Make No Mistake About It, the XP SP3 RTM Direct Download Links Are Live
Make no mistake about it, the gold bits of Windows XP Service Pack 3 are available for download straight from Microsoft, contrary to what the company is claiming.
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1.5.2008 MSN Direct to Be Killed Off on January 1, 2012
Microsoft has signed the death sentence of MSN Direct and is informing customers that they will be able to continue using the service for two years and a couple of months before it will be discontinued.
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28.10.2009 MSN Direct Goes High Def with Clear Channel
Companies collaborate to deliver rich data services on HD digital radio format to smarten everyday objects.
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10.1.2007 Microsoft TechNet Plus Direct subscription is now available! Finally with download option
TechNet Plus Direct is now available. It allows an individual subscriber full access to TechNet Plus resources including evaluation software, technical content, tools, utilities and support resources. Content is available through the TechNet Subscription Benefits Portal- the subscriber-only site (this subscription does not include CD or DVD media shipments).
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9.8.2006 Windows Vista Retail Direct Link from Microsoft Leaked
2 days ago, there is Windows Vista retail download links posted on some forums. That seems pretty normal as there are people kept on uploading whenever Rapidshare removes them.
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13.4.2007 Windows 7 32-Bit (x86) Direct Download Links
Windows 7 has been officially launched, but Microsoft never makes available official download links that allow retail customers to download setup installer or ISO image of Windows 7, despite digital downloads have been the sole distribution channel for many that purchases from online store or on MSDN or TechNet subscriptions.
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22.10.2009 Windows 7 64-Bit x64 Direct Download Links
User who only wants to download Windows 7 installation files via official and verified source can choose to download the ESD files instead, which contains setup1.box, setup2.box and a edition-specific Windows 7 setup installer, and not in ISO format, although it’s easy to make a bootable Windows 7 DVD or ISO with the unloaded Windows 7 setup files.
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25.10.2009 Internet Explorer 8 - IE8 Beta 2 Direct Download Link Without WGA
After the almost disastrous launch of IE 8 Beta 1, the second beta of IE8 (Internet Explorer has been released for free download. Various improvements, enhancements, bug fixes and some new features are added to the new version of IE8 Beta 2.
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26.10.2008 Panda Internet Security 2010 Free Trial Direct Download Link
In addition to Panda Antivirus Pro 2010, Panda has also released new version for it’s another security application – Panda Internet Security 2010.
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9.7.2009 Leaked Windows 7 RTM Direct Download Links for Both x86 and x64 Flavors
The leaked direct download links for Windows 7 followed promptly the October 22nd general availability deadline, offering end users access to the latest iteration of the Windows client.
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26.10.2009 Windows 7 ISO Image Edition Switcher Free Download for Direct Convert
Windows 7 no longer has “One Disc to Rule Them All” universal installation DVD disc media or ISO image which allows users to select whichever editions of Windows 7 they prefer to install during setup. Instead, each Windows 7 installation ISO or media is specific for a channel and distribution and can be used to install an edition of Windows 7 only.
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30.10.2009 Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 Free Trial Version Direct Download Links
The leading developer of secure content management solutions, Kaspersky Lab has released the new version of its popular security application – Kaspersky Internet Security 2010, where all the components implemented in earlier product versions have been improved and upgraded, including the firewall, heuristic analyzer, parental control module, and the anti-spam module.
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1.7.2009 Free Windows Server 2008 R2 Evaluation Installation ISO and VHD for Hyper-V Official Direct Download Links
Windows Server 2008 R2 is the next iteration of Windows Server operating system, which has been RTMed with build version 6.1.7600.16385 together with Windows 7. Microsoft is now officially releasing the ISO image for Windows Server 2008 R2 Trial Software, which allowing administrators and users to install Windows Server 2008 R2 to evaluate the new operating system for 180 days for free.
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17.8.2009 Windows 7 Enterprise Trial 32-bit and 64-bit ISO Direct Download Links
Microsoft has made available free download of Windows 7 Enterprise edition for interested corporate and business customers as trial evaluation software. Windows 7 Enterprise free download has pre-installed product key which lasts for 90 days (3 months) after activated. Activation has to be done within 10 days or else the computer will shut down hourly.
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3.10.2009 It's Time to Face the Ugly Truth, SP3 or No SP3, the Clock Is Ticking for Windows XP
As 2008 has kicked in, it's now time to face the ugly truth. The clock is ticking for Windows XP. And while Microsoft may view this as a natural stage in the evolution of a product introduced all the way in 2001, a healthy proportion of end-users and businesses will fail to see eye to eye with the company on this one.
