Dave, for the last few months I’ve carefully avoided installing Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (aka “SP2”) because I kept hearing about all sorts of problems that arose after people had installed SP2 on their WinXP systems. I’m a busy guy and don’t have time for a computer to go south, but I feel like I should make this upgrade anyway. My question to you: is there some specific sequence of tasks that would maximize my chances of success with the Windows XP Service Pack 2 upgrade?
Your timing is very good because just this afternoon I had a superb article cross my electronic desk on just this subject, from my friends and colleagues at the Internet Tourbus. With their kind permission, I am republishing their entire article here, and think you’ll find it a straightforward tutorial on installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 with the best possible results!
How to Safely upgrade to Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
Well, I guess it’s time to finally upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 2. Here’s how to do it safely:
1. Get a copy of Windows XP Service Pack 2 on a CD-ROM.
Trust me on this one, folks: XP SP2 is so large that you don’t want to try to download it over even the fastest Internet connection. Besides, when your computer crashes sometime in the future and you have to reinstall Windows, having XP SP2 on CD-ROM will speed your recovery process.
How can you get XP SP2 on CD-ROM? Well, go to the computer section of your nearest big box retailer and ask for a copy. Microsoft shipped massive amounts of free XP SP2 CD-ROMs to Circuit City, Best Buy, and places like that. All you have to do is ask.
If you can’t find a copy of XP SP2 in your local tech store or, even worse, if your local tech store tries to sell it to you [something that happened to at least one Best Buy customer in the Chicago area a few weeks ago], hop on over to Microsoft’s site and order the XP SP2 CD-ROM directly from Microsoft. Free.
If you have a fast network connection, I actually recommend that you go ahead and try downloading the SP2 package for yourself. If it works, simply burn it to a CDROM disk. — DaveT
2. Once you have the XP SP2 CD-ROM, scan your computer for viruses
Personal experience shows that unwanted stuff on your computer like viruses or spyware [see step 3] can wreck havoc on ANY software installation, especially a major operating system upgrade. And while you may think your current antivirus software is doing a good job of scanning your computer for and protecting your computer from viruses, over 60% of broadband users aren’t running the latest version of their antivirus program. [ref]
So, just to be extra safe, before you even THINK about putting that XP SP2 CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive, let’s have Symantec scan your PC for viruses online. Open Internet Explorer and go to Symantec Security Check. (Unfortunately, Symantec’s free online virus checker only works in Internet Explorer)
When the page loads, click on the orange Go button. This opens a pop-up window. Click on the red Start button under Virus Detection to start the virus scan. You’ll be asked if you want to install and run three small plug-ins. Click Yes all three times.
The scan will take a while, but it is well worth the wait. If Symantec says your virus status is safe, continue on to step three. But, if Symantec finds a problem, expect to spend a lot of time downloading the appropriate removal tools.
3. Scan your computer for spyware and other malware
Spyware seems to be the number one cause of problems when upgrading to XP SP2. So, in addition to scanning your computer for viruses, you also need to scan it for spyware. But you need to make sure you are using the latest version of your antispyware program when you do this.
How? Well, in Spybot Search & Destroy, go to Help > About. There you’ll see the version number. The latest version of Spybot is 1.3. If you have an older version, head on over to the Spybot site and download the latest version.
If you have AdAware, look in the bottom right corner of the AdAware screen. If you don’t see "AdAware SE Personal, Build 1.05," you don’t have the latest version and you’ll need to download a new copy.
Once you have the latest version of your antispyware program, check for updates and then scan your computer. If you find any spyware, nuke it.
4. Update your software firewall
If you are running a software firewall like ZoneAlarm or Sygate Personal Firewall, you may need to update your software firewall so that it will fully work with Windows XP SP2. This usually involves downloading a simple patch that you can get from your software firewall’s manufacturer’s website.
5. Get the latest PC manufacturer updates for your computer
If you have a name-brand computer, check the manufacturer’s web site and download any software or driver updates they recommend. For example, Dell recommends that its users update their BIOS before upgrading to XP SP2.
For a list of the XP SP2 upgrade sites for most of the major PC manufacturers, check out Microsoft’s site
If you can’t find your computer manufacturer’s web site, call the company or store that sold you your computer and ask them if they know of any issues with upgrading your make and model of computer to XP SP2. By waiting to install XP SP2 until today, you’ve given the folks in tech support enough time to figure out what computers upgrade well and what computers have issues.
Sloth pays.
6. Backup any files you cannot live without
If media and blog reports are any indication, you should be able to upgrade to XP SP2 without any major problems. But sometimes things go awry. That’s life.
Just to be extra safe, make sure to copy ALL of the important stuff on your computer to a CD-ROM, DVD, thumb drive, external hard drive, or whatever. You can never have too many backups.
In particular, make sure to backup your:
- Bank records and other financial information
- Digital photographs
- Software you purchased and downloaded from the Internet
- Software you didn’t purchase but still download from the Internet
- Your illegal MP3s and legal iTunes files
- Personal projects and other "My Documents" stuff
- Your e-mail address book and calendar
- Your enemies list 🙂
- Your browser’s bookmarks or favorites list
Again, you’ll probably not need this backup. But you can never be too safe.
