Windows XP SP3 hits Windows Update, Vista SP1 makes a comeback

At last the moment you've been waiting for. Microsoft wants to hit your version of Windows with an update, and this time you don't have to go rummaging around the internet to find it: just fire up Windows Update and let Microsoft do all the work. After a few false starts XP users get the much-anticipated SP3 update, which promises speed boosts and some of the fancy security features found in Vista. If you're a Vista user you're also in luck, since Microsoft has restarted its Vista SP1 distribution after some compatibility problems with Microsoft Dynamics RMS. Sounds like a party.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Del Hass @ May 6th 2008 4:18PM]

Finaly, Man My computer is so much faster with SP3, I don't even know why I need Vista.

[tom @ May 6th 2008 4:20PM]

Liar ! SP3 isn't going to be an earth shattering in the first place.

[ChiWax @ May 7th 2008 3:39AM]

Don't use Vista then. That's your call...gotta love choices. I choose to use both. Cause I like choices. Q.

[helmecj01 @ Nov 14th 2008 7:35AM]

My computer is so much faster then It shut down and startup now .

[Brian @ May 6th 2008 4:29PM]

First

[Superevil @ May 6th 2008 4:19PM]

douche

[Seminole @ May 6th 2008 5:40PM]

Actually at this moment you are 17th. An will probably drop down further. Thanks for playing, try again.

[Dean @ May 6th 2008 5:47PM]

funny thing is he was first, and someone moved him

[Superevil @ May 6th 2008 4:18PM]

If you're using custom visual styles you may have to repatch your uxtheme.dll

[Dan @ May 6th 2008 4:45PM]

Good call!
I have a custom theme going and didn't even think about that...

[Lein @ May 6th 2008 4:48PM]

DO have to re-patch.

http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18059 (download links and directions)

[Alex @ May 6th 2008 5:14PM]

Yeah, I learned that the hard way. I tried to apply my saved custom theme and all the windows, menus, text areas, web browsers, etc turned solid black. Booted into safe mode and everything was still black. Basically I had to go into display properties and click around blind until I was able to switch it back. Not very fun.

[Superevil @ May 6th 2008 5:51PM]

That happened to me once it wasnt pleasent

[Mikey @ May 6th 2008 5:51PM]

I was hoping that was only due to running RC2. I guess not...

[TK @ May 7th 2008 10:45PM]

Thanks for this.. anyone know if Media Portal works with SP3?

I thought of using Media Portal instead of Windows XP Media Centre Edition..

http://www.team-mediaportal.com/download.html

[AndrewP @ May 6th 2008 4:18PM]

I'm sorry for this useless comment.

[rv @ May 6th 2008 4:21PM]

you should be

[teej @ May 6th 2008 5:39PM]

is this the new thing? "i'm sorry for this useless comment." it's so awesome and funny that i'll just have to lollerskate down my lollercoaster to the roflcopter pad, and then head to a wtfbbq in stfuville with icanhascheezburgers and lmaonaise.

[Reader @ May 6th 2008 6:15PM]

teej, that was a masterpiece. I lollerskated.

[Technex @ May 7th 2008 7:04AM]

@teej You made me LOL like I haven't in a long time :).

Thanks.

[OneLove @ May 7th 2008 5:55PM]

Yesterday all my USB HID devices (keyboard and mice) wouldnt be recognized when plugged into vista 32. Am not sure if it was the SP1 or a following update, but when I restored my computer to pre SP1 status everything works fine again.

[MicroF_ckingSoft @ May 7th 2008 10:06PM]

ISFTUC too.

[rv @ May 6th 2008 4:21PM]

Im downloading now, hopefully it wont mess any of the settings I have/

[bob e @ May 6th 2008 4:23PM]

At last now I can update my HP Mini-Note to Vista SP1...
Wonder if she boots any faster

[Esat Dedezade @ May 6th 2008 4:24PM]

Is the smoke craxked screen and a big 'ERROR' sign flashing up on the screen normal?

