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About
once a year, Microsoft releases an update to Windows XP. These updates contain
all the fixes and enhancements that have been made available in the previous
year. The updates (called Service Packs) provide convenient, all-in-one access
to the most up-to-date drivers, tools, security updates, patches, and
customer-requested product changes. The
latest Service Pack for Windows XP—Service Pack 2 (SP2)—is all about
security, and it’s one of the most important service packs ever released. It
provides better protection against viruses, hackers, and worms, and includes Windows
Firewall, Pop-up Blocker for Internet Explorer, and the new
Windows Security Center. When
you install SP2 on your Windows XP-based PC, you can feel confident that you're
running the most secure Windows operating system available. You'll be supported
by innovative features and default safeguards that will increase your overall
security levels significantly. For example: Take
control with Windows Security Center. When it comes to managing your
Windows XP security settings, the new Windows Security Center is your command
central. At a glance, you can monitor your current level of PC protection,
including: firewall status, automatic update settings, and virus protection. Help
protect your PC with Windows Firewall. Turned on by default, the new,
built-in Windows Firewall helps defend your PC against viruses and intruders who
try to access your computer over the Internet. Block
distracting pop-ups in Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Now you can stop most browser windows that Web sites pop up without your
permission, giving you more control and less interruption when you're browsing
the Web. Avoid
harmful communications with improvements to Outlook Express.
E-mail is a great way to share photos, links to interesting articles, and other
attachments. But some attachments contain viruses that wreak havoc on your
system. Outlook Express now supports a new Attachment Manager, which isolates
attachments as you open them. This prevents the opening of unsafe attachments
that can infect your system with a virus or worm. Go
wireless more securely. If you have a wireless network, or if you connect
to the Internet at coffee shops or airports, the improved wireless support
offered in SP2 simplifies the process of discovering and connecting to wireless
networks. In
addition to significant security-related enhancements, SP2 also offers
Microsoft's latest hardware and software innovations. These new drivers and
updates will help you use Windows Media Player, Microsoft DirectX, and emerging
standards such as Bluetooth technologies more safely and effectively. Service Pack 2 can
change how some of your existing programs work, especially programs that use the
Internet. These changes are designed to help protect your PC and your
information. For example, Windows Firewall is turned on by default. What
to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 Due
to the number and type of security features it delivers, Windows XP SP2 is a
significant update. Here are a few tips about the time and computer memory
required to install Service Pack 2, what you'll see as you install it, and what
might change after you install the service pack: 1.
Make
sure you have plenty of hard disk space: You need at least 1.8 gigabytes
(GB) of free space on your hard disk. 2.
Start
your computer and log on as an administrator.
Administrators have complete and unrestricted access to the
operating system and its settings. 3.
Check
your computer for spyware and other unwanted software.
A variety of tools are available
from other companies to detect and remove unwanted software from your computer,
including Spybot, Spy Sweeper or Ad-Aware. 4.
Get the latest manufacturer updates for SP2.
Manufacturer-specific support
information for SP2 might already be available online. We recommend visiting
your PC manufacturer's Web site first and search for any information about SP2
that might apply to your computer. 5.
Get the latest software updates for SP2.
Some programs may not work correctly after SP2 is installed.
Microsoft has two articles which describe problems people have
encountered, and what to do about them. The
first article is “Programs that are known to experience a loss of
functionality when they run on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer” and
can be found at: 6.
Get the latest Windows updates.
It's a good idea to get your
version of Windows completely up-to-date before you install Service Pack 2. Your
computer will have the latest performance-related updates to help ensure a
successful installation and you'll be better protected with the latest security
updates during the process. 7.
Perform a full backup of all your files.
Backing up your files is different from archiving the files used by the service
pack, which is an option that you'll see during the installation process. The
option to archive files enables you to remove the service pack later if you want
to. Use the Backup or Restore Wizard to make a copy of your personal
files, such as your documents, pictures, or digital music. To open the wizard,
click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories,
point to System Tools, and then click Backup. 8.
Create
an Automated System Recovery (ASR). This
helps repair your setup if for any reason the installation fails. (If your
computer is running Windows XP Home Edition, ignore this step; ASR is not
available for Windows XP Home Edition.) For detailed instructions about system
recovery: In Help and Support Center on your computer, read the topics "To
create an Automated System Recovery set using Backup" and "To recover
from a system failure using Automated System Recovery". 9.
Close
all open programs. This
includes your anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-spyware programs.
Now you're ready to download and install Service Pack 2. In Conclusion
Windows XP Service Pack 2 is a
very important update and will significantly improve the security of your
computer. It fixes a lot of bugs
and adds many enhancements. But these improvements come at a
price. The download can be over
250MB in size. It may require
updating your computer’s BIOS and device drivers.
It may require updating or upgrading your software. And in about 8% of the cases in a recent poll, the
installation process corrupted the computer so badly that the hard drive had to
be reformatted and everything reinstalled.
So be sure to back up your data!! If you have any questions about
Windows XP Service Pack 2, please call us at 713-861-4183.
There are several advantages for letting us update your computer for you: ·
We have experience with applying this update on many
computers. ·
We can evaluate your computer to see if it is a good
candidate for a successful installation. ·
We know what to do before applying the update to make sure
it is as successful as possible. ·
We have SP2 on CD so you don’t have to wait to download
it. ·
We know how to fine-tune your computer and network after
installation. ·
And we know what to do if something does go wrong during
the installation process. |