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5.1.2008 Download Windows 7 MUI Language Packs - Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links
Microsoft has released MUI (Multilingual User Interface) language packs for Windows 7 RTM. The Windows 7 language packs is available via Windows Update as optional update for Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise editions only.
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28.8.2009 The Only Way for Windows XP SP3 Is Down
SP3 will do nothing for XP, but still more than what SP1 will do for Vista - The third and final service pack for Windows XP will do little to nothing for the operating system, but will manage to deliver a superior boost to the platform's momentum in comparison to Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista.
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12.4.2008 Office XP SP3 Info
Office XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) provides the latest updates to Microsoft Office XP. SP3 contains significant security enhancements, in addition to stability and performance improvements. This service pack applies to any level of Office XP.
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Sneak Preview of XP SP3?
An unofficial preview pack containing what purports to be Windows XP Service Pack 3 has been uploaded to The Hotfix web site. The Hotfix is an independently-run site that specializes in downloads and discussions of Windows patches and bug fixes.
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Microsoft Delays XP SP3
Bink has an interesting article up on his site concerning Windows XP SP3. Microsoft has apparently pushed back the scheduled release date of SP3 to the second half of 2007.
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16.1.2006 Windows XP SP3 Preview No. 5
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11.2.2006 Windows XP SP3 On The Horizon
According to Microsoft press release about Unified Access Control and Network Access Protection, Windows XP service pack 3 (SP3) is in development and will be released later this year.
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24.5.2007 Windows XP SP3 Available for Download!
In two weeks too :) Microsoft confirmed officially that Windows XP Service Pack 3 will be made available for download in the next couple of weeks.
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29.8.2007 Windows XP Closes In on SP3
Microsoft's most successful operating system, ever, has inched closer to Service Pack 3. Release Candidate 1 is now available from MSDN and—so I hear—from TechNet. I can only personally confirm MSDN availability.
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4.12.2007 Deploying Windows XP SP3
With a pre-Release Candidate build of Windows XP Service Pack 3 available for download, the imminence of the final version of the refresh is starting to take contour.
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13.12.2007 Should You Upgrade from Vista to XP SP3?
Windows Vista was released to manufacturing and to businesses in November 2006, and the operating system hit the shelves only at the end of January 2007.
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27.12.2007 Will SP3 Save Windows XP?
Will the third and final service pack for Windows XP manage to breath new life into the operating system? Will users and original equipment manufacturers be able to apply enough pressure on Microsoft to keep Windows XP alive?
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15.1.2008 Is Windows XP SP3 just around the corner?
Clues that Microsoft is ready to announce the final version of Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 3 are starting to mount.
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20.2.2008 The First XP SP3 Security Vulnerability
The third and final service pack for Windows XP is not even out, and Microsoft is already hammering away at it plugging security soles.
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14.4.2008 The First Update for XP SP3 RTM
Although it was released to manufacturing on April 21, 2008, the third and last service pack for Windows XP has yet to make it to end users. Despite this, Microsoft has already made available the first update tailored on XP SP3.
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22.4.2008Windows XP SP3 RC1 Public Download Available
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new
functionalities, which do not significantly change customers experience with the operating system.
File Size: 336,070 KB
See
here for more info.
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12.12.2007Despite rumors, Windows XP SP3 still not quite ready
With Windows Vista Service Pack 1 out the door, Microsoft was largely expected to release Windows XP SP3 last week or this week. It didn't, instead
making public a refresh build of SP3 Release Candidate 2...
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26.03.2008Microsoft continues to warn of IE8 lock-in for XP SP3 users
Last year when Microsoft launched Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2, Jane Maliouta announced that consumers using Windows XP SP3 would be locked-in with the
IE8 if they had installed the IE8 beta prior to upgrading to SP3. Microsoft again yesterday issued that same warning to it's consumers. If you are
still one of the millions of users on Windows XP with SP3 installed, Microsoft has provided crucial steps to follow if you're ready to upgrade to
IE8 RC1. You can obtain IE8 RC1 from the links on this page. To see if you're one of the people who will have IE8 locked in, follow these steps.
Is your computer running Windows XP SP3?
Read full story.....
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27.01.2009Windows XP Service Pack 3 Final (Direct MS Download)
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new
functionalities, which do not significantly change customers experience with the operating system.
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29.04.2008Windows XP SP3 moves closer to completion
Beta testers have received access to a release candidate of Windows XP Service Pack 3, but general consumers still have a long wait until they'll see
SP3 available for download...
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20.11.2007New Features Discovered in Windows XP SP3: Is It Better Than Vista?
The principal reason given for the tremendous under-the-hood changes to Windows unveiled early this year in Vista was the need to overhaul the
security model. Now it seems many of those changes are also coming to XP in SP3...
