This info may have been already posted on CN. In case it has not, I'm passing it along for the convenience of those XP users who want to update their OS to Service Pack 3, but have a dial-up connection. Those with DSL or (faster) cable pipes need not be concerned, since the download will be relatively quick in any event. Microsoft has SP3 available on CD. SP1 and SP2 are "rolled up" into SP3. No need to install the first two separately if you're updating: The SP3 disk does it all. Like SP1 and SP2, the SP3 CD itself is entirely free. However, unlike the first two updates, the SP3 disk requires a shipping fee of 6 dollars (higher for those outside the US). For some of my customers whose PCs I maintain with dial-up conections, this was a reasonable investment. Especially if they were forced to reinstall the operating system from either an early retail version of XP, or OEM disks. Again, I'm passing this along for those who, for whatever reason, do not have a large enough pipe to make the download from MS convenient. Not many users I know want their PCs processing power tied up for long hours just to acquire the update. I don't blame them one bit. 8-) Haven't had a chance to visit here at Computing.net in quite a while. Between 2001 and 2005, I made many good friends and computer enthusiasts. Especially per and XpUser. And Justin: you always, and still do, run a tight ship. 8-) By the way, what the hell ever happened to Hooner in the UK? He'd be virtually here by himself at CN between midnight and sunrise, patiently giving sound advice to users whose computers had simply jammed up, or completely crashed and burned. When I logged on (in the US), he'd pass along to me a half-dozen out of the "baker's dozen" he was trying to help. His plate was full! Then, for the next several hours, we'd work to clear the logjam. It was a lot of productive fun and generated many good memories. 8-) Peace, Solarian LINK

Hello "triangle buddy" Solarian - long time no see/hear you posting at CN. The link you posted to order the CD is language-specified - it may not work on every machines (it didn't on my laptop - I received error message). What I did was go to to M$ XP SP3 homepage HERE then scroll down the page to where it says Order the Windows XP SP3 CD. After I selected the preferred language, the correct order page finally loaded. I remembered Hooner from the bygone days - I haven't seen him posting for the past 4 or 5 years. People come and go but the only thing that last here is the site itself along with its owner Justin :-) BTW are you still in Florida? I'm still in NY and I presume per is still living right under the giant power lines tower out West. i_Xp/VistaUser

XpUser: Thanks for responding. And for the additional URL to order the SP3 CD. The address I posted initially gave me an error message too, but then worked fine thereafter. I thought it was just a one-time glitch on my end. Ah, yes, the good old days of the Triangle: You in NYC, per in Southern California, and me in Florida. Haven't had a chance to message per, but I've seen his posts when I stop by CN. I assume he's still in CA. Yes, I'm still in FL. Moved from Tampa to Fort Myers a couple of years ago. FM's a nice enough place, but since family and old friends are still in Tampa, I miss the hell out of the Bay Area. It's a long story 8-) Incidentally, I made a good friend here in Fort Myers who's from NYC. He's been back in your city this past week to visit with his family. All the best! Sincerely, Solarian