7. Make a system restore point
Yeah, I know. The XP SP2 installer does this for you automatically. Do it by hand just in case.
- Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore.
- Choose Create a restore point.
- Click Next.
- In the Restore Point Description box, type something long and descriptive [like "18 November 2004 – Before I installed XP SP2"]
- Click Create.
- Once the restore point has been created, click Close.
8. Restart
No, I don’t mean go back to step one. I mean restart your computer. It’s usually a good idea to flush the decks, so to speak, before you install any major program or operating system upgrade on your computer.
Wait at least five minutes after you restart your computer before you proceed. That just gives all of those icons down in your task bar plenty of time to load and call home for updates.
You might also want to disable your antivirus program, but that’s completely up to you. [I accidentally installed XP SP2 without first turning off my antivirus and nothing bad happ&%$()**NO CARRIER**]
9. Find a local guru
Step nine is probably the hardest step of them all.
If you follow steps one through eight, step nine is probably completely unnecessary. But, sometimes bad things happen to good people. And sometimes, although not often, XP SP2 installations go horribly awry. If that happens, you’re going to want to talk to someone who can help you un-kludge your computer.
You are always welcome to send me email asking for assistance, but I have to warn you that I get so much email that it is almost impossible for me to keep up. If your computer goes kersplat during the XP SP2 installation process, you’re probably going to want to speak to someone who can help you fix your computer in minutes not weeks. Hence my recommendation that you find a local guru who can help you if anything goes awry.
Again, if you follow steps one through eight, finding a local guru is probably completely unnecessary. But, as I have said throughout today’s post, you can never be too safe.
10. Install XP SP2
You’ve prepped your system. You found a local guru who can help you if things go wrong. Now it’s time to install XP SP2. Pop the CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive and follow the on-screen prompts.
That’s it.
No, really. That’s it. Pretty anticlimactic, isn’t it?
Once the upgrade is done, you’ll be asked to restart your computer.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Windows XP Service Pack 2.
11. Run Windows Update
After you have successfully installed XP SP2, immediately run Windows Update. There have been more than a few critical updates released since your XP SP2 disc was pressed, and you need to download those updates to ensure your computer is fully protected from the internet nasties.
12. Tweak XP SP2
Finally, after you’ve installed XP SP2 and run Windows Update, point your favorite web browser to XP SP2 Installed Info. This page contains dozens of handouts and videos covering topics such as configuring Internet Explorer’s new pop-up blocker, using the new Windows Security Center, and so on. Plan on spending a little time here getting acquainted with the new security features in XP SP2.
Troubleshooting XP SP2
What if the XP SP2 installation doesn’t go so smoothly on your computer? As I hinted at earlier, that’s what the local guru is for.
But, if you want to try to fix things yourself, check out http://support.microsoft.com/xpsp2getinstall. This page has links to some of the more popular Microsoft Knowledge Base articles to help you diagnose and fix the most common XP SP2 setup and installation issues. If that doesn’t help, try a Google search. Chances are you aren’t the first person to have this problem.
And, if push comes to shove, you can always uninstall XP SP2 and roll back your system to that restore point you created back in step seven. You can find the instructions on how to do this at Microsoft’s help site.
I hope this helps!
I have a 3 month old HP 16″ laptop. Something I did requires me to hit “escape” and the “enter” before I am able to proceed normally. How do I solve the problem?
Thanks for your consideration.
Hello…
I want to upgrade my xp to xp sp2. But when I start the setup from cd and press R for recover , it asks for administer password and when I enter it, it shows that invalid password.So I am unable to install it. Can you give me a solution for it?
I tried downloading SP2 from windows website but after downloading nothing worked. my computer would not connect to the internet. any help?
hello.
am asif and i very hapy from your solutions website
but i have a problem …….. i want to install a on software but the software need service pack 2. and i use windows xp just only .
No please tell me how i can upgrade my windows xp to windows xp sevice pack 2.your suggest will be very appriciated for me
System:
MS Win XP Professional version 2002,SP-2,
…this is my system config ..now i m tryn to upgrade my XP ..An error msg came statin it cannot read frm or write to C drive-disable or ninstall antivirus …nd i did so ..restarted also -but still same error keeps cuming .kindly help me out here ..
Also i hve 2 Cds wid me :
1:-XP-2…..GZP(i hve no clue wat it stands for)
2:-XP-2…OSCD (dis i hve not used as f now ,as sum1 told me dat no upgradin option here nd d whole f d laptop wil b formated n u mite loose all ur data )
Kindly help me out here …
Thanx
System:
MS Win XP Professional version 2002,SP-2,
…this is my system config ..now i m tryn to upgrade my XP ..An error msg came statin it cannot read frm or write to C drive-disable or ninstall antivirus …nd i did so ..restarted also -but still same error keeps cuming .kindly help me out here ..
