Windows XP SP3 was release on the 29th of April and like Windows XP SP2 it’s a big one, weighing it at around 315mb.
Buts what’s in it? Is it worth installing?
There are a few useful new features such as the router black hole detection, but many of the other features simply would not benefit the average home user, apart from bloating windows slightly more.
Other useful features such as Wifi protected access 2 being already available does it warrant a full install?
XP SP3 new functionalityIncludes the Following
- Black Hole Router Detection – Detects if a router is silently losing / discarding packets.
- NAP or Network Access Protection – Allows network administrators to limit network access based on a computer software compliance, if a pc is found to be non compliant then it’s access level may be lowed, the pc will then automatically be brought into compliance, then network access will be restored.
- Credentials security service provider – Allows forward security compatibility with Windows Vista and server 2008
- Descriptive security options control panel – helps to lower the risk of incorrect configuration settings, by explaining in a more user friendly format
- Enhanced security for Administrator and Service policy entries –
- Microsoft Kernel Mode Cryptographic Module -
- Windows Product Activation
Previously already available
- Windows imaging component WIC –
- Microsoft management console 3.0 MMC
- Microsoft core XML servicesMicrosoft Windows Installer 3.1 v2
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service 2.5 BITS
- Digital Identity Management Service
- IPsec Simple Policy Update for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP
- Peer Name Resolution Protocol 2.1 PNRP
- WiFi Protected Access 2
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