WinXP SP2 "things go bork and how you fixed it" thread.

[MediaMan]

Post your, if any, installation issues with Windows XP Service Pack 2 and how you resolved them.

Only problems and solutions please or questions specific to the solutions presented. This can also be a "where the hell is that?" thread and FAQ list too.

[MediaMan]

Disable pop-up messages on taskbar

Tired of those messages popping up telling you that SP2 needs this or that for virus protection or security or the cat needs feeding.

START>CONTROL PANEL>SECURITY CENTER.

Click on CHANGE THE WAY SECURITY CENTER ALERTS ME and untick what you don't want to bug you anymore.

[MediaMan]

Where'd my Internet go?

SP2 may, at times, not properly detect your Internet connection especially when behind a router. Add your in/out programs such as Internet Explorer.

START>CONTROL PANEL>WINDOWS FIREWALL

Click on the EXCEPTIONS tab and confirm that your browser is not listed by autodetection. Choose ADD PROGRAM and browse to the executable of the program you wish to add.

This should renable your Internet connection right away if not...reboot.

[MediaMan]

Windows Update doesn't work with SP2 installed

This one caught me but use the Windows Troubleshooter on the update site. If Windows Update fails to function it may display an error code in the upper right hand browser window.

This apparently is a common one and it stumped me for a bit but the fix worked.


When searching for available updates on the Windows Update site, you see the 0x80244001 error

Problem description

This error may occur if the MSXML3.dll is missing or not properly registered.

Applicable operating systems: Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

Resolutions: Register MSXML3.dll
Click Start.
Choose Run.
In the Run box, type regsvr32 MSXML3.dll.
Click OK.

[MediaMan]

Can SP1a and SP2 be slipstreamed into an XP install disc?

Yes. Both SP1a and SP2 slipstream well into Windows XP. This has been tested with a corporate edition of XP Pro.


You will not be able to slipstream SP2 into an installation with the additional critical updates added via a svcpack folder or other modification.

You only need SP1a and SP2 slipstreamed. A quick check of the Windows Update site after a clean installation of a slipstreamed disc showed no further critical updates for the test system at this time and date of this post.