I got the usual Wednesday update from Microsoft this AM. Anyone get it too? I am wondering what all this is about and if installing it is going to cause trouble???

Thanks!

All about XP SP3

After reading the linked page (thanks), not much useful stuff going on there.  If it just encapsulates updates since SP2 and the listed new features then there is nothing to gain.  And worse, who knows what it might break.  The old addage holds: if it ain't broke, don't 'fix' it.  (Where 'fix' means botch the job and cause havoc where none existed previously).

I'll let everyone else have a go first. :)

I've been using it since RC2 without any visible problems, but there's no telling if it'll break someone elses machine & I've just been lucky.

I've been using the sp3 rc2 as well.  Generally, it's a little bit faster.  Any issues I've ever had with poser was more with the ati graphics card drivers than anything else.

Peace,
                CG

SP3 has been getting some very good reviews. I've installed the offical release and so far things work well. As for the ATI driver thingy. Yes, as of version 7.12, ATI drivers use a new OpenGL code base that can mess up older (legacy) software (ie: selections take a while to occur). ATI is aware of issue, but have made it a lower priority - the word is that it may be addressed between now and the end of the summer. ARGH! For now your choice is: 1) use version 7.11 and have Poser work smoothly and new programs have 2D-image-rendering issues 2) update to latest drivers for new software and deal with the sluggish response in older programs (ie: Poser) good luck jdc

I have been using the beta for about a month now and have not had any issues, but have had increase speed in many applicaitons.  Sharen

Installed it last night; no obvious problems, no obvious improvements.

I didn't install it I saw no need to do so since I have kept up will all the updates and the added items to the SP3 release didn't seem that big a deal to warrant installing it.  I am waiting on Windows 7 in 2010, giving I'm still around, and by passing Vista all together I can't see any use to upgrade to Vista if another OS is coming out 2010 which is also the same time Microsoft will stop supporting all flavors of XP.

I agree PaganArtist, but I still am using the SP3 at work with no problems, but not on my home pc.  Like you, see no sense to it. 

Yup, but to get anymore updates, you'll have to have SP3 installed. d'oh

Well, I spoke too soon.  A few minutes ago I tried to run too many things
at once, and Windows froze up .... after reboot, it has reverted to the
wrong 'theme' and seems to have tossed some other settings.

I've got a bit of an odd problem show up since installing the updated version of SP3, my router normally refuses to connect until the configuration software loads, now the software refuses to work but the connection is there straight away.

With Linksys wireless cards, I have opted to use the Windows Zero Configuration instead of their configuration software as it goes haywire too often - and requires rebooting to get your network connection back.  As far as I'm concerned, Cisco and M$ need to collaborate more integrally to make wireless network support less flakey...

SP3 updates certain networking protocols which may require you to update your router's configuration software. Configuration software is used when you need to make changes to the routers settings and may not be required for it's normal operation. Also, you can usually configure your router from a web-browser like IE by typing in an address similar to "192.168.1.1" or "192.168.1.2" then entering your password. good luck jdc

Attached Link: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_crashes/

confirmed here: http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207600950

/P

All that I have to say is: go back to the third post of this thread and reread what I said. ;)

I've had no problems with SP3 beta.

I've made my problem go away by removing the router software & using Windows Zero Configuration as per Kuroyume's post, the connection seems slightly faster now too, could be my imagination or just wishful thinking on my part though. :D

I'm not sure what's happening in other areas with SP3 at the moment because we have not rolled it out into our production environment yet but I do know from experience that there is roughly a 10% increase in performance in Windows XP Pro using SP3. That's a pretty compelling reason for me to use it! :biggrin:

I got that notification too and at 63Mbytes plus fo my 56K Modem, I wasn't really sure that I wanted that blooming update.  After getting nagged about installing it, I gave it a try.  Well after about a minute the nagging went away (indicating installment).  However, I'm wondering what the heck got installed.  Unless the laws of Physics have changed, it wasn't any 63 Mbytes--it may have been the new addition around 460Kbytes that was attached to it.  Made me wonder if MS checked what I had and found that I just needed the 460 plus or minus stuff and loaded just that.  Well,  I'll find out tomorrow when "me" computer checks again.  Jan

5/13/08

I installed SP3 on my two home computers. They boot faster, they connect to the Internet faster, they shut down faster, they load and start programs faster, and files load faster. I don't think Poser runs any faster, or renders any faster. So far, I have had no problems with my home network, or on either computer.

LMK

FYI. If you are considering applying SP3 to Windows XP, it has been recommended that you use the full ISO CD image for the installation rather than the cut-down automatic update. Visit Microsoft and search for "SP3" and "Windows XP" as search terms to find the CD image. It is 544 MB in size.
According to IT sites and forums, it seems that the automatic windows update does not contain all the files that might be needed when some PC vendors ship strange or unnecessary driver files with their streamlined XP installation. Currently this seems to have caught out a number of HP users who have AMD processors.
I'm just about to burn and apply the update for SP3 since my PC has been a bit twitchy with frequent and temporary browser and explorer lock-ups ever since I uninstalled Symantec Internet Security. Fingers crossed that this update makes things better and not worse!
Regards,
Jovial.

If you guys check the links above to those sites that mention the problems with SP3 you'll see that they talk about Microsoft using an Update Services wedge (band-aid) to stop it downloading SP3 while they try to figure out what is causing the problems. That may be why you only got a 460k download instead of the full SP3 download Pluton. I'll check it out on my update services (WSUS) server tomorrow morning and let you guys know if you're interested.

(WSUS is a server that you can run on a local site that fetches all the Microsoft updates and distributes them to correctly configured workstations. The idea being that only one machine downloads the updates and stores them, then services the requests of all the workstations on that network or WAN to conserve internet bandwidth. It also allows management and grouping of workstations to allow administration of how, when and what updates are distributed ... but I digress ... :biggrin:)