The Windows XP Service Pack 2 patch package has been officially released. Many friends may be unfamiliar with Windows XP's latest system patch Service Pack 2 (hereafter referred to as SP2). I will talk about my installation process and experience. Starting from XP SP2, MS has produced countless internal test versions, and all the online test versions are released on the Internet. From the first Chinese version of the internal test, to the later RC1 RC2 RTM2179 RTM2180, I have upgraded all the installations and used it all the time. It should be said that there is a little bit of it. Let me write it out to share with you. One: Windows XP Service Pack 2 What brings us Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), which establishes reliable default security settings for users' computers, effectively protecting computers from hackers, viruses and other security issues. At the same time, Windows XP SP2 has added a lot of new features to provide users with more colorful computing experience. The release of Windows XP SP2 indicates that the security of the Microsoft operating system has entered a new phase of "active protection." For more details, please click here and here to enter the official page of MS. Two: About the current version of the downloadable version and version number on the Internet
From August 7th, there is Windows XP SP2 CHS RTM2180 {no digital signature} this version download, as far as I know, the earliest release is SSITE , Pioneer and PCHome these 3 websites. Almost released simultaneously. The download size of the patch pack is 270MB. However, after the MS officially opens the update, the SP1 upgrade installation from the SP1 installation will be around 100MB. Regarding the version number, MS development is generally Mile Stone -> Beta 1-> RC -> ; RTM. Beta: Beta, the version of this phase will always add new features. RC (Release Candidate): The biggest difference between the release candidate version and the Beta version is that the Beta stage will always add new features, but in the RC version, almost no new features will be added, and instead of focusing on debugging, RC1 represents Release the first edition of the candidate. RTM (Release to Manufacturing): Manufacturing means manufacturing. It takes a while to form, package and distribute before the retail store is officially put on shelves. Therefore, the program code must be completed some time before the official release. After the development of the program code, the master chip is sent to the factory for a large number of compression. This version is called the RTM version. Therefore, the RTM version of the program code must be the same as the official version. However, it is different from the official version: for example, the OEM in the official version cannot be upgraded, and the upgraded version will check the old operating system CD if it is newly installed. These are the different places of RTM and the official version, but their main program code. all the same. That is to say, the Windows XP SP2 CHS RTM2180 installed on the Internet is now the same as the officially released SP2. There is no difference in function: There are some intuitive changes after installing SP2. SP2 rewrites a lot of system program code to increase the security of the system and add new functions, but many changes are not experienced by ordinary users and rookies. Oh, I only talk about what changes have been made intuitively. 1: Windows Security Center, this security center will pop up automatically after installing SP2 reboot. It provides a unified view covering all key settings and security tools, simplifying security resource management tasks. For firewalls, anti-virus software, automatic updates and other automatic detection related to the protection of PC security programs, such as your automatic update does not open it will prompt you, the firewall is not turned on will prompt and so on. Very practical. 2: Strong Windows Firewall, it installs Windows Firewall by default after installing SP2. SP2 comes with Windows Firewall which is an excellent personal firewall. Therefore, if it is for personal use, I think it is no longer necessary to install other firewalls. Since SP1, there is no other firewall. To be honest, Windows XP comes with a good firewall, like the online Trojan virus can intercept. Of course, the XX that intends to invade your PC can't be stopped. The firewall that comes with it can't stop it. Any other civil firewall can't stop it. The difference between good and bad is just the time used to invade your PC's XX. Who needs to be a little longer. 3: Internet Explorer controls the pop-up window. This function is very practical. In the past, when the webpage was popped up, the pop-up advertisement window can use some small software that shields the advertisement. This SP2 integrates this function, which provides very user-friendly settings. Also very good, in recent days, the online advertising star {Taobao.com} is also a killing innocent. 4: IE browser plugin management, new features allow you to easily uninstall some useless IE browser plugin. In the Tools - IE Options - Programs item, there is an additional Manage Add-ons button that opens up to intuitively tell you that IE has loaded those plugins, you can use them, disable and update these ActiveX plugins. (Not all can be updated~) 5: Automatic update function, with the improved dialog box and more efficient download service make the automatic update function easier to use. When you turn on automatic update auto-update, it will display a small icon in the task bar in the lower right corner. Hovering over it will have Windows downloading available updates, you can work properly and other prompt text. The speed at which web pages were opened during the download update did not change significantly. There is nothing wrong with large graphics software such as Photoshop. There is no running down, and the situation of stagnation is suspended. 6: Attachment Manager helps protect against computer viruses spread through Outlook Express, Windows Messenger, and Internet Explorer 7: Internet Explorer download alerts, alert you to download resources that may be potentially harmful, and allow you to block unsolicited Programs and code, if a website attempts to download a program to your computer without your authorization, Internet Explorer in Windows XP SP2 will use the information bar to notify you. In order to inform you, the information bar will be displayed, and then disappear when you go to another page, such as 3721 groom point and other IE plug-ins, if you do not want to install, you have three options 1 installation 2 never install 3 I will ask later. After you choose 2, you can open this page and it will not bother you. 8: There is a small option in Windows Add and Delete. After you check it, you can know that you have updated those programs, which is very convenient. 9: After installing SP2, the XP startup screen has changed! When SP1 was used, the black background appeared after the machine was booted, and the Microsoft Windows XP Professional logo appeared in the middle! After installing SP2, it turned into a black background, and only a Microsoft Windows in the middle. XP logo, PROFESSIONAL word disappeared! 10: If it is upgraded from SP1, after installing SP2, the security patches in the previous add/remove are gone, sp2 contains all the previous security patches, remove those, separate Leave one SP2. 11: Windows XP SP2 includes the latest Direct X 9.0c and also integrates the Windows Media Player9 coal player. 12: Upgrade and install SP2 has no hardware requirements. In the past, SP1 can run the system and software smoothly. After installing SP2, it can run smoothly. It is only my personal feeling here. Test with professional software. Four: Errors that may occur during the installation process: I like to modify some system files myself. I encountered it when I installed the SP for the first time. If the XX system core file is not... error dialog box, the prompt sp2 will not be installed. At this time, you can copy this file on another PC to overwrite or restore this file. 2: Install a virtual CD-ROM drive, such as the error dialog box that is occupied by the atapi.sys file, indicating that sp2 will not be installed. You can enter the Windows\\system32\\drivers directory, delete the atapi.sys file after backup, and restore it after the installation is complete, but if you install Alcohol 120% of the CD-ROM software, then you still uninstall first, sp2 patch is finished and reloaded On! 3: SP2 supports direct installation from SP1, but it is not required. Microsoft will release a Serivce Pack after each release of the patch reaches a certain amount. You can go to the X:\\Windows\\system32 folder to see if some system files have been upgraded to SP2 in your usual UP. Service Pack Including all previous upgrade information, it may also add some new features. Therefore, SP2 includes SP1, and all upgrade patch information released later. To upgrade to SP2, the recommended method is to upgrade directly from the original to SP2, which can reduce a lot of junk files. Similarly, if you want to engrave an installation CD with integrated SP2, the recommended integration method is the original + SP2.