Date: October 27, 2004

Re: Windows XP Service Pack 2 Install Notes

To update your Windows XP computer to Service Pack 2, do the following:

1. Start the SP2 update using Windows Update or download the SP2 update directly from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads

2. Perform the update (takes approximately 1 hour). Reboot when finished.

3. Run Windows update until all critical updates are completed.

Once the Service Pack is installed, you may see a systray icon (near the clock) warning you about Windows Security Alerts. The Service Pack 2 update causes your computer to:

a) Attempt to detect if your computer has anti-virus software installed.

b) Automatically turn on the WinXP firewall

The Windows XP SP2 update often fails to properly detect your computer’s anti-virus software and therefore the Windows Security Alert program displays a warning that you should check the status of your virus protection.

Assuming your computer has current anti-virus software, you can turn off the virus protection alert by following these steps:

Locate the Windows Security Alerts icon in the systray (icon near the clock).

If you do not see this icon, click on Start - Settings - Control Panel - Security Center

Under Virus Protection - Check Status, click on the Recommendation button

Check the box “I have an anti-virus program that I will monitor myself.” This should change the Virus Protection status to Not Monitored.

Typically, most networks already have a Cable/DSL router/firewall and therefore you do not need to enable the Windows Firewall on each machine. Also, the Windows Firewall may cause some programs, such as remote access software (pcAnywhere & WinVNC) to not work.

Assuming your network is protected by a firewall and you don’t need a firewall on your computer, you can turn off the Windows firewall by following these steps:

Click on Start - Settings - Control Panel - Security Center

Look for the section Manage Security Settings For: and choose Windows Firewall

Choose the button to turn Off the Windows Firewall.

Once you turn off the firewall, you will need to tell Windows no to monitor the firewall, otherwise you will continue to see alerts that the firewall has been disabled.

Locate the Windows Security Alerts icon in the systray (icon near the clock).

If you do not see this icon, click on Start - Settings - Control Panel - Security Center

Under the Firewall section, click on Recommendations and

check the box “I have a firewall solution that I’ll monitor myself.” This should change the Firewall status to Not Monitored.