Service Pack II for Windows XP

I take it back about saving the SP2 installation file to your hard drive when it downloads.

Having overcome my cowardliness and just downloaded and installed SP2 myself, I wasn't presented with a way to save it anywhere myself.

So, my apologies for suggesting you should do that.

Mark

Hi Mark!

If you do not have a backup copy of SP-2 you can download the full file here... then burn to CD. This will serve in lieu of a Microsoft CD in case of an emergency and need to install SP-2 again.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049c9dbe-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

Just a thought for you and others with a similiar problem.

Glenn

Ahh, excellent Glenn.

Many thanks. I was looking for that link.


Mark

Mark, you will need something other than dial-up to get that file... it is quite large and larger than the auto download. I suppose they trimmed it down to accomodate most people with slower speed access. My brother got it first and passed along to me. It was used to install SP-2 on my computer and I have never had a problem.

Cheers!

Glenn

Back when I was still using my Win98 comp, I downloaded SP2 on dialup. Of course I used DAP, which I've since removed from my new WinXP comp.

I did it over several days but never used it since the free CD came from MS.

I later received the Microsoft CD (two of them) but have never used them. I did make a Slipstream CD incorporating XP plus SP-2 in one CD. If ever there is a calamity I will get to try it out.

Glenn

I too received two CDs. I never found out if the downloaded version was ok which is fine by me.

William

I have a cable connection and have used P2P file transfer programs in the past, (I hasten to say, not Kazaa), so I understand what downloading large files is like.

But perhaps ordering the CD would be a far simpler solution as has been suggested. Especially as now I have SP2 installed and running smoothly there is less haste involved.

Good suggestions all, thanks.

Mark

1) I have dial-up. It the only option available to me where I live.

2). I have a short-cut on my desktop that I click on to open my ISP and then click on connect.

3). I don't know what my ISP's download policy is.

4). Networks Connections states it is "empty". The connection does not reappear later.

5). If I want to be able to have a "connection" to my ISP I have to uninstall SP II so that my system returns to it's previous state before I tried to install SPII.

6). My automatic updates keeps reminding me that I need to update and install SPII.

7). SPII is saved, I just can't install it without losing access to my ISP connection.

From everything I've read it sounds like I should order the CD, so I have. Hopefully, I'll have better luck downloading from the CD than I've had using the automatic update. Thanks.

I agree that is your best thing to do. I also have a couple of Microsoft links that you can check out if you'd like that may give you a solution to your problem. Hope this helps.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/winxp

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/windowsxpsp2

Sounds like when you receive the CD you're still going to have problems. You don't download from a CD but copy to the hard drive the information on the CD.
And, depending on the firewall or multiple of them, you're going to have problems. It's just like having three different anti-virus programs on your computer. They think each other is a virus so they fight each other all the time, making your computer nearly useless or completely useless. Having three firewalls may sound like a good thing but it just ain't. I use the default firewall in SP2, have it low-medium, and have blocked most of those incoming messages (spam) that I don't want. The more you junk it, the more SP2's firewall recognizes it as junk and then blocks it. I use only one anti-viral, AVG by Grisoft. It works fine and all that. I used to use Norton Suite and may do so again when AVG runs out. But, and this is a big but for those of you who don't know much about reged, you have to tell the hard drive it's non-operable anymore by deleting it from your registry. It's hard and one thing to remember is that your hard drive now knows that it isn't to be used. But it will never leave your hard drive. Every, and I mean every, thing ever put there stays there. That's how they caught the Enron people, the brokers, etc. Forensic computer scientists, like any other forensic scientist, can get the computer to pull the information back to the front. It's still there. Anyway when you install SP2, lower the built-in firewall, don't leave it on default, and voila, bet your ISP shows up. And the more you tell the service that something is junk the more things will be blocked.

It may not be able to destroy everything, or stop the most determined attackers - but data wiping, especially Gutmann-style (35 pass), will most likely make life difficult for anyone looking at a drive. Not that they couldn't get *something* - I'm sure that the wiping programs for an active system will leave *some* traces, and with enough time, money, and a Tunneling Electron Microscope.... you get the idea.

Note that I'm not recommending anyone use such a program for illegal purposes, because 1.) That'd be morally wrong, 2.) It *may* (not a lawyer here) be Obstrution of Justice, and 3.) In the case of a criminal case, there's a good chance something will be left, esp. on an active system... so don't do anything stupid.

I certainly would recommend that anyone disposing, giving away, selling, etc. a computer which has an operable hard drive use a disk wipe though... I've read a few horror stories of people that didn't. Do a little Googling and you may find out what I mean.

Jeff

Jeff,

I am thinking about selling my laptop, what software would you recommend me using to wipe my drive but still retaining my harddrive so I don't have to reinstall the OS?

-Jason

I have downloaded SP2 and installed/uninstalled it several times. Every time I install it I lose my Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Outlook, and System Restore. I consider myself VERY computer literate, but I can't find a fix. Have searched extensively!

THe clue is the disappearing DUNS connectivity. If RPC is okay in your services stack - Look first in your administrative tools, event log to see which failed, but RAS gives you a error 5 access denied, then you need to look at this Microsoft KB link:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330163

You probably tried to do a system restore to a point prior to a post SP1 update auto download patch point. This will cause this error unless you downloaded a 650K patch from about mid 2002. From memory I think it was Q39441. You'll have to check. Worst case is to use your XP CD to do a repair. Boot from CD, access repair. Most of you stuff except for a few things in document and settings will be okay, even if you haven't backed up.

Ed,

I believe you are.

SP2 provides greater protection against the things that are out there that want to make your internet surfing difficult and painful.

It provides updated security for Internet Explorer, (IE). Not the most favorite internet browser on these forums, but a necessary evil. Security patches for IE may not be available for non-SP2 computers in the future.

It provides a Security Centre which recognises whether you have any firewall installed "other" than the WIndows XP SP2 internet firewall, (Windows XP's own firewall). And it warns you if this other firewall is turned off, so you have the XP one as back-up for any reason. The new XP firewall is better than the pre SP2 one.

It provides, through the Security Centre, recognition of the Anti-Virus, (AV) program you have installed, and warns you when the AV's virus definitions need updating. If you have no AV, it suggests you get some.

All in all, it is a worthwhile upgrade. But, before anyone upgrades, they must "housekeep" their computer first.

Have a look at this post I did awhile ago for another person. His problem was complicated, and he resolved it different ways, but the steps I listed there are still valid, in my view.

The post is at;
http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6142-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=46283&messageID=550557

In short, you must be completely prepared to accept SP2, and I think you have little choice but to download and install it.

Good luck,

Mark