Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition

Installing a Service Pack

Once you’ve taken the steps outlined above, actually installing a Service Pack is surprisingly easy.

Warning

If you are installing Service Pack 2 on a laptop computer, make sure that the batteries are fully charged or the unit is plugged in to the AC before beginning the update. The last thing you want is for your computer to power down halfway through.

The simplest approach? Fire up Windows Update and let it do the job. If your Service Pack comes on a CD, just pop it into a drive and likewise sit back. If you’re using the downloaded version, simply run the file.

Once the installation has finished, your system will reboot. When XP loads up, you’ll be in front of your familiar desktop, ready to carry on computing as normal. In the event of trouble, well, that’s why you made backups!

If Something Goes Wrong

The procedure to recover your PC from a failed Service Pack installation depends on the severity of the damage.

In most cases, the Service Pack will install successfully, but you might find that one or more of your programs stops working. In most cases, this is due to tightened security (see the discussion of the Windows Firewall that comes with SP2 later in this appendix for details). To correct the problem, you may have to create an exception in the Firewall or disable the Firewall altogether. Or you may simply need to change some settings in the application or get an update from the manufacturer. If that doesn’t work, and you can’t live without the functionality ...