[The Silent Warrior]

In a post to Microsoft's TechNet Forum minutes ago, a Microsoft official announced that Service Pack 3 of Windows XP has been released to PC manufacturers right on schedule. The update will be available to end users to download next Tuesday, April 29, and pushed to Windows Update in June.

The news effectively confirms the information from a leaked memo that made its way around enthusiasts' blogs last week, which clearly stated April 29 would be the initial release date. At the time of the leak, Microsoft spokespersons had officially declined to confirm that date, but now we know that April 29 is the official release date.

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Update: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Timeline Update

This post has been edited by The Silent Warrior: 22 April 2008 - 10:35 PM

[Blake Pender]

This is great news!
Thanks for the early news!

[Burned Phoenix]

Windows XP SP3 Installation Screenshots From PCMag:

[xsever]

Is there a way where we're gonna be able to get it (through a registry key addition or hack) before it's released for the public or we're gonna have to wait?

[Freka]

xsever, on Apr 21 2008, 10:04 PM, said:

Is there a way where we're gonna be able to get it (through a registry key addition or hack) before it's released for the public or we're gonna have to wait?

I allready have it bro, I can't tell a difference other than since it has come out in a way XP has been a bit safer.

[Liskiller]

I think there's no hack for the final version till now, but there's an official way to download the SP3 RC2 from Windows Update.
I've read somewhere that RC2 is the final version..

Edit: Freka are you sure you have the final version, not the RC2 ?

This post has been edited by Liskiller: 22 April 2008 - 02:24 AM

[Freka]

Liskiller, on Apr 21 2008, 10:24 PM, said:

I think there's no hack for the final version till now, but there's an official way to download the SP3 RC2 from Windows Update.
I've read somewhere that RC2 is the final version..

Edit: Freka are you sure you have the final version, not the RC2 ?

Nah your right I have RC2, my mistake.

[Frylock86]

Does anyone know how big the final release is?

[ThunderROM]

You can check on the torrent websites.

[tominorlando]

I received an automatic update from MS last night.
Instead of just letting it install, I clicked on Custom.
It was XP SP3 RC2.
Instead of letting it install, I cancelled it because RC2 was time-bombed to stop working later this year.
I guess I should have let it go through, but I'll wait for the "Official" release.

I just went to Windows Update and SP XP3 Release Candidate 2 Refresh is the official release.
You can download and install it by clicking Tools/Windows Update using Internet Explorer 7.

This post has been edited by tominorlando: 22 April 2008 - 11:51 PM

[Frylock86]

ThunderROM, on Apr 22 2008, 09:19 PM, said:

You can check on the torrent websites.

I don't use torrents. Lol

[tominorlando]

XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 Refresh will not allow anything that requires DEP.
If you are using any modified themes, you should create a restore point before installing this update.

[Blake Pender]

Thanks for that tominorlando

This post has been edited by Blake Pender: 23 April 2008 - 04:29 PM

[xsever]

tominorlando, on Apr 23 2008, 03:51 AM, said:

XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 Refresh will not allow anything that requires DEP.
If you are using any modified themes, you should create a restore point before installing this update.

i've heard that u should uninstall the theme, install sp3 and then reinstall the theme. that's in case u have a bricko pack like me for example. link

[AndrewJ]

Blake Pender, on Apr 23 2008, 07:58 AM, said:

Windows XP SP3 Has been leaked!

<Link removed by Admin>

Only just found it, so I'll need to download it

If anyone can confirm that this is SP3, let us know

I am curious whether that is the final or the RC2 again, but with MS sadly most of their stuff is leaked before their big release