if you use Windows update, probably already HAVE installed). Microsoft is in no rush to get it out and this lets them concentrate on fixing the numerous problems that WILL be in Vista.

It's not some big conspiracy to get you to upgrade to Vista, If you ran windows update once a month from now until when SP3 was released, you'd be in no different a position.

[Michael_C]

Just get an Autopatcher release and it will perform the same function and more.

[Raa]

I think that's pretty crappy though. No SP3 for 4 years after SP2. Definately smells like a Vista ploy to me.

I dont mind I guess... But an update rollup pack SOON would be VERY welcome. I've run out of room to slip all these updates into a cd! :(

[Brody McKee]

You don't need SP3... with IE7 and MP11, your OS is 5 year old OS is doing you very well. How many other companies offer free (and good) updates to products for 5,6,7,8+ years after it's initial release?

[Slimy]

ok! don't really care, cause i'm gonna move to vista assoon as it comes out ;)

[qdave]

it wont be needed for most of us, but there is still plenty of companies which will use xp then, like they use win 2000 now.

[The2]

it wont be needed for most of us, but there is still plenty of companies which will use xp then, like they use win 2000 now.

that's what they are thinking too

[+Batfink Subscriber²]

You don't need SP3... with IE7 and MP11, your OS is 5 year old OS is doing you very well. How many other companies offer free (and good) updates to products for 5,6,7,8+ years after it's initial release?

Thats not the point! MS used to release Service Packs every year or so, they contained everything on Windows Update and MANY other patches that weren't released generally.

Waiting nearly four years between updates is poor.

Any others are right, MS may get round to starting an internal Alpha build in June-July 07, at which point they will announce that there are no further Service Packs for XP and everyone should move to Vista.

Essentially forcing an upgrade.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[M118LR]

Can anyone post information on what SP2b is? I understand if you buy a retail copy of XP it now includes SP2b. Does it say SP2b on the box? Some URLs would be nice. Is it a roll-up package of Updates?

[+Warwagon MVC]

by that time autopatcher will have to be put on a dvd (or in my case my external laptop enclosure will work just fine)

[MtnDewCodeRedFreak]

Currently thinking of buying a DVD-RW internal drive from Dell ....

[Lemonzest]

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Beta 2 Refresh just went up on connect :)

[Lasker]

IE 8 will be out by that time....

man by the time they release ie8 we are going using Windows VIENA, the next version after VISTA :rofl: