Windows XP SP3 now available via Windows Update

Windows XP SP3 is finally here for those that use Windows Update, and here is a direct link to the stand-alone version of SP3 for x86 XP systems (32 bit).

Stand-alone installer for Windows XP SP3 English, 32 Bit (316 MB)

Guess you missed this post unless they corrected the problem in the last 24 hours.

XP SP3 Update on hold

ZDNet

Microsoft quote regarding direct link downloads:

"“Customers should not download Microsoft software from links posted on non-Microsoft websites, when those links point directly to the executable as is the case here. Customers should always download from a page on Microsoft.com that provides all relevant download details, installation instructions, and release notes. In this particular case, it’s possible that some 3rd party websites are linking to the Windows XP SP3 software that we have published for MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Since we cannot confirm the source of every link that 3rd parties provide, out recommendation is that customers wait until we’ve published Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and the Download Center.”"

Guess you missed this post unless they corrected the problem in the last 24 hours.

XP SP3 Update on hold

ZDNet

NO, I don't missed that one but according to my source, wich is very "near" to MS Dev. it's ok and that was from today!

Microsoft quote regarding direct link downloads:

""Customers should not download Microsoft software from links posted on non-Microsoft websites, when those links point directly to the executable as is the case here. Customers should always download from a page on Microsoft.com that provides all relevant download details, installation instructions, and release notes. In this particular case, it's possible that some 3rd party websites are linking to the Windows XP SP3 software that we have published for MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Since we cannot confirm the source of every link that 3rd parties provide, out recommendation is that customers wait until we've published Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and the Download Center.""

About the "speech" from MS, it's clear they didn't like the direct downloads because they "missing" the for MS maybe relevant infos they get via Windows Update. With direct download you bypass some checking and MS has a lot of "holes" in their software detection security system.

Cheers.

If you read why SP3 has been held, it's because it's incompatible with some retail management software that Micro$oft sells. So they're halting the rollout until they get Windows update to check if you have that software, at which poiny, it would hide the SP3 download.

i.e. SP3 itself is not going to change.

I'm guessing that probably also means you may get incompatibilities with other software. (after all, if they only found a problem now with software they sell, it's highly likely that a lot of software not sold by Microsoft is untested.)