ok i have xp pro sp2 and i want to install sp3 if i install sp3 will it mess up my comp? ?

Summary: There's a lot to consider, so I've sumarized the high points, and given you link to read the details if you wish.

>SP3 takes up over a half gig of hard disk space, 1 gb is recommended.

>You should UNinstall IE7 BEFORE you install SP3. If you don't, you may experience problems.

>Installing IE7 should be after installing SP3. It is not clear if you don't want IE7 how well SP3 works with old IE6.

>Installatiion takes a long time, even for cable.

>You may already have all of the Critical Updates it installs, and you can get the add-ons separately in a link I'll give you below (near bottom of that web page)

>Comment from MS:

" Windows® XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system. This white paper summarizes what is new in Windows XP SP3."

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?Fa...

>>>Before you touch that mouse! Read this:

You should unload IE7 (roll back to IE6) BEFORE installing SP3, or it will cause problems.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic...

>>SP3 is perceived to make MS apps load faster.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic...

MyNote: If you have all of the updates to SP2, you have the largest percentage of what is in SP3.

>>MS cautions "DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER: A smaller, more appropriate download is now available on Windows Update. " here...

http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6...

>>>Cautions:

May 2008 ''It's not uncommon for major operating system updates to cause problems. Typically, the glitches are due to conflicts with software, such as drivers, system files, or applications already resident on the user's PC. Microsoft has yet to indicate whether it will issue an update to address some of the problems, though it has done so with previous updates. "

http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operat...

============================================

My view:

My XP OS is running just fine and dandy with SP2 + ALL Critical Updates, and IE6

I have noted MANY users complain on Yahoo Software sections about both IE7 AND SP3.

My son has a constantly UPGRADED system, and he loves SP3.

I'm sticking with what I have for now. IE6 +SP3 especially since my system is older. I'll wait a year until all of the bugs are out of SP3.

You have to decide for yourself.

Glad to help

^j^♥

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Take time to Rate :)

No, SP3 will not mess up your computer, it will give it all the updates since windows xp was release, plus it has some, performance, stability, and reliably after you install. There will be little noticeable changes though but I recommend it. (click the link)

No it's safe to download now as the earlier glitches have been sorted.

In rare cases it will not install, and to bypass this it is necessary to disable antivirus protection and firewall while it installs, then reboot and both are back on as per normal.

Simply go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

You can download it from the windows update site, virus free. My dad downloaded and it was fine on his computer.

It works ok on mine, and as far as the link goes, get it from microsoft

no it wont mess anything up. just go to windows update and update it from there.