Download Windows XP SP3 with a registry hack

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft

Download Windows XP SP3 with a registry hack

by Brad Linder Nov 23rd 2007

Last month we told you that it was possible to download Windows Vista SP1 by altering your Windows registry settings. Now it looks like a new registry hack is making the rounds. This one will let Windows XP users download Service Pack 3 for Microsoft's older, but generally more stable operating system.

Both the Vista and XP service packs aren't scheduled for wide release until early next year. In other words, downloading a pre-release copy might really not be the best idea. Sure, it'd be nice to grab a software update intended to improve your system's reliability and security. But since these updates are still in beta testing, you could wind up causing more problems than you solve.

That said, it looks like the registry hack is pretty straightforward. Just download a patch, look for Windows Updates, download them and reboot your computer into glorious SP3 bliss. And by bliss, we mean a few new features like a new Windows Product Activation module, a Network Access Protection module (ported from Vista), and cryptographic algorithm support in the kernel. We know, it all sounds so glamorous.

Tags: registry-hack, service-pack-3, sp3, windows-registry, windows-xp, windows-xp-service-pack-3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

brian said 4:22PM on 11-23-2007

you spelled Windows in the title wrong and you missed the "a" out of Vista on the 11th line.

Mark said 8:14PM on 11-23-2007

Shouldn't that have been "spelt" not "spelled" ?

An' teh staart ov the centunce should have been a capitul shorely?

xxdesmus said 8:15PM on 11-23-2007

They VERY specifically mentioned to all beta testers NOT to leak this registry tweak out. Sometimes the stupidity of people still amazes me. This isn't a public release for a reason.

skim said 8:15PM on 11-23-2007

>>2. Shouldn't that have been "spelt" not "spelled" ?

"Spelled" is correct.

Dr Rumble said 5:04PM on 11-24-2007

As much as I think it's terrible English, answers.com lists "spelt" as "A past tense and a past participle of spell." "Spelt" does show up with that glaring red line under the Firefox spell checker however.

Oh, and (K,X)Ubuntu 4-EVA.

michael said 5:04PM on 11-24-2007

"I spelt this wrong"

I too get the red underline by the IE7 Pro spell checker.

Besides, 'spelled' sounds completely all right.

Arghh said 5:07PM on 11-24-2007

One more off-topic comment:

spell
verb (past and past participle spelled or chiefly Brit. spelt)
(...)
(Concise Oxford English Dictionary)

bruceS said 5:07PM on 11-24-2007

Spelling shenanigans aside, downloading a service pack this far in advance of the release seems like a really bad idea. REALLY BAD.

Mark said 9:11PM on 11-24-2007

Spelt? That is not even a word. It's spelled.

jfjb said 5:51PM on 11-25-2007

did you mean "smelled" ?
Sure smell weird, this announcement from the maker of a soon-to-be-forgotten OS version of the past millenium.
Or should I say Meal Hey Knee Ohm?
I stink, I know.
So does M$ Vist. A.
:-)

spellfairy said 5:52PM on 11-25-2007

Actually spelt is a word but has nothing to do with spell. Spelt is a grain like wheat popular in Europe.

jfjb said 9:44AM on 11-26-2007

well, well, well... doesn't this show the real interest people attach to the current subject of the matter, testing Windows XP SP3? :-))

briantw said 6:15PM on 11-26-2007

You didn't start your sentence with a capital letter.

Mayur said 11:33AM on 12-03-2007

Oh.

dragon said 11:02PM on 1-13-2008

O.K. Is this a spelling competition, or a flame about sp3?
sp3 is a small cummulative update for the XP operating system. As a few people have pointed out, the sp3 is really in a beta state and should only be expected to work like any other microsoft product. since XP is finally ready to be released and in good Microsoft fasion they have made it an O.K. Operating system right at the end of it's life. A rush to get an extra set of security flaws is a bit of a waste of time. If anyone wants to have a moan about my spelling carry on, as I can't spell for S**T. L8rz PPL. :)

Infonote said 9:00AM on 1-26-2008

Does this hack work for the new XP3 Build?

I have been using XPSP3 for a while now without any problems.

Thanks.

rohit said 7:06AM on 2-07-2008

Can I Download Windows XP SP3

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