Also i hve 2 Cds wid me :
1:-XP-2…..GZP(i hve no clue wat it stands for)
2:-XP-2…OSCD (dis i hve not used as f now ,as sum1 told me dat no upgradin option here nd d whole f d laptop wil b formated n u mite loose all ur data )
Kindly help me out here …
Thanx
Hi,
For the past one month now I’ve been trying to upgrade my operating system which is already on Xp Sp 1 to Xp Sp 2, but it doesn’t work. Any time I want to upgrade, a message appears that I have an invalid product key. This cause my computer not to be protected since my AVG anti virus can only run on Xp sp2. Who can be of you to me?
regards
how to upgrade from windows Xp service pack 1 to service pack 2 ?
ok I have a certain problem..
I am using Win XP home Eddition On Sony Vaio.
My windows recovery soft ware exists with in the system. I did not get any Cd’s for the windows recovery along like other Lap top manufacturers give.
If my windows crashes I have to run the Recovery software from Control penal.
If I install Win xp Service pack 2 . Will I lose my original settings of system Recovery from Control penal ???
where can i download a usb host controller driver?
i tried some but they just always say to upgrade to service pack to, is that possible to install the driver without upgrading to a WIN XP SP2???
your reply will be very much appreciated, thank you
where can i download a usb host controller driver?
i tried some but they just always say to upgrade to service pack to, is that possible to install the driver without upgrading to a WIN XP SP2???
your reply will be very much appreciated, thank you
hi
I have problem with my Computer. there is a message winlogon error. Please what can I do to rectify this problem. I am unable to logon window. I only have blue screen, window is starting up. hoope to hear from you soonest.
Thanks Dave Taylor!
I have the original software that came with my laptop for windows xp, can I use this to upgrade my other computer from windows 2000?
Dear Sir
i’m faceing a very strange prob (in my opinion).
i have sp1 on my computer, and when i’m trying to install sp2 after formating c hard or even if i tried to upgrade sp1 to sp2 the problem is:
after the computer finish copying the sp2 files on my hard drive c, and then as usual the computer will restart, then will boot from hard c and start installing sp2, the problem that when the windows logo appear on the screen and the pointer under the logo move horizontal, the pointer stop and nothing happen after that. this really made me crazy. i tried to replace my Ram, but the problem still appear.
would you please help me.
Thank you so much
Regards
Georges
Interesting site. Last year, my son did the automatic updates thing with Microsoft. After three weeks of fighting with Microsoft in Bombay they sent him a new version of XP Pro, but, alas, everything on the drive was trashed. I am afraid to update my laptop, and I need SP2 to run their Beta Spyware program. I have a 900mghz desktop with loads of memory, and WIN98. You know–it’s stable, I have the disks, and it’s $189 cheaper than keeping up.
Brian
You’re right. I can’t find a link either. Anyone else want to dig around on the Microsoft site and see if they can find a hint of this upgrade CDROM offer?
Hello
Is it still possible to obtain the WinXP SP2 on CD-ROM? I’ve been to the Microsoft website but cannot find any place where to order it from.
Regards
Terence
Dude, if you want best performance with SP2 and no probs, install it on a fresh partition.
First of all, uninstall any rubbish you do not need and install your AV or protection suite during all that uninstalling. Install driver updates for important drivers like for your graphics card. Any important hardware updates, install after uninstalling is done of unwanted things.
Second, I recommend ordering an SP2 disc to save your bandwidth. Leave the disc in during reboot after install. After you log on and you see the Windows Security Center, you can eject your SP2 disc. NOW, install all your programs like Instant Messengers, Antispyware, Windowsblinds, etc.
Third, go to Windows Update or Microsoft Update (whichever you use) and download all your updates. After all that, reboot your system and perform disc cleanup. After disc cleanup, install any updates or whatever, reboot if you have to, and defrag your partition or hard drive.
Thats it. Simply that is it. I do that all the time after system recovery from HP when my system is unstable or crashes due to my stupid actions, lol:-);-). Works good for me. My system is an XP home with SP2. I’m temporarily trying out Longhorn 4078 and its pretty unstable with some bugs. Most sucky thing is you cant do all your tasks you own way. Pretty complex but my style:-)…well, sort of…….
Hi, Dave,
Thanks for your information. Unfortunately, when I upgraded to SP2 on my brand new HP last year, I did run unto problems that your advice above may help avoid.
Step #5, Visit Your Manufacturer’s Website for updated drivers is critical.
I was in the process of writing my eBook “Help! Something’s Got Hold of My Computer and It Won’t Let Go!” which is a PC Security eBook for Novices to Wizards when this occurred.
Fortunately, I had taken your advice in #6 – Backup, Backup, Backup, so I didn’t lose much data.
I also found some information that stated that about 10% of SP2 installations fail or cause subsequent problems. Microsoft has an article at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx that everyone planning to download SP2 should follow carefully.
I hope this helps. April 12 is hereby declared “Microsoft Fools’ Day.” LOL
Actually, no, I also upgraded to SP2 a week or so after it came out (I always wait a few days to see if anything goes terribly wonky for other folk!) and have had no problems since. Well, none other than the usual Windows weirdnesses and oddities, that is!
I guess I must be one of the lucky few that downloaded SP2 without any problems at all. And I haven’t had any since. Could that be because I’ve been implementing steps #1 – 8 on a regular basis since I got my computer?