Microsoft has announced that the third and final service pack for Windows XP is ready, and will be available to the public on April 29.

SP3 will include all updates issued since Service Pack 2 was released back in 2004, plus some new stuff copied from . For example, Network Access Protection (NAP) will automatically check that the computer is free of viruses before allowing it onto a network. And you will no longer need to enter the product key when installing or re-installing the operating system.

Service Pack 1 for was recently released, and caused some problems for certain users. When XP SP3 comes along, you may want to take these precautions before downloading it: Back up your important data, and make a Restore Point.

Microsoft will end most sales of Windows XP on June 30, despite the poor reception Vista has received. You can still sign the petition (I did) to push to keep XP available a while longer.

About 165,000 people have signed so far. Add your voice to save Windows XP here: http://weblog.infoworld.com/save-xp/

Syd Tash is a noted computer security consultant and author of How to Protect Your Computer Online. He has been keeping Internet surfers safe and secure since the last century. Find out how he does it; protect your own computer with five layers of protection right here:
= > http://MyPCSecuritySite.com

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