Download the Windows XP Service Pack 3

Microsoft will be releasing the Windows XP Service Pack 3 in the first half of 2008 which means that users have to wait several months before they can install the new Windows XP Service Pack on their computer. As with most other Microsoft releases that are not yet ready for the prime time the Service Pack 3 can also be downloaded early.

Not by all users but by beta testers.. and you. The process is similar to the one that was used to get the Windows Vista Service Pack early. Create a new entry in the Windows XP Registry and use Windows Update to download the latest service pack for Windows XP.

Thankfully though there is no need to download and reboot the computer three times, a reboot is actually not needed at all.

Here are the two commands that you need. (you actually can bypass the first one if you have not installed the Service Pack 3 before)

reg delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionWindowsUpdateXPSP3 /f 2> NUL
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionWindowsUpdateXPSP3 /v RCPreview /t REG_SZ /d 1c667073-b87f-4f52-a479-98c85711d869 /f

Create a batch file (or download it here), put those lines into it and execute it. This creates the necessary key that makes Windows Update believe that we are one of the few that are allowed to download the Windows XP Service Pack 3. It should appear in the list of Updates right away.