Windows XP Service Pack 3

We are just a few days away from the final service pack release fro Windows XP, according to Microsoft. Release date is April 29th, 2008.

With hundreds of hotfixes for the 3 year old software already released, this service pack is just in time. This is a real quick way for users to bring their systems up to date. Microsoft says that you must at least have Service Pack 1 installed before installing SP3. This is basically just a collection of previously -released fixes and product enhancements, with a few new features.

Q - What versions of Windows XP will work with SP3?
A: You can apply Service Pack 3 to Windows XP Home Edition, Professional Edition, Tablet PC Edition (any version), or Media Center Edition (any version).

NOTE: SP3 does not apply to the 64Bit versions of Windows XP

Windows XP Service Pack 3 will not include any major new features, but it will include four minor new features that improve the system’s reliability and security.

These new features include:

Network Access Protection compatibility. Announced years ago, this feature allows Windows XP machines to interact with the NAP feature in Windows Server 2008. This functionality is built into the RTM version of Windows Vista as well.

Product Key-less install option. As with Windows Vista, new XP with SP3 installs can proceed without entering a product key during Setup.

Kernel Mode Cryptographics Module. A new kernel module that “encapsulates several different cryptographic algorithms,” according to Microsoft.

“Black hole” router detection algorithm. XP gains the ability to ignore network routers that incorrectly drop certain kinds of network packets. This, too, is a feature of Windows Vista.

That’s it folks, nothing fancy… Sorry…