How to obtain Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)

Article ID: 322389 - View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q322389
To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure that you're running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3). For more information, go to the following Microsoft website: Support is ending for some versions of Windows
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Resolution

You can help keep your computer current, safe, and working correctly by installing update files for your operating system. To make it easier for you to install Windows XP updates and fixes, Microsoft collects these files in service packs. Service packs help to extend and update the functionality of your computer.

Preparation

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To make sure that your installation is successful, follow these steps to check the status of your computer:
  1. Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) can be applied only on a 32-bit version of Windows. To determine whether your system is 32-bit or 64-bit, click the following article number to go to the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    827218
    (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218/ )
    How to determine whether a computer is running a 32-bit version or 64-bit version of the Windows operating system
  2. Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a) must already be installed before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3). To determine which service pack is currently installed on your computer, click "here". To install previous Windows XP service packs, use one of the following options:
    • Click here
      (http://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=417)
      to download Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).
    • Click here
      (http://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=19751)
      to download Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a).
  3. To install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), use one of the following options:
    • Click here
      (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/en-us#toA)
      for the steps to fix the problem automatically.
    • Click here
      (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/en-us#sp3)
      to download and install Windows XP SP3 manually.
    • Click here
      (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/en-us#toorder)
      to order Windows XP SP3 on a CD.
Important These service packs apply only to 32-bit versions of Windows XP. For more information about service packs for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, click the following article number to go to the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
889100
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889100/ )
How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003
To determine which service pack is currently installed on your computer, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start.
  2. Type the following command in the Start Search box, and then click OK:
    winver
    Note A dialog box displays the version of Windows and the service pack that are currently installed on your computer.
If you're still not sure about which service pack you have, you might want to ask someone for help, or you might want to click here
(http://support.microsoft.com/)
to contact Microsoft Customer Support Services.
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How to obtain Windows XP Service Pack 3

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Use any of the following methods to get the latest service pack:

Download the service pack manually

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You can download the stand-alone Windows XP SP3 package from the following Microsoft Download Center page. Although this page says that the installation package is intended for IT professionals and developers, you can safely download and install this file.
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Download
Download the Windows XP Service Pack 3 package now
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4)
Important These service packs apply only to 32-bit versions of Windows XP.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to go to the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/119591/ )
How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services
Security notice You can be assured that this file has been scnned for viruses. Microsoft uses the most current virus-detection software to scan files that are posted to the Download Center. The file is also stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Turn on Automatic Updates

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You can get Windows XP SP3 automatically if you turn on the Automatic Updates feature. To have us turn on Automatic Updates for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section. If you would rather turn on Automatic Updates yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.

Fix it for me

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To fix the problem automatically, click the Fix this problem link. Then click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in this wizard.
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Turn on Automatic UpdatesTurn off Automatic Updates
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Fix this problem
(http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9709473)

Microsoft Fix it 50362
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Fix this problem
(http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9709472)

Microsoft Fix it 50363
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Notes
  • This wizard may be in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.
  • If you are not on the computer that has the problem, you can save the automatic fix to a flash drive or to a CD, and then run the fix on the computer that has the problem.

Let me fix it myself

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To turn on Automatic Updates yourself, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start.
  2. Type the following command in the Start Search box, and then press Enter:
    sysdm.cpl
  3. Click the Automatic Updates tab, and then click to select one of the options. We recommend that you select the Automatic (recommended) option, and then select the time that you want under Automatically download recommended updates for my computer and install them.
  4. Click OK.
After you turn on Automatic Updates, your computer can start to automatically download updates.

Video: How to turn on Automatic Updates in Windows XP
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References

For more information about what is fixed in Windows XP Service Pack 3, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
946480
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480/ )
List of fixes that are included in Windows XP Service Pack 3
For more information about issues with Windows XP Service Pack 3, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
936929
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929/ )
Information about Windows XP Service Pack 3
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Properties

Article ID: 322389 - Last Review: August 1, 2013 - Revision: 40.0
Applies to
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2
  • Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
Keywords: 
atdownload kbproductlink kbgetsp kbsetup kbenv kbinfo kbfixme kbmsifixme kbcip kbvideocontent consumertargetwinfy13 KB322389
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