Oh wait, I remember now, I dropped my laptop on to a hot 'ERROR' ink stamp.

Damn. I failed. I'm pressing post any way.

[Eric M. @ May 6th 2008 4:32PM]

No need to try so hard buddy.

[The 3rd Hot Dog @ May 6th 2008 4:54PM]

Better luck next time!

[conor @ May 6th 2008 4:47PM]

well its about time...

[conor @ May 6th 2008 4:34PM]

um... i did not post that... twilight zonish...

[Neebs @ May 6th 2008 5:16PM]

You replied in the past?

[Nick.XIII @ Aug 21st 2008 10:21AM]

woah, seriously, your reply was even 13 minutes before your original post O_o

[geekmorgan @ May 6th 2008 4:28PM]

Finally! I can switch from OS X!

[iPriest @ May 6th 2008 5:30PM]

Yeah sure! Like anyone in his right mind would ever switch from OSX to an inferior operating system :-)

[Gikku @ May 7th 2008 4:43PM]

ROFL!
post of the day.
crack up.

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 6th 2008 7:45PM]

So now with the SP3 update to Windows XP, what's the point of using Vista at all. SP3 doesn't cost anything at all, it runs faster and doesn't require any hardware upgrades. Seems like a win-win proposition to me.

[doobster @ May 6th 2008 4:29PM]

"XP users get the much-anticipated SP3 update, which promises speed boosts and some of the fancy security features found in Vista."

Hope this SP doesnt make XP as frustrating to use as Vista!

[phanbouy @ May 6th 2008 6:09PM]

you need foot powder

[Arley @ May 6th 2008 4:30PM]

How do you download Windows XP SP3?

[David @ May 7th 2008 1:22AM]

Go to Windows Update (google it) and then click on the link.

Then, click auto update and that should be it.

One more question for the crowd, do Vista 64-bit drivers work on a XP-64 system? It's just that my memory usage on vista has constantly been 1.01 GB while I remember on XP it was like 232 MB.

[Hazar_Jast @ May 6th 2008 4:31PM]

*sigh* Still no stand-alone installer :(

[Hazar_Jast @ May 6th 2008 4:34PM]

Whoops, didn't see the link. Thanks Gravy!!! :)

Now for some hot slipstreaming action...

[Gravy @ May 6th 2008 4:30PM]

Network install package available at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

[Gravy @ May 6th 2008 4:56PM]

I should point out this link is for XP SP3, not Vista SP1.

[w00t @ May 6th 2008 4:31PM]

I've been running SP3 in boot camp on my Mac Pro and it screams - no complaints about reliability either!

I did have vista prior to that but it felt sluggish, and it's not like I have a low spec machine: 4GB Ram, Quad 3Ghz Xeons and Raid-0

OS X also screams on this machine, so it's obvious what was at fault :)

[fred @ May 6th 2008 4:35PM]

Ok fess up, did you ever actually use Vista or are you one of those guys who just say they did so you can work in a "I downgraded" story into this thread?

[w00t @ May 6th 2008 5:53PM]

I certainly did, I originally had XP SP2 and for some unknown reason I got the idea to try Vista Ultimate when I upgraded hard drives (which meant a windows reinstall was in order)

I wiped it and put SP3 on after a few weeks, I tried tweaking it but even though I don't use windows that much it I just couldn't get comfortable with it...

[osalom @ May 6th 2008 10:20PM]

Lucky you, a lot of people are unable to install SP3 in Boot Camp because 2.1 is needed but almost impossible to install.

[Micro_FuckingSoft @ May 7th 2008 10:12PM]

What product are you using that gives you RAID-0 on a Mac Pro running WinXP under Boot Camp?

[Username @ May 6th 2008 4:37PM]

So, anyone know for sure if it messes with Uxtheme?

[iPriest @ May 6th 2008 5:33PM]

Nope, but it blends if that makes you feel better.