While the long-awaited Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is currently hogging the media limelight following last week’s official launch -- and upsetting more than its fair share of disgruntled users in the process -- Microsoft Corp. has also taken the opportunity to quietly release a new public version of its upcoming XP Service Pack 3 (SP3).
Microsoft releases third SP3 test version for its stalwart XP operating system. Credit: Fillmore/Flickr.
The Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh release (build 5508) arrives as the second such offering tabled before XP operating system users since early February, with Microsoft outlining that its appearance is a way for the company to further test SP3’s online distribution capabilities.
“The purpose of RC2 Refresh is to validate improvements to the Windows Update experience with Service Pack 3,” explained Microsoft’s Chris Keroack via the TechNet support forum yesterday afternoon.
Keroack also went on to indicate that the new build is only available via XP’s in-built Windows Update feature and only comes with language support in English, German and Japanese.
What’s more, those users currently equipped with SP3 build 3311, which was released on February 19, will probably opt out of adopting this latest distribution test of the service pack, not least because it does not contain any substantial content elements not already delivered in the prior release.
The only notable addition arrives in the form of support for high-definition audio, report the tech gurus at Computerworld.
Microsoft has advised those looking to snap up the new version of XP SP3 that they must first download, install and run a registry hack from the Microsoft Download Center, which ensures that the host PC system is able to recognise the newest SP3 build through the Windows Update service. Earlier versions of the service pack must also be removed completely prior to obtaining the hack.
According to Microsoft, the final SP3 release for its six-year-old operating system is still on course for an official arrival before the end of June, although various reports suggest the Redmond-based software company will unveil the pack (in seven languages) in the latter half of April.
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