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What’s New in Windows XP Service Pack 3
New Functionality
The following is a list of functionality that is included with the service pack, which is not addressed by the included hotfixes and security updates.
Functionality
Area
Description
Descriptive Security Options UI
Security
The Security Options control panel in Windows XP Service Pack 3 now has more descriptive text to explain the settings and prevent incorrect configuration of settings.
Enhanced security for Administrator and Service policy entries
Security
In System Center Essentials for Windows XP Service Pack 3, Administrators and Service entries will be present by default on any new instance of policy. Additionally, the UI for the "Impersonate Client After Authentication" user right will not be able to remove these settings.
"Black Hole Router" Detection
Networking
Windows XP Service Pack 3 includes improvements to black hole router detection (i.e., detecting routers that are silently discarding packets), and turns it on by default.
Microsoft Kernel Mode Cryptographic Module
Security
Microsoft Kernel Mode Cryptographic Module (FIPS.SYS) is a FIPS 140-1 Level 1 compliant, general-purpose, software-based, cryptographic module residing at the Kernel Mode level of the Windows Operating System. It runs as a kernel mode export driver (a kernel-mode DLL) and encapsulates several different cryptographic algorithms in an easy-to-use cryptographic module accessible by other kernel mode drivers. It can be linked into other kernel mode services to permit the use of FIPS 140-1 Level 1 compliant cryptography. https://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/security/topics/issues/fipsdrsp.mspx?mfr=true
Network Access Protection
Networking
NAP is a policy enforcement platform built into Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 (now in beta testing), and Windows XP Service Pack 3 (which includes the NAP Client for Windows XP, now in beta testing) that allows you to better protect network assets by enforcing compliance with system health requirements. With NAP, you can create customized health policies to validate computer health before allowing access or communication, automatically update compliant computers to ensure ongoing compliance, and optionally confine noncompliant computers to a restricted network until they become compliant. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/nap/napfaq.mspx
Windows Product Activation
Setup
As in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, and Windows Vista, the user may now complete setup without having to provide their product key. They will be prompted for the product key as part of Genuine Advantage during subsequent use.
Previously Available Functionality
In addition to previously released hotfixes and security updates, some functionality included with the service pack was previously available as a separate download. The following is a list of such functionality. Where applicable, the Microsoft Knowledge Base article number is included.
Functionality
Area
Description
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) 2.5
Networking
This is a required component for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and for Windows Live OneCare. The new features of BITS 2.5 help improve security. If you use BITS to transfer data, the new features also improve flexibility. This previously released update is detailed at Microsoft Knowledge Base article 923845 (http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=923845).
IPsec Simple Policy Update for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP
Networking
This update for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP helps simplify the creation and maintenance of IPsec filters, reducing the number of filters that are required for a Server and Domain Isolation deployment. The Simple Policy Update removes the requirement for explicit network infrastructure permit filters and introduces enhanced fallback to clear behavior. This previously released update is detailed at Microsoft Knowledge Base article 914841 (http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=914841).
Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0
MDAC
MSXML 6.0 (MSXML6) has improved reliability, security, conformance with the XML 1.0 and XML Schema 1.0 W3C Recommendations, and compatibility with System.Xml 2.0.
Microsoft Management Console 3.0
Management
Microsoft Management Console 3.0 (MMC 3.0) is a framework that unifies and simplifies day-to-day system management tasks on Windows by providing common navigation, menus, toolbars, and workflow across diverse tools. This previously released update is detailed at Microsoft Knowledge Base article 907265 (http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=907265).
Digital Identity Management Service (DIMS)
Networking
DIMS makes it possible for users who log onto any domain-joined computer running Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or higher to silently have all of their certificates and private keys available for applications and services.
Peer Name Resolution Protocol 2.1
Networking
This update enables Windows XP SP3-based programs that use PNRP to communicate with Windows Vista programs that use PNRP. This component was last updated at version 2.0, via an update that is detailed at Microsoft Knowledge Base article 920342 (http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=920342).
Wi-Fi Protected Access 2
Networking
This update to Windows XP provides support for Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), which is the latest standards-based wireless security solution derived from the IEEE 802.11i standard. This previously released update is detailed at Microsoft Knowledge Base article 893357 (http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=893357).
Windows Installer 3.1 v2 (3.1.4000.2435)
MSI
Windows Installer 3.1 is a minor update to Windows Installer 3.0 that was released in September 2004. Windows Installer 3.1 contains new and enhanced functionality. Additionally, Windows Installer 3.1 addresses some issues that were found in Windows Installer 3.0. This previously released update is detailed at Microsoft Knowledge Base article 893803 (http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=893803).
Previously Released Hotfixes and Security Updates
For the full list of hotfixes and security updates in Windows XP Service Pack 3, refer to the fix list document included with the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta.
Known issues in the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta
Legacy Functionality in Windows XP – Address Bar
After installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta, the Address Bar feature will be removed from the Taskbar
The Address Bar feature will not be present in Windows XP Service Pack 3. This change is in response to a regulatory request and is present beginning with Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta.
· There is a bug related to the removal of the Address Bar in the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta. The user can return the Address Bar to the taskbar by unlocking the taskbar and choosing Toolbars > Links. This is a known issue and will be specifically addressed in a later milestone of the Windows XP Service Pack 3 beta program, where the end user’s ability to restore the Address Bar feature will be eliminated.
General Compatibility with other Windows XP releases
Windows Embedded, Windows Embedded for Point of Service, or Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs
Users of the Windows Embedded, Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS) or Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (WinFLP) operating systems should not install Windows XP Service Pack 3 on their systems. Alternatives for upgrading these systems will be made available at a later time, and may be addressed as part of a separate beta program.
Windows Media Center devices will not receive Media Center updates
Users of Windows 2005 Media Center systems that install Windows XP Service Pack 3, will not be able to receive the latest Media Center updates for those systems. There is no workaround in the Beta.
Windows Media Center Extender issues after installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta
Installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 on Windows 2005 Media Center may affect the ability to connect to Media Center Extender devices such as the Windows Media Center Extender for Xbox. There is no workaround in the Beta.
Windows XP Starter Edition
Users of Windows XP Starter Edition should not install Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta. When a user installs the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta on top of Windows XP Starter Edition, they will be unable to log in after the next reboot. Alternatives for upgrading these systems will be made available at a later time, and may be addressed as part of a separate beta program.
Windows Internet Explorer Version 7 Compatibility
With IE7 installed, double clicking on the IE icon on the desktop creates a shortcut instead of launching IE
When double clicking on the desktop icon of IE, a new shortcut is created instead of opening a browser page. This is a known compatibility issue with IE7 and Windows XP Service Pack 3. There is no workaround in the Beta.
Using SFC with specific command line switches will cause IE7 to unsuccessfully attempt downgrade to IE6
On a machine with IE7 and the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta installed, if the user attempts to run the command “sfc /scannow” from the command line, IE will unsuccessfully attempt to be downgraded to IE6. From that point on Internet Explorer will be unusable on that machine. This is a known compatibility issue with IE7 and Windows XP Service Pack 3. There is no workaround in the Beta.
IE7 version is reported as Version 6
On a machine with the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta installed, when viewing the About dialog via the IE7 Help menu, the IE version is reported as Version 6, even though it is IE7. This is a known compatibility issue with IE7 and Windows XP Service Pack 3. There is no workaround in the Beta.
