XP SP3 Questions

[CSULB71]

I'm starting from a fresh install of XP Home Ed. with SP2, and no other on-line updates. I downloaded (but haven't installed) MS's stand-alone update file that is 316MB in size. The overview text says I, as System Admin., besides all the "regular" updates, can choose to install each of these updates: MMC 3.0; MSXML6; Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 v2; Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) 2.5; IPsec Simple Policy Update for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP; Digital Identity, Management Service (DIMS); Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP) 2.1; and Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2).
Q 1: How do I know which of these optional updates I need or don't need? I read the descriptions of each, but other than the Wi-Fi one (I don't use Wi-Fi), it's not very clear. Or should I just install them all?

I had MS "Windows Updates" check my computer for necessary updates, and it listed SP3, but the file size to download was only 70 MB.
Q2: What is the difference between the two "SP3" update files, besides 246MB?

[Poppa_Meth]

There is an ISO version that is designed to burn to CD that is larger than the regular Redistributable version. I've installed both version now with no noticeable differences. Never once did either of them offer me the option to choose any optional components to install.

[jman98]

Install SP3 at your own risk and with the willingness to completely reinstall everything should you have problems. Early reports on SP3 are just awful with quite a few people reporting random reboots and others saying that their PCs will no longer boot at all and they had to reinstall everything. Some people do have no problems. Do you feel lucky? When it comes to Microsoft, I don't install Service Packs for quite a while until I am reasonably sure it won't destroy my system. I didn't install SP2 until many months after it came out.

[ron spencer]

does SP3 FORCE WGA on the enduser?

[CSULB71]

I just found this link that helps explain the optional updates in more "layman's" terms (compared to MS's descriptions):
http://blogs.technet.com/askperf/archive/2008/04/29/windows-xp-service-pack-3-rtm-rtw.aspx

Still not completely sure of which ones I need to install, but this may help others with the same question. I, too, am holding off on the install for awhile because of some of the problems I've read about with this update. Since I haven't done any of the usual incremental updates that have come out since SP2, it would be more difficult to find and resolve a problem if something goes wrong after the "mass" update.

ron spencer: What is WGA?

[Dv8ted2]

What is WGA?

Windows Genuine Advantage - It was an initiative started by Microsoft to identify versions of Windows using non-licensed keys. If you were deemed to be illegitimate, you would get nagging popups that would prod you to buy a licensed version of windows.