Ron Schenone

Microsoft Free Help Site For Windows XP SP3 Only

Posted by on May 12, 2008 | 4 Comments

Just a short note:

Microsoft is offering free help for those who have installed SP3 for Windows XP. Free help is available via email or live chat. For those who have a MSDN, TechNet or other subcription, there is also a toll free number to call. This service will be available until April 14, 2009.

Comments welcome.

Microsoft help site is here.

PS Also in case you missed this in one of my other articles, here is the link for help with AMD issues located here.

[tags]microsoft,windows,xp,sp3,help,support, service,email,chat, [/tags]

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/theoracle/ the oracle

    Tells me that the volume of problems is very high. There was no site like this for SP2, as I recall.

    I also see no apology on the site, which would go a long way toward assuaging any bad feelings.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Marc,
    Microsoft is blaming the OEM’s for using the same image for both Intel and AMD systems. I don’t expect any apology now or in the future. :-)

  • http://www.stgeorgetennis.ca Gerry V

    Hi:

    I’ve tried installing SP3 with no success even after I’ve contacted Microsoft and after following their instructions. Here is a quote from the last e-mail reply I received from their support desk.

    “Gerry, I fully understand the inconvenience you experienced, please understand that the current issue is more system related. Since I am a support engineer for Windows Update, I may not be the best resource to consult on this issue. As we have our Windows XP Support Professionals who are specialized in system issues, in order to help you resolve the issue more efficiently, I have created a new case for you. For your reference, the new case ID is …………, which is free of charge.

    I have forwarded this issue to our Windows XP Support Professional. They will be contacting you as soon as possible. I hope you will be satisfied with the services we provided.

    For the original issue, I would like to go ahead to close this case as “Temporarily Archived”; I want to thank you for all the time you put into resolving this issue.”

    I was relieved that SP3 did put my system back to it’s original state after the install failed which took amost 30 minutes. Any body that wants to try the install…I wish you luck.

  • Peter E

    Gerry, just in case you come across this post,my experience is about the same as yours – more than half a dozen emails with almost identical wording for Windows update problems.I think they use a robot.
    In this regard their support is as atrocious as many of the larger software companies,in particular security software and computer manufacturers- do I need to say more?
    I still have a ticket outstanding for updates since October last year.
    They had me uninstall .NET and Windows Installer and when I had trouble after that, I was dropped like a hot potato – especially since I have an OEM version of XP – as have millions of peopke who bought their computer with the OS installed.
    Net result : No Windows Installer,no .NET and no updates.
    I guess I don’t have to worry about SP3