14 DAY TRIAL // The third and last service pack for the 32-bit version of Windows XP has debuted on the path to automatic distribution today, July 10, 2008. Initially, Microsoft was shy about pinpointing the actual deadline for XP SP3's availability through Automatic Updates, and only referenced an abstract "early summer" in order to give users a clue as to when they should get ready. Even earlier this week Nick MacKechnie, Senior Technical Account Manager at Microsoft New Zealand pointed that the service pack was coming "soon."
Well, as far as MacKechnie was concerned, "soon" was only a matter of a few days. And now Microsoft is effectively beginning to wrap up the distribution process of XP SP3. Windows XP SP3 was released to manufacturing on April 21, 2008. But just as it was the case with Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Microsoft delayed the availability of the gold bits for over a week, especially when incompatibility problems regarding Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) were involved.
At the beginning of May 2008, XP SP3 RTM went live on Windows Update and on the Microsoft Download Center. Now, over two months later, Microsoft is releasing the service pack through AU. This means that XP users that haven't implemented the service pack as of yet, and with the AU settings configured to "automatically download recommended updates for my computer and install them" will receive the final bits of SP3 without lifting a finger.
Still, the Redmond giant informed that not all XP users will be able to see the final version of XP SP3 through AU on June 10. According to Microsoft SP3 distribution through AU will take some time, as the rollout will be performed in stages. The Microsoft Service Pack blocker toolkit is available to block the delivery of SP3 for users with AU enabled that want to postpone the deployment of the service pack.
- Windows XP Service Pack 3 stand-alone version is available for download here. - Windows XP Service Pack 3 Checked Build Network Installation Package is available for download here. - Windows XP Service Pack 3 CD Image is available for download here.