XP Service Pack 3: Not Quite Yet

A small incompatibility with a relatively rare software package has held up the SP3 release train for the time being, but users can still snag the files from Microsoft.

Though Microsoft had previously announced that it would be releasing Windows XP Service Pack 3 to the Web on Tuesday, the company backed off its decision in the eleventh hour due to a glitch it discovered with certain software. The official service pack release will now be delayed until Microsoft can build a filter to keep those with the problematic software from installing it, but the files are still available on Microsoft’s server, despite the lack of a proper release.

“In the last few days, we have uncovered a compatibility issue between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) and both Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1),” said Microsoft’s Windows release manager Chris Keroack in an official forum posting.”Inorder to make sure customers have the best possible experience, we have decided to delay releasing Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to the web.”

While Microsoft advises those with the Microsoft Dynamics RMS not to install the update, the overwhelming majority of users without such software installed can still download the update by directly accessing the files on Microsoft’s servers. The English 32-bit version is available here.