In the past, I formatted 2 older computers, and I noticed that the game would not start anymore after updating from SP2 to SP3, citing some graphical error in a white box. It may have something to do with some redistributable service 3.0 or something like that. I have now updated a newer computer, still with windows XP, up to SP2, but am unsure about upgrading it to SP3 because of the above. Is this a common problem, has anyone else experienced this, and should I go for the update?
I just formatted the computer and I don't feel like experimenting and restoring backwards if I have to.
It's probably just you, or the fact that SP3 does not work well with your video card's drivers.
I'd update to SP3, update whatever Windows Update offers, manually update your graphics card driver, then install the game.
What is your graphics card, by the way?