XP SP2 or 3

What are the advantages of SP 3 over 2? any negatives?

Don't know personally. Check this and this. Personally when I installed sp 3 I went with the down loadable installer instead of through automatic updates and I didn't have a problem.

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Everyone should have all "Critical Updates" from Windows Updates.

That would be SP3 and all subsequent updates.

Like townsbg I also downloaded the installer and installed SP3 on all my PC's and Laptops at home...no issues at all... I also make sure I have all the latest Critical Updates installed as well.

At work I'm in the process of installing SP3 on all our WinXP PC's and Laptops...they are all presently at SP2. I've used a combo of Automatic Updates and the downloaded installer. After updating the units I used Windows Updates and installed all the latest Critical Updates.

So far not a single issue... *Knock on wood*

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Another thing to note is that SP 3 installs most of the critical updates, at least until it's time of release. So when it comes to updating a fresh install of XP, installing SP 3 will save you time especially if you can slipstream it into an installation disk.

SP3 was basically just a cumulative package of all security updates post SP2.

Slipstreaming an XP SP3 CD is a great idea in case one ever needs to reinstall XP.

A disadvantage to this is that MS doesn't support doing it. In other words they won't guarantee that such an install will work. Maybe I should explain: what this does is to set up an XP install disc so that it automatically installs SP 3 when you install XP instead of some other service pack. What you need is an XP install disk with any service pack (or the original release), the full SP 3 installation file, and, for convenience/accuracy, software programmed to automatically create a disk that has SP 3 built into it. If you don't use a program you will have to manually replace certain files. nLight is a nice one [note that you must have .net framework 2.0 or higher installed].

As for SP 3 it is mainly security updates so it is highly recommend ["critical" according to MS] and it adds a few things to it. It also removes something. Read here.

Should I install SP3? what are pros/cons?

I tried it once; caused conflict

Pros - Better security
Cons - does not matter - see Pros.

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