Microsoft Windows XP and Office Page
My Windows Vista Page
My WindowsTalk Blog
Windows XP Service Pack
3
Windows® XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system.
 Steps
to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
Does your AMD-based computer boot after installing XP SP3?
Help from Security MVP Jesper Johansson
Microsoft Windows XP SP3 Upgrade Utility for systems with AMD processors
For HP Pavilion, Presario or Media Center with Windows XP and an AMD processor
SP3 ISO Image File
This file is a CD image file for users who wish to
create an update CD for Windows XP Service Pack 3, for example for offline
installation by administrators.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and
Developers
This installation package is intended for IT professionals
and developers downloading and installing on multiple computers on a network. If
you're updating just one computer, please visit Windows Update.
Windows XP TechCenter:
Information on Service Pack 3 and more.
Internet Explorer 8 Beta:
Technology Overview
Download 
Internet Explorer 7 is a major step forward in ease of use and security.
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Page
(my collection of helpful Service Pack 2 links, Knowledge Base articles and other resources)
Windows XP Related Communities
(Use these non-Microsoft communities online to get answers to your questions, state your opinions, meet other Windows XP enthusiasts, and learn more about Windows XP)
Windows XP Newsgroups
(Windows XP Newsgroups are peer-to-peer forums in which you can find other Windows XP users, seek help, and share your experiences to help others) Watch: Bill Gate's Last Day at Microsoft (video)
Microsoft Office System
Exploring Office 2007’s Radically New Interface
by Scot Finnie Installing Office 2007 alongside a previous version of Office
MS KB article 924618 Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats
See also KB article 924074 Microsoft Office Outlook Connector
With Microsoft Office Outlook Connector, you can use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Microsoft Windows Live Hotmail or Microsoft Office Live Mail accounts, including e-mail messages and contacts for free!
Outlook 2007/2003/2002 Add-in: Personal Folders Backup
The Personal Folders Backup download creates backup
copies of your .PST files at regular intervals, in Outlook 2002 and later
versions, making it easy to keep all of your Outlook folders safely backed up. Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3):
Microsoft® Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) represents a major evolution in security for Office 2003. It further hardens the Office suite against potential attacks and other security threats. This service pack also includes fixes that have been previously released as separate updates for Office 2003.
You can get specific information about this update in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article (923618): Description of Office 2003 Service Pack 3.
The Sysinternals web site was created in 1996 by Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell to host their advanced system utilities and technical information. Microsoft acquired Sysinternals in July, 2006. Whether you’re an IT Pro or a developer, you’ll find Sysinternals utilities to help you manage, troubleshoot and diagnose your Windows systems and applications.
The Truth about Defragmentation
Windows XP Comparison Guide Home or Professional? A side-by-side comparison.
Starting your computer in Safe mode An excellent article at Symantec; covers all Windows versions.
Troubleshooting Windows XP (by MVP Kelly Theriot)
Troubleshooting Microsoft Windows XP-based Wireless Networks in
the Small Office or Home Office (Word document download, 115kb)
How to troubleshoot hibernation and standby issues in Windows XP
Overview of System Restore in XP MSDN article.
"All About System Restore in XP" (Bert Kinney, MS-MVP)
Introduction to using scannow sfc (system file checker) Published By Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP In Digital Media
Repair Windows XP (by Michael Stevens MS-MVP)
Multibooting with Windows XP: Introduction
Remove un-wanted programs in XP (by MVP Eric C. Vogel)
F.A.S.T (FILE & SETTINGS TRANSFER) (by MVP Gary Woodruff) Tools:
Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility
Utility for restoring backups made on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to computers running Windows Vista and Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008.
Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility (The Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility helps you determine if an MPEG-2 video decoder (also called a DVD decoder) is installed on your Windows XP computer and whether or not the decoder is compatible with Windows Media Player 10 and Windows XP Media Center Edition.)
Windows Application Compatibility (Free Toolkit) Find out whether your existing apps will be compatible with Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2).
Windows Memory Diagnostic: The Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer for errors.
Slipstreaming CDs, CD Problems, Tips:
"Slipstreaming" is the combining of the original Windows installation files with the latest Service Pack. Some versions of MS Office can also be slipstreamed.
Slipstreaming and Boot CDs
Manually creating a slipstreamed XP SP2 CD
SP3 instructions are
here.
Autostreamer: automatically create a slipstreamed XP SP2 CD (alternate download here).
