Microsoft has released an 11 page document in .pdf format which should clarify some of what Windows XP Service Pack #3 will do and what it won’t do. I recalled reading in one of the forums that some were concerned that SP3 would update Internet Explorer version 6 to version 7. But this does not appear to be the case. Microsoft states in the document the following:

Microsoft is not adding significant functionality from newer versions of Windows, such as Windows Vista, to Windows XP through XP SP3. For instance, Windows XP SP3 does not include Windows Internet Explorer 7, although Windows XP SP3 does include updates to both Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7, and it will update whichever version is installed on the computer. 

The document provided by Microsoft concludes with  a summary that pretty much covers what the Service Pack will and won’t do:

Summary
Windows XP SP3 combines all previously released performance, security, and stability updates. It also provides a limited number of new and enhanced functionalities, although it does not significantly change the Windows XP experience or bring functionality from newer versions of Windows to Windows XP. The goals of Windows XP SP3 are to:

Provide a new baseline for customers still deploying Windows XP, to help them avoid the inconvenience of applying individual updates.

Fill gaps in the updates users might have missed by declining individual updates when using Automatic Updates, and to deliver updates not made available through Windows Update.
Windows Vista provides the most advanced security and management capability, but for PCs that cannot be upgraded to Windows Vista right now, Windows XP SP3 ensures these PCs have all available updates and allows these PCs to leverage some new Windows Server 2008 capabilities, such as Network Access Protection (NAP).

That’s pretty much it in a nutshell. It appears that the biggest benefit may be incorporating all updates, patches and fixes into one download.

Comments welcome.

Download .pdf document for Service Pack #3 here.

Tags: windows xp, service pack 3, sp3, .pdf document, included, fixes, patches, download,