how safe is softwarepatch.com for downloads

[bawldiggle]

I recently had to buy a new flatbed scanner (for Autocad).
To use the new scanner I have a program (disc) that will not install on my one-and-only-Win-XP-sp1 rig.
- the rig (like several others) is not internet connected (for contractual reasons)
- my other rigs are Win7 (no problems)

The problem is XP-SP1, the scanner software requires SP3.
I have downloaded SP2 and SP3 from softwarepatch.com ... but the file sizes are way beyond the capacity of VT (VirusTotal) ... and softwarepatch.com do not supply hash strings (that I can find!).

Bitdefender and Malwarebytes (I have) do not always detect possible threats in VT.
- (I know that VT is not perfect. False positives.)

Is softwarepatch.com a safe source for legacy software ?
If not where might I find a safe source ?
- certainly not "Softonics" nor "CNet" ... I tried them just to reduce the boredom. :devil:

 

[maxie]

Hi there .. Have never used that Website so cannot say if it is bad or good .. But you should be able to get it from Microsoft Download Center is in the Link below ...

Learn how to install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) - Windows Help

 

[bawldiggle]

Thank you Maxie for your prompt reply

I tried MS yesterday but all MS avenues are dead ends ... ie, XP no longer supported.
So I spent several hours searching for SP2 and SP3
- there are a lot of high risk offers out there (SP2:- Softonics 358KB when the softwarepatch.com is 266MB)
- and VT scan result for softonic offering was 12/53 ... 12 potential threats
- softonic SP2 download page lists their "extras" ... No thanks, I don't trust their cloud installs !
- AND my PC cannot be connected to the internet

The only service pack MS have available is ...
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers

- all the XP links on Service Pack and Update Center - Microsoft Windows bare no fruit, except to update to Win-8.1
- MS don't "tidy up" their help pages either, following links and one ends up at "XP no longer supported"

 

[Layback Bear]

Is this any help?

Download Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers from Official Microsoft Download Center

 

[maxie]

Is this any help?

Download Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers from Official Microsoft Download Center

Yes the Link is not dead still works just tried it

 

[bawldiggle]

Humble Pie

Thank you Maxie and Layback Bear for your persistence and advice
- I am eating humble pie as I type.

microsoft.com Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers ...
... has the identical HASH string as the ...
softwarepatch.com Win-XP SP3
- what threw me was the Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers ...
- I assumed the two sources were different files.

I used Winhasher© tool to create Win-XP SP3 (SHA-256) hash string to compare both downloads ...

62e524a552db9f6fd22d469010ea4d7e28ee06fa615a1c34362129f808916654

» Winhasher is no longer available from Google Project Hosting
» BUT I did track it down to Winhasher Home Page
​

To answer my original enquiry in the OP ... I think SoftwarePatch.com can be trusted

-----------
UPDATING ?
-----------
I only have XP SP1 installed (not XP SP1a)
So I assume I need to install XP SP2 before I can install XP SP3
- somewhere during my search I read that SP3 can ONLY be installed over SP1a (but not SP1)
- otherwise SP2 over SP1 then SP3 over SP2 ... and reboot between each step

I really appreciate the help you have given me on the XP heart-transplant
- I already have a Win-7 disc ready to be clean installed ... all I need is the time to upgrade to Win7

 

[Layback Bear]

Good luck and let us know how it all comes out for you.

My understanding is that Microsoft will not issue new patches for XP but the old patches will still work.

I'm some what puzzled why SP-3 wasn't install ages ago.

 

[A Guy]

I have not used SoftwarePatch for many years, but it was a go to site for XP downloads. You can always scan the site with VT as well



https://www.virustotal.com/en/url/6...231c6b5f7db76767df4374ee/analysis/1409477280/

A Guy