Detailed installation walkthrough for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (875364)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, when used with:
    • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
    • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
    • Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005

INTRODUCTION

You can make sure that you obtain Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) by turning on the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP. To turn Automatic Updates on, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/updates.aspx

You can also install Windows XP Service Pack 2 by using the following Windows Update Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

You can also obtain a Network Installation Package for Windows XP SP2 at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?LinkID=806688

The Network Install program installs Windows XP SP2 over a network to multiple computers. This installation package is self-contained and can update any installation of Windows XP Home or of Windows XP Professional to Windows XP SP2.

Both Automatic Updates and the Windows Update Web site use the Express Install method of installing from the Internet. This installation is much smaller than a network installation because the Express Install program minimizes the amount of information that you download. The Express Install program examines the target system and compiles a list of files that the program must update. The Express Install program does not download unnecessary files, such as Microsoft Windows 95 migration tool files or server component files for a Windows XP Professional computer.

Whether you use Automatic Updates or Windows Update, you will eventually be prompted to install Windows XP SP2. Updates will then be downloaded to your computer when the update process determines they are needed. The total download size may be as small as 70 megabytes (MB) or as large as 260 MB. As soon as the download is completed, installation will start.

MORE INFORMATION

Installing from the Internet by using Automatic updates

  1. Click Start, click Run, type wuaucpl.cpl, and then click OK.
  2. In the Automatic Updates dialog box, click Automatic (recommended), and then click OK.

    Your computer will automatically download and install Windows updates when the computer is connected to the Internet. By default, automatic updates are scheduled to occur at 3:00 A.M. If you do not plan to have your computer on at this time, select an update schedule that works for you. For more information about how to schedule automatic updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    327838 How to schedule automatic updates in Windows Server 2003, in Windows XP, and in Windows 2000

    After the updates are downloaded, a balloon appears in the notification area that indicates that updates have been downloaded and are ready to be installed.
  3. Click the balloon, click Express Install, and then click Next.

    A balloon in the notification area indicates that your updates are installing in the background and that you may continue to work while the updates install. After the installation finishes, the Automatic Updates window displays the following message:You have successfully updated your computer. You must restart your computer for the updates to take effect.Note After you click Express Install, the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Installation Wizard starts, and you may receive the following message:Welcome to the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard. Before you install this update, we recommend that you do the following:

    1. Back up your system
    2. Close all open programs

    To complete this installation, Windows might require restarting after you finish this wizard. To continue, click next.Additionally, the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard may display a License Agreement dialog box that contains a licensing agreement. To continue the installation, you must accept the agreement.
  4. Click Restart Now.

    Note The computer will now restart. The first reboot after installation often takes much longer than usual as Windows XP Service Pack 2 copies files that could not be copied during the main installation phase. This is standard procedure and when this file copying is finished, the computer will boot in a normal fashion.

Installing from the Internet by using Windows Update

  1. Visit the following Microsoft Web site:

    http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

    .
  2. Click Custom.

    Windows Update scans your computer and displays a pre-selected list of critical updates, including security updates and service packs.
  3. UnderSelect by Type, click High Priority.

    Windows Update creates a list of the updates that are appropriate for your computer. Critical updates are selected for automatic download.
  4. Click Review and install updates.
  5. Verify that Windows XP SP2 is selected.
  6. Click Install Updates.

    The Installing Updates dialog box appears. Under Installation Status, Windows Update states the current status of the actions that are required for Windows XP SP2 installation. The Downloading bar informs you of the progress of the download. After the download is completed, the Installation bar replaces the Downloading bar. The Installation bar informs you of the progress of the installation, and the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard is launched. The Welcome to the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard dialog box displays the following message:Welcome to the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard. Before you install this update, we recommend that you:

    1. Back up your system

    2. Close all open programs

    To complete this installation, Windows might require restarting after you finish this wizard.

    To continue, click next.
  7. Click Next.

    The Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard displays a License Agreement dialog box that contains a licensing agreement. Read the licensing agreement. If you agree with the licensing agreement, click I Agree.

