14 DAY TRIAL // Officially, Windows XP Service Pack 3 RTM is not yet available for download. Unofficially however, the story is a tad different. The third and last service pack for Windows XP has been up for grabs from various sources, more or less legitimate since a few days. And now the final bits of XP SP3 can be accessed straight from Microsoft, even though the Redmond company has failed to jump the gun on the previously announced general availability date: April 29, 2008. But failed only in appearance, as Microsoft has been serving the gold version of XP SP3 through its Windows Update infrastructure since the debut of this week.
The fact is that the Redmond company has debuted the preparations for the general release of Windows XP SP3 scheduled for April 29. In this context, the final bits of the service pack have begun making their way on the WU servers and propagating slowly. At the same time, just because Windows XP SP3 RTM is there, it doesn't mean that the bits are visible to end users. Still, the official availability is but hours away. And just in case your patience has run out, and you want to grab the service pack straight from Microsoft ahead of GA, know that Windows XP SP3 RTM build 5512 (English version) can be downloaded via this link.
Windows XP SP3 was released to manufacturing on April 21, and was initially shipped just to OEM partners. Microsoft subsequently wanted to focus on the delivery of the service pack through Windows Update and the Download Center. In fact, MSDN TechNet subscribers and beta testers were to be ignored according to the original plans, from which Microsoft diverged as of April 23. But with XP SP3 dropped via MSDN and TechNet, the bits were also leaked to torrent and warez websites.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 FINAL is also available for download here.