There seems to be some confusion about what you can and cant do with Internet Explorer on Windows XP Service Pack 3.

In a nutshell:- A brand new PC with XP will ship with IE6. If you upgrade to Windows XP SP3, IE6 will still be your installed Microsoft Internet Browser.

If you choose to install to IE7 on Windows XP SP3 you *CANNOT* uninstall it, you have to uninstall Service Pack 3 as well.

There is a workaround (http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx)

Users who want to retain the ability to downgrade from IE7 to IE6 should uninstall the former before upgrading to XP SP3. Once Windows XP has been updated to SP3, users can then install IE7. That process allows for reverting to IE6 in the future.

“The restriction on uninstalling only applies to when you install a Windows Service Pack release on top of a stand-alone IE release.

So this really is a line in the sand. If you need IE6 for compatibility reasons then do not upgrade to IE7 on Windows XP SP3.

For your average user I would say IE7 on Windows XP SP3 would be the way to go.

I understand why Microsoft has done this. I am just worried what happens if IE7 get corrupted on a Windows XP SP3 machine. It sounds like it could get messy.

You can obtain Windows XP Service Pack 3 in several ways. The most common of these outside of a managed corporate I.T. departments are:

Windows Update

This will download a 66mb file and is the best way to get SP3 on an existing machine that is regularly receiving Windows Updates.

Link: http://www.windowsupdate.com

Direct Download

Single File Download 316mb (aka Network Install Package for IT Professionals and Developers) This is the best one to download if you are installing on a brand new computer or have multiple new computers to patch up to SP3 quickly.

Link: Full file Download 316mb

Tip: Allow time for this install to take place between 30 to 60 minutes.

Tip: The Windows update version can appear to slow down and stop working during the download / install. Be Patient.

Tip: SP3 requires free hard disk space on the host PC. So make sure you have 5gig of free space before installing.

Other Things

Internet Explorer: There is some further reading in relation to how SP3 deals with Internet Explorer the definitive post on this issue is here.

Link: http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx

Can I slipstream SP3? Yes Paul Thurrott has written a guide here

Link: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/xpsp3_slipstream.asp

Again: I would hold off for a few days to wait and see if there are any XP SP3 horror stories. I have  heard of at least two machines with issues so far.

Microsoft have made this available as a high-priority download from www.windowsupdate.com

At the time of writing it is not available as a direct download. I assume that will follow later today or in the next few days.

It is offered as a single 66.9mb download and installs just like any other Windows Update. You have to agree to the license agreement then when the SP3 Installer starts you are offered a backup of your current files. You should do this.

I installed this on my Main Windows XP Pro desktop machine and the total install took about 40 minutes to complete successfully.

I would hold off for a few days to wait and see if there are any XP SP3 horror stories.

Microsoft pulled the release due to a last minute compatibility issue with Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) one of their own products.

This issue also affects Windows Vista SP1 which Microsoft currently suggests should be avoided for the same reason. However Windows Vista SP1 is still being offered over Windows Update.

If you are not a user of Microsoft Dynamics then the previously available link for Windows XP SP3 still works. However I would wait until Microsoft update SP3 just in case any other issues are uncovered. 

To read other posts filed under Windows XP SP3 click the link below

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Windows XP Service Pack 3 will be available later today from Windows Update or the Microsoft download center.

I pre-install Dell computers for customers and these typically ship with Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed. I have to update between 50 to 100 Windows Updates on every new machine. I am not a big fan of home made slip streamed install media unless the OEM or Microsoft supplies it.

In my case its not the worst thing in the world for me spend a hour with each PC prior to customer deployment. I have to support the machine over its lifetime.

Over the years I have found the more time I spend up front the less likely I am to have problems later. So in my pre-install routine I do the initial Windows Update and install all the client software including the anti-virus.

So for updating Windows having access to single file upgrade to SP3 which contains all those missing updates is a big bonus to me and to anyone rebuilding their Windows XP machine.

On a brand new Dell Optiplex GX 755 the installation of SP3 took 6 minutes. This was on a E4500 2.2Ghz Dual Core with 1gb of Ram.

Once the installation was complete I visited Windows Update and was only offered the April version of the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. I was surprised not to be offered Internet Explorer 7.0 on the list.

This seems a little inconsistent with the Windows Update user experience of Windows XP SP2.

So a manual download of IE7 was required

Link: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx

Once IE7 was installed a reboot was required. Then a quick visit to Windows Update showed no priority updates (as of today).

Summary

This all seems quick and painless at the moment. Windows XP SP3 will be getting installed literally millions of times in the coming days/weeks. If there are any significant problems discovered I am sure we will find out pretty quickly.

To read other posts filed under Windows XP SP3 click the link below

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