How To Install Windows Xp Service Pack 1

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Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 review: Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1

Invisible monster
Once you download SP1 or insert the CD, Microsoft tosses upwards a wordy autorun screen that essentially instructs you to proceed with caution before hitting the setup link. On the plus side, if you lot're maintaining a network of computers, the service pack includes articulate and helpful instructions for deploying it across networks both large and modest.

The Good

Includes more than than 300 security and performance patches in i installation; has piece of cake deployment instructions for network installations; adds Coffee Virtual Machine; comes with an uninstall selection.

The Bad

Huge download and installation footprint; not all features, including application-default control console, work besides every bit expected; doesn't noticeably speed up Windows XP.

The Bottom Line

Windows XP'south first service pack is a worthwhile download--if only for the security patches--as long every bit you have the bandwidth. If not, you're better off piecing together XP fixes in smaller, unmarried downloads.

For a large package of problems fixes, the first Windows XP Service Pack (SP1) has certainly drummed up a lot of interest in the media--and rightly so. Not just does Service Pack 1, released on September 9, make changes demanded by Microsoft's settlement with the U.S. Section of Justice, it likewise crams in more than 300 problems fixes, security patches, and OS updates. On the other manus, we didn't notice improved speed or stability in informal tests, and SP1's highly touted power to alter Windows' default apps for services such every bit Web browsing and instant messaging don't amount to a hill of beans at this point. Plus, the service pack weighs in at a whopping 133MB (though you can get a scaled-downward 20MB to 30MB version if you've been regularly downloading Windows updates), and it demands more than 500MB of complimentary deejay infinite. Get information technology for the security patches if y'all accept a fast connection and a roomy drive, but don't pay the $10 shipping cost for the CD; you can get crucial security fixes from Windows Update. For a big package of bug fixes, the start Windows XP Service Pack (SP1) has certainly drummed upward a lot of interest in the media--and rightly and so. Not only does Service Pack 1, released on September 9, brand changes demanded past Microsoft's settlement with the U.Southward. Department of Justice, it likewise crams in more than than 300 problems fixes, security patches, and OS updates. On the other hand, nosotros didn't notice improved speed or stability in informal tests, and SP1's highly touted ability to change Windows' default apps for services such as Web browsing and instant messaging don't amount to a colina of beans at this point. Plus, the service pack weighs in at a whopping 133MB (though you can get a scaled-down 20MB to 30MB version if y'all've been regularly downloading Windows updates), and it demands more than 500MB of complimentary disk space. Get it for the security patches if you have a fast connectedness and a roomy drive, but don't pay the $10 shipping cost for the CD; y'all can get crucial security fixes from Windows Update.

Go SP1 upwardly and running, and you'll immediately notice...nix. The service pack barely changes XP'southward interface. And despite Microsoft'south claim that the service pack'southward profound code changes may make some applications run faster, we found no obvious performance differences in our limited testing.

The service pack also includes Microsoft's Coffee Virtual Motorcar (JVM), albeit as a stopgap in continuing consumer-unfriendly legal action between Microsoft and Sun. Nosotros're happy to run into JVM in SP1 (since you'll demand it to properly view a wide variety of Spider web pages), though Microsoft says that it will remove it after Jan one, 2004. The SP1 inclusion isn't crucial, either; you can download JVM for XP direct from Lord's day without the fuss of the huge service pack.

Trust or antitrust?
But Service Pack ane'southward biggest news lies tucked away in the control panel'due south "Add or remove programs" dialog box. Here, you'll find a new button, labeled "Set program admission and defaults." This feature aims to tackle another of Microsoft'due south legal issues: the government'due south antitrust suit against it.

This control panel offers 3 options for the way yous view and use certain software on your PC: Not-Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, and Custom. These options allow you to change your default Web browser, media player, e-mail software, instant messenger, and Coffee Virtual Auto--all in one identify. So, if you prefer Netscape 7.0, AOL Instant Messenger, Eudora, and MusicMatch, you can--in theory--cull the non-Microsoft option and hide (but not remove) XP'south bundled Internet Explorer, Windows Messenger, Outlook Express, and Windows Media Player. Or, y'all tin can cull Custom to select whichever defaults y'all want. Calculator makers such as Dell can add a quaternary default option called Calculator Manufacturer, with yet another set of bundled apps.

Although this tool tin can indeed hide Microsoft'southward options from the carte, the really anticipated characteristic proved a bosom. Despite having AIM, MusicMatch Jukebox, and RealOne Histrion installed on our test computer, the but media-player and instant-messaging options we could see were Microsoft'due south. In fact, we couldn't get XP SP1 to actually display any software other than Microsoft's, which rather spoiled the antitrust effect. Here's the take hold of, according to Microsoft: the company says that it'due south up to third parties, such as Existent, MusicMatch, and AOL, to plug their products into these features. Obviously, many of them haven't yet. Until they do, the package situation won't alter much.

Exit strategy
The adept news is that XP SP1 is a risk-gratis endeavor, thanks to its elegant uninstall feature (assuming you've been saving your fill-in data). When we attempted to uninstall on our exam machines using the Add/Remove Programs command panel, SP1 kicked upward a dialog box alert that some software may non run properly afterwards. Despite this notice, uninstalling the service pack did not cause issues and fifty-fifty restored previously installed hot fixes and security patches.

Every bit long equally you lot can install SP1 with the confidence that you won't permanently damage your system and you accept the bandwidth and the gratuitous disk space, you lot might as well requite it a shot. But if you don't have the patience or the connection for such a huge packet, y'all can become about of the fixes and patches piecemeal from Windows Update; SP1 isn't crucial enough to pay $x for a CD.

The much-vaunted Windows XP Service Pack 1 default-program control panel purports to permit you hands modify your media player, browser, e-mail service, and instant-message software defaults. And you get a prize if you can spot any non-Microsoft apps in this drove of programs on our difficult drive: XP couldn't locate half-dozen such apps on one of our test machines.

Source: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/microsoft-windows-xp-service-pack-1-review/

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