Windows Xp Service Pack 4 Unofficial 3.1a

Greetings all,
Just came across this
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/windows_xp_service_pack_4_unofficial.html

and really wanted to know more?

I have installed on my XP machine and it seems happy.

Best wishes,
s.

 

Wow! It's a whopping 992 MB.
I'll give it a miss as I don't go online with Windows XP.

Stephen_c16
You might be interested in Seven Remix XP. It'll tranform your Windows XP to almost look like Windows 7.
http://www.remixpack.net/2011/09/seven-remix-xp.html

 

Sorry Eldon I do use XP online. Since Chrome now warns me that they are going to stop updates I have been looking for alternative paths. Ubuntu via vitualbox is what I have been experimenting with. Perhaps it would be quicker if I set up a dual booting system. For the moment I am trying to re familiarise myself with it. 14.04

Most of the time due to the convenience of it I use XP online. Little unsure about the safety which is why I try and keep my ears open.
s.

 

Firstly (!!!), the true vulnerabilities have been in Flash Player, Java, and Adobe Reader since 2004. If you don't keep them updated, don't cruise the web; its as simple as that.
Now; that said, M$ has foisted a wonderful marketing tactic which is fundamentally a lie to try to get us all to "upgrade" to Windows 10 and Office 365/2016 (I think I'll leave that alone, for now).
But; regardless, most secure websites now refuse to operate with IE8 and Chrome is about to follow suit.
It might seem like a dumb question; but, have you considered moving to Windows 7? Lots of 2008 PC's are numerically faster than several brand new ones and folk's don't know it.
What is the PC's make and model? What are its spec's?

 

Stephen,
Have a look at this image.
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php?attachments/ubuntu-jpg.221836/
Effectively, it is a dual-boot system. But there is no need to partition the hard disc.

The thread is over here.
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php?threads/installing-linux.294013/

You can then continue to use Windows XP and all your programs offline.
And use Linux for your online needs.

 

Thank you davismccarn I have a
4Core1600-GLAN running Win Xp pro sp3 Intel Core2Quad Q6600 @2.40GHz 3.2GB RAM, NVIDIA 9400 GT

This runs from a intel SSD 230GB. c: with 106GB free and 72GB partition which could be reduced if the need requires. I have an additional storage drive.

Thank you Eldon for your reply. I have a 12.04 disk from which I created to install Ubuntu. I ended up installing the iso from virtualBox.
Before I follow the instructions to 'Install within Windows' will borrow an old laptop and update its OP.
Back to Belt and braces computer work.

Thanks again,
Don't know what happend to the typeface. <Fixed>
s.

 

I am also using XP, and intend to continue. Hard to give up the little dogie (search companion)! Here is a link to a web page that might be helpful.

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/long-live-windows-xp.html

Could you please tell me what differences you noticed after installing Service Pack 4.

Regards

 

I installed SP4 on my XP drive for my Precision M70 AFTER I imaged the drive. I had installed the XP .reg key to invoke POSReady 2009 on May 25, 2014 and have been recieving updates ever since. I'm waiting for the next Patch Tuesday to see if it continues. If it doesn't, SP4 is history. I have gone online in XP after the reg key installation b/c IE8 has recieved updates every month.

 

I need help. My computer skills are very pedestrian. From here:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/windows_xp_service_pack_4_unofficial.html

I went to the developers forum below, and got very confused. It's just that I don't understand the technical terms in all the posts.

http://www.ryanvm.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10321

Can I just download this (WindowsXP-USP4-v3.1a-x86-ENU.exe) and simply 'run' it in my XP Professional, without doing any of the tweaks mentioned in the posts of this thread?

Then I found the threads below, and couldn't decide whether I need to use this one (MUI ISO) instead of the (ENU.exe) above, because mine is XP Professional, or is this only for those who use XP in other languages than English? My language is English.

http://www.ryanvm.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=140755#140755
https://mega.nz/#!pQcRgKrD!UmU-DE0fBMFwEwSJVwFCg_0hnLyPeK9k2dwT6PAu7m0

Thank you

 

Just download the file from Majorgeeks.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/windows_xp_service_pack_4_unofficial.html

From RuanVM...

For other languages you need the MUI ISO.

 

Thank you Eldon,
Just so that I understand properly; (XP-USP4-v3.1a-x86-ENU.exe) is good for XP Home edition and Professional edition both. (MUI ISO) is only for those who need to use this service pack in other languages than English. Am I correct?
Regards

 

You're correct.

BTW Have a look at my link in post #2.
Windows XP has never looked better.

 

I have already seen that link. It looks great I'll have a go at it soon. The process being reversible, if I don't like it, is encouraging. Thank you for the support.
Regards

 

Just a feed back.

