Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) Release Candidate (RC) version has been upgraded from v.3244 to v.3264. With the new release, Microsoft has also distributed German and Japanese language edition of XP SP3 in addition to English edition.

The service pack includes all previously released updates for the operating system, including about 90 updates or hotfixes that are released after Service Pack 2 (SP2). A few new functionalities that are part of Windows Vista are also been introduced, including support for Microsoft’s Network Access Protection security technology, Microsoft Kernel Mode Cryptographic Module, Black Hole Router detection algorithm and most significantly, new ‘keyless’ activation scheme which does not require product key to be entered during installation.

XP SP3 RC can be downloaded from KB936929, or you can use the direct download links from Microsoft server.

English: windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu.exe
German: windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-deu.exe
Japanese: windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-jpn.exe

Newer test build for Windows XP SP3 RC Refresh 2 v.3282 has been leaked.