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Archives: Service Pack 2

Information about what's in SP2 and why it's an essential update for anyone running Windows XP.

Yet another reason to install SP2

In the comments to an earlier post, someone noted a screen shot of an ActiveX dialog box that included the “Always trust content from this company” option. He asked the obvious question: Why isn’t there a “Never trust content…” option? Short answer: There is. But only if you’re running the...

Is that Internet Explorer add-on safe?

Internet Explorer supports all sorts of add-ons and extensions. The most popular are Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), browser extensions, and toolbars. If you run Windows XP Service Pack 2, you can view a list of all installed add-ons by choosing Tools, Manage Add-ons. From this dialog box you can enable, disable,...

How long will you survive without SP2?

The folks at Techweb claim that without SP2 or a third-party firewall, your computer will fall to hacker bots in just four minutes: AvanteGarde deployed half a dozen systems in "honeypot" style, using default security settings. It then analyzed the machines' performance by tallying the attacks, counting the number of...

One "so-so" verdict on SP2

Michael Froomkin installs SP2 (partially on the strength of my say-so), and says, So Far, So-So. The results are mixed. The laptop seems a little slower, especially on boot up. And one other change I made at the same time is not working out at all well. Having read all...

Will you puh-leeze install SP2?

Larry Seltzer of eWeek is one of my favorite columnists. His column this week is another gem: So Now Will You Install SP2? Whatever excuses you had just aren't good enough anymore. The problems without SP2 far exceed those from installing it. ... For a very long, long time now,...

SP2 woes? Don't give up

In the Seattle P-I, Dan Richman has written a well-balanced piece on SP2, "Microsoft's SP2: A fix that derails some computers." I'd say the single most important sentence in the story is this piece of advice: Don't give up. The protection it offers is worth the pain it may cause....

Reality Check: Windows Update and SP2

I spend a lot of time reading what other people have to say about Windows. Through the years, I've found that a lot of the most common advice from so-called Windows experts is misleading or flat-out wrong. In Windows XP Inside Out, Second Edition, Carl, Craig, and I directly addressed...

SP2: no performance problems

I often grit my teeth when I read "expert" advice on performance that has no relation to external reality. That's why I was very happy to see one Web site perform a comprehensive set of system benchmarks aimed at answering the question, "Does Service Pack 2 slow you down?" They...

SP2 troubles? Some help...

I've heard from several people about problems they experienced when trying to install Service Pack 2. These are the two most common problems: Your computer freezes while trying to install SP2. This seems to be caused by a specific hardware problem, which is described in this Knowledge Base article: Your...

SP2 problems

In response to my recent post asking why people are waiting to install SP2, Steve Smith writes: On my home system, I installed SP2 not too long after it came out (which has been my practice in the past for other fixes and updates) The install proceeded uneventfully, I rebooted...

Gee, few problems with SP2

CNET News.com reports: A new study released this week from consultant AssetMetrix found that the typical company can expect at least some SP2 compatibility issues on about 10 percent of its machines that run the software. "There will be some, what I would consider, transitory issues," said Steve O'Halloran, managing...

Q&A: SP2 and performance

Reader Mark Roberts asks: "does sp2 make winxp boot slower. I think i am experiencing same. " Mark, I've read hundreds of first-person reports on SP2, and I have not seen any reports of performance problems. In fact, a few people say they think some things are actually faster, and...

Order SP2 on CD

You can now order the Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD. I recommend that you get one of these CDs, even if you already downloaded SP2 and installed it yourself. You can use the "official" CD to install the upgrade on computers belonging to friends and family members who...

The decline of the PC press

I used to be managing editor of PC World, so I think I have some right to say that a story now running on the Today @ PC World blog, Win XP SP2 Halts 15% of Systems, Survey Says is irresponsible nonsense. I don't know where the author went to...

SP2 now on Windows Update?

According to Brian Johnson, Service Pack 2 is now available via Windows Update. If you've been waiting, this is your opportunity. Unlike the full download, the Windows Update version is tailored to your Windows version. It's still large, but it is considerably smaller than the full download. Update: I just...

SP2 rollout delayed

Mary Jo Foley says Microsoft Pushes Back Automatic Delivery of SP2: August 16 was set to be D-day for the automatic delivery of Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). But at the last minute, the Redmond software vendor decided to push back by at least nine days the Windows...

"You need to install SP2. Period."

The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro calls SP2 a Must For XP Users: Individual Windows users bear the same responsibility: If you run XP, you need to install SP2. Period. Loading a system update this big is never risk-free, but the far bigger risk is to keep stumbling along with an...

SP2 links

Leo Nelson has 10 FALs (Frequently Asked Links) on Windows XP Service Pack 2. FAL? That's a new one on me! The links are useful, though. Note to Leo: The page looks fine in IE, but it looks just awful in Firefox. Ironic, given the Word of Firefox logo on...

SP2 and raw sockets

According to security expert Dana Epp, Windows XP SP2 no longer supports "raw sockets": Ok, now this just sucks. One of the 'security additions' added to XP SP2 is the fact that raw sockets are no longer available. Result? Tools like nmap no longer work in their current form. The...

BitTorrent and SP2

A note to new arrivals: This is one of the most popular pages on this site, for some reason. At any rate, if you came here looking for links to download SP2, try this one (or this one, if you prefer a simpler approach). The following is the original post...

How big is SP2?

Samson Joe sends along an excellent question: How big is the SP2 file and how long will it take for me to install it using a dial up connection? When I downloaded SP1, it took me about 2 hrs. If I have my PC set to auto updates and the...

More SP2 reviews

Dwight Silverman of the Houston Chronicle has an excellent Windows XP SP2 guide. His conclusion: "Although downloading and installing an upgrade of the magnitude of Windows XP SP2 is not trivial, it's worth it. The result will be improved peace of mind, and using the Net may actually be a...

SP2 now available for download

The full English-language version of Windows XP Service Pack 2 ("for IT Professionals and Developers") is now available for download. It's huge -- 266 MB, so make sure you have a fast connection to get it. This includes every update for every version of Windows XP. If you have a...

SP2 release notes

835935 - Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 2 Good reading while you wait for the downloads....

SP2 is released

The official notice: Microsoft Releases Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies to Computer Manufacturers: Microsoft Corp. today announced the release to manufacturing of Windows® XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies. This free service pack delivers the latest security updates and innovations from Microsoft, establishes strong...

Still waiting...

No Windows XP SP2 yet. Apparently there was a last-minute glitch that needed to be fixed. Meanwhile, I recommend you check your Automatic Update settings, and make sure it's set to automatically download all Critical Updates. Windows XP will automatically download this big update in the background, without disturbing your...

XP SP2 here soon?

Well, well, well. Microsoft has removed the beta versions of Service Pack 2 for Windows XP from its Web site. The note on the site says they've been removed to make way for the final release. That must mean that Neowin.net was right in its report that the service pack...

Should pirates get SP2?

I bookmarked this column by Bruce Schneier some time ago but am just getting around to discussing it here. It's titled, Microsoft's actions speak louder than words: Initial news stories reported that Microsoft would make this upgrade available to all XP users, both licensed and unlicensed. To me, this was...

Security hysteria

The mainstream media is going nuts over a new security warning. Probably the worst reaction came from Dan Gillmor of the San Jose Mercury-News, who is one of the most reasonable people in the world until he hears the word "Microsoft." In Yet More Microsoft Insecurity Outrages, he quotes a...