Microsoft KB Archive/322389

= How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack =

Article ID: 322389

Article Last Modified on 11/5/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002
 * Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

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This article was previously published under Q322389



SUMMARY
Microsoft Windows XP updates are distributed in service packs. Service packs help keep Windows XP current, and extend and update the functionality of your computer. Service packs are cumulative. Each new service pack contains all the fixes that are included with earlier service packs and any new fixes. You do not have to install an earlier version of a service pack before you install the latest version. For example, if you have already installed Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), you do not have to install Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a).



Windows XP Service Pack 2
Release Date: August 25, 2004

How to obtain
You can use Automatic Updates or Windows Update to obtain Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).

Automatic Updates
The best way to make sure that you get Windows XP SP2 is by turning on the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP. Visit the Protect Your PC site to 4 steps to protect your computer or follow these manual steps. Either way, you will receive Windows XP SP2 automatically.

After you turn on Automatic Updates, your computer can start to download important updates automatically, including the latest version of Windows Update.

Windows Update
 Visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

 Click Express Install (Recommended). If your computer qualifies, Windows XP SP2 will be one of the updates automatically selected. Click Install. Review and accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).

Windows XP SP2 will be downloaded to your computer, and the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard will help you install it.

Fix list
For additional information about what is fixed in Windows XP Service Pack 2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

811113 List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Release notes
For additional information about issues with Windows XP Service Pack 2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

835935 Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 2

Additional resources
For information that can help you successfully download and install Windows XP SP2 on a single computer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

Windows XP Service Pack 1a
Release Date: February 3, 2003

How to obtain
To obtain Service Pack 1a (SP1a), visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp1/default.mspx

Differences between Windows XP SP1 and SP1a
For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

813926 Differences between Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 1a

Fix list
For additional information about what is fixed in SP1a, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

324720 List of bugs that are fixed in Windows XP Service Pack 1a

Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a) includes Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Therefore, the problems corrected by Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 are also fixed by Windows XP SP1a.

For additional information about these problems, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

326489 List of issues fixed in Internet Explorer 6 service packs

For additional information about how to obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 6, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

328548 How to obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 6

Release notes
For additional information about issues with Windows XP Service Pack 1a, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

324722 Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 1a

Windows XP Service Pack 1
Release Date: September 9, 2002

How to obtain
Service Pack 1 (SP1) is no longer available for download.

Fix list
For additional information about what is fixed in SP1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

324720 List of bugs that are fixed in Windows XP Service Pack 1a

Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) includes Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Therefore, the problems corrected by Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 are also fixed by Windows XP SP1.

For additional information about these problems, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

326489 List of issues fixed in Internet Explorer 6 service packs

For additional information about how to obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 6, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

328548 How to obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 6

Release notes
For additional information about issues with Windows XP Service Pack 1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

324722 Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 1a

Additional query words: kbGetWinXPsp1 kbGetWinXPsp1a windowsxpsp2 winxpsp2

Keywords: kbproductlink kbmsccsearch kbgetsp kbsetup kbenv kbinfo KB322389

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