Windows XP Service Pack 3 2.0

Microsoft works to continually improve the performance, security, and stability of the Windows operating
system. As part of this effort, Microsoft develops updates, fixes, and other improvements that address issues
reported by the company’s
customers and partners. To make
it easier for customers to get
these updates and
enhancements, Microsoft
periodically combines them into a
single package, and makes that
package available for all Windows
customers. These packages are
called service packs.
Windows XP Service Pack 3
(SP3) includes all previously
released Windows XP updates,
including security updates and
hotfixes. It also includes select
out-of-band releases, and a small
number of new enhancements,
which do not significantly change
customers’ experience with the
operating system.
Windows XP SP3 provides a new baseline for customers still deploying Windows XP. For customers with
existing Windows XP installations, Windows XP SP3 fills gaps in the updates they might have missed—for
example, by declining individual updates when using Windows Update.