Special instructions for a DELL slipstreamed CD
Slipstream Office 2003 to SP3 (by Robert Sparnaaij, MVP for Office Systems - Outlook) Related: How can I write ISO files to CD? (ISO images can be loaded into several different CD recording software packages to create CDs.)
Description of CD-R and CD-RW recording in Windows XP
Burning CDs in Windows XP by the late Alex Nichol, MVP.
279157 Description of CD-ROM Recording in Windows XP
316529 CD-R drive or CD-RW drive is not recognized as a recordable device
320553 CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive appears to be missing after you install Windows XP
867717 Recordable CD or DVD that contains data appears blank in Windows XP
810805 Some files and folders vanish when you try to copy items from hard disk to CD-R or CD-RW Fun Stuff:
Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP Jam-packed with utilities, PowerToys, visualizations, skins, sound effects, and much more, the free Windows Media Bonus Pack installs on your Windows XP-based PC and lets your personality and creativity shine.
Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP PowerToys are additional programs that developers work on after a product has been released to manufacturing. They add fun and functionality to the Windows experience.
Microsoft Photo Story 3 for Windows: make show and tell cool again!
Free Smart Client Applications for Windows Smart Client Applications take advantage of the latest Windows technologies and are designed to work well with Windows XP. This selection of free
Smart Client Applications, for use at home or at work, can be downloaded
below
Some key Knowledge Base articles I like to have handy: "How to": 217210 How to Multiple Boot Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, and MS-DOS
315222 A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP
316434 How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
305595 How To Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP
310994 How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks
310353 How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
307654 How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
318378 How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP
306084 How to restore the operating system to a previous state in Windows XP
322756 How to back up, edit, and restore the registry in Windows XP
307545 How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
314459 How to Perform an Unattended Installation of Windows from a CD-ROM
301041 How to install NetBEUI on Windows XP
302894 HOW TO: Install Backup from the CD-ROM in Windows XP Home Edition
289022 HOW TO: Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP
332003 How to change your default programs and enable or remove access to Microsoft Windows and non-Microsoft programs
306837 Cannot Use Internet Explorer to Download Files
302089 How to prevent Windows Messenger from running on a Windows XP-based computer
310270 How to Add Items to the "Send To" Menu in Windows XP
315246 How to Automate the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
Fred Langa's article on Automating Disk Cleanup tool in Windows
304148 Overview of the mail notification display on the Windows XP Welcome screen
833721 Available switch options for the Windows XP and the Windows Server 2003 Boot.ini files
300546 Overview of Remote Assistance in Windows XP
812248 Disk Cleanup Tool Stops Responding While Compressing Old Files
232564 STOP 0xC0000244 when security log full
329183 You may receive an error message when you try to rename a folder on an NTFS partition in Windows XP
315255 Windows Backup Does Not Back Up to CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-R Devices
555223 RAM, Virtual Memory, Pagefile and all that stuff (TechNet article by Bruce Sanderson MVP)
Windows Life-Cycle Policy (support timelines)
Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 SP4 The final updates for W2K!
How to Reinstall Windows 98 (KB article)
Using Outlook Express with Multiple E-mail Addresses, Multiple Accounts, and Multiple Identities
Understanding the Registry (the mysteries of the Windows Registry revealed!)
"Why I Don't Use Registry Cleaners" (article at edbott.com) Other KB Articles: 896993 Detection and deployment guidance for the April 12, 2005 security release
156669 How to troubleshoot a "STOP 0xC000021A" error
293907 How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 6
322993 Virus Hoax: Microsoft Debugger Registrar for Java (Jdbgmgr.exe) Is Not a Virus
833786 Steps that you can take to help identify and to help protect yourself from deceptive (spoofed) Web sites and malicious hyperlinks
243909 List of BIOS Manufacturer Web Sites Part 1 (link to Part 2 in the same article)
918165 Problems in Windows Explorer or the Windows shell after you install security update MS06-015 (Updated!)
Other Resources:
Microsoft Public Newsgroups (Complete list)
What is the ASP.NET Machine Account? Can I remove it? (by MVP Mark Salloway)
Stop Messages (from AumHa.org site. Interpret those cryptic error and stop messages)
Outlook Express Error Codes
This page last updated:
July 26, 2008 | 
Most of the links and infor-mation on this page relate to Windows XP. 
Windows Server 2003 links