Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx
WinXP SP2 Release Notes
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;835935
Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 [Download link; XPSP2 Documentation.zip contains all DOCs]
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7bd948d7-b791-40b6-8364-685b84158c78&DisplayLang=en
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Official Release from Microsoft
"On Monday, August 9, 2004, the full network installation package for Windows XP Server Pack 2 will be posted on the Windows XP Service Pack 2 site on Microsoft TechNet (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/winxpsp2). This site is also the best resource for accessing the most up-to-date technical information regarding Windows XP Service Pack 2.
On-line distribution will be the primary distribution vehicle for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and below is a summary of the key milestones of the distribution plan:
8/6 Release to manufacturing [RTM]
8/9 Release to Microsoft Download Center (network installation package)
8/9 Release to MSDN subscription site (CD ISO image)
8/10 Release to Automatic Updates (for machines running pre-release versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2 only
8/16 Release to Automatic Updates (for machines NOT running pre-releases versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2)
8/16 Release to Software Update Services Later in August Release to Windows Update for interactive user installations
Because of the significant security improvements outlined above, Microsoft views Windows XP Service Pack 2 as an essential security update and is therefore distributing it as a "critical update" via Windows Update (WU) and the Automatic Updates (AU) delivery mechanism in Windows. Microsoft is strongly urging customers with Windows XP and Windows XP Service Pack 1-based systems to upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 2 as soon as possible."
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To download SP2 via Windows Update, you will first need to download/install new files needed for the also-new V5 Windows Update Engine. The V5 site http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ will replace the V4 site http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ in the coming weeks. Windows Automatic Update will move users to V5 incrementally, based on a number of factors.
No matter what your Automatic Update settings, SP2 will not install automatically. Users will have to agree to the EULA before installing will begin.
Order WinXP SP2 on CD (free) [Order beginning 25 Aug-04]
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx
The free CD will also be included in numerous computer magazines beginning in Sept-04. Users are free to share the CD (or downloaded Install files copied to CD) with others. You may not post the files on the internet for others.
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~Robear Dyer
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE) since 2002
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com* 08/30/2004
with questions or comments about this web site.
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