Mark's MCE Blog - Windows XP SP2

Internet Explorer 7 Announced

Tue, 15 Feb 2005 22:12:01 GMT

Today during his keynote speech at the RSA Conference, Bill Gates announced Microsoft's on going commitment to provide safer web browsing for Windows Customers. As part of this it was revealed that the first beta of Internet Explorer 7 will arrive this Summer for Windows XP SP2.

This goes against a decision made back in 2003 which was that a new version of Internet Explorer would require a new version of Windows and not be available as a standalone for other versions (Windows XP featured Internet Explorer 6, and would receive upgrades to IE6 SP1/SP2 as part of a service pack update). As Windows Longhorn has been taking some time in arriving I welcome this update for XP, however I hope Internet Explorer 7 will not be an entirely security focused release. Since Internet Explorer 6 in 2001 a great many things have come onto the web scene, some technologies which are in IE6 simply do not fully work as they are meant to/’modern’ versions are not implemented at all, CSS support is a good example. This is something which really does need to be addressed. Bill also announced that Windows® AntiSpyware technology would be made available with no additional charge.

Press Release

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/feb05/02-15RSA05KeynotePR.asp

IE Team Blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2005/02/15/373104.aspx

Photo Story 3 for Windows now Available

Wed, 27 Oct 2004 21:54:57 GMT

For users of genuine Windows XP, Photostory 3 has been placed for free download on Microsoft.com. If you’ve never used Photostory before it essentially allows you to take you’re digital photographs, fix them (remove red-eye, correct lighting, colour imperfections, rotate, crop and more.> ). Then place them into a Windows Media movie with pan options and transitions between each picture. This can be set to music of your choice (or constructed in PS3) or narrated over. Certainly worth checking out.

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/offers/Default.aspx?displaylang=en

Windows Media Player 10

Fri, 10 Sep 2004 03:42:13 GMT

Recently Microsoft made Windows Media Player version 10 available for users of Windows XP. What Media Player 10 is mainly about is the MSN/Music Stores, Synchronizing media with portable devices (including file conversion), and a new streamlined UI. It does also include some other nice improvements such as in the Media Library, version 10 helps you to manage all your content in a central place (purchased music and video, music ripped from CDs, recorded TV), manual aspect ratio controls for video and built-in MP3 encoding at up to 320kbit to name just a few.

There is a fair amount of the difference between version 9 and 10, on first inspection you might think the change is pretty skin deep because the new UI does do a very good job of keeping menus hidden away, maximizing available space for video playback (which is achieved by moving the buttons usually found on the left side of the player in v9 i.e. ‘Now Playing’ and ‘Media Library’ to the top of the Window). It’s worth taking a look through the URLs below to see all of the new features, some of them, such as the aspect ratio control are nicely tucked away and it would be possible to miss it J On the whole I am pretty happy with version 10, I don’t think I’d want to go back to version 8 or 9 now.

Windows XP Installer:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/download/download.aspx

What’s new in Media Player 10:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/default.aspx

New Design:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/newdesign.aspx

Portable Device Support:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/devicesupport.aspx

Music Stores:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/onlinestores.aspx

Smart Jukebox:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/jukebox.aspx

ISO Recorder 2 Public Beta

Fri, 03 Sep 2004 22:22:31 GMT

Alex Feinman recently released a new beta test version of his popular ISO Recorder power toy which built on the functionality of the inbuilt XP CD Recording. This version includes some nice improvements over the older version such as erasing discs, detecting media changes, process independence from Windows Explorer and support for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003.

It is also advised that you uninstall version 1 if it is installed on your computer to prevent conflicts, and that you only install this version 2 on Windows XP Service Pack 2 or 2003 Server.

Download Site

.Net Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 20:05:07 GMT

The Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1 is a roll-up of all reported issues found in the release version of the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1. SP1 also offers some new notable improvements such as Data Execution Prevention, greater protection from buffer overruns, support for the security enhancements in Windows XP Service Pack 2 as well as better support for consuming WSDL documents.

The .net framework 1.1 SP1 also fixes a really annoying issue that a lot of home users find themselves in after installing the 1.1 framework from Windows Update. What is that issue I hear you ask? Simple, the framework install creates another user account so it can run the ASP.net worker process for Internet Information Services under a restricted user account for enhanced security. This in itself is not a bad thing, but in the first version of the 1.1 framework this user prevented the system auto logging on to the desktop. A change was made to further hide the user account and under SP1 there is no longer an auto logon issue.

