Windows XP Service Pack 3 For Providers

Important note: this document is designed for Local Support Providers (LSPs). This page was last modified on Wednesday, 26-Nov-2008 09:56:17 EST.

Note: this document has been significantly changed since it was first published on May 16, 2008. The original document is here.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) was made available through Windows Update and Microsoft Update on May 5, 2008 and began to be pushed out via Automatic Update on June 10, 2008. SP3 is almost certainly the final service pack for Windows XP.

Information Systems & Computing (ISC) supports Windows XP Service Pack 3 for its clients, including off-campus students, for systems that meet or exceed ISC's recommended hardware specifications for Windows, which are for systems that have at least a

Provider note: Windows XP Service Pack 3 backs up the previous installation of Windows XP by default. This adds considerably to the disk space that SP3 uses.

Issues Specific to Windows XP Service Pack 3

Interlock Between Windows XP Service Pack 3 & Internet Explorer 7.0

While Windows XP Service Pack 3 won't force the install of Internet Explorer 7.0, installing SP3 on a computer that already has Internet Explorer 7.0 means that Internet Explorer 7.0 cannot be uninstalled (and Internet Explorer 6.0 made available) via Add/Remove Programs. ISC's advice for users of administrative systems which require Internet Explorer 6.0, such as Hyperion/Oracle Planning, is to follow these steps:

1. Uninstall Internet Explorer 7.0.
2. Verify functionality of Internet Explorer 6.0.
3. Deactivate upgrade to Internet Explorer 7.0.
4. Run Windows XP Service Pack 3.

Minor Issues With BEN Financials

There are several minor issues with BEN Financials, though none impact overall functionality:

• Viewing an invoice image: the first time an image is brought up, a JAVAW message may appear. Unblock it and re-query the invoice and the image will display correctly. Also, the first time that an image displays, it may be overly magnified - the magnification must be decreased so that the entire invoice can be seen.
• Requisitions: clicking on the Shop at Penn Marketplace displays an Internet Explorer message, stating "You are about to be redirected to a connection that is not secure." Click the Yes button - this will not affect functionality.

How to get it

Microsoft is making Windows XP Service Pack 3 available at the University in three different ways:

1. For users who have Automatic Update installed and set to automatically download and install, Windows XP Service Pack 3 became available on June 10, 2008. The timing for users to receive SP3 through Automatic Update depends on a number of factors, including the user's Internet usage, location, language, and level of Internet demand for SP3.

Provider note: for providers who wish to prevent Automatic Update from installing Windows XP Service Pack 3, Microsoft has a Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool available. This toolkit uses an executable to create a registry key that blocks downloading of SP3 (and other Microsoft operating system service packs) for twelve months.

2. For users with Penn's Windows Automatic Update Service (WAUS) activated, WAUS will install Windows XP Service Pack 3.
3. For users who run Windows Update or Microsoft Update manually, Windows XP Service Pack 3 became available as a critical update on May 5th, 2008.

What's New in Windows XP Service Pack 3

Windows XP Service Pack 3 does not add many new features to Windows XP. Like Windows XP Service Pack 1, it is mostly a compatibility and reliability upgrade.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 has a few new features:

• Network Access Protection (NAP): Windows XP Service Pack 3 includes NAP to help organizations that use Windows XP take advantage of features in Windows Server 2008.
• Improved security-related help text and support for newer cryptographic modules.

For further information

Microsoft's Service Pack 3 Resources for IT Professionals page.

ISC's Windows XP Service Pack 2 For Providers page.

-- John Mulhern III, Lead for Client Technologies, ISC Technology Support Services (August 7, 2008)