SQL Server 2000 SP3a Available for Download

Microsoft has released SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3a (SP3a) to address specific issues discovered in SQL Server 2000 since its ship date. Because SQL Server service packs are cumulative, SP3a includes all fixes from SP1, SP2, and SP3. However, if you've applied SP3, Microsoft says you don't need to apply SP3a. SP3a is only for SQL Server users who haven't applied any versions of SP3. However, you should use SP3a rather than SP3 moving forward because it does the following:

   * Improves serviceability for SQL Server 2000 Evaluation Edition. SP3a enables service-pack upgrades for trial software. In the past, service packs haven't been applicable to trial software.

   * Includes a new version of Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) version 2.71a. This version fixes the installation of MDAC files and a memory leak. Microsoft articles "FIX: SQL Server Does Not Start and an Access Violation Occurs After You Install SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3" ( http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=814572 ) and "FIX: Performance Degradation and Memory Leak in the SQL Server ODBC Driver" ( http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=814410 ) address these problems.

   * Disables listening on port 1434 when networking is disabled. This feature provides further protection from Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.

You can install SP3a to an original installation or to one where SP1, SP2, or SP3 was previously applied.

   http://www.microsoft.com/sql/downloads/2000/sp3.asp