Microsoft warns, don't use "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Preview

[prathapml]

Microsoft warns, don't use "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Preview"

This is not the first time that Windows fanatics create their own "Service Pack" by collecting all available hotfixes in to one installable pack. I have posted articles about these packs over the years because I find those projects pretty cool, but am aware that it is obviouly not supported by Microsoft and should not be used in "production environments". The latest Windows XP SP3 pack caught some attention in the online press and now Microsoft have posted a statement in their newsgroups:

http://bink.nu/Article5008.bink

[DigeratiPrime]

Im confused, I thought MS had a 'beta SP3' floating around, its actually a 3rd party package.

Also it seems MSFN is filtering out the url for the software in question.

But google is your friend "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Preview"

Can this be integrated into the install source (I386)? Or stick with Ryan VMs Update Pack?

And how is this different from Autopatcher?

http://www.autopatcher.com/

[prathapml]

AutoPatcher is individual hotfixes all in one folder - but this "SP3 preview" is all merged together, WITH private fixes as well.

Not checked whether it can be integrated into I386. And...... Stick with RyanVM's pack, thats much better.

And what's the url being filtered?

I thought MS had a 'beta SP3' floating around

And thats exactly the reason MS found it necessary to come out & announce that its a 3rd party package, so that ppl arent mis-led.

[jdeboeck]

Normally Microsoft doesn't care about something like this. It is just that the mainstream press suggests this is a leaked product, and not a community effort. Microsoft now has no choice but to go to the press and advise against it. Let's look at the original article from Infoworld.

Windows XP SP3 preview surfaces on Web

Catchy title, everyone that reads that will think "leaked build".

While Microsoft Corp. still will not confirm there will be a third service pack [...], a preview version of the software update has been made available [...]

This reads like Microsoft denies it exists, but a preview is available. It's not being called an unofficial preview pack, yet it is tied in to a Microsoft statement about the real SP3.

An "unofficial" preview pack of Windows XP service pack 3 (SP3) is available at

What's up with the quotes? It's not a leak, it's not preview of XPSP3, it's just something called Unofficial XPSP3 Preview Pack.

Allen[...] put together the preview pack from software updates he received from an internal Microsoft source that are expected to be released in SP3

Finally a straightforward statement that this is in fact a bunch of private hotfixes, just like RyanVM's Update Pack. These private hotfixes are quick workarounds for specific problems. I doubt they are tested in the same way as other hotfixes or that other hotfixes are tested to work with these private hotfixes. Either way Microsoft advises you not to use them if you don't have the problem and a final solution will be available in the real SP3.

Allen, a Microsoft beta tester who previously worked for [Microsoft]updates the list of technologies for Windows XP SP3 daily based on information found on Microsoft's Web site

Again not calling it an unofficial preview, and again making three unneccessary references to Microsoft. The fact that the man worked for Microsoft, that he is a Microsoft beta tester or that he visits Microsoft's website are irrelevant. This just provides a lot of false credibility.

Reports published last week [...]saying there will be a third service pack for Windows XP available [...] Microsoft still has not decided whether or not to release SP3 for Windows XP

Finishing the article with some more references to Microsoft and the real SP3, to keep you confused.

Edited October 9, 2005 by jdeboeck

[Tarun]

From The HotFix.net:

"The Hotfix does agree with Microsoft that the "Windows XP Service Pack 3" is indeed just a collection of hotfixes and not any official SP3. We have recently updated our language on a number of pages warning users that the fixes we provide are an unofficial pack and that only expert Windows users should install them at their own will.

The being said, we disagree with Microsoft in terms of what SP3 is. Our pack is indeed a preview to what the official service pack will be, as these hotfixes will be in Service Pack 3 as proven by Microsoft's own knowledge base. Searching the keywords "kbwinxppresp3fix" and "kbwinxpsp3fix" at http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1 will provide you an exact list of what we give out, nothing more, nothing less. Each of these hotfixes can be obtained for free from Microsoft by calling their support lines.

Will these hotfixes make your machine less stable? Yes, there is that possibility. Is that at the fault of The Hotfix? No. Regardless of which site these may have come from, they were created by Microsoft.

If you are a normal user, avoid the package. But if you're a Windows enthusiast, like the type of people who are website caters to, then give it a shot at your own will. Who knows, maybe it will actually fix a bug in Windows XP that should have never been there in the first place."

Edited October 9, 2005 by Tarun

[DigeratiPrime]

As Tarun suggests the site being blocked is (remove spaces):

t h e h o t f i x . n e t

(without spaces): s.p.a.m.net

[xper]

Site is blocked because he spammed my mail box and this board several times with site advertisiment.

[Alanoll]

The being said, we disagree with Microsoft in terms of what SP3 is. Our pack is indeed a preview to what the official service pack will be, as these hotfixes will be in Service Pack 3 as proven by Microsoft's own knowledge base. Searching the keywords "kbwinxppresp3fix" and "kbwinxpsp3fix" at http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1 will provide you an exact list of what we give out, nothing more, nothing less. Each of these hotfixes can be obtained for free from Microsoft by calling their support lines.

Now quite honestly, I was going to give the man ALITTLE credit for his statements, till he said this.

There is no guarantee SP3 will contain all these hotfixes. It's the common basis for a service pack to contain all the hotfixes, but it's not always the case. Lets also not forget, Service Packs are typically more then just a big hotfix introducing new features or updating entire software packages (DX or WMP for example). The simple fact that these hotfixes are reference in the Knowledgebase as SP3, doesn't mean they'll be in there. That just means it's on the SP3 branch, though that tree can still be trimmed. I remember seeing a couple of hotfixes that came out after SP1 that didn't make it into SP2, but were marked as SP2 in the knowledge base.

So all in all, Microsoft can change their mind all they want at any time when it comes to future product releases. Heck, look at Vista.