It’s that time again! Yep, time for more Microsoft leaks. This time around a “hack” has been exposed that will let existing Windows XP users download and install a Release Candidate of Service Pack 3 (SP3) via Windows Update. If this sounds familiar to you it’s probably because a similar hack was already leaked back in October for Vista SP1.
Early reports are estimating that XP SP3 has roughly a 10% performance increase over XP SP2, which is a rather large difference. That’s definitely good news for XP users, and might end up pushing more users to make the upgrade
So what do you have to do? Not much actually. Just copy some text into Notepad, save and run the file, and then check for updates in XP. Running the file will modify the registry a bit, but it won’t screw up your system. I did get around to trying it out, and it worked flawlessly:
- Copy and paste the following code into Notepad:
@echo off
reg delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\XPSP3 /f 2> NUL
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\XPSP3 /v RCPreview /t REG_SZ /d 1c667073-b87f-4f52-a479-98c85711d869 /f
echo XPSP3 registry key has been set. Please check for updates in Windows Update.
pause - Save the file as XPSP3.cmd (it’s important to include the extension).
- Run the file that you saved in Step 2 by double-clicking on it. Restart your computer and check for new Windows Updates.
- Windows XP SP3 should be found, and it is a 337MB download so give it some time to download and apply the updates. When all is said and done your version of Windows XP should be: Windows XP Build 2600.xpsp.071030-1537: Service Pack 3, v.3244
Enjoy the better performance and stability! You can hold off until next year if you want to download XP SP3 when it is officially released.
[via Softpedia & Computer World]
Thanks for the tip Storytellerofsci-fi!
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Tags: Pre-Release, Software, Windows, Downloads, Hacks, How To, Leaked, Microsoft, Windows XP
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Works?
im afraid.
Just did it,so far so good.Thanks cybernetnews.
It does indeed work, but if you’re afraid just hold out until the final release.
Glad all went well for you!
Didn’t work — perhaps Microsoft knocked it out?
Copied the file to Wordpad and copied the file name. Double clicked on the file and restarted. Find no mention in Microsoft Update, and My Computer General still lists it as Home 2002 SP2, even though I’ve gone through the method twice, even re-copying the data.
I don’t think they would have changed the way it works quite yet because it could mess up a lot of legitimate testers. Maybe try checking for updates a little later.
Hi:
Can you explain how to copy the “XPSP3.cmd” file. I copied it from the Notepad to Windows Desktop as a HTML file. When double clicked the icon on the Desktop a windows popped up saying it could not find the file.
Can you please help me. Thanks a lot.
Omar.-
Performance boost sounds great. I think I’ll be cautious and wait for the release, though. There’s a big difference between testing browsers and OS’s.
Followed the instructions and at first did not see SP3 option but when downloading another update SP3 came up as an option. About 2/3 of the way through the download a window appeared stating “Access to SP3 denied” and I had no choice but to start the uninstall process. Once that was finished a notice came up indicating XP might not work properly and I had to restart Windows. So far no porblems but I have since received a notice that SP3 is again waiting to be installed, all 336mbs. I think I’ll hold off installing anything for a few days to see how my machine is running.
After downloading the installation package and finishing checking my current configuration and required space I got a “control ID not found” message and it stopped the installation :(.
That happened to me also, any ideas on how to kick start this thing??
Awesome! worked out fine for me
Yep. Worked just fine here too!
Thank you Ryan!
Wonder if MSN will ship out a free copy like they did for SP2?
I’m going to help Ryan out here, I’ve read some of you are experiencing problems trying to acquire Service Pack 3. First if you are experiencing issues ask yourself if you have tweaked your version of Windows XP . (If so you want to set it back to the older configuration first)
Tweaks alter the registry as well as some functions associated with the operating system. So address this issue first. (This could cause a ‘control ID error’ issue as the update application has specific parameters for the installation)
In order to get this ‘registry add’ to function you must save the code you copied and pasted, in ‘Notepad’(only please)
@echo off
reg delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\XPSP3 /f 2> NUL
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\XPSP3 /v RCPreview /t REG_SZ /d 1c667073-b87f-4f52-a479-98c85711d869 /f
echo XPSP3 registry key has been set. Please check for updates in Windows Update
(Copy from ‘echo’ everything including the please check for updates on ‘windows update’, and paste it into Notepad)
(It is under accessories if you found Word-pad you can find Notepad) , save the file as a ‘.cmd’ (only)
You don’t actually need any file name in front of it but it is important to save the file as ‘all files’ and not a ‘text file’ (in the drop down box that asks for file types when saving. (Do not save the file as HTML that’s great for Web browsers but bad for adding stuff to the Registry) (Omar)
Save this file some place you can ‘find it’ to run it, if you saved it correctly it will show up as ‘Windows NT Command Script’. Then click on ‘run’ off the context menu (it’s the same as double clicking the file) Go over and check Windows Updates, under the ‘Custom’ button.
