Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with sp3

Audio driver problems!

FuckingAwesome — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:21:32 -0800

Audio driver needed for Sony Vaio VGN-SX61MN/B model laptop with Windows XP SP3! I recently downgraded to XP SP3 from Vista and cannot find a suitable audio driver. The ones on the Vaio website seem not to install properly. Very frustrating! Please help.

SP3 networking woes!

jluce50 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:40:47 -0800

So I went against my better judgment and installed SP3 on one of my XP Pro machines. I figured it was safe by now but, as luck would have it, I am now unable to see that computer on the network. Help! After installing SP3 everything seemed fine while using that pc. I was able to immediately connect to the internet and I saw no problems. It wasn't until I tried to access that pc from my laptop (XP SP2) that I saw any problems.

First I tried to access some shared folders. Turns out that SP3 disabled sharing so I re-enabled it. No dice. Then I tried to RDP in and nothing doing there either. So then I tried to ping the IP of the SP3 maching and... nothing. I was able to get in through LogMeIn so at least that's still working somehow.

I had to reconfigure it's TCP/IP settings after the install so I know they're correct. Windows Firewall is disabled. I'm plum out of ideas so I welcome any and all suggestions.

Oh, and I tried to uninstall SP3 but it kept giving me an error saying, "Cannot find the file specified..." and then, "SP was not uninstalled". ARRRGHH!!

How do I stay connected to my LAN when logged off?

jesirose — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:24:47 -0800

Why is Windows SP3 disconnecting me from the LAN whenever I log off...and how do I make it stop that? Before I updated to SP3, this never happened. Now, whenever I log off (using the Windows+L shortcut), my LAN disconnects. I want to stay connected so programs like Pidgin can run while I am away, and I don't have to wait to reconnect when I come back.

It's Windows XP Pro SP3.

How can I get my WINXP user setup back?

dancestoblue — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:12:19 -0800

I just installed WINXP SP3 using my Admin setup, then came to my regular user setup, attempted to login, got a message stating to the effect of "Windows cannot load local user settings" and proceeded to log me in with plain vanilla XP, as if I'd never put any programs on it, as if I'd never made changes to any of the settings, as if I'd never personalized my whole puter. This would be a huge PITA, to set up again, I've been months of personalizing this machine, all my bookmarks are lost, EVERYTHING IS GONE. HELP !?!?!? I'm dying over here. How can I get my WINXP setup back, as I had it prior to installing SP3? In lieu of that, how many miles is it from Austin to Redmond; I ask because I'm will drive there and beat someone with a crowbar if this cannot be resolved.

Why am I being prompted to install Windows XP SP3 when I already have it?

Rhaomi — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:03:32 -0800

I just got a notification on my Windows XP laptop to install Service Pack 3. Thing is, I already have SP3 installed. Is this a necessary update? A redundant Microsoft goof? Or something more sinister? The notification looked like a standard Windows Update prompt, just a little bubble in the taskbar saying "updates are ready for your computer." So I clicked it and got this pop-up.

It struck me as odd, since

a) I thought service packs were major events in the Windows world, and that I would have heard something about this before now

and

2) I was pretty sure that said major event had already happened, and that I had SP3 installed

A check on Microsoft Word confirmed (2). Help -> About Microsoft Word, and the first line reads:

"Microsoft® Office Word 2003 (11.8227.8221) SP3"

So, why am I getting this prompt? Is it really asking me to reinstall all of Service Pack 3 (which I understand to be pretty large), or is it just an update for it? Is it merely a mistake on the part of Windows? Could it possibly be a virus or some other malicious program masquerading as a system update?

Basically, should I install the thing or just ignore it?

XP Service Pack 3: should it be trusted?

Termite — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:57:56 -0800

XP Service Pack 3: should it be trusted? My computer keeps nagging me about SP3. I've read some things, such as this AskMe post , that make me wonder if SP3 will create more problems than it solves. What are your experiences with SP3?

Help me restore my Windows XP settings. DARN YOU SP3!!!

slavlin — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:57:08 -0800

How can I restore the settings I had from my previous Windows XP setup? I recently made the mistake of installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 and, to make a long story short, I had to use the restoration feature. During the restoration, I had another HP_Administrator folder was created with the name HP_Administrator.computername and none of the system's settings will register from the original "Docuements and Settings" folder.

I would like to know if there is a way to redirect it back to the original settings and documents folder, as it is still there, just not referenced by the current account.

How can I connect to my university's VPN network?

jordanian2 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:53:32 -0800

I'm trying to connect to my university's wireless network with VPN. I keep getting a 619 or 721 error. This is with a new laptop that has Windows XP Pro SP3 on it. How can I fix this problem?