    Note To continue with the installation, you must accept the agreement.
  8. Click Next. The Select Options dialog box appears and displays the following message:Setup creates a backup of system files so you can remove Windows XP SP2 if necessary. Click Browse to choose a location for these backup files, or click Next to accept the following location:
    Uninstall folder
    C:\Windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$Note Select Options lets you set a custom location for saving uninstall (archive) information. We recommend that the default settings be accepted unless the installation is performed by an advanced user. Typically, Windows XP SP2 installation always creates an archive, and you cannot avoid this option.
  9. Click Next. The Updating Your System dialog box displays the following message:Please wait while setup inspects your current configuration, archives your current files and updates your files.After the installation finishes, the Completing the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard dialog box displays the following message:You have successfully completed the Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard.
    To apply the changes, the wizard has to restart Windows. To restart Windows automatically, click Finish.
    If you want to restart Windows later, select the Do not restart now check box, and then click Finish.
    Do not restart now.
    Note By default, the Do not restart now check box is selected.
  10. Click Finish. The Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard closes, and the Installing Updates dialog box displays the following message: Installing Windows XP Service Pack 2,...Done!You have successfully updated your computer
    You must restart your computer for the updates to take effect.If you click Restart now, the computer restarts and finishes the installation. To prevent the restart, click Close.

    Note Windows XP will not operate correctly until the computer is restarted.
  11. Click Restart Now.

    Note The computer will now restart. The first reboot after installation often takes much longer than usual as Windows XP Service Pack 2 copies files that could not be copied during the main installation phase. This is standard procedure and when this file copying is finished, the computer will boot in a normal fashion.

Installing from a network share

Your network administrator decides where the installation package is located and the method that is used to run it. Contact your network administrator for information about the location of the installation package and how to run it. If you do not have a network administrator, see the "Installing from the Internet by using automatic updates" section or the "Installing from the Internet by using Windows Update" section.

After you download Windows XP SP2 from a network share, follow these steps to install Windows XP SP2 by using the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard:
  1. After you download the installation package, run it to start the installation. The installation package extracts the files that are required to install Windows XP SP2. The installation package displays the Extracting Files progress window during the extraction process. After extraction is complete, the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Installation Wizard is launched, and you receive the following message:Welcome to the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard. Before you install this update, we recommend that you:

    1. Back up your system

    2. Close all open programs

    To complete this installation, Windows might require restarting after you finish this wizard.

    To continue, click next.Note When you reach this interface, you may notice that there is still a noticeable amount of disk activity. This behavior occurs because of the way that the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard uses a separate thread to inventory files on the disk. This thread may still be processing when you reach the Welcome screen of the wizard.
  2. Click Next. The Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard displays a License Agreement dialog box that contains a licensing agreement. Read the licensing agreement. If you agree with the licensing agreement, select I Agree.

    Note To continue the installation, you must accept the agreement.
  3. Click Next. The Select Options dialog box displays the following message:Setup creates a backup of system files so you can uninstall the service pack if necessary. Click Browse to choose a location for these backup files, or click Next to accept the location displayed below.
    Uninstall folder
    C:\Windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$Note Select Options lets you set a custom location for saving uninstall (archive) information. We recommend that the default settings be accepted unless the installation is performed by an advanced user. Typically, Windows XP Service Pack 2 installation always creates an archive, and you cannot avoid this option.
  4. Click Next. The Updating Your System dialog box displays the following message:Please wait while setup inspects your current configuration, archives your current files and updates your files.After the installation is completed, the Completing the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard dialog box displays the following message:You have successfully completed the Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard.
    To apply the changes, the wizard has to restart Windows. To restart Windows automatically, click Finish.
    If you want to restart Windows later, select the Do not restart now check box, and then click Finish.

    Do not restart now.If you click Finish, the computer restarts and finishes the installation. To prevent the restart, click to select the Do not restart now check box.

    Note Windows XP will not operate correctly until the computer is restarted.
  5. Click Finish. Your computer will now restart. The first restart after installation frequently takes much longer than usual as Windows XP Service Pack 2 copies files that could not be copied during the main installation phase. This behavior is standard procedure, and when this file copying is finished, the computer will start in a typical manner.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/30/2006
Keywords:ATdownload kbwindowsupdate kbUpgrade kbsetup kbinfo KB875364
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