Updates to the left of me, downgrades to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you-know-who
Windows XP Service Pack 3 is here -- almost. I'm not sure who's more excited about it, people currently using XP SP2 or frustrated Vista users begging for a downgrade.
Scheduled for availability on April 29, the Softies decided to hold off for a few days while they fix a recently discovered incompatibility (that means "problem") with Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS). The same issue applies to Vista SP1, which also is being delayed. And we're talking about 32-bit versions only; the 64-bit updates aren't due for at least another month.
As I write this on Wed., April 30, I'm a bit disappointed that I wasn't able to install the final shipping product, but since we've waited this long, another few days won't matter. Nevertheless, I am running the latest available download on a test machine without any problems. Of course, that machine does not run RMS.
As of this morning, XP SP3 and Vista SP1 are being withheld from the Microsoft Download Center while the company sets up filtering on Windows Update that will block machines running RMS from obtaining the download. That certainly seems like a good idea. Once the filters are active, it's reasonable to surmise the updates (both XP SP3 and Vista SP1) will become available through Windows Update.
If you want to grab the standalone SP3 installer (a 316MB download), you can go here (Note: This links to an .exe file). There are no guarantees how long this link will remain valid. By the way, using Windows Update for XP SP3 is a download of less than 75MB.
For those us who were there in the 1970s when Orson Welles concluded his TV pitches for Paul Masson wine with the memorable "we will serve no wine before its time" catchphrase, Microsoft often has been accused of doing precisely the opposite with some of its own products over the years.
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