Windows XP Service Pack 3 RTM is finally available for download. Microsoft released the service pack to manufacturing, at the beginning of this week, on April 21, 2008 and is now making headway towards the general availability of XP SP3. Officially, the final version of XP SP3 is scheduled for delivery starting with the end of this month. However, Windows XP SP3 RTM Build 5512 has been leaked and is already up for grabs, ahead of the release timetable outlined by the Redmond company.

At the start of this week, Chris Keroack, Release Program Manager Windows Sustainability Microsoft, announced the RTM of XP SP3, and pointed to April 29 as the date when end users would be able to access the service pack via both Windows Update and the Download Center. The Redmond company planned to serve the gold bits of Windows XP SP3 starting on May 2 to MSDN and TechNet subscribers, following general availability on April 29. Microsoft cited high demand for Windows Vista SP1 and the need to optimize the available bandwidth, in order to explain why it was not pushing XP SP3 via the MSDN and TechNet delivery channels ahead of WU and the Download Center.

Since that point in time, input from IT professionals and developers, namely the traditional subscribers of MSDN and TechNet, caused Microsoft to make a 180 degree switch. As a direct consequence of that, XP SP3 RTM Build 5512 is being rolled out to MSDN and TechNet subscribers as of April 23. The Redmond company explained that it managed to introduce nothing short of creative solutions together with bandwidth and system partner companies in order to accommodate both the distribution of Windows XP SP3 RTM and Windows Vista SP1 RTM. Microsoft is currently serving the gold bits of the third and final service pack for Windows XP only to a limited pool of customers, but the English version of XP SP3 Build 5512 can also be grabbed by the general public.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 FINAL can be downloaded via this link.