Windows XP Unofficial Service Pack 4 Available for Download

Still on Win XP, but saddened because Microsoft did a really stupid thing by pulling the plug on one of its most successful products? Alas, the company may have made a big mistake to boost its Win 8 because Windows XP lives forever, and now you can get your hands on an Unofficial Service Pack 4 from harkaz. RyanVM has been a trusted source for Windows XP service packs, and harkaz also has a positive track record of releasing large packs of Windows fixes. There is always a perk and a drawback about everything with the word 'unofficial' in its name, but Win XP users fly to the update as bees on honey. Mind you, it is best to download the pack 4 from the RyanVM thread that has links to a Google Drive file and ADrive file. Here is what the Unofficial Service Pack 4 for Windows XP contains:

• All Win XP updates since 2002 SP2, including the two Microsoft released after it officially pulled the plug on the OS version;
• Request-only hotfixes;
• Microsoft .NET Frameworks 4.0, 3.5, 1.1 and 1.0 (Tablet PC only);
• MCE and Tablet PC;
• Integrated POSReady security updates.

Now, the latter POSReady is of particular value in the service pack because it uses a peculiar hole in Microsoft security update loophole by tricking the Microsoft servers into thinking a consumer version XP is actually a an Embedded Industry, which lets users receive Windows Embedded POSReady security updates until 2019.

Of course, Microsoft objects and strongly warns users against using the walk around way since the two operating systems, the consumer Win XP and the Embedded Industry are two different Oses, which can potentially cause compatibility issues for consumer versions.

Regardless of what the company says, Unofficial Service Pack 4 for Win XP by harkaz is the best news Win XP users got since the OS version was discontinued in April this year, and since many users are reluctant to migrate for various reasons, chances are Win XP might tick around a little longer than Microsoft expected. As harkaz said in his forum thread, 'many users - including me - who won't be able to upgrade their old machines to a newer OS [and] would like to easily install all Windows updates in one convenient package.' He adds, 'Windows XP Unofficial SP4 ENU is a cumulative update rollup for Windows XP (x86) English. It can be applied to a live Windows XP system which has SP1, at minimum, installed or it can be slipstreamed (integrated) in any Windows XP installation media.'

There is no word on compatibility issues after users started installing Embedded POSReady security updates since May. There is a risk of issue arising simply due to the lack of testing of the service pack updates or of harkaz turning malicious on a one particularly black Friday 13, but knowing this won't stop you anyway, there is only one word of caution - do not download from third-party resources.