It's taken a long time to reach an official release, but the Service Pack 3 for Windows XP is now available and includes many vital updates to this operating system.

You can install by using Windows Update; the download will only include the software needed by your computer, taking less time to download. However, the alternative is to download the complete pack - provided here - particularly if you need to install across multiple computers.

Service Pack 3 includes beefed up security and a few kernel issues/fixes that should help XP battle against the latest threats.

Apart from the security fixes and other updates, do not expect many new features. Install this Service Pack and you may notice no differences at all. However, it may offer your machine a slight speed increase, so it's always worth making sure you have the latest system files for your PC.