XP Service Pack 3 Kills AMD Machines

Fortunately, I have installed 4 SP3 updates on Dell Optiplex AMD systems with no problems.  Only HP system remaining is an old laptop with Intel processor and even that installed correctly.  You gotta feel for users who innocently update and then have no sound or worse, no computer.

I have read that before downloading sp3 computer users should disable their AV, but quite a few of us still have automatic updates enabled so won't have time to do this. I was wondering this: having auto updates, I would have thought I have all of the updates that are in SP3 - if so why would I want SP3; will the updater recognise this and not try to give me sp3? To say I am a bit worried is an understatement. At present people can choose whether or no, but I believe after 10 June it will be forced on us.

edit: of course after writing this I saw the preceding post about what to do before downloading, but I think my point about auto updates is valid.

 

 

 

A good blog on this issue, with workarounds is

 

http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx

Since SP3 requires you to accept an EULA, I don't think auto updates is going to install it without user intervention.  It will probably start the installation and pop up the EULA screen and wait until you accept it and tell it to go forward.  That will give you time to shut down everything running on your computer including your AV before allowing SP3 to install.