Service Pack 3?

[buckshead]

Hi. During what might be called routine maintenance of my machine I changed my RAM cards which were acting up and installed another soundcard. Checking all the details I realise I am only on XP service pack 2.

A memory testing programme that I ran before to check for RAM errors now says that my version of Windows can only address 888 Mb of contiguous RAM. This is a change. I am using XP Professional. Is this correct ?

Should I download Service Pack 3, are there any issues ?

[ohernie]

The loss of available RAM doesn't have anything to do with Windows. Sounds like you have a bad stick. My guess is you should Google "low high density sdram" (without the quotes).

I upgraded to sp3 and didn't notice any difference or issues.

Ernie

[DKeenum]

+1 on SP 3. No problems.

[buckshead]

Thanks guys, will update tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nickie Fønshauge]

Be aware, that if you plan to install M-Audio products after you install SP3 you might run into trouble (http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support.faq&ID=620a9083da49326e05cbb00e653a528d).

[buckshead]

My soundcards are a SoundBlaster (very old but still serviceable) and a new M-Audio Audiphile 192, installed last week. If I update SP3 will there be a problem?

[ohernie]

Based on the link she gave you (underlined characters her post) - not if you have already installed the driver. The problem is with the installer software, not the driver itself. If the M-Audio card is running now, it will still be running after you upgrade.

Worse comes to worse, according to the M-Audio website, you can go into add/remove programs and uninstall the SP3 upgrade.

(BTW, thanks to Nickie for the link, even if it was a head-slapper. Seems you can't do anything with Windows these days without tripping over some kind of rock.)

Ernie

[kitekrazy]

My soundcards are a SoundBlaster (very old but still serviceable) and a new M-Audio Audiphile 192, installed last week. If I update SP3 will there be a problem?

Just make sure the drivers are installed for the 192 before adding SP3.

[TARI]

The question is: Does SP3 improve some feature that helps in music production?
I am on XP SP2. If nothing has been improved, I prefer to stay with SP2, you know!:p

[kitekrazy]

The question is: Does SP3 improve some feature that helps in music production?
I am on XP SP2. If nothing has been improved, I prefer to stay with SP2, you know!:p

I've heard that SP3 is recommended for multicore processors.

[Haydn]

SP3 is mostly a rollup of a bunch of security updates. It is not essential to do and I've found that the DELL machines at work freeze randomly with the Service Pack.

I've installed it on many other machines without problems. My music machine is still on SP2 though.

Jim

[TARI]

I've heard that SP3 is recommended for multicore processors.

Is that sure? It would be great if SP3 improves DAW performance in multi-processor PCs.

[commalot]

Disclaimer: My conclusions regarding SP3 may be false as I am a not a computer expert.

My experience:

I have a Dell Core 2 Duo. I installed the SP3 update. About 2 weeks later the computer went into a continuous reboot. Not knowing how to handle I took it to a computer shop (Geek Squad). They said I had several viruses and had to do a re-install of XP and included SP3.

When re-installing my software both GVI and Pinnacle Studio 11 failed to load with the message SERVICE PACK 2 REQUIRED.

This was eventually handled after rolling back to SP2.

I have since done some reading in tech forums and one of the problems people have complained about with SP3 is MY COMPUTER WENT INTO A CONTINUOUS REBOOT.

Conclusion: SP3 was the virus.:(

[TARI]

That really sucks!!:(

SP2 works great here, so I guess I won't even try SP3!

Thanks for the info,

[Haydn]

We had nothing at problems with the Dell machines in our training room environment at work with SP3. Four different models all had the same random lockup issue without any errors, they would just quit responding. Had to rollback to SP2.

Jim

[DKeenum]

When re-installing my software both GVI and Pinnacle Studio 11 failed to load with the message SERVICE PACK 2 REQUIRED.

This was eventually handled after rolling back to SP2.I have head this, even with non-music software and drivers.

[commalot]

SP3 is mostly a rollup of a bunch of security updates. It is not essential to do and I've found that the DELL machines at work freeze randomly with the Service Pack.

I've installed it on many other machines without problems. My music machine is still on SP2 though.

Jim

As soon as I can afford it I'm getting a second computer just for my music and video. And I won't let it anywhere near the internet.

[Piano Maestro]

You should at least be on SP3 by now. (There are even some people out there that are still using SP1 would you believe!)

There have been some major security updates within SP3 and don't forget that in July, which is not that long really, SP2 will no longer be supported!

It takes quite a while to update from SP2 to SP3, and with all the updates that have gone on since, will probably take you quite a lot longer!
Just start it off and forget about it for a good few hours! Don't worry if the computer seems to show no activity, it is actually working.

[bigsam]

I hear that now SP3 support the drivers for the SATA device, so I think I can use some music devices that can connect with my laptop by Sata cable

[Stella Richards]

you should upgrade your windows with sp3 because most of the software require sp3 before installing the programme. so download and install it.