Anyone know if matters whether I use Windows Update online to download Windows SP3, or if I use their standalone (offline) update that’s meant for network installation?

It says on MS’s website not to use the standalone one for single computer installs, but it took aaaaaaaaaaages doing it via the windows update website last time.
I used the offline (network) one for SP2 it was fast and worked just fine, but I don’t remember them giving this warning against it then.

I looked at this this week. IIRC the SP2 download was complete (20+mb), but the SP3 one was only 3mb or so and then had to connect anyway.

Thats for XP BTW not Vista

The offline SP3 update for XP is 316mb, it installs to single PCs perfectly.

M$ probably want you to download it through Windows Update so they can run/download the Windows Genuine Advantage tool

Ok, duly noted – cheers lads.