Thanks for your feedback.

For the benefit of lurkers here:

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx

Steps to take before you install WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

<IMHO>
Temporarily disable all real-time protections afforded by your anti-virus
application, any anti-spyware applications, and any third-party firewall
prior to installing SP3. If you disable a third-party firewall, make sure
you then enable the Windows Firewall: The machine should not be connected to
the internet without an active firewall.

NB ZA Free users: Uninstall ZA Free via Add/Remove Programs and enable the
Windows Firewall before installing SP3.

After installing SP3 /and rebooting twice/, check to make sure your
real-time protections have been re-enabled; If you disabled a third-party
firewall, remember to re-enable it and disable the Windows Firewall.
</IMHO>
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/



Alan wrote:
> Hi again,
>
> I won't keep anyone in suspense. After a couple of hours on chat with a
> great Microsoft Tech, I now have BOTH SP3...and wireless connectivity.
>
> I'm still using Wireless Zero rather than the Netgear Smart Wizard to
> control the network, but that's all I ever could use under SP2 also.
>
> Something that the tech had me do differently than I did on my own last
> week
> before installing SP3 was to use MSCONFIG to uncheck Process SYSTEM.INI,
> Process WIN.INI and Load Startup Items in the Selective Startup portion of
> the General Tab. The only two boxes I left checked were Load System
> Services
> and Use Original Boot.ini.
>
> Then I went to the Services Tab and put a tick mark in the Hide All
> Microsoft Services check box. Whatever was left, I then clicked on the
> Disable All radio button.
>
> THEN I began the SP3 installation. After the SP3 installed and rebooted I
> already had connectivity without manually trying to connect. He had me do
> a
> second reboot to make sure I had connectivity, which I did.
>
> Finally, I went into MSCONFIG and selected Normal Startup, and once more
> rebooted.
>
> All is fine now. :->
>
> Alan
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:Oi67ttdtIHA.552@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Thanks. Please do keep us posted.
>>
>> Alan wrote:
>>> Hi PA Bear,
>>>
>>> I'm on a chat with a Microsoft tech now. I'll let you know how I make
>>> out.
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:%23jopSFdtIHA.4528@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> MS can't address a bug if they're not aware of it and/or can't
>>>> reproduce
>>>> it. You can get the ball rolling by opening a free support incident.
>>>> --
>>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>>>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>>>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>>>
>>>> Alan wrote:
>>>>> Hi PA Bear,
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes, contacting Microsoft support is a definite possibility for me.
>>>>>
>>>>> Still, I am sort of hoping that there will be some sort of a more
>>>>> wide-spread fix in the near future, though.
>>>>>
>>>>> I know that you're seeing some of the users in the Forums to which you
>>>>> contribute also posting their wireless problems.
>>>>>
>>>>> Alan
>>>>>
>>>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:%23BMBnPWtIHA.4476@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> . US:
>>>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
>>>>>>
>>>>>> . CA:
>>>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
>>>>>>
>>>>>> . UK:
>>>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
>>>>>>
>>>>>> . AU:
>>>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
>>>>>>
>>>>>> . Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...spx?gprid=1173 |
>>>>>> select
>>>>>> Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> WinXP-specific newsgroup:
>>>>>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof...dowsxp.general
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>>>>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rajesh wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi All,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I had installed windows xp service pack 3 and after that my wireless
>>>>>>> connection [through a usb port] stopped working!! Later when I did
>>>>>>> uninstall
>>>>>>> Windows XP service pack 3 it started working and is back to normal.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am unsure of why and how.... I am using windows XP to configure my
>>>>>>> connection. Any ideas ?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Rajesh