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10.10.2007XP SP3 RC Preview Clarification
I just noticed a post at
Bink.nu where Steven mentions that the XP SP3 RC Preview is now available on Connect. Just to clarify, Microsoft have not
released any new build of XP SP3 to the general Windows Beta Program. While there is the possibility that he may be talking about a different private
beta program on Connect, the main Windows Beta Program on Connect which houses the Vista SP1/Server 2008/XP SP3 betas was last updated with the XP SP3
Beta (Build 3205) in early October.
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24.10.2007Windows XP SP3 now available via Windows Update
Windows XP SP3 is finally here for those that use Windows
Update, and
here is a direct link to the stand-alone version of SP3 for x86 XP systems (32 bit). Thanks
Bink! I can't confirm if the 64bit version of SP3
is available from today, can anyone confirm?
Here is an interesting
article regarding SP3 performance, ignoring the fact that Vista SP1 is still faster than XP SP2/SP3 users will enjoy a performance boost
over SP2. When will people learn that Vista ain't all bad!
Windows® XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released
updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers’
experience with the operating system.
This white
paper summarizes what is new in Windows XP SP3.
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29.04.2008Microsoft to push XP SP3 via AutoUpdate July 10
Microsoft is going to release Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 3 via its Automatic Update (AU) service on Thursday July 10, company officials confirmed
this week.
The client team has been vague about when it planned to push the latest version of XP to users. "Early summer" and
"sometime soon"were favorite comebacks when officials were asked for an AU timeframe for SP3.
Customers who have automatic updates
turned on but who don’t want XP SP3 to be downloaded to user desktops this week — for whatever reasons — need to deploy the Microsoft Service Pack
blocker toolkit to delay pushed-delivery of SP3.
While Microsoft will begin pushing SP3 tomorrow, not all users will receive it
immediatly, as the company will be staggering the rollout.
Microsoft has postponed and temporarily halted the distribution of SP3 a
couple of times this year because of compatibility and performance problems.
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10.07.2008Windows XP SP3 available for Windows Embedded for Point of Service and WinFLP
This download is a Service Pack 3 (SP3) update for Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS) and Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (WinFLP).
This SP3 update includes all previously released Windows XP security updates, hotfixes, and select out-of-band releases that are applicable to systems
running the WEPOS and WinFLP operating systems.
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08.10.2008Is Microsoft Playing Games With XP SP3?
Call it a Hamlet moment for the PC industry, filled with political intrigue and machinations worthy of the great Shakespeare play: to wait for XP SP3
or move to Vista now that Microsoft has released Vista SP1? Or in other words: "To XP, or not to XP?" That is the question.
It's a
question that is burning up the blogosphere with some speculating that Microsoft has delayed XP SP3, a long awaited release that could boost the
performance of XP, to get more users to adopt Vista, a potential cash cow for Microsoft and PC makers given the operating system's robust hardware
refresh requirements.
With many in the blogosphere speculating that Microsoft could release the final version of XP SP3 this week,
Microsoft late Tuesday snuffed out all hope that users would see the service pack, originally slated for release in 2006, any time soon.
Read full story.....
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26.03.2008Don't slipstream XP SP3 on Windows Vista!
This just in from Bink, seems he had a pretty interesting weekend attempting to Slipstream XP SP3.
"So I build a new Windows XP ISO with
SP3 integrated, this is a Volume License editions (VOL) which only accepts Volume License Keys (VLK). When I want to install it on a clean machine, I
noticed that setup prompts for a product key and it does not allow me to continue, which should be a new feature in XP sp3. OK so I fill in the VLK
but it does not accept it, I try another one from a customer of mine, does not work either. Angry
I found out that the problem is when you
do the XP Sp3 slipstream process on a WIndows Vista machine, the API gives a different response and screws up the PID process. This is a bug and
Microsoft knew about this in December, still the bug remained and made it all the way to RTM, nice work Microsoft.
So XP SP slipstream only
on XP or 2003 machines!!!"
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05.05.2008New Windows Embedded Public CTP Downloads Available
Shayna: Even though it's summer vacation time around here for many, our product team has been hard at work on preparing a refresh of the Windows
Embedded Standard Community Technology Preview (CTP) for all of our dedicated testers out there! As of a few hours ago, this new download is now
available on the Windows Embedded Standard Connect page:
https://connect.microsoft.com/windowsembedded. The CTP Refresh includes an improved setup
experience and migration support from previous versions of Windows XP Embedded. Additionally, it now includes .NET 3.5, additional device drivers,
System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) Client Prereq Macro, and various other updates based on direct customer feedback.
