Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
More on XP SP2
THIS PERTAINS to the article Time to tweak your Windows (MetroPlus, Sept. 6, 2004). Here are some more facts regarding Windows XP SP2.
Microsoft releases consolidated updates, called Service Packs (SP), to Windows XP about once a year. These updates contain all the fixes and enhancements made available the previous year and 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) provides better protection against viruses, hackers, and worms, and includes Windows Firewall, Pop-up Blocker for Internet Explorer, and the new Windows Security Center. At www.microsoft.com a number of reasons are given as to why SP2 should be installed under popular downloads. Incidentally, you can install the SP2 (like SP1) only if you have a genuine and registered Windows XP intalled in your system. SP2, about 280 MB, need not be loaded at one go. If the Automatic Updates is enabled (Start {gt} Control Panel {gt} Automatic Updates {gt} Automatic Radio Button Checked), then whenever one goes on the Net, the SP is downloaded in the background, over a period of time, which may be a few days. Also, depending on the individual system and based on the patches and updates already installed only what is required is downloaded and installed. Like in my experience, about 70 MB of download was required. Though Microsoft strongly recomends that SP2 be installed at the earliest, the opinion seems to be divided. Internet gurus like Fred Langa (www.langa.com) advise a wait-and-watch approach. In my personal experience, there is an overall vast enhancement and improvement to my system but for the fact that the pop-up blocker integerated into Internet Explorer blocked my latest account position that used to pop up whenever I connect to the Internet on VSNL. Of course, it is possible to have our own choices and change the default settings of SP2. (Start {gt} Control Panel {gt} Windows Firewall / Security Center {gt} and choose whatever you want.) One can always uninstall SP2 and go back to previous state if the changes appear to be too confusing. Finally, it is not necessary that you have to get SP2 only by downloading on the Internet or have to buy some expensive magazine to get the free CD which carries this SP. Microsoft offers SP2 CD for free. You can order your free CD at www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx by giving your e-mail ID apart from your name and address. The icing on the cake is that Microsoft "encourages you to give this CD to a friend or family member using Windows XP".
Bellie Jayaprakash
bjaypee@hotmail.com
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