As I mentioned in below, SP3 for SQL Server 2005 has "gone gold".  There is apparently also a CU1 for SP3 ready, but the KB page isn't resolving at present.

At the same time, CU11 for SP2 has been released.

Argh!.

SP3 is meant to be the combination of previously released hot fixes, like the CUs but with more rigorous testing.

They're just trying to confuse us.  Right?  Or is there more to SP3 than just the hotfixes?

If I need to build a new 2005 box, should I go with SP2+CU11 or SP3+CU1?  

Once all the KB pages start rendering correctly, I'm going to go through and compare the list of what's included i

Somehow, I've managed to kill my laptop. 

Not physically, just the OS (vista).  It gets to the login screen, and then reboots.  I've tried various repair options, and I can't risk an inplace install/restore without first making sure I've got all my data backed up.

Problem is the machine has a 2.5" SATA drive, and I don't have an enclosure that supports that, so I can't just attach the drive to another machine and copy from there.

So I've had to boot into the recovery console, and am copying using Robocopy... 

Woo!  Should be finished by morning I hope...

And then I get to reinstall my OS. And applications.  And data.   Why couldn't it have done it at the end of February when I'd have the option of Server2008 or VistaSP1 to choose from...

I'm just glad I've still got all my data.