Microsoft has released Windows XP Service Pack 2 to manufacturing. It is currently available to MSDN subscribers and Volume License Customers as a CD image download. It may or may not be available for download via Windows Update due to it's size. Almost every EXE and DLL (the entire operating system) has been touched in one way or another for increased security and robustness. This may be the first Microsoft OS service pack that actually runs a little slower. Ah, life's tradeoffs...
If a general download link becomes available, I'll post it here with an update.
8/8/2004: Here's the update as promised...
There appears to be a schedule of availability for SP2 courtesy of Michael Swanson's Blog. It goes like this:
8/6 Release to manufacturing
8/9 Release to Microsoft Download Center (network installation package)
8/9 Release to MSDN subscription site (CD ISO image)
8/10 Release to Automatic Updates (for machines running pre-release versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2 only)
8/16 Release to Automatic Updates (for machines NOT running pre-releases versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2)
8/16 Release to Software Update Services
Later in August Release to Windows Update for interactive user installations
In order to easily obtain Windows XP Service Pack 2 Microsoft will also ship at no cost SP2 CDs. This is great news for those who don't have broadband, but most importantly this will help to secure a large amount of consumer desktops.
View: Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD
8/9/2004: Second Update…
If you have to update more than one computer, here is a link to a network installation for IT Professionals and Developers.
8/11/2004 Third Update...
Microsoft has posted a comprehensive article on Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Bob Baker
posted @ Friday, August 06, 2004 6:56 PM