Microsoft released Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)

Microsoft has just released Service Pack 3 (SP3) for the Windows XP operating system. This service pack includes all previously released Windows XP updates, including security updates and hotfixes, and selected out-of-band releases.

Among the previously released functionality which is included in this SP3 are: MMC 3.0, MSXML6, Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 v2, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) 2.5, IPSec Simple Policy Update, Digital Identity Management Service (DIMS), Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP) 2.1, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 6.1, Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2).

It also includes a new functionality called Network Access Protection (NAP) to help organizations that use Windows XP to take advantage of new features in the Windows Server 2008 operating system. Beside that, improvements to black hole router detection is included too.

As with previous service packs, no product key is requested or required when installing Windows XP SP3 using the update package available through Microsoft Update. However, the Windows Product Activation mechanism has also been upgraded.

This Windows XP SP3 is for x86 editions of Windows XP only. The x64 editions of Windows XP were serviced by Windows Server 2003 SP2.

Click here for more information and download of Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3).