Windows XP SP3 Releases to Manufacturing

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

As predicted, the 3rd service pack for Windows XP (SP3) was released to manufacturing (RTM) on Monday, April 21st. Also as predicted, Microsoft indicated it will be available for download on April 29th.

This was announced on the TechNet forum, in a post in which Chris Keroack, the service pack’s release manager said:

Today we are happy to announce that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has released to manufacturing (RTM). Windows XP SP3 bits are now working their way through our manufacturing channels to be available to OEM and Enterprise customers.

We are also in the final stages of preparing for release to the web (i.e. you!) on April 29th, via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. Online documentation for Windows XP SP3, such as Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and the Microsoft TechNet Windows XP TechCenter, will be updated then. For customers who use Windows XP at home, Windows XP SP3 Automatic Update distribution for users at home will begin in early summer.

Since Windows XP received a stay of execution, at least for ULCPCs, not too long ago, this SP has become even more important - and desired.

We Say: It’s interesting that it was announced on TechNet; not exactly the high profile launch Windows Vista SP1 was given, as most users don’t troll that forum. Microsoft would love to see XP go away, but users are still trying to keep it alive (witness this petition) to force increased adoption of Vista. For many, however, XP would still be just fine.