Windows XP Service Pack 2 – Are you ready?
By Parrish Reinoehl, Pathfinder Networks
September 2004
By now most all PC users (and even those that do not use a PC) have heard that Microsoft is releasing a major update to their Windows XP operating system. This update is set to be released on August 25. The Service Pack 2 update is not your typical update however. Many I.T. professionals are calling this more of an operating system upgrade than just an update. The installation file alone weighs in at a hefty 266mb (however, your actual file size may be smaller than that if your PC already has all previous Microsoft updates installed). This update focuses primarily on security issues, but does also add some new features and updates other areas of Windows XP.
Before you make the jump and install the update, you need to do some prep work to your PC so things will go smoothly. First and foremost you will need to make absolutely sure your PC is free of viruses. There is hardly a day that goes by that I am not working on a client’s machine only to discover they have been infected by one or more viruses. Many of these PC’s even have antivirus software installed- but the antivirus software has been neglected and either the update subscription ran out ages ago or the automatic update feature was never enabled. Antivirus software is useless unless it is updated regularly (ideally each day). Whatever the case, it is imperative that your PC is completely free of viruses. One simple and free way to check your machine is to use Panda Antivirus’ Active Scan. You can use this free utility by visiting Panda’s website at www.pandasoftware.com and clicking on the Active Scan button on the left side of the home page. It will take a few minutes for the software to download and install. Be sure to have it scan your entire PC. If your antivirus software has expired or you don’t have an antivirus package at all, now is the time to install one. I highly recommend Panda Antivirus Titanium (Pathfinder Networks is an authorized Panda Antivirus retailer).
Once you know your system is free of viruses you will then need to turn your attention to removing all spyware and adware. Spyware and adware are sneaky programs that advertisers use to bombard your PC with things such as pop-up ads and browser redirections (when your web browser goes to a different web page than what you intended). Spyware and adware is typically unknowingly installed when you install “free” software such as Kazaa, Instant Messaging software, web search bars, and even by clicking on a pop-up ad. Many times this adware and spyware cause more problems than a virus would cause, symptoms could be random crashes or error messages, Windows running very slowly, very slow internet speed, pop-up ads, etc. You will need to have all these parasite programs removed before you attempt to update to Service Pack 2. There are a couple free programs that are very useful for removing spyware/adware. These are Lavasoft’s AdAware (www.lavasoftusa.com) and Spy Bot Search and Destroy (www.safer-networking.org). Both are free and are excellent programs. I would highly recommend using both products, as they both seem to find adware/spyware that the other doesn’t locate.
Now that you have your system running in tip-top shape, it is time to turn your attention to your software and web applications. Because of the major changes Service Pack 2 makes, you may find that some of your applications no longer work. By default, Service Pack 2 turns on the Windows XP firewall, adds a pop-up blocker to Internet Explorer, and configures Outlook Express to block possibly unsafe attachments. All of these new “features” are well and good (and are much needed!) but they can very easily cause conflicts with your legitimate applications. Some web pages (such as web mail sites, online banking, etc) may no longer function. You also may not be allowed to receive certain attachments in your Outlook Express email. For the typical home-user they should not experience many problems. Corporate users will likely experience the biggest headaches. Do not despair, however, as there are always tweaks and workarounds to get things working again. Microsoft has posted a webpage showing which programs are known to have problems. You can view the Microsoft article discussing these problems and their workarounds by visiting this site:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242
Most notable in that list are programs such as Autodesk AutoCAD, Macromedia Cold Fusion MX, and Visual Studio .Net. Many engineers and web designers use these programs. Games, such as Electronic Arts Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2 and Unreal Tournament 2003 are also known to have problems with Service Pack 2. Undoubtedly, the producers of this software will release updates to overcome these issues, but you need to be aware of that before you install Windows XP Service Pack 2.
While it may be prudent to delay installing Service Pack 2 for a week or two (especially for corporate users) deciding not to ever install Service Pack 2 would be a very unwise decision. Service Pack 2 was designed to repair most of the security issues with the original release of Windows XP- such as making it harder for virus and spyware producers to infect your machine.
Service Pack 2 will be available from the Windows Update website (you do run Windows Update, right?) after August 25. You can get to the Windows Update page by using the Windows Update program located under Start>All Programs. Or you can go there directly in Internet Explorer by visiting http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
As always, if you have any hesitation or questions about a major update like this, or you can’t seem to clean your system from those nasty viruses and spyware, seek the help of a qualified computer professional such as the technicians at Pathfinder Networks.
About the Author:
Parrish Reinoehl is President of Pathfinder Networks; a Cassopolis based technology consulting firm specializing in providing affordable computer services to small businesses and home users including networks, PC support, sales, and service. Pathfinder Networks can be reached at 269-684-7696 or via email at parrish@pathfindernetworks.us.
Pathfinder Networks website is http://www.PathfinderNetworks.us
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