How good is SP3?

[Guest Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: How good is SP3?

 

>From your own reference above:

>"To get a hotfix, you may contact your Microsoft contact or get it from

>web (Hotfix KB, download center, Windows Update, office Update, Service

>Packs , etc)."

 

I can read fine and I know what it said before I sent it. Here, allow

me to make it evidently more clear:

 

Take the recent "Patch Tuesday" KB release, as pushed out via WU:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956803

 

Notice the statement: "GDR service branches contain only those fixes

that are widely released to address widespread, critical issues. QFE

service branches contain hotfixes in addition to widely released

fixes." GDR (General Deployment Releases) versus QFE (Quick Fix

Engineering).

 

Now...

 

Take a look at a Hotfix KB page:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956588

 

Notice any difference? The word Hotfix is mentioned only one time in

the GDR patch from KB956803. How about in KB956803? Not only is it

plastered everywhere in the page, it explicitly stated on the top of

the page. This is not the case with KB956803. My contention is that a

HOTFIX is not the same as a general deployment PATCH as obtained via

WU. I don't particularly agree with the mention of Windows Update on

the Hotfix page I pointed you too only for the reason that SOMETIMES a

Hotfix will be tested enough to where it does become a general

deployment patch and available via WU. This is not always the case. If

you carefully examine the patches integrated into SP3, you'll find

HUNDREDS that were Hotfixes (as per KB956588) that never made it to

Windows Update or a General Deployment state. I'm just making the

distinction that a Hotfix is not always a patch or released as GDR.

That's all I'm saying'.

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

[Guest Ben Stevenson]

Re: How good is SP3?

 

I read the post from "mdugan" of 10/20 of all the problems he had and I do

feel worried. Some friends have also told me of problems. What would you

advise?

Thanks

 

"Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message

news:OpFwY60LJHA.740@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> "Ben Stevenson" <casiopie963@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> news:e5NKgv0LJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> My automatic updates have downloaded SP3 and asking me to install. I am

>> afraid to do that as I have been hearing that it causes problems to the

>> computer in many cases.

>>

>> I would appreciate some expert advise.

>>

>> TIA

>

>

> I would say do it, but follow these precautions.

>

> Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3:

> http://support.microsoft.com:80/kb/950717

>

> WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation

> http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2008/05/08/windows-xp-sp3-read-all-prerequisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

>

> Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3

> http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm

>

> Download Windows XP Service Pack 3 here:

> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

>

> Free unlimited installation and compatibility support for Service Pack 3:

> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gpr

> --

>

> Bruce Hagen

> MS-MVP Outlook Express

> Imperial Beach, CA

>