Nudone kindly sent me this link ...

Download Unmodified ISOs of WinXP SP3

These are full install media for SP3 (various languages and Pro and Home versions).

The main advantage of these is that they are not slipstreamed versions - they are initial install discs went burned. You will need this version if you wish to install Windows XP SP3 without entering a serial code (thus getting a 30 days full trial version which can be activated later).

The problem with these is that a 30 day trial does me no good if my key doesn't work. I downloaded the SP3 VL ISO, since I used to have an MSDN subscription and got XP SP2 with a Volume License. I thought it would work with the SP3 disc but apparently it doesn't. So now I'm back to trying to figure out how to get SP2 to update to SP3 without destroying Windows/Microsoft Update. . .

EDIT: See below for update.

Quote from: Deozaan on May 17, 2008, 12:40 AM

The problem with these is that a 30 day trial does me no good if my key doesn't work. I downloaded the SP3 VL ISO, since I used to have an MSDN subscription and got XP SP2 with a Volume License. I thought it would work with the SP3 disc but apparently it doesn't. So now I'm back to trying to figure out how to get SP2 to update to SP3 without destroying Windows/Microsoft Update. . .

That sounds weird - unless somebody has grabbed & pirated your SP2 VLK (massively), it ought to work with SP3? Contact Microsoft!

I haven't shared my license with anyone. In fact it still works to install SP2. Unless I'm thinking of something else and I don't really need the VL version.

The deal was that I was allowed to install it on something like 5 or 10 different machines.

I downloaded the non VL version of Windows XP SP3 and I was able to successfully activate windows. So it all works.

I also downloaded the non-VL version from here, but now I can't activate it.
How did you do it? Did it accept your product key during the installation? Mine didn't, I tried again right after installing and it still doesn't, not even by phone.

This discussion about activating the Volume License (VL) version of WinXP is a little confusing - the VL version of XP does not need to be activated.  The installer gets the key, and that's it - there's no communication with Microsoft.  If the key is valid, the installation is 'activated'.

Microsoft does however blacklist VL keys that it finds have gotten out into the wild.  That blacklisting can occur in a service pack update or via the infamous "Genuine Advantage" check.

There may be some confusion regarding non-VL WinXP keys that you get from MSDN - those keys allow you activate something like 10 times, so they may seem like they're VL keys because they allow for multiple activations.

Note that the volume licensing mechanism for Vista is completely different and requires that a site have infrastructure (ie., a validation service) to support the licensing scheme.

Worse still, the problem I described here regarding the Quick Launch bar and the folder windows not remembering their settings is back. And I haven't used system restore this time, so that's not the culprit.

Has anyone else experienced this before?

OEM validation is different to standard validation. You will need to use the code printed on the base of your computer (on an MS sticker) to install Windows and then you will need to call MS to get it to validate.

The code usually used to validate OEM is built into the BIOS and only works with the OEM disc supplied by the manufacturer.

IOW, I can't use the downloaded image, I must use my slipstreamed disc, made with my OEM CD and the SP3 executable, right?
At least that one allowed validation through the Internet, and since it seems I'll have the Quick Launch problem either way, it's one less thing to worry about.
This will be the third reinstall in three days, I already know my product key by heart 

i've not had to make a purchase myself but...

if you install one of the xp sp3 versions that were mentioned earlier there is an option built in that allows you to buy a valid key from microsoft.

simply install without using a serial.

then go to the windows update website, here you'll have to use the 'windows genuine advantage' thingy.

at this point you will be provided with the option to pay to validate the install - i'm looking at the page now and it says £63.43 for windows xp home.

i think you can purchase oem versions of xp home for a little less than that if you look around (overlclockers.co.uk have it for less than £57).

i'm assuming the same process is available for the pro versions of xp - if not using the volume licensing version.

edit:
the pro version is £95.47 using the above method (overclockers.co.uk pro oem version £89.29)

(also, the oem versions are stated as being sp2 - maybe they've not updated the website to say sp3 or maybe they just don't stock sp3 yet.)

thanks nudone,
OEM versions available on ebay.de quite/very cheap too

For some reason sp3 solved a problem that I had which was whenever i had a lot of harddisk activity my pc stalled more or less. I had the latest drivers installed but the problem wouldn't go away however with sp3 it is finally sorted, which means that some applications / games that trash the HD now start many seconds quicker and system performance has increased generally. YAY

MuvEnum Address Bar is the ultimate replacement for the missing address bar in Windows XP SP3. It recreates the experience of the original address bar with auto-completion while adding many new features that allow you to quickly open webpages, navigate to favorites, start programs, search the internet, and more from you Windows Taskbar!

http://www.muvenum.com/products/freeware/#muvenumaddressbar