Service Pack 2 for Windows XP

Over the next few weeks campus machines running Windows XP will be installing a critical update from Microsoft:  Service Pack 2.  This is a relatively large file that has been slowly downloading to your machine over time directly from Microsoft.  It will install automatically once it has fully downloaded.

Please note that you may experience a problem with this installation if you have spyware on your computer.  Symantec antivirus does not protect against spyware.  Faculty and staff who suspect a problem in this area, should contact MicroSupport or your college contact.

Once the download is complete, you will notice:

An increase in startup time the FIRST TIME you reboot after the service pack has downloaded since it automatically installs itself.  Initial reports are a 10 to 30 minute wait. A new feature called THE SECURITY CENTER that will appear during logon after SP2 is installed. It is meant to help secure computers by checking for installed antivirus software and enabling the Windows XP firewall.   If your campus machine is not in the TTU Domain, it will appear as shown below:
While the SECURITY CENTER recognizes that Symantec Antivirus is installed, it is unable to determine if it is current. Please IGNORE warnings regarding the STATUS of Symantec Antivirus.  However, if you see that virus protection is NOT FOUND at all, then contact MicroSupport.
A red shield will appear in your system tray in the lower right corner of your screen.
The SECURITY CENTER should provide added protection for most users. However, IF you are SHARING printers or files over the network you will need to disable the firewall.

 

To disable the Firewall: From the Start menu Select Control Panel
Select Security Center (from the Category View, as shown here, or select Windows Firewall in the Classic View)

Near the bottom under Manage security settings for: Select Windows Firewall
Click Off Click OK

Learn More:

• about Service Pack 2 from Microsoft's web site
• about using Adobe products Help and Service Pack 2

For additional assistance, please contact MicroSupport@tntech.edu (phone: 6315), your College contact, or the ResNet office (ResNet@tntech.edu or phone: 6566)