Yes you can and in my current system from which I am writing this reply,
I have done exactly that. From Dell branded XP gold TO SP3. [I did not
bother with SP1 (I still have a copy of this !!!) or SP1a or SP2]. My
system is as fast and smooth as I expected it to be! I have seen no
problems what so ever thus far.

The only difference of doing this way is that when you perform a clean
install using this CD/DVD (as I did), you will need to provide your
windows serial number before installation can proceed. However, if you
slipstream SP2 first then SP3, the new CD/DVD will not ask you for your
windows serial number at the time of installation and you need to supply
this within 30 days or you would be locked out.

There is some doubt in the minds of people who don’t understand the
meaning of word “Installation” as used in MS documents. MS documents
says that you need either SP1, SP1a or SP2 before you can install SP3.
This is quite true but this does not apply to slipstreaming as you are
not “INSTALLING” anything here!. You are just integrating it to your
Windows share.

hth



WMB wrote:

>Hello, I have my original Windows disk. XP (Gold) and a download of SP3. The
>download is 316MB and identified as a Self-Extracting Cabinet, Windows-Kb
>936929. Can I slipstream this SP3 & my XP(Gold) to create a bootable Windows
>XPSP3 install CD? I'll be using nLight or Autostreamer for the slipstream
>process. Is there something I have to do with the SP3 download before
>slipstreaming it to my XP?
>
>Thanks for any help
>
>
>
>