As far as ‘Access is Denied’ I don’t know what issue that could be outside of Microsoft getting ‘wise’ to a significant number of hits on SP3 outside of their planned deployment for it. If access is truly denied the Service Pack shouldn’t even show ‘available’ for download to you.(Phillimac)
(Continued from above if you haven’t tweaked your system)
If the answer is no, secondarily make sure you have all your important Updates this is done using the ‘Express’ button on Windows Updates, after finishing this step reload the page ‘if your not required to reboot’. and check the ‘Custom’ button (Which is under the Express button on Windows Update) Look for SP3 Update.
My system usually has most of whatever Microsoft offers on it, in this regard I am referring to the latest .Net framework 3.5 (Which I heard might be required) You may want to try downloading and installing it. (You won’t find it offered on Windows Update yet)
http://www.microsoft.com/downl.....laylang=en
Framework 3.5 modifies 2.0,and 3.0 transforming them by adding service packs ver. 1.
The person who had a control ID issue (The application was looking for some control (function)on your computer and could not find it (some function required to update)per Microsoft you might try running a ‘Check Disk Scan’ to fix any altered files in your Windows install. (You will find this option on your hard drive properties, tools tab, ERROR CHECKING)
I think adding the .Net Framework may resolve the problems the rest of you are experiencing but hey there are ‘no guarantees’ on anything anymore.
Sorry to provide you with problems (issues) Ryan, I know you have other things to do. I thought it was pretty straight forward, duh?
You know something really wacky Ryan? When I updated to SP3 I only got a warning for a 70 mbs download when it rings in at 330+ Mbs, which means most of what it had to update was already present on my system hence the smaller download package.
I hope this message helps everyone out, including you Ryan.
‘Your Mission if you Choose to Accept it’ this message may self destruct in five seconds…….Bye.
Would this still work with WindowBlinds installed and running?
I was looking over other sites and found this page with the experiences of other users trying to install this Update.
http://dailyapps.net/2007/11/h.....ws-update/
Window Blinds should not hamper your install of it. The service pack 3 will change some system files and may alter the ‘current skin’ your using. If you have this problem after updating just reinstall Window Blinds again and you should be good.
Bye.
just finished mine worked fine for me no problems
Thanks for the update. It’s interesting that people are having problems because it worked right away for me.
Still no sign of SP3 after a couple of days, so tried again. I have Home, could it be that all of you who were successful have Pro?
Another thought: When I click on Start/Microsoft Update (could swear it used to read Windows Update, perhaps installation of other MSFT products caused the change?) it opens IE and am taken to:
http://update.microsoft.com/mi.....x?ln=en-us
where 7 high priority updates are shown:
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0: x86 (KB928416)
Root Certificates Update
Update for Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0 Service Pack 1 (KB934268)
Windows Media Player 11
Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0) for Windows XP (KB925876)
Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0: x86 (KB829019)
Microsoft Base Smart Card Cryptographic Service Provider Package: x86 (KB909520)
No mention of SP3 in 3 days! Any thoughts would be appreciae.
I just downloaded SP3 and everything seems to work fine. My desktop is fully loaded with software.
Ryan’s link to
http://dailyapps.net/2007/11/h.....ws-update/
worked and SP3 is seen as a download. However, after reading through the questions on that website, think I’ll let RC1 ride and not bother with it — who knows I might not see anything today, but in a week would see an adverse affect and by then may be too late to go back to the prior TI image without a great deal of work replacing other work done since.
Yep, I did try it on Pro.
It might not be a bad idea to hold off if you’re not in a big rush. After all, it’s only going to get more stable.
How can I UNDO this? When I install the SP3 this way I cant uninstall it (does not make a backup file ~~ )
You can install any of the hotfixes via the add/remove programs, and it did make a backup file for me. I’m guessing that you must have used a program like CCleaner that removed all hotfix uninstallers.
I have installed the XP SP3 update. I was trying to install Pinnacle Studio 11 Ultimate. Requirements said you have to have XP with SP2 to install this program. When you try to install Studio 11 it kicks you out of the installation and gives you an error that you don’t have SP2 installed. Tech support said they might have a patch out soon. I guess uninstall SP3 and go back to SP2 to install this program. One step back I go.
I downloaded it and it works like a champ.
Will this work if I have SP1 installed and NOT SP2 ?
Thanks.
BTW if this will not work….how do i get the Reg update thing out of my Registry?
Yep, it should work just fine. Each service pack contains all of the updates contained in the other service packs.
Thanks Ryan, Really apprecite your reply.