Topic: Windows XP SP1 / SP2

[Simon]

Here's a quickie!  If you were re-installing Windows XP, would you also need to re-install BOTH SP1 and SP2, or does SP2 also contain the updates from SP1?

[TR]

SP2 contains everything you need Simon  

[TR]

Just found this Simon  

First things first, what is a service pack?

Put simply, a service pack (SP) is an update to a software version that fixes an existing (collection of) problem(s) , such as a bug(s). SP's include and supercede all previously available fixes (including those in earlier service packs).

What does this mean to you?

This means that no matter what version of Windows XP you currently have whether it's SP1, SP1a, or even none at all, SP2 includes everything that they have, plus all patches that have been produced since SP1, as well as the new fixes which are part of SP2.

Overview:

SP2 is a major milestone for XP. Not only does it fix a lot of the well documented flaws, it also provides some much needed new features (before XPSP2 MS was against providing new features in service packs, concentrating instead on fixing bugs & enhancing security.)

Features

The service pack includes all previously released patches, hotfixes, critical updates & service packs.



New Security Centre
The new Security Centre is the first thing you will encounter once you install SP2, and with very good reason. From here you can control and review your entire security set-up. It can detect the status of your firewall and anti-virus, as well as report your Windows Update settings.


Windows Firewall
The Windows Firewall is the replacement for Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) which was originally included with XP. Once you install SP2, it is turned on by default, and you will be able to see that from the Security Centre. The new firewall benefits from a new and easier to use interface, and the mere fact that it is turned on by default will protect a lot of users who would have been otherwise unaware that they were at risk.


Pop-up blocker
An Internet Explorer specific enhancement, the Pop-up blocker is also turned on by default. The blocker works well, displaying a discreet 'Gold Bar' at the top of the browser window to inform you.


Automatic Updates / New Windows Update site (v5)
When you install SP2 the first thing you are asked to do is configure Automatic Updates. The options have been enhanced and work hand in hand with the new v5 Windows Update, giving you more control over what you are offered, what is installed and when the installation and subsequent reboot (if necessary) will occur. Microsoft have also developed 'Delta installation' which means that should you suffer a broken connection during your update downloading, once you reconnect it will start from where it left off saving you downloading it all again.


Data Execution Prevention (DEP)
Data Execution Prevention has been introduced which prevents malicious code from running on your system. This takes advantage of the NX (No eXexcute) capabilities of the latest 64-bit processors which include this function within their hardware providing enhanced security.


New networking features
As well as the new Windows Firewall providing enhanced security MS have included:
Wireless Provisioning Services (WPS), which extends the wireless client software already included with XP to allow for automatic configuration when connecting to publicly available wireless networks. WPS is designed to make subscribing to any number of Wireless ISP's a uniform process.
Peer-to-Peer Networking, an alternative to client-server networking. A network of peers is scalable, directly accesible and can share content, resources and processor from any point in the network. It uses Microsoft TCP/IP version 6 network transport protocol.
There have also been updates to IPv6, in the form of integration of the IPv6 ICF into the Windows Firewall, and the inclusion of Teredo, also known as IPv6 NAT traversal.
Bluetooth support has been enhanced, including driver updates and a control panel applet


Windows Media Player/DirectX
Windows Media Player gets some security updates (although Windows Media Player 10 is currently in beta testing, it won't be released as part of the service pack). DirectX9.0c is included which delivers better performance with the latest graphics cards & drivers.

[Simon]

Well, I thought it probably did.  It was just something which crossed my mind.