WinXP SP2 Without Tears

In this TechBuilder recipe, I'll discuss the pros and cons of updating your customers' and users' Windows XP systems to Service Pack 2. I'll also tell you what to watch for before you begin this upgrade, to help you ensure that the SP2 update installs successfully the first and every time.

The Facts About WinXP SP2

Service Pack 2 is simply Microsoft's most important and significant update to the Windows XP OS. For this reason, installing SP2 is more a question of when, not if. Sooner or later, your customers will most likely be forced to install SP2, due to software or security requirements.

I recommend that you start scheduling SP2 upgrades at your customers and users now. Do it on your schedule. Waiting just increases the odds that all your customers will suddenly need SP2 at the same time!

Many system builders like to wait a few months before installing any major service pack or new OS, so the vendor can work out the bugs. While this is sage advice, SP2 has been available for nearly a year now. The time for waiting is over. The time to install is now.

If you're worried, remember that Microsoft has never released any major updates to either SP1 or SP2 that affected whether the installation would succeed. Nor was either service pack ever recalled or replaced with an update. While Microsoft has released some patches to resolve issues with SP2, these patches require that SP2 be already installed. In other words, the SP2 you'll install today is the same exact code that Microsoft released many months ago. In fact, the only companies that have come out with patches that affect the installation of SP2 are computer hardware manufacturers (with BIOS updates) and third-party software vendors.

For most residential users, there are no real caveats to installing SP2. However, for your business clients, you must evaluate how SP2 interacts with any enterprise software they use. You must also resolve any issues with that enterprise software before you deploy SP2 across the company.

Why SP2 Is So Important

Think of WinXP SP2 as the equivalent of a car's oil change after 3,000 miles of driving. As a driver, rather than wait for your car to break down, you (hopefully) change your car's oil on regular basis. Same thing with your customers' PCs. Failure to update PCs to SP2 means your customers' systems remain vulnerable to worms and viruses. They will continue to become increasingly vulnerable in time as exploits to an unpatched Windows XP continue to be discovered by hackers and malware writers.

Also, SP2 adds several enhanced features to XP that make the OS easier to use and more reliable than ever. Here are just a few of the new enhancements that SP2 provides to Windows XP users:

• A new security center that constantly monitors the status of firewall, anti-virus software and Windows updates.
• A huge improvement to the Windows XP built-in firewall, making it much easier to use. The firewall is now automatically turned on during SP2 installation, assuming it does not recognize any pre-existing firewall software on the PC. Prior to SP2, many PCs could become infected with the Sasser or Blaster worms (among others) during the initial installation of the OS. This could happen even before the desktop appeared for the first time, while connected to the Internet without a router (a common residential configuration).
• Windows Hotfixes are no longer listed in Add/Remove Programs by default. (Many users are confused by those entries and contemplate uninstalling them!)
• The new Add-On Manager in Internet Explorer (IE) makes it easier than ever to remove unwanted toolbars and other browser helper objects (BHOs). This, in turn, reduces the need for third-party software such as HiJackThis to remove those browser nuisances.
• Better protection from Spyware with IE's new Information Bar. Spyware and other sneaky drive-by downloads, as well as user-requested downloads, now require user authorization. The result: Web sites that implement automatic software downloads and installations that occur in the background without user knowledge are a thing of the past.
• Downloaded updates offer to install automatically during the PC's power-off sequence, by default.
• Wireless networking configuration is easier and more reliable.
• Numerous security enhancements to Outlook Express protect your customers' privacy and computers.
• A pop-up blocker has been added to IE, negating the need for third-party software to do this job. ("Free" third-party software can often be a source of spyware or adware itself.)

Tips For a Smooth SP2 Installation

Before you attempt to install SP2, first make sure that the system is clear of all viruses, spyware and other malware. You also want to prevent any unnecessary programs from loading during start-up.

Even if your customer already has anti-virus software installed and kept up to date, it can't hurt to get a second opinion, especially when that second opinion is free. For example, you can visit Trend Micro's HouseCall site to perform a free online virus scan. If any viruses are found, remove them, then reboot the PC, before you attempt to install SP2.

Next, scan for and remove any and all spyware. Once again, this can be done as a completely free process. I recommend using Microsoft's free Anti-Spyware (beta) utility on all XP PCs.

