Microsoft Windows XP updates are distributed in service packs. Service packs help keep Windows XP current, and extend and update the functionality of your computer.

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Windows XP Service Pack 3

Release Date: May 6, 2008

Windows XP Service Pack 3 is a service pack that is cumulative back to the last currently-supported service pack. This means that Windows XP Service Pack 3 contains all the fixes that were included with Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). If you have already installed Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), you do not have to install Windows XP SP2.

Note You must have either Windows XP Service Pack 1a or Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed in order to install Windows XP Service Pack 3.

How to obtain

You can use Windows Update or the Microsoft Download Center to obtain Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3).

Check for updates on Windows Update

1.	Visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com)
2.	Click Express Install (Recommended).
3.	If your computer qualifies, Windows XP SP3 will be one of the updates that are automatically selected. Click Install.
4.	Review and accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).

Windows XP SP3 will be downloaded to your computer, and the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Setup Wizard will help you install it.

Obtain the latest Windows XP service pack from the Microsoft Download Center

If you have trouble obtaining the service pack from Windows Update, you can obtain the standalone update package from the Download Center.
The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download the Windows XP Service Pack 3 package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4)

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

How to obtain Windows XP Service Pack 3 on a CD

To order Windows XP SP3 on a CD, visit one of the following Microsoft Web sites, as appropriate for your region:

AsiaEurope and AfricaNorth AmericaSouth America

Fix list

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:

Release notes

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:

How to determine the version of Windows XP that you are running

For more information about how to determine the version of Windows XP that you are running, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Additional resources

For information that can help you successfully download and install Windows XP SP3 on a single computer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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Windows XP Service Pack 2

Release Date: August 25, 2004

Windows XP Service Pack 2 is a cumulative service pack. This means that Windows XP Service Pack 2 contains all the fixes that were included with Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a). If you have already installed Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), you do not have to install Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a).

How to obtain

You can use Automatic Updates or Windows Update to obtain Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).

Automatic Updates

The best way to make sure that you get Windows XP SP2 is by turning on the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP. Visit the Protect Your PC site to 4 steps to protect your computer (http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/default.mspx) or follow these manual steps (http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/updates/mu.mspx). Either way, you will receive Windows XP SP2 automatically.

After you turn on Automatic Updates, your computer can start to download important updates automatically, including the latest version of Windows Update.

Windows Update

1.	Visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com)
2.	Click Express Install (Recommended).
3.	If your computer qualifies, Windows XP SP2 will be one of the updates automatically selected. Click Install.
4.	Review and accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).

Windows XP SP2 will be downloaded to your computer, and the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard will help you install it.

Fix list

For more information about what is fixed in Windows XP Service Pack 2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Release notes

For more information about issues with Windows XP Service Pack 2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Additional resources

For information that can help you successfully download and install Windows XP SP2 on a single computer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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Windows XP Service Pack 1a

Release Date: February 3, 2003

How to obtain

To obtain Service Pack 1a (SP1a), visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Differences between Windows XP SP1 and SP1a

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Fix list

For more information about what is fixed in SP1a, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a) includes Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Therefore, the problems corrected by Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 are also fixed by Windows XP SP1a.

For more information about these problems, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about how to obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 6, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Release notes

For more information about issues with Windows XP Service Pack 1a, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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Windows XP Service Pack 1

Release Date: September 9, 2002

How to obtain

Service Pack 1 (SP1) is no longer available for download.

Fix list

For more information about what is fixed in SP1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) includes Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Therefore, the problems corrected by Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 are also fixed by Windows XP SP1.

For more information about these problems, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about how to obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 6, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Release notes

For more information about issues with Windows XP Service Pack 1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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