Windows XP SP3 Leaked onto Bittorrent and Usenet

UPDATE (5.6.2008): Microsoft has updated the TechNet article detailing official download locations. If you are updating more than one computer then you can download the full 300+ meg version here. Otherwise, for single computers go through Windows Update.

As expected Microsoft’s upcoming Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has been leaked onto Bittorrent and Usenet ahead of the official release to the general public.

The official filename is: WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe. (MD5 Hash: BB25707C919DD835A9D9706B5725AF58)

SP3 doesn’t offer many new features. Of the new features it does offer, the backported items from Windows Vista leave me a bit concerned about security application compatibility. These should all be discovered and addressed between now and June 10 (the official release date of SP3 on Windows Update) as I’m expecting to see a surge of SP3-related posts in all of the usual technical help forums. This makes the job of us close enough to the bleeding edge to live vicariously though early adopters without getting burned. I’m not saying don’t update, but I’m suggesting that we wait until the official release so the computer whizzes and troubleshooters of the world have a stab at SP3 and any of its unknown problems.

As expected, there are early reports of endless reboot loops in botched SP3 upgrades due to an error in GDI32.DLL. If you do go the route of upgrading via leaked copies then be sure to backup your system using Acronis TrueImage or Norton Ghost. Also make sure you’ve review the legality of using leaked software in your jurisdiction.

Popularity: 4% [?]

April 23, 2008 | Filed Under Tech/Gadgets 

Comments

Leave a Reply




*
To prove you're a person (not a spam script), type the security word shown in the picture. Click on the picture to hear an audio file of the word.
Click to hear an audio file of the anti-spam word