After tests and checks, we believe that SP3 does not introduce any new features to the Windows XP system. It is just a security upgrade and BUG fixing patch assembly ......
Original article: http://winsystem.ctocio.com.cn/windowsxp/321/7492821.shtml
At present, rumors about Windows XP SP3 and Vista SP1 on the Internet are overwhelming. As Microsoft gradually defaulted to XP SP3, information about XP SP3 was gradually mined.
Not long ago, we just thoroughly checked the beta version of Vista SP1, and today we again got the limited beta version Windows XP SP3 from reliable developers. Next, we will conduct a detailed test on Windows XP SP3, and explore the new points with readers.
Unlike Vista SP1, XP SP3 does not appear as a complete dvd iso image of the integrated service package, instead, it is a separate 330MB file package. This style is basically the same as that of the previous SP1 and SP2 test release methods. Currently, the KB number of this special version of service package is kb93859 (windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu), its complete version number is 5.1.2600.3180.
Like all Windows XP service packages and upgrades, You can decompress the content of the SP3 package through winrar. To maximize the comparison, we used two machines installed with Windows XP SP2 and installed all system drivers, but did not install any patches or upgrades after SP2 release. For comparison, we checked the related version: Windows XP SP2 version 5.1 (Build 2600. xpsp_sp2.rtm.040803-2158: Service Pack 2), NTOSKRNL. EXE version 5.1.2600.2180 (for example ).
View the version information of Windows SP2
Version Number of NTOSKRNL in Windows XP SP2
Before installing the SP3 patch for one of the XP SP2 systems, we browsed the compressed files in the SP3 package through WinRAR. In the SP3 package, there are a large number of HTML-format Readme files-interestingly, these help files are still the files used in XP SP2. Maybe, when Microsoft officially tests XP SP3, it will use the new Readme help file.
The process of installing XP SP3 is similar to that of all the previous XP service packages-extracting files and reminding users to create a system backup, copying regular files, and installing programs-this process is not special. Like SP2, the installation of XP SP3 is still very time-consuming. After installing XP SP3, We need to restart the machine.
Install XP SP3
XP SP3 Installation Wizard
If you have not configured the automatic upgrade service, the system will prompt you to enable this function again.
Windows XP SP3 what's new?
Visually, the desktop of the XP SP3 system is not significantly changed. In XP SP3, IE browser has not been upgraded to v7, and Microsoft may leave this to the user's choice for updates.
In the list of installed programs, we can see that the XP SP3 installation is complete (picture can be clicked to enlarge)
Currently, the XP SP3 system version is 5.1 (Build 2600. xpsp.070718-2058: Service Pack 3, v.3180), and The NTOSKRNL. EXE file version is 5.1.2600.3180.
Windows XP SP3 system Property Window Information
View the system version number through the winver command in Windows XP SP3
View the NTOSKRNL. EXE file version in Windows XP SP3
In systems with SP3 patches installed, we have not found much information that can be changed. However, by viewing the files decompressed in the SP3 package (especially the EXE and DLL Application Extensions, We can roughly understand the system functions affected by the service package ):
? Auto Check Utility
? Auto File System Conversion Utility
○ Boot Loader
○ Fax XP SP1 Patch
○ Microsoft. NET Assembly regiity Utility
○ Microsoft. NET Framework
○ Microsoft. NET Framework CAS Policy Manager
○ Microsoft. NET Framework IL Explorer
○ Microsoft. NET Services Installation Utility
○ Microsoft Common Language Runtime native compiler
○ Microsoft FrontPage CGI Server Administrator
○ Microsoft FrontPage Hit Counter
○ Microsoft FrontPage Server Administration Snapin
○ Microsoft FrontPage Server Administrator
○ Microsoft FrontPage Server Administrator Client
○ Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions
○ Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions
○ Microsoft FrontPage TCP/IP Tester
○ Microsoft IE Execute shell
○ Microsoft JScript. NET Compiler
○ Microsoft Telnet Client
Evaluate Peer-to-Peer Custom Setup
○ Registry Editor
○ SetRegNI Application
 Stub loader for WINNT32 setup program (WINNT. EXE & WINNT32.EXE)
○ Tablet PC Calibration
○ ToGac Application
○ Update RunOnce Service
○ UpdateUtil Appliation
○ Visual Basic. NET Command Line Compiler
○ Visual C # Command Line Compiler
○ Windows Messenger
○ Windows Service Pack Auto-Recovery Tool
Windows Service Pack Uninstall
○ Windows xp sp installer downgrade tasks
○ Windows xp sp installer tasks
Conclusion
After tests and checks, we believe that SP3 does not actually introduce any new features to the Windows XP system. It is just a security upgrade and BUG fixing patch assembly. After SP2, Microsoft released many patches and upgrades for the Windows XP platform. However, it is difficult to determine which upgrade patches are integrated in SP3.
At present, Microsoft only said that XP SP3 will not be released this year, but did not disclose the specific public beta and official release date. It is rumored that Microsoft will release Windows XP SP3 in the first half of this year.