Back home > windows 2000 service pack 3

 
         
Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
08.02 (updated 10.21.02)

Delayed for some time, with rumors that it would be delayed indefinitely, on August 1st Microsoft released the much waited for Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.  This latest service pack for Windows 2000 has all of the patches and fixes since that last service pack, SP2, was released in May of 2001.

Along with security and OS fixes, SP3 also contains software that was mandated by Microsoft's antitrust settlement with the government (see this ZDNet article for more info).  It also contains Automatic Update, which you may already have installed. Automatic Update is the successor to the Critical Update Notification service.  

Microsoft's service packs keep getting bigger and bigger with each release.  SP3 is no exception, topping out at a huge 127MB.  If you are using a dial-up connection to the Internet, you might need a day to download it.  If you would rather order the CD, you can for free (with a nominal shipping charge). However, MS takes it time shipping these CDs out, so expect to wait for several weeks before receiving it.

So, should you install this service pack or not?  That is always the big question with any of Microsoft's software patches.  Anyone who has been using Windows for any length of time knows of the past problems MS has had with patches and service packs... remember the Windows 2000 SP2 problems with Compaq servers?
It is always a good idea to install a service pack, or any patch, in a test environment first.  If you don't have the luxury of doing that, then maybe you should wait a couple of weeks to see if there are any major problems with SP3.
If you follow the MS News Groups, there have already been a number of complaints about Blue Screens and broken software after installing SP3.  However, some problems are to be expected if you take into consideration the vast array of hardware and software configurations out there.  Whether you rush to install SP3 or choose to wait for awhile, just make sure you select the option to backup your existing configuration during the install.

Note:
 If you have installed any Post SP3 hotfixes on your Windows 2000 Computers, you will need to install an updated version of those hotfixes either before you install SP3 or after.  If you don't, you could lose the functionality of the hotfix or some functionality of SP3.
Microsoft released a slew of hotfixes during the testing of SP3.  Those hotfixes were not included in SP3, but should be included in the next Windows 2000 Service Pack.  The Post SP3 hotfixes that could cause a problem with SP3 were not made available through Windows Update or Windows Security Update or Windows Download sites.  They were special fixes available only through Product Support Services.

See this MS KB article for more info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q309601


Updates - 09.15.02:  Added some more links below
Updates - 10.21.02:  I continue to see problems reported after users install Windows 2000 SP3. The latest being the disabling of DNS resolution - not a minor problem.  The folllowing KB article describes the problem: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q329405
Updates - 11.18.02:  Another Link (below) for SP3 Setup Problems


You should definitely spend some time looking through the Microsoft Knowledgebase and the links below for possible problems with SP3 - before installing it.  Just send the bill for your time to MS.


Links:

SP3 Known Setup Problems
http://www.winnetmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=27116

Troubleshooting Service Pack Upgrades
http://www.winnetmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=26482

More Problems with SP3
http://www.winnetmag.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=26569

SP3 Upgrade Failure and a Bucketful of Bugs
http://www.winnetmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=26431

LabMice.net Win2k SP3 Resources
http://www.labmice.net/articles/win2000sp3.htm

Windows 2000 SP3 Download or CD Ordering:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp3/default.asp

Windows 2000 SP3 Release Notes:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q321295

Windows 2000 SP3 list of bug fixes:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q320853

Windows 2000 SP3 Deployment Tools:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/prem_sp3/deploytools.asp

Windows 2000 SP3 Deployment Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp3/spdeploy.htm

Windows 2000 SP3 Support Tools:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/prem_sp3/supporttools.asp


   

 

 


 

   Top