Editing Windows XP (section)

===Service Pack 3===
The third and final Service Pack, SP3, was released through different channels between April 21<ref name="TRSP3date">{{cite web |first1=Gordon |last1=Kelly |title=Windows XP SP3 Release Date(s) Confirmed |url=https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/windows-xp-sp3-release-date-s-confirmed-2737589 |website=Trusted Reviews |access-date=June 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623230020/http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/windows-xp-sp3-release-date-s-confirmed-2737589/ |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |url-status=dead |date=April 16, 2008 }}</ref> and June 10, 2008,<ref>{{cite web |author=Emil Protalinski |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2008/04/microsoft-releases-the-long-anticipated-windows-xp-sp3/ |title=Microsoft releases the long-anticipated Windows XP SP3 (updated) |publisher=Ars Technica |date=April 29, 2008 |accessdate=February 10, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115182112/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2008/04/microsoft-releases-the-long-anticipated-windows-xp-sp3/ |url-status=live }}</ref> about a year after the release of [[Windows Vista]], and about a year before the release of Windows 7. Service Pack 3 was not available for Windows XP x64 Edition, which was based on the Windows Server 2003 kernel and, as a result, used [[Windows Server 2003#Updates|its service packs]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2003/cc773361(v=ws.10) | title=Release Notes for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 | date=October 8, 2009 | access-date=November 11, 2019 | archive-date=November 11, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111110411/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2003/cc773361(v%3Dws.10) | url-status=live }}</ref> rather than the ones for the other editions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Oiaga |first1=Marius |title=64-Bit Windows XP Service Pack 3? |url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/64-Bit-Windows-XP-Service-Pack-3-73982.shtml |website=Softpedia |publisher=SoftNews NET |access-date=June 24, 2018 |language=en-us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508180044/https://news.softpedia.com/news/64-Bit-Windows-XP-Service-Pack-3-73982.shtml |archive-date=May 8, 2018 |date=December 14, 2007}}</ref>

It began being automatically pushed out to ''Automatic Updates'' users on July 10, 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9107918 | title=Microsoft sets XP SP3 automatic download for Thursday | publisher=IDG | work=Computerworld | date=July 8, 2008 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709220104/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9107918 | archive-date=July 9, 2008 | df=mdy-all |first1=Gregg|last1=Keizer}}</ref> A feature set overview which detailed new features available separately as stand-alone updates to Windows XP, as well as [[backported]] features from Windows Vista, was posted by Microsoft.<ref>{{cite web|title=Windows XP Service Pack 3 Overview |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=May 6, 2008 |url=https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=68c48dad-bc34-40be-8d85-6bb4f56f5110&DisplayLang=en |access-date=May 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506093528/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=68c48dad-bc34-40be-8d85-6bb4f56f5110&DisplayLang=en |archive-date=May 6, 2008 |author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref> A total of 1,174 fixes are included in SP3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480|title=List of fixes that are included in Windows XP Service Pack 3|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=June 23, 2018|date=May 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509105822/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480 |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref> Service Pack 3 could be installed on systems with Internet Explorer up to and including version 8; [[Internet Explorer 7]] was not included as part of SP3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/No-Internet-Explorer-7-Will-Not-Be-a-Part-of-Windows-XP-SP3-73896.shtml|title=No, Internet Explorer 7 Will Not(!) Be a Part of Windows XP SP3|first=Marius|last=Oiaga|publisher=SoftNews NET|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118180234/http://news.softpedia.com/news/No-Internet-Explorer-7-Will-Not-Be-a-Part-of-Windows-XP-SP3-73896.shtml|archive-date=January 18, 2012|date=December 14, 2007}}</ref> It also did not include [[Internet Explorer 8]], which was included in [[Windows 7]], which was released one year after XP SP3.

Service Pack 3 included security enhancements from those of SP2, including APIs allowing developers to enable [[Data Execution Prevention]] for their code, independent of system-wide compatibility enforcement settings,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.msdn.com/b/michael_howard/archive/2008/01/29/new-nx-apis-added-to-windows-vista-sp1-windows-xp-sp3-and-windows-server-2008.aspx|title=New NX APIs added to Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP SP3 and Windows Server 2008|work=Michael Howard's Web Log|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=January 29, 2008|access-date=August 8, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825070102/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/michael_howard/archive/2008/01/29/new-nx-apis-added-to-windows-vista-sp1-windows-xp-sp3-and-windows-server-2008.aspx|archive-date=August 25, 2011|first1=Michael|last1=Howard}}</ref> the [[Security Support Provider Interface]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/951608|title=Description of the Credential Security Support Provider (CredSSP) in Windows XP Service Pack 3|access-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009060022/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951608 |archive-date=October 9, 2009|publisher=Microsoft |date=May 6, 2008|author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref> improvements to [[WPA2]] security,<ref>{{cite web |date=May 13, 2005|author1=Enterprise IT Planet Staff |title=Upgraded Wi-Fi Security for Windows XP SP2 |url=http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3504881/Upgraded-Wi-Fi-Security-for-Windows-XP-SP2.htm |website=Wi-Fi Planet |publisher=QuinStreet Enterprise |access-date=June 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623232221/http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3504881/Upgraded-Wi-Fi-Security-for-Windows-XP-SP2.htm |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and an updated version of the Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider Module that is [[FIPS 140-2]] certified.<ref name="SP3Overview">{{cite web|url=https://download.microsoft.com/download/6/8/7/687484ed-8174-496d-8db9-f02b40c12982/Overview%20of%20Windows%20XP%20Service%20Pack%203.pdf|title=Overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117080827/http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/8/7/687484ed-8174-496d-8db9-f02b40c12982/Overview%20of%20Windows%20XP%20Service%20Pack%203.pdf|archive-date=January 17, 2009|date=<!--N/A-->|author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref>