Download the .Net Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1 (10.4Mb)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?
FamilyID=a8f5654f-088e-40b2-bbdb-a83353618b38&DisplayLang=en

Issues Resolved in the 1.1 Service Pack
http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/downloads/updates/
sptechpreview/content11sp1.aspx

What is the ASP.NET Machine Account?
http://mvps.org/marksxp/WindowsXP/aspdot.php

FAQ: Build 2158?

Thu, 26 Aug 2004 00:09:36 GMT

Q: When I look at winver on my system the version number reads as 'Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158 (Service Pack 2)', I thought 2180 was the final build? Do I have the final version?

A: Yes, 2180 is the final version and if your version stamp reads the same as I have put above you do have the final version installed. The build number of a service pack is only displayed in winver and system properties on a beta or release candidate version. The confusion for Service Pack 2 comes because its compile time stamp is now the only thing visible and that's 21:58/9:58PM, which can make it look like build 2158. When broken down the version stamp means: OS is Build 2600 (Windows XP) with Service Pack 2 Release to Manfacturer level, compiled on the 3rd August 2004 at 9:58PM

Prescott Processors and XP-SP2

Tue, 24 Aug 2004 00:44:39 GMT

A number of people running Pentium 4 Prescott CPU's with older Bios versions (on some motherboards) are experiencing a failure while booting Windows after installing Service Pack 2, this is due to an issue with the machine's BIOS not installing a production level microcode update. If you have an issue after installing you should be able to boot by opening the bios and temporarily disabling the L1/2 cache in your system, however if you’re going to be installing SP2 on a P4 Prescott it is probably worth getting the latest version of the BIOS for your board from its manufacturer first.

For more details on known motherboard models with a problem see:
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7447

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer V1.2.1 Released

Sat, 21 Aug 2004 18:16:08 GMT

A new version of the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer tool has been released for compatability with Windows XP Service Pack 2. MBSA is a utility which will scan the local system, or others on your network for misconfigured installations of Internet Information Server (IIS), SQL Server, Internet Explorer and Office. It will also alert you to missing security updates for Intetnet Information Server, SQL Server, Internet Explorer, Office, Exchange Server, Windows Media Player, Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC), MSXML, Microsoft Virtual Machine, Commerce Server, Content Management Server, BizTalk Server, Host Integration Server. It is a particularly useful tool if your running your own website running IIS and SQL to help ensure you've not configured the system in a known unsecure way. When used in combination with the IIS Lockdown tool and URLScan you can greatly increase the security of your server. By running MBSA you can help prevent your system from being exploited by ensuring you have the latest updates installed and check you're not using weak passwords.

Download information:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsahome.mspx

Update: Slipstreaming SP2 MCE

Fri, 20 Aug 2004 20:02:47 GMT

Thanks very much to Matze, who sent in some feedback regarding the Media Center 2004 SP2 slipstream guide.

It would appear that the problem causing setup to prompt for files is the cab files used in the CMPNENTS folders no longer exist. By creating a 0Kb file called MEDIACTR.CAB in your \CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386 folder and NETFX.CAB in your \CMPNENTS\NETFX\I386 it will allow installation to complete properly without stopping to prompt for mcdftreg.inf or SmartNav5.js. This is great news, especially so if you wanted to perform a true unattended setup. I’ve updated the guide steps to include this.

Update on SP2 Automatic Update

Wed, 18 Aug 2004 00:31:25 GMT

The plans for rolling SP2 out through automatic update seem to have changed to allow corporate customers using XP Professional longer to use the SP2 Blocking tool, which allows them to prevent SP2 being downloaded for 120 days. As it stands currently the plan seems to be

8/16 Release to Software Update Services
8/18 Release to Automatic Update for users running Windows XP Home Edition only

It has been rumoured that from the 25^th the following should be happening, however Microsoft have not said anything other than ‘later in August’.

Available via Automatic Update for users running Windows XP, All Variants
Release to Windows Update site for interactive user installations

If you don’t want to wait for automatic update you can download the Express installer (English) which is what you would be offered via Automatic Update here

For a single machine install this is probably the best thing to get as it is a smaller download tailored to your system (60Mb+ download depending on XP Edition). Remember also to order yourself a SP2 CD-Rom from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

The 266 Mb network installer recommended for installing SP2 on multiple machines is available from:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

Testing 1..2..3

Mon, 16 Aug 2004 17:51:34 GMT

In preparation for moving to my university hall I've transferred this blog to the new mvps.org server so hopefully the page should be loading a bit quicker and you should no longer come across 'HTTP 403.9 - Access Forbidden: Too Many Users Are Connected' errors J

Over the past few days Microsoft have also placed a few more knowledge base articles online regarding application compatibility and SP2

