在安装有SP3补丁的系统中,我们并没有发现太多可以显示变化的信息。然而,通过查看SP3程序包中解压出的文件(尤其是EXE应用程序和DLL应用程序扩展,我们可以大概了解服务包所影响的系统功能): 
  ¨ Auto Check Utility
  ¨ Auto File System Conversion Utility
  ¨ Boot Loader
  ¨ Fax XP SP1 Patch
  ¨ Microsoft .NET Assembly Registration Utility
  ¨ Microsoft .NET Framework
  ¨ Microsoft .NET Framework CAS Policy Manager
  ¨ Microsoft .NET Framework IL assembler
  ¨ Microsoft .NET Services Installation Utility
  ¨ Microsoft Common Language Runtime native compiler
  ¨ Microsoft FrontPage CGI Server Administrator
  ¨ Microsoft FrontPage Hit Counter
  ¨ Microsoft FrontPage Server Administration Snapin
  ¨ Microsoft FrontPage Server Administrator
  ¨ Microsoft FrontPage Server Administrator Client
  ¨ Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions
  ¨ Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions
  ¨ Microsoft FrontPage TCP/IP Tester
  ¨ Microsoft IE Execute shell
  ¨ Microsoft JScript .NET Compiler
  ¨ Microsoft Telnet Client
  ¨ Peer-to-Peer Custom Setup
  ¨ Registry Editor
  ¨ SetRegNI Application
  ¨ Stub loader for WINNT32 setup program (WINNT.EXE & WINNT32.EXE)
  ¨ Tablet PC Calibration
  ¨ ToGac Application
  ¨ Update RunOnce Service
  ¨ UpdateUtil Appliation
  ¨ Visual Basic .NET Command Line Compiler
  ¨ Visual C# Command Line Compiler
  ¨ Windows Messenger
  ¨ Windows Service Pack Auto-Recovery Tool
  ¨ Windows Service Pack Uninstall
  ¨ Windows XP SP installer downgrade tasks
  ¨ Windows XP SP installer tasks
  结论
  经过测试和检查之后,我们认为,SP3其实并未为Windows XP系统引入任何新的功能,它仅仅是一款安全升级和BUG修正补丁程序集。在SP2之后,微软发布了许多Windows XP平台的补丁和升级,但是目前我们还很难确定SP3中到底整合了哪些升级补丁。
  目前,微软方面仅仅表示XP SP3今年不会发布,但并未透露具体的公测和正式发布日期。据外界传言,微软将于明年上半年发布Windows XP SP3。