Comments on: Don't install Windows XP Service Pack 3, yet

The pluses don't outweigh the risk of software incompatibilities

[pamOH]

I installed service pack 3 and now can't get either of my two card readers to read my SD memory from my camera. I have an old Dazzle and a Digital 51-in-1. Both have worked before but not now. When i remove the SD from digital it plays music, any one know a way I can get the readers to show my pictures. I have XP home edition.

[BackwardsSP3]

DA VINCI CODE: What a mess -- I installed SP3 three days ago, and now all of my documents print BACKWARDS (that is, in mirror image) on my HP L7780. So far, not a word of help from MS, and I'm not technically knowledgeable enough to feel I can do anything about it. Anybody got any helpful (and lawful) suggestions?

[Skeptykal]

I have Windows XP and keep getting asked by Windows if I should install Service Pack 3. I am skeptical to install it, and wanted to check for information before I did anything. This site came up and most of the comments @ WSP3 are negative. I am content now but wanting to protect my computer, a Dell Inspiron 1100 laptop. It has been running just fine as of late. I can't afford a new computer right now nor can I afford it printing backwards or something worse.

[geazer]

Don't install? How about CAN'T INSTALL SP3 !?! I tried twice, and the computer shut down midway through the installation, forcing me to roll back to the previous version. The THIRD time, I shut down everything but Explorer, and got about 2/3 of the way through and it crapped out on me again! Thank you, Microsquash, for wasting about three hours of my time with your crap software! Where's the nearest Apple store?

[jpatstarsmead]

Sadly I didn't know about the problems with XP Sevice Pack 3 and downloaded it a few days ago. What a nightmare ! My computer crashes every time I try to do anything and is now working more slowly than I have ever seen a PC work. If I click on a hyperlink in an email the whole thing freezes and I have to re-boot ! The only way to get to hyperlinks now seems to be to extract them from the source material in the email, paste them into Explorer and trigger the web page that way. This software must have been written by complete idiots ! What on earth do Mirosoft think they are doing. ? I'd rather switch to Mac, even after 23 years on PC's !!! Is there anyone who can fix this or must I completely re-load XP without the service pack ? Grateful for any thoughts. Thanks. JP

[grumpyCarol]

I wish I would have read this article before I downloaded the XP unpdate. It locked up my computer and five hours later I gave up and closed down the software. I then had to removed and restore my old settings which took another two hours, so my whole day was wasted. Worst yet, the computer now works really slow. I tried to contact Microsoft for help. They'll provide assistance for $60 an hour --which I'm not paying to fix the problem they caused.
My next PC may very well be an Apple. I have two PCs, one on Vista, one on XP and I'm not happy with either.

[ericallenpaul]

XP SP3 breaks the ability to use the "/console" switch in windows XP. It also makes all RDP sessions very laggy and unresponsive.

[uberloader]

Good advice, thanks! The last Win2000 SP broke it so badly I had to "progress" to XP. But: "A fundamental tenant of Defensive Computing.." - Michael, the word is "tenet", as in "George, who upheld the eponymous tenet that he actually controlled the CIA. "

[ms_brytta]

I thought perhaps I could install it now (September '08) -- guess what -- I would have done a full system restore -- that is probably what I needed -- except I ended up with the blue screen of death and a full blown crashed hard drive. My techie buddies insist it was all thanks to SP3 -- DON'T DO IT!!!

As a previous writer noted -- I am no novice to Windows and have been a PC owner since DOS in the early eighties. This was just plain BAD!

[Pickinpackinmama]

Boy I'm glad I came to this website cause in my task bar is the icon that was telling me to download service pack 3. But, God spoke to me about not installing it. So, I decided to get some feedback. So, God was right. Thank you Jesus!

[jimb47]

I am not a fan of Vista either, it has too much garbage like the screen going black and then asking you if you're sure you want to load a program,then half the time it says it's not digitally signed,and is not compatible, it seems very little is compatible with Vista,when my dell with xp died after a power surge from and electrical storm all that was available was vista,so i tried it, my 4 month old printer scanner was not compatible,i went to the companies website and no updates or drivers were available,needless to say Vista is a very LARGE DUD in my opinion,no wonder companies are downgrading back to xp,the hardware costs would be enormous.

[nitestar41]

Ok so is it safe to install this thing yet? I just had it show up as an update yesterday (which is really weird IMO since it's been out since April)

the last thing I want to do is have half the problems that I've read other people have had.

[epciccote]

NO...DO NOT INSTALL THIS UPDATE! I had windows xp sp2 and it was running PERFECTLY! Then, like an idiot, I trusted Micronazi with sp3 and I also got the blue screen of death. It installed fine and then it asked to restart. When it rebooted...ERROR! I lost a lot of updated files and will never get them back. If someone out there is a good attorney with time on their hands, please start a class action lawsuit. Oh, and I'm writing this post on a MAC...hey MAC, maybe an idea for an new ad?

