Drop, charge, and lose the cords
Entered CNET Catalog: 04/22/2008
SKU: CNETWINDOWSXPSP3
Manufacturer: #1TechStore
User opinions
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User Rating: 
9/10
Works great
Pros: Convenient way to do a fresh install.
Cons: None so far
I used Windows Upgrade the first time--this will exam your system and only download the necessary modules. After that I downloaded the ISO file, burned a CD, and then used that to upgrade the other machines. One advantage of having an upgrade disk is when doing a fresh install of XP--you don't have to run Windows Update a dozen times to get the machine current. But there is a strange hitch: it won't upgrade a completely fresh machine; you must first install SP2 (or SP1A) before you can install SP3.
For those who have had problems post-install, I might suggest that your machine may not have been so healthy beforehand.
User Rating: 
8/10
It Worked for Me!
Pros: Add/Remove in Control Panel is Faster
Cons: Took up 1.5 GB of HD Space
But in my case SP3 actually made my computer faster. Not only this but I am able to bring up Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel in 1/3 the time it usually takes, 10 second rather than 30 seconds.
It does take up about 1.5gb. I didn't like this. Overall however it has been an improvement.
User Rating: 
1/10
Doesn't Even Work
Pros: There are no Pros.
Cons: No Normal Boot Up, BSOD, Tried 2x w/ Failure
User Rating: 
2/10
The blue screen of death returns
Pros: None for this user
Cons: Another beta-test disaster
User Rating: 2/10
Useless...no use upgrading from SP2
Pros: I think it makes programs to open up faster but not sure of this.
Cons: Degrades the system performance
The startup time was awful with SP3....surprisingly the shut-down time was better. My softwares started having problems. For example, I use Skype a lot. It worked fine with SP2, video and audio were fantastic.With SP3, it stopped showing video...it was always stuck at one frame.
Uninstalled SP3 immediately, Skype works fine again.
There is seriously something wrong with Microsoft.
User Rating: 2/10
System won't boost or restore after sp3 upg
Pros: Maybe just get the MAC
Cons: Maybe I really sould keep everything off line!
Not to forget all the apps that got downloaded and I have no CD and the reg codes are in emails! What a lesson! and there is no OBVIOUS "take be back to sp2!
One persons experience
User Rating: 8/10
Little Faster
Pros: Notice a little speed increase opening files and startup and shutdown
Cons: Disable SystemSuite 6.0 firewall and possible software conflicts
