ED#88 : Windows XP SP3 RTM Confirmed!

After we broke the stories on the release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and the planned RTM schedule of Windows XP SP3, we have now managed to obtain the confirmed release schedule of Windows XP Service Pack 3! This is the news that all loyal Windows XP users have been waiting for. Here are the full details :

1. Windows XP Service Pack 3 will contain hotfixes and updates released since Windows XP SP2. It will also include an expanded set of product keys for Windows XP Professional that were originally introduced in Windows XP SP2c.
    
2. Microsoft clarified that there will not be any integrated SP3 release for Windows XP Media Center Edition or Windows XP Tablet Edition. That means you won't be able to buy or obtain a complete Windows XP Media Center Edition / Tablet Edition SP3 CD. In addition, users of Windows XP Media Center Edition or Windows XP Tablet Edition will only be able to update to Service Pack 3 through Windows Update.
    
3. All languages will now be released in two waves. Earlier, Microsoft said that languages support for Windows XP Service Pack 3 will be released in three waves. What was previously identified as wave 2 and 3 have now been combined into a single wave 2.
    
4. Microsoft has also delayed RTM for Windows XP Service Pack 3 to provide sufficient time to incorporate feedback from the beta testers. (In other words, they can't make their original deadline!)
    
5. Windows XP SP3 will be an optional supplement for OEMs.
    
6. Existing end item part numbers will continue to be used for Windows XP SP3. New end item part numbers are not being created for Windows XP SP3.

Due to the changes in language releases and Windows XP SP3 RTM's release, here's the updated schedule.

With the exception of Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows XP Tablet Edition, Windows XP Service Pack 3 will be released in both standalone and integrated formats. It will be available in both CD and DVD formats, except for the Japanese language version which will only be in DVD format.

Important : Please note that these are Release To Manufacturing (RTM) dates, not actual public release dates. As mentioned in our report on Windows Vista Service Pack 1, release to manufacturing (RTM) means exactly that - Windows XP Service Pack 3 has been finalized and is now released for manufacturing, and to the OEMs for integration with their systems. Public upgrades will come later (see dates above and the updates below).

Updates

Update @ April 16 : We just updated the schedule with Microsoft's internal schedule for the public releases. Please take a look at the updated schedule above.

Update @ May 1 : Availability of Service Pack 3 via Windows Update has been delayed due to a "compability issue" affecting the Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System.

Update @ May 3 : Although Microsoft has delayed deployment of Service Pack 3 via Windows Update, you can directly download Service Pack 3. Its MD5 and SHA-1 values are as follows (Thanks, acedriver!) :

MD5 : BB25707C919DD835A9D9706B5725AF58
SHA-1 : c81472f7eeea2eca421e116cd4c03e2300ebfde4

Update @ May 7 : Service Pack 3 is now available on the Microsoft Download Center! The updated Release Notes for Service Pack 3 can be found here while the full list of fixes included in Service Pack 3 can be found here. Thanks, acedriver and noel_pg3!

Related Articles

Here are our other Microsoft-related articles :

• Secret Pre-Release Details On Windows XP Service Pack 3
• ED#84 : Microsoft Silently Rolls Out Anti-Hack Update For Windows Vista
• ED#83 : Installing DirectX 9 Can & Will Kill DirectX 10
• ED#82 : Bad Pool Header In Windows XP
• ED#81 : Confirmed Schedule Of Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 Releases
• Microsoft Windows Vista Review
• Installing Windows Vista For N00bs
• Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Candidate Release Preview Details
• What's New In Windows Vista Service Pack 1?
• ED#77 : Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Out Next Week!

Don't forget to join our Motherboard Giveaway Contest!

Questions & Comments

If you have a question or comment on this editorial, please feel free to post them here!