Microsoft: XP SP3 Does Not Support Windows XP

[size=4][b]Microsoft: XP SP3 Does Not Support Windows XP[/b][/size] - Well, that's not entirely true               
[font=Verdana][size=2][size=10px]By: Marius Oiaga, Technology News Editor

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[/size][/size][/font][font=Verdana][size=10px][size=2]Believeit or not, but Microsoft does not support Windows XP with XP SP3. Well,maybe that's not entire true. But it is true nonetheless. End userswill find they they are unable to deploy XP SP3 on top of XP. What isthe catch? You just have to think of XP not as a single version but asa continually evolving product. In this context, XP SP3 does notsupport Windows XP RTM. XP was released to manufacturing back in 2001,and the original version                         of the operating system is no longer supported by Microsoft.

This is also valid for the currently available [url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Windows-XP-Service-Pack-3-Build-3264-Right-Here-74313.shtml][b]Standalone Update Package for Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate[/b][/url].Under System Requirements and Supported Operating Systems, Microsoftenumerates: "Windows XP; Windows XP Home Edition ; Windows XP HomeEdition N; Windows XP Media Center Edition; Windows XP ProfessionalEdition ; Windows XP Professional N; Windows XP Service Pack 1; WindowsXP Service Pack 2; Windows XP Tablet PC Edition." But at the same timethe company offers a little note pointing to XP SP1 or SP2.

Users will be able to integrate SP3 on top of Windows XP SP1 or WindowsXP SP2 with absolutely no problems. However, they will not be able todo the same with XP RTM. This because support for XP RTM has beenretired for quite a while. Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 0 (RTM)and Windows XP Professional Service Pack 0 (RTM) are no longersupported since 30-August-2004. With support retired for Windows XPMedia Center Edition 2002 Service Pack 0 (RTM) one year later, on30-August-2005.

Otherwise you're good. You can easily jump from XP SP1 and XP SP2 to XPSP3. You might ask at this point who is still using the RTM version ofXP or even XP SP1? Well, there are always exceptions that confirm therule. And if XP SP2 is the rule then... [/size]
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