If you're installing SP2 on a laptop, be sure the laptop is plugged in to a wall socket--not running on batteries--during the installation. If a laptop battery should lose its charge before the OS update is complete, the entire system could become unbootable. Luckily, SP2 checks for this. Should you attempt to install SP2 on a laptop running on batteries, you will see the following error message:

If you're upgrading a PC made by a tier-one PC manufacturer, such as Dell, Gateway, or HP, check the manufacturer's support site for known issues with SP2 before starting the installation.

Ensure the PC has at least 1 GB of free space available on its hard disk drive.

Make back-ups of any important data, and close any open programs/applications before starting the SP2 upgrade.

Finally, check to be sure the XP serial numbers on the system are valid and legal. SP2 broadens its awareness of illegally shared XP serial numbers. If the PC you are working on does not have a legitimate XP serial number associated with it, SP2 most likely will not install. Instead, it will display this error message:

SP2 FAQs and Myths

Q: My customers' computers are running just fine. Why risk crashing them by loading SP2?

Don't you change the oil in your car at regular intervals even though the car is running fine? In the same way, SP2 is all about preventing problems in the future.

Q: I read that Microsoft has a long list of software that does not work after SP2 has been installed.

Microsoft has released a relatively short list of software that may "seem" to stop working after SP2 has been installed. Check this Microsoft list to see if your customers have any of the offending programs installed and, if so, what you can do about it.

Q: How can I tell if SP2 is already installed on a PC?

Click on Start, then Run. Then type SYSDM.CPL and click OK. Another easy way to check is simply look at the boot-up splash screen. Pre-SP2 versions of the OS will display "Windows XP Home" or "Windows XP Professional." But if SP2 is already installed, then the screen will simply say "Windows XP."

Here are the startup splash screens before SP2 installation:

And here's the startup splash-screen after SP2 is installed:

Q: I tried installing SP2 once and had trouble. Why would I want to try again?

While there are exceptions to every rule, in the vast majority of cases, when SP2 does not install properly, it's because the user failed to ensure the PC was free of spyware and viruses beforehand. Try again, but this time take more pre-installation precautions.

Q: I've heard that installing SP2 from a CD will increase the odds of a successful installation, compared with receiving it automatically from Windows Update. Is this true?

No, this is false. SP2 is the same service pack, regardless of the package it arrives in.

Q: Is it true Microsoft will mail a SP2 update CD to me for free?

Yes! Microsoft will even absorb the cost of shipping, packing and handling. It is truly free. You can save time and bandwidth (especially over a dial-up modem) by installing SP2 locally. To order a free SP2 CD, visit this Microsoft page.

Q: Can I download SP2 in its entirety to create my own CD?

Yes. But because SP2 takes up 260 MB, this might take a while. If you prefer this option, download the SP2 installation package from this Microsoft page.

Q: Why is SP2 so big?

Because it is cumulative. SP2 contains every update ever released for Windows XP up to the point of its creation. For example, SP1 is no longer available from Microsoft because it is already contained within SP2.

Q: Should I make sure a PC is current with all other Windows updates before attempting to install SP2?

No, this is unnecessary. All previous updates are already included within SP2.

Q: SP2 reports an invalid product key on my customers XP installation and refuses to install. What is the next step I should take?

Please see this Microsoft Knowledgebase Article which answers this question in detail.

Q: My customer's PC is really old. Should I still install SP2?

Yes, assuming the computer runs Windows XP and has at least 1.1 GB of free space on the hard disk drive.

Q: I install SP2 regularly for all of my customers without any problems. Why all the hubbub?

Your guess is as good as mine!

Q: Following the advice of this article, I installed SP2, and my customer is now experiencing computer problems. Should I remove SP2?

No, do not uninstall SP2. Microsoft is currently offering free telephone, online and e-mail support for any SP2 issues. For more details, visit this Microsoft XP support page, and click the "Contact a support professional..." link in the top right corner of the screen.

Carey Holzman is a freelance writer, an instructor at Glendale Community College, a co-host of the nationally syndicated radio talk show Computer America, the owner of a computer-repair business, and the author of The Healthy PC. He enjoys sleeping in his free time.