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Preparing to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
Filed Under: Business
If you use your computer to connect to the Internet, and who doesn’t these days, then you need to make sure that your system is protected. If you’re using Windows XP, you need to install the service pack 2 (SP2). This upgrade doesn’t cost anything but it contains many security updates that are necessary to protect your computer.
The SP2 fixes some problems in the Windows XP system that can allow someone easier access to your system and your vital information. Anyone using the Internet is at risk for things like viruses and attacks. The SP2 can help protect you against those. There are some things you need to do before you install it to get the best results.
Make Sure Your System Can Handle It
Some older computers may not be the best candidate for an upgrade to the SP2. The minimum your system needs to be able to handle this upgrade: a 233 MHz processor, 64 MB of RAM and at least 1.8 GB of disk space available.
You probably want to download the upgrade so you’ll need a fast Internet connection like a broadband connection. If you’re using dial-up, you may want to contact Microsoft in order to get the SP2 upgrade on disk.
Do a System Backup and Check Your Drivers
The general wisdom is that any time you make a change to your system, you should perform a backup first just in case something goes wrong. Before you install the SP2 it’s advised that you do a full system backup. A full system backup will make it easier to restore your system completely. Computers used for business purposes are especially important to backup fully so that nothing is lost.
Also, look at things like your printer, your modem and any other hardware that you use and make sure you have the latest upgrades for those. Some hardware vendors released updates that coincided with the SP2 release. Many popular brand names in computing like HP, Gateway and Dell tend to release updates when Windows releases a major update, so be sure and check for new drivers.
Get Rid of Spyware
It’s also a good idea to do a scan for things like spyware and adware and remove any of those programs from your computer. Getting rid of the system-clogging programs and making sure drivers are updated will simply allow the install to go smoothly and make sure that nothing on the system interferes with the installation.
Not only will you be preventing spyware from interfering with the installation of SP2, it will probably help your system overall. Spyware is designed to track your activities online and report that back to companies who use that information for marketing purposes. Unfortunately, these types of programs can slow a system to a crawl by depositing information into the registry.
You can download spyware and adware removal tools for free, so this is a quick and easy way to make sure your system is ready for the installation of Windows XP XP2.
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