Some programs seem to stop working after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 because of the Windows Firewall

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=842242

Programs that may behave differently in Windows XP Service Pack 2

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=884130&product=windowsxpsp2

I did see some comments regarding these articles in the Windows XP Public newsgroups which said that based on these lists SP2 was a disaster. Considering how much has been tightened up in Windows it's good that so few applications require a change, but really at the end of the day isn't having to download the latest version of Nero worth it to have a much more secure base operating system? I'd rather this to a repeat performance of the RPC/MSBLAST debacle. Certainly for quite a number of the security products on that list its not that they wouldn't work, just that they would not interact with the new security center properly. It's worth checking the list before you install Service Pack 2 so you are aware of any problems if your using any of the applications listed. Service Pack 1 is still supported for 12 months after the release of Service Pack 2 so if an application you need does not have an update available yet it’s possible to stay on SP1 for a while and continue to get updates.

Another interesting article I came across this weekend was in David Massy's Blog who works on the Internet Explorer team regarding Transparent PNGs, or the lack alpha channel support in Internet Explorer 6.

http://blogs.msdn.com/dmassy/archive/2004/08/05/209428.aspx

SP2 Common Issues Update

Thu, 12 Aug 2004 17:47:09 GMT

I've recently updated the SP2 common issues page on my site to include a few more items which have cropped up during the first few days of SP2's public availability. The list now includes:

Setup
- Service Pack 2 Will not install, I'm told I have an invalid product key
- Service Pack 2 Setup could not verify the integrity of the file. Make sure the Cryptographic service is running
- When trying to upgrade to a later version of SP2 with a Beta or Release Candidate version already installed setup is terminated
- Atapi.sys is currently in use, please close all programs and continue.' Warning Message shown during setup

Outlook Express
- Since Installing Service Pack 2 I can no longer open attachments in Outlook Express

Internet Explorer
- After following a hyperlink to content such as a WMV video file in Internet Explorer it is opened as text in the browser rather than Media Player.

Service Pack 2 Changes
- After install my boot screen is a generic XP Logo rather than 'Windows XP Home/Pro/Tablet/Media Center Edition'
- After install my system runs much slower than before
- After downloading a program from the Internet I am shown a message saying 'The publisher could not be verified. Are you sure you want to run this software?'
- If you attempt to open a file whose extension has been renamed from its true type you will be blocked for accessing the file.
- Known issues with SP2
- EULA text retains 180 day clause

Also a good friend of mine, MVP Mike Kolitz has posted some other good entries about SP2 to his blog a open-node.net

XPSP2 FAQ: How do I stop the Security Center from bugging me about my firewall/updates/anti-virus?

XPSP2 FAQ: There seem to be a lot of people in the newsgroups who are having problems with SP2. Maybe I shouldn't install it?

XPSP2 FAQ: How do I tell whether I'm downloading SP2 for Home Edition or Professional?

Creating DVD Install Media and Slipstreaming SP2 Media Center

Tue, 10 Aug 2004 12:53:07 GMT

So Windows XP SP2 is out and for every other edition of Windows XP apart from Media Center slipstreaming this update is a pretty simple thing. The Media Center components do not appear to get updated when you intergrate SP2 into an image, there is a way to slipstream sp2 but I’m pretty sure this isn’t a supported method so use this at your own risk, should you encounter issues after installation you will not be able to get any support from your OEM or Microsoft.

1) Create a folder on your hard disk called XPMCESP2 and copy the contents of your Windows XP CD 1 and 2 into this folder. This must be a full version of the Media Center install software, not a manufacturer recovery disc; a suitable disc will have an i386, DOTNETFX, support and tools folders on CD1, and then CMPNENTS folder on CD2.

I am using MSDN DVD 2428.1 using

CD1 - \ENGLISH\WINXP\PRO_SP1A

CD2 - \ENGLISH\WINXP\TABLETPC\CD2

If you wish to create a DVD for Media Center 2002 you can now skip to burn the bootable disc to CD/DVD using Nero 6, else follow the steps below to integrate SP2.

2) Download the 266MB network installer for Windows XP Service Pack 2 from

http://microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2

3) Once downloaded run DRIVELETTER:\xpsp2.exe /integrate:driveletter:\xpmcesp2

You should now see a window titled ‘extracting files’ on screen, this will update the Professional CD1 components present on the CD and may take a few moments to complete.

