How to download the xp Service Pack 3

[lal krishna]

Microsoft will be releasing the Windows XP Service Pack 3 in the first half of 2008 which means that users have to wait several months before they can install the new Windows XP Service Pack on their computer. As with most other Microsoft releases that are not yet ready for the prime time the Service Pack 3 can also be downloaded early.

Not by all users but by beta testers.. and you. The process is similar to the one that was used to get the Windows Vista Service Pack early. Create a new entry in the Windows XP Registry and use Windows Update to download the latest service pack for Windows XP.

Thankfully though there is no need to download and reboot the computer three times, a reboot is actually not needed at all.

Here are the two commands that you need. (you actually can bypass the first one if you have not installed the Service Pack 3 before)

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

OR

Create a batch file , put those lines into it and execute it.[/hide] This creates the necessary key that makes Windows Update believe that we are one of the few that are allowed to download the Windows XP Service Pack 3. It should appear in the list of Updates right away.

Please Note: This is a Release Candidate. Do not download it if you do not know what Release Candidate means. It could break your system. The size of the service pack is roughly 80 Megabytes

[Noddy]

Please Note: This is a Release Candidate. Do not download it if you do not know what Release Candidate means. It could break your system. The size of the service pack is roughly 80 Megabytes

Hello lal krishna,

It's an interesting post this - however, the RC you refer to is an old release - Windows XP Service Pack 3 Build 3264 RC1

This release was followed by the following releases:-

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Build 3311 RC2

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Build 5508 Pre Final

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Build 5512 - Final

The 'Final' release (in bold) is already available for download at a number of locations and the file size is 316.434 MBs. Check out a couple of download links HERE

Anyways it was a new learning regarding the 2 registry entries - thanks for the same!!!!