I installed XP Service Pack 4 and it went off smoothly. As a 'die hard' XP user I am delighted with this. The Net Framework versions were updated and the missing versions installed. It also created a System Restore Point before installing, without any prompt from me It also installed (1) XPS viewer (I know about this) (2) Bit Locker To Go Reader - Could you please tell me what this is?

Thank you

 

This article describes it very well.

 

Thank you very much

 

Just a remark on my experience of using Windows XP since M$ withdrew support:

I use XP/SP3 on-line occasionally, with IE8, and apart from it being very slow to display webpages (I use a Celeron 2.7 GHz CPU, but I can't believe that is the reason), and "Hotmail" not working properly, it won't let me update Java beyond the version I've got now (I do not which that is); this has been the case for some time now. I find very few websites which refuse to operate, I do not often knowingly use flash player or AdobeReader, neither of which I have updated for a while. AVG updates ok. No malware problems since M$ withdrew support.

Will my PC (below) run Windows 7 effectively ?

Dumb_Question
2.March.2016
Compaq Presario S5160UK DT261A under XP/SP3
Processor - Celeron 2.7 GHz
Motherboard - MSI MS-6577 v2.1
RAM - 1GB +1GB DDR PC2700
PSU - OCZ 500W StealthXStream {'upgraded' from Octigen 300W model 10270PSOTG ('upgraded' from original Bestec 250W PSU [in 2011?])}
GeForce GE7800GS graphics card in AGP slot.

 

Yes it will.
But, upgrade RAM to 4 GB.
I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate with a 1.8 GHz Celeron CPU, 3 GB RAM, and an 11 year old 80 GB HDD. Not ideal, but it's working fine. And when I select the Windows XP partition... it's lighting fast.

PS Your RAM is way to slow. And that might be a problem.

 

Thank you for that very interesting, informative and reassuring post (at least to me). Eldon
Firstly my m/b supports only a maximum of 2GB, an the actual RAM speed permitted by the chipset(?) or PU(?) is PC-2100, so RAM actually has speed in hand, as it were. I could maybe even use PC-333 (DDR-400) RAM but it wouldn't make any difference, as the speed is m/b limited. I could upgrade the CPU to a 3.06GHz Pentium but that's as fast as it go. My m/b can use only Northwood chips, I remember reading somewhere. I've probably got the same HDD as you, a Seagate ST380011A (PATA)

So I think the problem with speed on XP (it's just internet though, everything works at "normal" speed) must be partly elsewhere.

With that more detailed information, I will ask all those experts out there "Will my PC (below) run Windows 7 effectively ?" (sckt 478 CPU, 2GB of DDR1=333 RAM)

Dumb_Question
2.March.2016
Compaq Presario S5160UK DT261A under XP/SP3
Processor - Celeron 2.7 GHz
Motherboard - MSI MS-6577 v2.1
RAM - 1GB +1GB DDR PC2700
PSU - OCZ 500W StealthXStream {'upgraded' from Octigen 300W model 10270PSOTG ('upgraded' from original Bestec 250W PSU [in 2011?])}
GeForce GE7800GS graphics card in AGP slot.

 

In a nutshell... No.
Your RAM is too slow. You need a motherboard that supports DDR3 RAM.

 

Thank you for making so clear, Eldon. Yo hve possibly saved me a lot of time !

Dumb_Question
3.March.2016

 

I removed "SP4" today. I checked for updates under "SP4" and the only one it came up with was the Malicious Software Removal Tool for XP.

I switched back to my XP installation with the Windows Embedded Reg. Key and there were 8 other Security Updates besides the MSRT plus an additional Optional Update.

Goodbye, "SP4".

 

How do you un-install SP 4. When you un-install does it revert the registry values changed by SP4, to their original settings?

Thank you

 

I had imaged the drive prior to installing "SP4" and I restored the drive from that image. The restoration process overwrote everything including some software I had installed under "SP4".

 

Thank you. It's good to know. I didn't image the drive but I have a restore point if I want to do this.

I found 18 updates today with SP 4, but avoided a few that had something to do with "POS Ready", and installed the rest. I did that because I found that "Microsoft has changed its WU update detection strategy". Full details are found here: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/171171-introducing-unofficial-windows-xp-sp4/?page=1 :The developer has released a new version(v3.1b), with this fixed. You can see his post about this on the last page (9) of this thread.

Regards

 

The POSReady updates should have been installed. "SP4" included the POSReady "trick" from May 25, 2014 (it was a registry key entry). Your XP has been changed to Windows Embedded, used in ATMs. POSReady simply means Point of Sale Ready. It's the only way you're going to get Microsoft Updates for XP. It's supposed to continue until 2019 unless MS decides to pull the plug.

 

Thanks, I'll do that. There are 5 of them, all named "Security Update for WEPOS and POSReady 2009", with the KB number. The "2009" also made me wary of them.

Regards