sp3 question

i got a popup advising that sp3 was available to download. i clicked
OK
how do i know it was d/led and is installed?

timO' wrote:
> i got a popup advising that sp3 was available to download. i clicked
> OK
> how do i know it was d/led and is installed?
It takes about 30 minutes, maybe 20 and some progress bar will show or a
notification in the tool bar at least.

Right click on properties of 'my computer' and you should see 'Service
Pack 3'.

I'm almost sure it would have told you to reboot.

You can look for C:\windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$ folder and right
click it and click properties. It should be 200-400 meg.

Then again you can go to windows updates on the start -> programs menu,
and once the web page comes up there is a install history. It should
be in there too.

Also if it didn't install, you'll be asked again.

Pick one.

On May 9, 12:10 pm, Big Al <Bi...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> timO' wrote:
> > i got a popup advising that sp3 was available to download. i clicked
> > OK
> > how do i know it was d/led and is installed?
>
> It takes about 30 minutes, maybe 20 and some progress bar will show or a
> notification in the tool bar at least.
>
> Right click on properties of 'my computer' and you should see 'Service
> Pack 3'.
>
> I'm almost sure it would have told you to reboot.
>
> You can look for C:\windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$ folder and right
> click it and click properties. It should be 200-400 meg.
>
> Then again you can go to windows updates on the start -> programs menu,
> and once the web page comes up there is a install history. It should
> be in there too.
>
> Also if it didn't install, you'll be asked again.
>
> Pick one.

thanks for the reply. it says SP2

timO' wrote:
> On May 9, 12:10 pm, Big Al <Bi...@nowhere.com> wrote:
>> timO' wrote:
>>> i got a popup advising that sp3 was available to download. i clicked
>>> OK
>>> how do i know it was d/led and is installed?
>> It takes about 30 minutes, maybe 20 and some progress bar will show or a
>> notification in the tool bar at least.
>>
>> Right click on properties of 'my computer' and you should see 'Service
>> Pack 3'.
>>
>> I'm almost sure it would have told you to reboot.
>>
>> You can look for C:\windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$ folder and right
>> click it and click properties. It should be 200-400 meg.
>>
>> Then again you can go to windows updates on the start -> programs menu,
>> and once the web page comes up there is a install history. It should
>> be in there too.
>>
>> Also if it didn't install, you'll be asked again.
>>
>> Pick one.
>
> thanks for the reply. it says SP2
Oh, you should have an uninstall in the add/remove list if it installed.

On May 9, 3:59 pm, Big Al <Bi...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> timO' wrote:
> > On May 9, 12:10 pm, Big Al <Bi...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> >> timO' wrote:
> >>> i got a popup advising that sp3 was available to download. i clicked
> >>> OK
> >>> how do i know it was d/led and is installed?
> >> It takes about 30 minutes, maybe 20 and some progress bar will show or a
> >> notification in the tool bar at least.
>
> >> Right click on properties of 'my computer' and you should see 'Service
> >> Pack 3'.
>
> >> I'm almost sure it would have told you to reboot.
>
> >> You can look for C:\windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$ folder and right
> >> click it and click properties. It should be 200-400 meg.
>
> >> Then again you can go to windows updates on the start -> programs menu,
> >> and once the web page comes up there is a install history. It should
> >> be in there too.
>
> >> Also if it didn't install, you'll be asked again.
>
> >> Pick one.
>
> > thanks for the reply. it says SP2
>
> Oh, you should have an uninstall in the add/remove list if it installed.

i see on the microsoft site that this upgrade is geared for pro
network applications. maybe i'll pass. two pcs at home on a hardwired
network.

timO' wrote:
> On May 9, 3:59 pm, Big Al <Bi...@nowhere.com> wrote:
>> timO' wrote:
>>> On May 9, 12:10 pm, Big Al <Bi...@nowhere.com> wrote:
>>>> timO' wrote:
>>>>> i got a popup advising that sp3 was available to download. i clicked
>>>>> OK
>>>>> how do i know it was d/led and is installed?
>>>> It takes about 30 minutes, maybe 20 and some progress bar will show or a
>>>> notification in the tool bar at least.
>>>> Right click on properties of 'my computer' and you should see 'Service
>>>> Pack 3'.
>>>> I'm almost sure it would have told you to reboot.
>>>> You can look for C:\windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$ folder and right
>>>> click it and click properties. It should be 200-400 meg.
>>>> Then again you can go to windows updates on the start -> programs menu,
>>>> and once the web page comes up there is a install history. It should
>>>> be in there too.
>>>> Also if it didn't install, you'll be asked again.
>>>> Pick one.
>>> thanks for the reply. it says SP2
>> Oh, you should have an uninstall in the add/remove list if it installed.
>
> i see on the microsoft site that this upgrade is geared for pro
> network applications. maybe i'll pass. two pcs at home on a hardwired
> network.
Not really, SP3 is for every version of Windows XP.
Its just not 'needed' and if you are unsure, or without a full backup,
or the expertise to repair (in case of disaster), then its safer to stay
away till you have a need. You get some minor hotfixes not previously
sent out, plus a few other things, but all in all your PC will work for
a good long while without it.

On May 10, 10:10 am, Big Al <Bi...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> timO' wrote:
> > On May 9, 3:59 pm, Big Al <Bi...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> >> timO' wrote:
> >>> On May 9, 12:10 pm, Big Al <Bi...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> >>>> timO' wrote:
> >>>>> i got a popup advising that sp3 was available to download. i clicked
> >>>>> OK
> >>>>> how do i know it was d/led and is installed?
> >>>> It takes about 30 minutes, maybe 20 and some progress bar will show or a
> >>>> notification in the tool bar at least.
> >>>> Right click on properties of 'my computer' and you should see 'Service
> >>>> Pack 3'.
> >>>> I'm almost sure it would have told you to reboot.
> >>>> You can look for C:\windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$ folder and right
> >>>> click it and click properties. It should be 200-400 meg.
> >>>> Then again you can go to windows updates on the start -> programs menu,
> >>>> and once the web page comes up there is a install history. It should
> >>>> be in there too.
> >>>> Also if it didn't install, you'll be asked again.
> >>>> Pick one.
> >>> thanks for the reply. it says SP2
> >> Oh, you should have an uninstall in the add/remove list if it installed.
>
> > i see on the microsoft site that this upgrade is geared for pro
> > network applications. maybe i'll pass. two pcs at home on a hardwired
> > network.
>
> Not really, SP3 is for every version of Windows XP.
> Its just not 'needed' and if you are unsure, or without a full backup,
> or the expertise to repair (in case of disaster), then its safer to stay
> away till you have a need. You get some minor hotfixes not previously
> sent out, plus a few other things, but all in all your PC will work for
> a good long while without it.

i could do a restore point, but i'm really not that nimble, and my
question was spurred by the pop up and subsequent confusion.
i'll take your advise and wait.
thanks