|
|
|
Service Pack Two for Windows XP is coming by the End of August!
Table of Contents
What is Windows XP Service Pack Two (SP2)?
Service Pack Two is a major upgrade to Windows XP that includes:
Improvements to the Windows XP Firewall.
Improvements to Internet Explorer. This includes a pop-up blocker and other security features.
Improvements to Windows Update, especially important for dial-up modem users.
Improvements to Outlook Express security.
Installing Windows XP Service Pack Two
There can be problems when you install Service Pack Two. To help you through this potentially difficult installation Microsoft has a web page devoted to installing SP2. It is mostly made up of links to further information and includes sections on:
Step-by-step: How to install SP2. This includes a sub-section on how to use automatic recovery if the SP2 installation doesn't complete.
Troubleshooting your SP2 installation. This includes a sub-section on what to do if your computer doesn't start normally after installing SP2.
Microsoft's "Installing Windows XP Service Pack Two" page is at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;ln;xpsp2getinstall
Potential Problems for On-Campus Staff and Faculty
Few people should be affected, but if you run software that requires contact to be made to your computer from another networked computer, the new firewall may not allow the connection. If this happens to you there is more information, including how to turn the firewall off, here:
Working with the Windows XP Service Pack Two Firewall
If a program stops working after installing Service Pack Two you should contact your local computing support staff even if you turn off the firewall off by yourself. They will determine if the program can work with the firewall turned on.
SP2 is BIG! What if I use a dial-up modem?
Service Pack Two is expected to take at least three hours to download using a dial-up modem if you go to the Windows Update web site and manually download it. The SFSU modem pool has a two hour time limit. If you want to update to SP2 for Windows XP using the SFSU modem pool you must use automatic updates. If you have automatic updates turned on, SP2 downloads in the background and does not need to completely download during one session on the Internet. If the download didn't complete it will pick up where it left off the next time you connect to the Internet.
There are alternatives.
- Microsoft has given Service Pack Two installation CD's to the university for distribution to students who use dial-up modems. You can get a Service Pack Two installation CD at the Division of Information Technology's walk-in Helpdesk Center in ADM 110. Please DO NOT pick up an installation CD if you have a DSL or Cable Modem connection. Please DO share your disk with friends who also use a dial-up modem. We do not have an unlimited number of installation CD's.
- You can order a free Windows XP SP2 installation CD here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx
Automatic Updates, why should I use it?
Microsoft recommends that you turn on Automatic Updates and has links to help you do this on their Windows XP SP2 home page. There are two reasons to use automatic updates. First, critical updates (including SP2) are downloaded as soon as they are available. Second, the download takes place in the background. Unlike manual downloads, background downloads do not have to complete during a single session on the Internet. The next time you connect to the Internet the download picks up where it left off. This is especially important if your Internet connection is through a dial-up modem.
Many computers, on campus and off, already use Automatic Updates. If your computer does it will download SP2 in the background, tell you that you have updates waiting to be installed, and ask if you want to install now. To "install now" you MUST be logged in as an administrator. If Automatic Updates is set both to download and to install updates automatically, and you choose not to install now, then SP2 will install automatically at a pre-scheduled time. You do NOT need to be logged in as an administrator if you choose the pre-scheduled installation. Installing SP2 can take half an hour or more on older computers and requires shutting down and restarting the computer to complete.
If your computer has not been using Automatic Updates and you've just enabled it, you must manually install currently available critical updates. Automatic Updates only finds new updates, not updates that exist when it is first turned on. To manually install currently available critical updates open Internet Explorer then select "Windows Updates" from the Tools menu. Refer to DOIT's Windows Update web page if you need instructions.
http://www.sfsu.edu/~helpdesk/windowsupdate
There's More...
Microsoft has a thorough description of Service Pack Two on their web pages that you should read. This is a major upgrade, don't be taken by surprise!
Microsoft's Windows XP SP2 Home Page
HOMESite Home | What We Do | Help Desk | Account Services | Software | Hardware | Network
Telephone Services | Training | Computer Labs | Web Publishing | Policies | Sitemap | Contact Us
Last Modified: 17 August 2004
doit@sfsu.edu