How do I install SP2 or SP3 on XP?

textbook

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I went to the Microsoft website and installed SP1a I think, but on this site I couldn't find SP2 or SP3. I think I need to get SP2 or SP3 or I can't install other programs. Where can I get them? I also after installing SP1a went to the automatic updates thingee on my XP- set it to update automatically everyday at a certain time, but I don't think it worked! Can someone help me get SP2 or SP3.
 
The long way in which the least effort but most time required is to just run updates all day restarting many times. Just bypass auto because there are so many updates that you just need to manually continue to run it.
 
It sounds like you're unsure which service pack you have installed on your machine. This will dictate which service packs you download. For instance, you can't just install service pack 3 over top of service pack 1.

So, click Start, right-click the "My computer" icon, click 'Properties,' and it will tell you what service pack (if any) is installed.

From there, do a google search for downloading the service pack(s) you need, and you should be able to find them pretty easily.

If you need any further help just post back!
 
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Yes you can. SP3 has all the updates that SP2 has. You can update from SP1 to SP3. Done it many many times.

In order to install SP3, you must first have Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a) or Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/learn-how-to-install-windows-xp-service-pack-3-sp3

OK, I see where you're coming from. My point was that there are prerequisites for installation of service packs.

For example, I recently upgraded a laptop with Vista and no service packs, to SP2. I had to install SP1 before I could install SP2.

From http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791 :

Before you can install Windows Vista SP2, you must install Windows Vista SP1. If you have not installed Windows Vista SP1, Automatic Updates will not install Windows Vista SP2.

That's all I was trying to get at.

EDIT: I think we're both driving at the same thing, my example just wasn't perfect.
 
OK, I see where you're coming from. My point was that there are prerequisites for installation of service packs.

For example, I recently upgraded a laptop with Vista and no service packs, to SP2. I had to install SP1 before I could install SP2.

From http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791 :

Before you can install Windows Vista SP2, you must install Windows Vista SP1. If you have not installed Windows Vista SP1, Automatic Updates will not install Windows Vista SP2.

That's all I was trying to get at.

EDIT: I think we're both driving at the same thing, my example just wasn't perfect.

Thats true for Vista, but the question was about XP.
 
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