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The Service Pack was originally due to be released on 29 April, but a compatibility issue with Microsoft Dynamics RMS, a retail management suite for businesses, caused it to be pulled at the last minute. A similar problem was also found to be affecting Vista Service Pack 1, which was also pulled from automatic updates.

With the all clear given, the XP Service Pack 3 will

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now be made available through Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center, with automatic distribution of Vista SP1 also set to resume.

Customers using Microsoft Dynamics are being warned not to download either Service Pack, and the company has placed a filter on its automatic update service to prevent it being downloaded by accident. The company says a fix for the problem - which has not being revealed - is currently in beta but should be available by the end of May.

Microsoft hasn't exactly lauded the coming of XP SP3, describing it in the release notes as containing "all previously released updates for the operating system, in addition to a small number of new updates. Windows XP SP3 will not significantly change the Windows XP experience."

You can download the update here