Today we also posted a CTP of Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP Embedded. This is a rollup of hot fixes and security updates Microsoft has
released since the RTM of Service Pack 2. SP3 also includes select out-of-band features and enhancements. SP3 provides a new baseline for customers
deploying Windows XP Embedded.
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13.08.2008New Release Candidate of XP SP3 made public
Note that this is a slightly newer build than the XP SP3 RC1 Build 3244 that was
available last week.
Microsoft on Tuesday said it will make publicly available a beta version of
Windows XP Service Pack 3. But, like a car salesman pitching the new Corvette over the old jalopy, Microsoft argued that a switch to Vista is the
better move.
"While Windows Vista provides the most advanced security and management capabilities of any Windows operating
system, Windows XP SP3 will ensure PCs running Windows XP will have the latest updates, as well as compatibility with the Network Access Protection
functionality of Windows Server 2008," Microsoft said in a statement.
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19.12.2007Firms need to plan for XP Service Pack 3
Organisations that expect to be running Windows XP in mid-2010 should plan to test and deploy XP SP3, Gartner has advised.
Microsoft is planning to release Windows Vista Service Pack (SP) and Windows XP SP3 will be available in the first half of 2008.
According to Gartner, deploying Windows XP SP3 should be significantly easier than testing and deploying SP2, which many users considered a major
change of the operating system.
Annette Jump, a research director at Gartner, said, "We will probably see a mixture of Vista and
XP SP3 deployments in 2008. Jump believed some businesses would deploy Vista and some could stick with XP, in which case, they would be looking at
installing the SP3 service pack.
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01.12.2007New "Network Direct" RDMA Interface Available with Windows Server 2008
Phil Pennington: Windows HPC Server 2008 introduces a new low-latency RDMA network API known as "Network Direct". This RDMA interface in
addition to and distinct from the existing "Winsock Direct" interface. The Network Direct interface introduces several advantages over
Winsock Direct including no dependency on the Winsock stack and much lower latency metrics. MS MPI is being developed to take advantage of this
new interface.
This means that Infiniband vendors, for instance, will need to provide HCA Network Direct providers in
addition to (or perhaps instead of) the Winsock Direct providers published previously. Consequently, development is underway by both Microsoft
and partners to enable full support for the entire network stack.
For programmers, the Network Direct API provides a model
similar to the User Mode Driver Framework (UMDF). MS MPI will be the first user-mode application to leverage Network Direct.
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15.12.2007Windows XP SP3 release just around the bend?
Though we expected, or rather hoped; for Windows XP SP3 late last month it seems that it may arrive before May. According to an "internal schedule"
obtained over at Engadget, OEMs, volume license, Connect, MSDN and TechNet subscribers will have access to the update on April 21st, while everyone
else won't notice it until April 29th when it hits the Microsoft / Windows Update download center. For those who are too busy to download it and
install it, they might have to wait until June 10th when it hits the Automatic updates.
For those who don't know; Windows XP SP3
(Service Pack 3) will be the third and last major update for Microsoft's Windows XP operating system. The company released a nearly final beta build
of SP3 called Release Candidate 2 Refresh last month to the public. The latest beta version added support for the HD Audio high-definition audio
format and fixes for some issues with the Windows Update service. Microsoft to date has said only that it expects to roll out a final version of
Windows XP SP3 in the first half of 2008.
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16.04.2008XP SP3 Build 5503 Clarification
As some of you may have noticed, there was some confusion/concern regarding the validity of the unusual Build 5503 of XP SP3 that made the news a few
days ago. Fortunately, Mary Jo Foley
received the following update from
Microsoft last night:
The XP SP3 5503 build was a minor interim build released to address one specific issue for a subset of private
beta testers. This build was not intended for public release and anyone who has that build and is not part of the private beta is working with bits
that Microsoft cant verify the integrity¦. The final version of XP SP3 is still on target to be released the first half of calendar year
2008.
Also worth noting is that the build contains an EULA for "Pre-Release" software so it most definitely will not be the final
SP3 build.
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19.03.2008MSN Direct will come to more GPS devices this year
The latest update to Microsoft's MSN Direct service which will take effect on numerous personal navigation devices...
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09.01.2008Microsoft: XP SP3 RTM date a typo
WB: One more small note: the
XP SP3
Overview that Microsoft posted yesterday is also not for the final version as can be seen on the second page of the doc: "This is a preliminary
document and may be changed substantially prior to final commercial release of the software described herein."
Mary Jo
Foley: Some sharp-eyed folks over at Neowin.net noticed Microsoft had posted to its Support Live Cycle Web site
a release-to-manufacuturing date of March 31, 2008, for Windows XP
Service Pack (SP) 3.
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03.04.2008
