News 

SP3 has been available for download from Windows Update since the beginning of May, but will now be pushed out on to machines that have Microsoft's Automatic Update service switched on.

The launch of XP SP3 was marred by a conflict with Microsoft's Dynamics Retail Management System, which forced the

ADVERTISEMENT

company to temporarily withdraw the service pack.

The Pack also caused problems with some AMD-based HP PCs, which went into an endless reboot cycle because the manufacturer used an XP image based on Intel, rather than AMD, chipsets.

The Service Pack is a relatively minor update, and certainly nowhere near as important as the overhaul of the operating system that was witnessed with Service Pack 2.

You can read our full review of Windows XP Service Pack 3 here.

Those who want to avoid downloading the Service Pack for any reason can apply Microsoft's Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit.