Overview
Service Pack 2 for Windows XP adds several useful security enhancements that are important for protecting your workstation(s) from being compromised. Future patches from Microsoft — including the GDI+ Detection Tool — require the installation of Service Pack 2.
If you use Windows XP Professional, be aware that there are certain things you can do beforehand to help ensure that the upgrade process for Service Pack 2 runs smoothly.
Tips to follow before installing Service Pack 2
Upgrade your antivirus software
Uninstall existing antivirus software and install newer antivirus software from the PennConnect 2006 CD. You can also download Symantec Antivirus from the Penn Computing Product site at:
Install and run anti-spyware and anti-adware software
Run a spyware removal tool, such as "Search and Destroy" before installing Service Pack 2. Any spyware that has corrupted your computer will usually cause a SP2 installation to fail and ultimately result in time-consuming reinstallation of Windows XP. Removing spyware first will help prevent problems with installing SP2. "Search and Destroy" can be found at:
Install BIOS upgrades, if applicable
Apply any BIOS updates that are available for your workstation. Some Dells which have not had their BIOS upgraded will suffer irreparable data damage after installing SP2. Applying BIOS updates from the vendor's support website will help avoid potential problems. Visit your vendor's website for more information.
Disable any third-party firewall
If you installed a third-party firewall utility, temporarily disable it until after SP2 is installed. Compatibility of your third-party firewall and Windows XP SP2's firewall is not guaranteed. Disabling it beforehand will reduce the liklihood of post-install problems.
Backup your personal data
Before any major change to your workstation, you will want to back up any important documents to another machine, flash key, external hard drive, CD-R or DVD-R, or another backup medium. This ensures you can get your data back if something goes wrong.
