Download Official Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh Build 5508 (with Link to Standalone EXE)
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate has been updated to Release Candidate 2 Refresh (XP SP3 RC2 Refresh), as announced in TechNet forum. With the release of Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh build version 5508, the previously leaked Windows XP SP3 v.5503 has proven not to be a final RTM version. Indeed, it confirms that the jump in build number is intended by Microsoft for unknown reason, even though Chris Keroack from Windows Serviceability Team said there are no substantial differences between this beta release (build 5508) and XP SP3 RC2 (build 3311).
Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh release is aimed to validate improvements to the Windows Update experience with Service Pack 3, where it fixes common Windows Update issues and includes support for HD Audio. Meaning that Microsoft is not testing the result of rolling out the service pack via Windows Update, probably indicating impending release of final RTM version of SP3 is near.
As a result, Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh build v.5508 beta release is only available on Windows Update, in English, German and Japanese languages. To get the Windows XP SP3 RC2R version 5508 from Windows Update, users will need to add in the same registry key that allows Windows Update to detect that the system is a target to install Windows XP SP3 RC2.
Download Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2.exe, a self extracting archive that contains XPSP3_RC2.cmd, the command script that hacks the registry so that the system becomes the service pack target install machine. (Note that the executable auto extract to user’s Temp directory, if you can’t find the file, download the batch script directly).
It’s also possible to directly download the standalone setup installer in .EXE executable format from Windows Update. Here’s the link: windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu_c1996fe3afe721f3962a15d6666603ec857f4095.exe
After installing Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh v.5508, the operating system will have build version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp.080320-1628 : Service Pack 3). It’s also speculated to be a RTM release, as in System Properties, there is not build version been shown too, with only “Service Pack 3″ been displayed.
Other requirement for the registry hack to install Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh is that the system to upgrade must be Windows XP SP2, and test versions build to build upgrade are not supported for this beta release. So for XP system installed with earlier beta or release candidate version of SP3, uninstall the previous beta or RC.
Again, remember that this beta release is pre-release software for testing purposee. The RC2 Refresh is time limited and will expire in a future date. For more information on Windows XP Service Pack 3, read the Overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3, and Windows XP SP3 Release Notes.
Update: Windows XP SP3 Final Build 5512 released.
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Entries (RSS)
March 27th, 2008 14:00
[...] Update: Windows XP SP3 RTM Candidate - v.5503 (which leaked unofficially) and official Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh v.5508 available via Windows Update. [...]
March 28th, 2008 11:32
[...] release of latest service pack for Windows XP - Service Pack 3 (SP3), users who install beta or release candidate test versions of Windows XP may wish to uninstall the the beta releases or RC versions of the [...]
April 5th, 2008 10:09
[...] reading Download Official Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh Build 5508 (with Link to Standalone EXE) at Tip and [...]
April 13th, 2008 12:13
Help, I have a ddo that I cannot get off of my computer for love or money. Microsoft has been no help whatsoever and I get passed of to people who know less than I do. Any sugestions. I’ve tried everything, it appears that nothing will recognize my system …I thank you in advance for any help you might offer. I so want to be a standalone computer again.
Kind regards,
Jean
April 16th, 2008 04:02
[...] and Kernel Model Cryptographic Module. It’s reported by users who installed beta and release candidate test versions of Windows XP SP3 that the service pack actually improve the performance of the [...]
April 16th, 2008 04:03
[...] released Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh which has a build version of 5.1.2600.5508. There are a lot of speculations and discussions on [...]
April 22nd, 2008 12:46
[...] Windows XP SP3 has final version of 5.1 and build number 5512 (5.1.2600.5512), a little higher than Windows XP RC2 Refresh (v.5508), but not the speculated build [...]
April 24th, 2008 00:49
[...] Daca totusi doriti sa instalati SP3 dar nu prin Windows Update, il puteti downloada de aici, in engleza, germana sau japoneza, ca si Standalone Installer. [...]
May 1st, 2008 07:22
Help, when I tried to uninstall my sp3 v5508 it said it has been uninstalled, but then when I checked the version it’s still showing sp3 v5508 instead of sp2. I also look in the windows directory but the $NtServicePackUninstall$ is gone. is there another way to uninstall sp3 v5508?
May 1st, 2008 09:08
You can upgrade directly from v5508 to SP3 Final.
May 1st, 2008 23:05
Thanks for the reply.
I can’t. If what you meant by final is v5512. I tried that and it asked me to uninstall the v5508 first.
May 2nd, 2008 00:10
Have you tried C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$\spuninst to look for spuninst.exe? Else try system restore.
May 2nd, 2008 05:40
the $NtServicePackUninstall$ is gone and when I tried to do a system restore, it failed. any other suggestion? the problem right now is I cant use the RDC.
May 2nd, 2008 09:18
How about trying to install the RC server pack again and uninstall it?