Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 Released

[Ideas Man]

Microsoft has now officially released Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 to the general public.

If you are an IT admin or you want the full redistributable, you can get it from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

This is a hefty download at approx 266MB.

If you don't want to download that file, it is highly recommended that you turn Automatic Updates on and allow it to download the updates. The version of Service Pack 2 via Automatic Updates and Windows Update will not be 266MB, rather it will download and install the updates you require which should be < 90MB for most users.

Automatic Updates will not get the update immediatly, rather in a staggered fashion in order to reduce the load on their servers.

If you would rather order the update on CD, you can do it for free from:

N/A

You can now get the express installer for Windows XP Service Pack 2 from here:
http://www.download.windowsupdate.co...7e24208bde.exe
This will only download the required updates for your computer and is usually < 90 MB

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 is now also available on Windows Update (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com)


Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 for IT Professionals:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../winxpsp2.mspx

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 for Home Users:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Centre

http://support.microsoft.com/default...];windowsxpsp2

[Ideas Man]

Also, I'd recommend that an admin pin this if possible, so as many people are aware of it and get it.

[Pc_Madness]

XPSP2 will be released on Windows Update by the end of August. However....alot of people have installed it and had the systems totally dead afterwards, so I suggest waiting and making sure you backup important file first.

[mendhak]

What's the difference between IT Professionals and Home Users? I'm an IT Professional, but if I want it for home, which one do I choose?

[Ideas Man]

Well, the IT pros would download the network version so they can install it on many computers easily. If you have broadband, download it. The difference is that the Network Installation version is the full redistributable version so it's the biggest, whereas for home users, if they let Automatic updates or Windows Update install the update, it only installs the updates they require hence it's smaller, but not in redistributable form.

[<ABX]

With the network version you can also supports slipstreaming.
(Making a disk so that it installs sp2 when it installs windows)

[dglienna]

two failures in as many days.

install if *necessary*

[Pc_Madness]

Whats this about XPSP2 limiting TCP-IP Connections?!

[dis1411]

the worst thing you can do is turn on automatic updates and just wait for it...

[Ideas Man]

I have now added a link to the express installer for all the users out there that do not want to download the full redistributable. The express installer only downloads the required updates for your computer.

[dglienna]

still think I'll wait until all of the bugs are ironed out.
it may be an issue if it gets picked up automatically, because the only option will be 'details' or 'install now'
i may have to do it then...

[Ideas Man]

I've installed it on 150+ computers, all run very fine. Dunno what's wrong with you peoples computers

[NicoNel2000]

I use Cygwin Bash Shell, and that's one application that does not work on XP with SP2 yet.

So guess if there's one, there will be more......

Carefull there!

[dglienna]

I saw it available for download today on the Windows Update Website. Still waiting for it to show up automatically, though.
I clicked to download it a week ago, and the icon disappeared from my taskbar. when it appears i will install it.