XP sp 3 Released.

Microsoft Released Windows XP service Pack 3.


To improve the security,performance ,stability of PCs that running Windows XP, Microsoft Continuesly develops updates, fixes, and other improvements and make it downloaded through automatic updates and through their website. To make it easier for customers to get these updates and enhancements, Microsoft periodically combines them into a single package -Service Pack and makes that package available for all Windows customers.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released Windows XP updates, including security updates and hotfixes. It also includes a small number of new enhancements such as the Microsoft® Management Console (MMC) 3.0 and the Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0 (MSXML6)., which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system. For customers with existing Windows XP installations, Windows XP SP3 fills gaps in the updates they might have missed when using Windows Update.

XPusers can install SP3 on top of Windows XP SP1 or SP2 also you can run the SP3 update package on a computer running the Windows XP Media Center Edition with SP1.Tools and guidance for system administrators have not fundamentally changed from Windows XP SP2.

The service pack includes functionality previously released as updates, such as the Microsoft® Management Console (MMC) 3.0 and the Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0 (MSXML6).
Windows XP SP3 does not include Windows Internet Explorer 7, although Windows XP SP3 does include updates to both Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7.
One of the major Changes in XP Installation is the Windows Product Activation- As in Windows Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Vista, users can now complete operating system installation without providing a product key during a full, integrated installation of Windows XP SP3. The operating system will prompt the user for a product key later as part of Genuine Advantage.

New and Enhanced Functionalities:
"Black Hole" Router Detection,Network Access Protection (NAP),Descriptive Security Options User Interface,Enhanced security for Administrator and Service policy entries,Microsoft Kernel Mode Cryptographic Module,Windows Product Activation- As in Windows Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Vista, users can now complete operating system installation without providing a product key during a full, integrated installation of Windows XP SP3. The operating system will prompt the user for a product key later as part of Genuine Advantage.

downloads:http://www.microsoft.com/downloads
more info:http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsxp/bb410118.aspx


Source -Service Pack 3 white paper and Microsoft website.