Installing Windows XP Service Pak 2
Overview:
Windows XP service Pak 2 is necessary if you have Windows XP. You will end up downloading it and installing it by accident if you do not do it on purpose, so you might as well be prepared and do it. The time has essentially arrived.
Most of the problems are in a limited number of areas and can be dealt with, but one consultant reported "After using the CD, the system wouldn't boot. Frozen blue bar, safe mode etc. hung at mup.sys". He found that there is a patch from Microsoft which should be installed first http:⁄⁄www.microsoft.com⁄downloads⁄details.aspx?FamilyID=9b99c199-5d75-454f-ae07-b620727be8d8&DisplayLang=en and according to Microsoft it affects "a limited number of systems running a BIOS without production support for Intel Pentium 4 and Intel Celeron D processors based on Prescott C-0 stepping can potentially hang on Windows XP Service Pack 2 installation." I have not been able to determine a way to tell if particular computers will be affected prior to seeing if they get destroyed. It seems likely it is a very small enough number that it would not be a good idea to install this patch on all machines as a precaution but I am not sure.
If you have a laptop or otherwise non-standard machine, be sure and check with your manufacturer. For example, Toshiba has found 25 separate issues that relate to their laptops. Three applied to the particular Toshiba Laptop I was preparing to upgrade. It required two separate patches from Toshiba to be installed prior to the upgrade as well as instructions on how to handle the other problem.
Essentially what they are saying is that if you have a Linksys wireless router you must turn off Windows management of your network router and use their software instead.
The major problems are with firewalls, wireless networking, active X controls, and virus protection. All these must be checked before attempting an upgrade. For the brave, here are the steps. For the rest of you, I'll be glad to do it for you, but there is risk.
1. Get the CD!
By now, most of you should have the cd from microsoft. If you do not, then get it from here:
http:⁄⁄www.microsoft.com⁄technet⁄prodtechnol⁄winxppro⁄maintain⁄winxpsp2.mspx
Or snipped: http:⁄⁄snipurl.com⁄5hny
Do not do a huge major operating system upgrade over the Internet.
2. Prepare yourself by doing the preliminary work.
If you are using any unusual hardware or a wireless network, or a laptop, check with the hardware vendors for you router, laptop, or wireless card. Make sure you are using the latest version of your antivirus and you are using the latest version of your firewall software. ZoneAlarm requires version 5.1 or higher. Nod32 requires version 2.12.1 or better. I know the latest EZ antivirus is ok with SP 2, and I know some version have trouble.
3. Backup all your data twice.
After backing up, check your backup and make sure it is good.
4. Turn off your software firewall.
Then set your firewall not to start when Windows starts.
5. Install SP2 and reboot
6. Shut down your system, wait a minute and turn it on again.
7. Turn off Microsoft's lame firewall and turn ZoneAlarm or whatever software firewall you use back on.
- Open Control Panel
- Open the Network Connections folder,
- Right click the desired connection, and click Properties.
- Click the Advanced tab, then
- Uncheck Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet.
- Then run your real firewall program and reset it to start when Windows starts.