FYI...

Device Manager may not show any devices and Network Connections may not show any network connections after you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)
- http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=953979
Last Review: June 25, 2008
Revision: -4.2-
SYMPTOMS:
After you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), Device Manager may not show any devices and Network Connections may not show any network connections.
This problem may occur when an antivirus application is running during the installation of Windows XP SP3.
CAUSE
This problem occurs when the Fixccs.exe process is called during the Windows XP SP3 installation. This process creates some intermediate registry subkeys, and it later deletes these subkeys. In some cases, some antivirus applications may not let the Fixccs.exe process delete these intermediate registry subkeys.
When this problem occurs, certain applications, such as Device Manager and Network Connections, may be unable to enumerate the device or the connection instances. These applications will report a blank status even though devices and connections still function as expected.
RESOLUTION
Hotfix information:
The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Download the Update for Windows XP (KB953979) package now:
- http://preview.tinyurl.com/3jgjap
File Name: WindowsXP-KB953979-x86-ENU.exe
Download Size: 64 KB...
Prerequisites:
To use this hotfix, you must have Windows XP Service Pack 3 installed on the computer...
Restart requirement:
To apply this hotfix, you must restart the computer in Safe Mode..."

Steps to take -before- you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717/
Last Review: May 21, 2008 - Revision: 3.0 - "...Important
• If the configuration of your antivirus software prevents certain system files from being changed, the Windows XP SP3 installation may fail. Try temporarily disabling your antivirus software. To do this, right-click your antivirus program icon, and then click Disable. This icon typically appears in the lower right corner of the computer screen.
• If you disable your antivirus software before you install Windows XP SP3, make sure that you know the risks that are involved, and make sure that you enable the antivirus software after Windows XP SP3 is installed..."



This post has been edited by AplusWebMaster: Jun 29 2008, 07:26 PM

FYI...

- http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/new...p-sp3-automatic
9 July 2008 - "AS ANNOUNCED previously by Microsoft, automatic updates for Windows XP SP3 will be launched Wednesday, July 10 2008, starting at 10:00 am Pacific Time. For most Windows XP users who haven't already manually downloaded and applied SP3, the automatic update process should work properly. After all, Microsoft has had almost three months to test, tweak and polish it since it was first released. Microsoft's Automatic Updates process should know about and scan for configurations that are problematic, and prevent the Windows XP SP3 update installation process from proceeding if it detects a troublesome situation. However, if there's any hiccough in the automatic update process, your computer could become unusable. Therefore, certain technical advisors recommend using Microsoft's Automatic Updates facility only to provide notification that the update is available, then applying it manually. They caution that you should also take care to follow Microsoft's service pack pre-installation instructions, including:
* Disable antivirus programs,
* Make sure no other applications are running,
* Have your system plugged in during the update, that is, not on battery power, and
* Make sure that you have sufficient free space available on your system's hard disk.
You can make certain that the Windows Automatic Update facility doesn't attempt to, er... automatically update your system by using Microsoft's Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit, and that's available here: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tadkt
Should you find that Windows XP SP3 causes problems on your system, instructions on how to remove it are available here: http://www.iaps.com/blog/2008/07/how-to-re...ice-pack-3.html ..."

FYI...

Gotcha: IE8 Lock-In With XP SP3
- http://www.wservernews.com/?id=690
Sep 1, 2008 - "...Redmond on its IE blog* warned XP SP3 users that in some circumstances they will not be able to uninstall either SP3 or IE8. This heads-up was similar to an earlier warning in May, when XP SP3 had just been released. Redmond said then that you wouldn't be able to downgrade from IE7 to the older IE6 browser without uninstalling SP3. Jane Maliouta, an IE program manager, gave specifics about this new gotcha, which impacts you when you downloaded and installed IE8 Beta 1 prior to updating XP to SP3. If you then upgrade IE8 to Beta 2, which Redmond unveiled on the 28th, you will be stuck with both IE8 and Windows XP SP3. You will get a warning dialog:
"If you continue, XP SP3 and IE8 Beta 2 will become permanent, you will still be able to upgrade to later IE8 builds as they become available, but you won't be able to uninstall them."
So how to get around this lock-in? First uninstall XP SP3, then uninstall IE8 Beta 1; then reinstall XP SP3 and follow that by installing IE8 Beta 2. Dang, that's a hassle..."
* http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/08/2...r-8-beta-2.aspx