Trying to Leave Windows XP?   Breaking Up is Hard to Do.

Sure, you’ve looked around and maybe cast a lingering glance at Vista, possibly even stared, but things are so comfortable with Windows XP – why rock the boat? Well, for those of you who have been looking for a reason to stay in your relationship with Windows XP, Microsoft has just given you that reason: Windows XP Service Pack 3.

Microsoft has returned to their old service pack ways, rolling-up all previous security updates, hotfixes, and adding a small number of relatively insignificant enhancements. Service Pack 3 contains all updates since Windows XP Service Pack 2 which was released back in August of 2006. You will not have to download several years’ worth of updates, a key benefit of the service pack. There is one noticeable omission in Service Pack 3; unfortunately, Internet Explorer 7 was not included.

One key feature of Service Pack 3 is the inclusion of the Network Access Protection (NAP) client. This feature allows organizations deploying Windows Server 2008 to take advantage of NAP policies. With NAP, companies can automatically validate that a connected workstation is properly configured with the appropriate anti-virus, anti-malware and patches before allowing the workstation access to the network. For more information on Network Access Protection, see: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/network/bb545879.aspx.

Other added features in Service Pack 3 include “Black Hole” Router Detection, Descriptive Security Options User Interface, and updated Windows Product Activation. “Black Hole” Router Detection does just as the name says. It detects routers that are silently dropping packets. This feature will be enabled by default. Descriptive Security Options User Interface provides a much clearer direction for configuring security options and policies. This will hopefully prevent administrators from incorrectly configuring various settings due to lack of understanding. Finally, the updated Windows Product Activation allows you to install Windows XP (with Service Pack 3) without having to provide a product key. This functionality is currently available in Windows Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Vista.

In summary, Windows XP with Service Pack 3 allows Windows XP to live a little longer. It allows administrators to prepare systems without having to download several years of patches, saving them time and energy. It also ensures that systems are fully patched as all previous updates are included, filling in holes that may have been made by administrators declining past updates. Finally, it will provide minor enhancements to allow better integration with Windows Server 2008.

For more information on Service Pack 3 and how you can prolong your relationship with Windows XP, please contact me.