In incorporating all previously released updates not included in SP2, Service Pack 3 included many other key features. [[Windows Imaging Component]] allowed camera vendors to integrate their own proprietary image codecs with the operating system's features, such as thumbnails and slideshows.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/947898/en-us|title=Information about Windows Imaging Component|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510013416/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947898/en-us |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |publisher=Microsoft|date=August 13, 2002|author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref> In enterprise features, [[Remote Desktop Protocol]] 6.1 included support for ClearType and 32-bit color depth over RDP,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://codeyarns.com/2010/01/27/windows-cleartype-on-rdp/ |title=Windows: ClearType on RDP |publisher=CodeYarns.com |date=January 27, 2010 |access-date=June 16, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117030912/http://codeyarns.com/2010/01/27/windows-cleartype-on-rdp/ |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |first1=Ashwin|last1=Nanjappa}}</ref> while improvements made to [[Windows Management Instrumentation]] in Windows Vista to reduce the possibility of corruption of the WMI repository were [[backport]]ed to XP SP3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/933062|title=A hotfix is available that improves the stability of the Windows Management Instrumentation repository in Windows XP|work=Support|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=October 8, 2011|access-date=January 20, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305004704/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933062|archive-date=March 5, 2013|author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref>

In addition, SP3 contains updates to the operating system components of Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, and security updates for .NET Framework version 1.0, which is included in these editions. However, it does not include update rollups for the Windows Media Center application in Windows XP MCE 2005.<ref name="SP3FAQ">{{cite web|url=https://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itproxpsp/thread/e6a8fb92-526e-4686-930b-2af2d9180e22/|title=FAQs regarding SP3 RTM|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824120828/http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itproxpsp/thread/e6a8fb92-526e-4686-930b-2af2d9180e22/ |archive-date=August 24, 2011 |publisher=Microsoft|access-date=June 23, 2018|date=April 22, 2008|author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref> SP3 also omits security updates for Windows Media Player 10, although the player is included in Windows XP MCE 2005.<ref name="SP3FAQ" /> <!-- PLEASE DON'T ADD WMP 11 HERE SINCE IT IS ''not'' INCLUDED IN ANY WINDOWS XP SKU. WMP 10 IS --> The Address Bar DeskBand on the Taskbar is no longer included because of antitrust violation concerns.<ref name=tr-sp3address>{{cite web|title=How do I... Return the Address bar Windows XP SP3 removed?|url=https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/how-do-i-return-the-address-bar-windows-xp-sp3-removed/|website=TechRepublic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=May 5, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905192952/http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/how-do-i-return-the-address-bar-windows-xp-sp3-removed/|archive-date=September 5, 2015|date=May 8, 2008|first1=Mark|last1=Kaelin}}</ref>

Unofficial SP3 ZIP download packages were released on a now-defunct website called The Hotfix from 2005 to 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/140833/ | title=Windows XP SP3 preview surfaces on Web | publisher=IDG | work=[[PC World]] | date=October 6, 2005 | access-date=October 29, 2020 | archive-date=October 31, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031131504/https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/140833/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2005/10/5399-2/ | title=Sneak preview of Windows XP SP3 surfaces | publisher=Ars Technica | work=[[Ars Technica]] | date=October 6, 2005 | access-date=October 29, 2020 | archive-date=November 4, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104014413/https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2005/10/5399-2/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The owner of the website, Ethan C. Allen, was a former Microsoft employee in Software Quality Assurance and would comb through the [[Microsoft Knowledge Base]] articles daily and download new [[hotfix]]es Microsoft would put online within the articles. The articles would have a "kbwinxppresp3fix" and/or "kbwinxpsp3fix" tag, thus allowing Allen to easily find and determine which fixes were planned for the official SP3 release to come. Microsoft publicly stated at the time that the SP3 pack was unofficial and advised users to not install it.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/139412/ | title=Microsoft employee blasts 'fake' service pack | publisher=IDG | work=[[PC World]] | date=October 14, 2005 | access-date=October 29, 2020 | archive-date=October 31, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031144052/https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/139412/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2005/10/5438-2/ | title=Windows XP SP3 preview a fake | publisher=Ars Technica | work=[[Ars Technica]] | date=October 15, 2005 | access-date=October 29, 2020 | archive-date=October 31, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031235144/https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2005/10/5438-2/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Allen also released a Vista SP1 package in 2007, for which Allen received a [[cease-and-desist]] email from Microsoft.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pcworld.co.nz/article/180853/microsoft_leans_vista_sp1_site/ | title=Microsoft leans on Vista SP1 site | publisher=IDG | work=[[PC World]] | date=October 4, 2007 | access-date=October 29, 2020 | archive-date=May 18, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518095126/https://www.pcworld.co.nz/article/180853/microsoft_leans_vista_sp1_site/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Windows XP Service Pack 3 was later included in [[Windows Embedded Standard 2009]] and [[Windows Embedded POSReady 2009]].