[redline122]

My first experience with SP3:
I did install SP3 and it sent my computer into an infinite loop (Apple reference ;) ) - non-stop reboots. How did I get out of it? I simply shutdown the computer forcibly and booted up into safe mode and uninstalled SP3. It worked and I was in bliss with SP2.

Yellow Shield Insists that I Update:
Okay, I have been reading about the anguish that SP3 unleashed on the Winusers! My computer was so kind to download the SP3 malware to my computer - and awaiting for me to simply allow the install to continue and this was after my fiasco the first time around. I see a yellow exclamation point shield in my system tray. Can I erase the downloaded update from my computer and stop the update nag from the yellow shield?

Next Computer:
I've used PCs more than Macs, and well... I have to say I am definitely considering the Mac as my next acquisition! Will I miss the PC??? Hardly. ;)

[timco78]

Hello all...so I read all your comments and was wondering if i should ever concider dl SP3? i tried to dl from wen i get prompt to dl it but i keep running into errors so i was going to go the MS website and dl the whole thing then install it. What do you guys think? should I ever consider getting SP3? or stick with what i have? thanks

[ripeka123]

i also have the Yellow Shield nagging me to install the SP3 update (as does redline122). Anyone at all know how to get rid of it??

[coulterww]

I knew there were going to be problems when shortly after Microsoft released a Flawed Vista, they declared they would no longer support XP. So no one bought Vista, and stayed with XP. I made the mistake of trying to upgrade my laptop to Vista and immediately was prompted to delete my McAfee antivirus, my blue tooth and a few other programs that I depend on to do things. Good old microsoft delving into the same crap that got them into trouble when they made windows only compatible with IE... Now they expect people to uninstall and delete all these programs to run Vista...

And lets not talk about the commercials where they dupe people into checking out Vista by calling it "MOJAVE... " DECEPTION AT ITS BEST! Or Worst, depending how you want to look at it.

When this didnt work, and no one bought Vista, or at least not as many as they thought would, they release a service pack that totally screws up the most stable operating system they've had in years to force people to Vista. Tell me it isnt true, and I'll just say that you need to open your eyes. Who releases an OS that has all these compatibility problems? I had automatic updates on and couldnt clear the update out of my cache and it installed automatically after a week of cancelling the update notice. My computer downloaded the update, installed it, and when I had to reboot the computer to put it into effect, windows wouldnt start, and kept rebooting to the safe mode screen. My only option at that point was to do a hard disk restore.

After the restore, all my programs were there, but none worked... MS Office, my HP printer software, and other programs and games... all disabled.

Shame on you Microsoft for engaging in this kind of behavior. You have destroyed not only a lot of productivity of your customers, but also their faith in your business practices. You knew Vista was flawed, and you pushed it anyway. I am seriously considering that my next computer be a MAC or any other operating system but Microsoft.

[j1e2v3]

Since installing XP SP3 I am not able to do multiple downloads on I.E. or Firefox. They go to sleep at 5 % and do not complete. Also single downloads take forever. I ran a download speed test against my pc and everything indicated top speed.

[Cinnamongrl]

Just installed SP3 last night. My Ethernet card couldn't connect to my wireless network anymore, my speakers started making intermittent buzzing noises (even when no audio should play and regardless of volume) and the machine started running impossibly slow. Troubleshooted for a while - found no reference to my specific issues, on CNET or anywhere else - Restored state to before installation and everything works fine again.

Also like to point out that there's a severe lack of Computer Ethics being practiced here.

[quinnt01]

My SP3 installation failed midway and my ethernet adapter couldn't connect to the internet afterward either. Called Microsoft and the helpful tech said it happens all the time. Had to roll back a few weeks to get to a good state. The Microsoft tech recommended disabling the automatic Windows update feature.

What a schlock outfit Microsoft has become. My next computer will be a Mac for sure.

[leslie1225]

service pack 3 has been trying to install on my computer but i havent had the room for it.
i finally cleared room for it and the automatic bubble didnt come up so i did a google search.
i was this close to installing it from the windows site but luckily this warning caught my eye.

i am beginning to wonder if this is the reason my vista running laptop has crashed.
i was getting the blue screen, then asked to log in in safe mode then it would bring me to the windows log in screen, i would type my password and hit enter, but it would go back to the black screen and ask to start in safe mode.
i have no idea how to fix it. there are 2 really important files on my laptop otherwise i wouldnt hesitate to start new. i dont know much about computers, does anyone have any advice for me?

i do not intend on installing SP3 on my desktop with XP.

my roommate said there is a ID converter cable that will allow me to access my laptops hard drive from my desktop. i am wondering which is the best way to solve this.