Need XP'ers help please

Having just recently set up XP for the first time and getting the 81 MS
security updates installed I have been looking about for this SP3 but to no avail -

My IE shows it is still SP2 - Can anyone please advise an addy link
at MS where I can go directly ? - I have tried the addy where it runs a scan
over one's computer, that's how I got the 81 updates, but when it runs again
there's no mention of SP3, it does mention IE7 as the only outstanding
update but I am not in a hurry to download that at present.

I typed in their box, "Download SP3" - all I get is links to info. about SP3,
not how I can download it.

 

check here http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Windows-XP-SP3-Download-90001.html or here http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/windows-xp-service-pack-3.html

 

Here it is http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4&DisplayLang=en

 

MICRO,

http://www.ghacks.net/2008/04/28/official-windows-xp-service-pack-3-download-links/

If you had installed SP3 first, you would not have had to install 81 updates.

 

Does it not offer it when you click Start - All Programs and then click Windows Update (up top)?

 

Thanks Bigc. - On dial-up so hoping to somehow get M$ to download it
via it's Resume capabilities but not having much luck.

 

Thanks Pand. - That addy is for multiple network SP3's and even though the page gave me a link for a single computer SP3 it led me around in circles to nowhere.

 

Jees Brian I could have done with your input last week - would have saved me going via the Cape had I realised that - Your link is the 316 meg download
but I can't use a download manager, so no Resume.

 

Thanks IP - Unfortunately I think my problem begins with not allowing M$
to download willy nilly via Auto. Updates - I have had it switched to - Tell me
and I will decide which updates I want - And so now I am having to jump through hoops - I have been searching M$ for hours and a dozen pages or more but can't find a way to get them to 'OFFER' it so that I can get their Resume download.

I have very reluctantly switched to Auto. now and might see what that way you mention offers up.

 

Best bet is to get a mate with a fast connection to download it for you. I think it took me 3 minutes.

 

You don't have to switch to auto updates to try it that way. I have auto updates turned off and I always update manually this way.

 

Innerpeace,
You do have to have the auto update service running to update thru Windows Update don't you?
I haven't had any luck when I have the service disabled.

* Just checked on DSL. Background Intelligent Transfer and Auto update are disabled and it won't update for me thru XP's control panel link to Windows Update.

 

Hi Tester,

I do have the service running, but I thought we were talking about the Control Panel GUI settings for Automatic Updates which I have set to "Turn off Automatic Updates". This allows one to manually update Windows XP through IE (assuming the services are on). The OP mentioned his was set as "Tell me and I will decide which updates I want" which I assumed meant "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them" in the Control Panel GUI. Either way, the OP should have been able to do a manual update by clicking Start-All Programs-Windows Update if the services you mentioned were set to auto/manual.

I understand what your saying about the services "Auto Update" and "BITS" and maybe that is what the OP meant. You are correct that the services have to be on/available.

 

IP and Tester - I am on the 98se machine today but just reading you both
I am not used to XP yet so when I tried your idea IP it was with that BITS
'service' Tester referred to, Off - when I get back to the XP machine I shall switch it back On and retry because I still didn't get any closer to SP3.

Regards.

 

Hi Micro,

Tester is absolutely correct. Windows needs both of those services. My automatic update service is set to Auto and BITS is set to manual and I'm pretty sure those are the default settings for XP. After you get the updates, you can always change them to disabled. Just remember to turn them back on when you check for updates later.

Sorry for the confusion...