Once ‘Integrated install has completed successfully’ appears on screen move to step 4

4) Open mediactr.cab in the XPMCESP2\CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386 folder

Copy the 6 JPEG files, custsat.dll, mcintro.wmv and doa3.dvr temporary folder

Arch.jpg
BigWave.jpg
custsat.dll
doa3.dvr
Fish.jpg
Freestyl.jpg
mcintro.wmv
Rio.jpg
winxpfs.jpg

Now deleted mediactr.cab from this folder and move your files from their temporary directory to XPMCESP2\CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386

5) Media Center 2004 uses some video files which are not included in the service pack or the original components. These can be downloaded from

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/displaycalibration.mspx

or taken from a current Media Center 2004 install. However unless your planning to burn the CMPNENTS folder as a separate CD, or use DVD Media I’d recommend creating some text files and rename them so a 0byte file exists with each video name. If you put all the videos as a whole in the image will be around 875Mb.

The additional files are

AspectRatio4x3.wmv
AspectRatio16x9.wmv
Brightness.wmv
ColorTint.wmv
Contrast.wmv
intro.wmv
Positioning4x3.wmv
Positioning16x9.wmv
RGBBalance.wmv
Sharpness.wmv

Once these files or a 0byte file with that name exists in your CMPNENTS folder rename intro.wmv to ehintro.wmv

When doing this I found I was able to get everything onto a single 700Mb CD with doa3 and the intro videos as 0 byte files. This maintains the functionality should you want to setup your display using the wizard.

Now at present your \CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386 folder should contain

Arch.jpg
BigWave.jpg
custsat.dll
doa3.dvr
Fish.jpg
Freestyl.jpg
mcintro.wmv
Rio.jpg
winxpfs.jpg
AspectRatio4x3.wmv
AspectRatio16x9.wmv
Brightness.wmv
ColorTint.wmv
Contrast.wmv
ehintro.wmv
Positioning4x3.wmv
Positioning16x9.wmv
RGBBalance.wmv
Sharpness.wmv

6) It is now time to add the updated files from Service Pack 2. Download winrar from www.rarlabs.com, after installation right click on xpsp2.exe and select open with winrar. Browse to i386 > root > cmpnents and extract the Mediactr and netfx folders to a temporary directory. Now in the mediactr folder you just extracted go into the i386 sub folder, select all the files in this directory and copy them to your CD image folder XPMCESP2\CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386.

7) We must also upgrade the .net framework patch which exists in CMPNENTS\NETFX\I386. To do this delete the cab file which exists in this folder and repeat the previous operation for the extracted netfx folder moving the files to \CMPNENTS\NETFX\I386.

8) Create a 0Kb file called MEDIACTR.CAB in your \CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386 folder and NETFX.CAB in your \CMPNENTS\NETFX\I386

Integrating SP2 may also have created or recreated a TABLETPC folder in \CMPNENTS; this can be deleted to save space on the disc. Your image should now be complete you are ready to burn.

To burn the bootable disc to CD/DVD using Nero 6:

1) Download the Windows XP Boot image file xpboot.bin from www.dougknox.com/xp/xpboot.zip and extract it from the ZIP file. It does not need to be in the same folder as the files from the ISO's.

2) Open Nero 6 and create a new CD or DVD-ROM (Boot) compilation depending on what you’re burning.

a) On the Boot tab, select the Image File radio button and point it to the xpboot.bin file you downloaded earlier.

b) Check the box Enable expert settings.

c) For Kind of emulation, select No Emulation.

d) On the boot tab, leave the Load segment of sectors at 07C0.

e) On the boot tab, change the number of loaded sectors to 4.

f) On the Label tab, in the ISO 9660 box enter WB2PFRE_EN
g) On the ISO tab set the following options

File Name Length: Max of 11 = 8+3 chars (ISO Level 1)

Format: Mode 1

Character Set: DOS
Joliet – Enabled
Allow path depth of more than 8 directories – Enabled
Allow more than 255 characters in path – Enabled
Do not add the ';1' ISO file version extension - Enabled
Allow more than 64 characters for Joliet names - Enabled

No other changes should be necessary in the New Compilation dialog.

3) Click the New button on the compilation dialog.

4) Drag the all the files from your XPMCESP2 folder into the Nero window so that you have the folders such as i386 at the root of the disc.

5) Burn the compilation to CD/DVD and you're all done.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Final now Available!

Mon, 09 Aug 2004 00:12:31 GMT

The big day has finally arrived; the final version of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (Build 2180) is now available for download from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2 after many months of testing and over 1 million downloads by beta testers through Technical Previews, External Beta programs and MSDN customers. This package can also be ordered free on CD-Rom (See bottom of entry for details).

Microsoft continually works to improve its software. As part of this effort, they develop updates and fixes to recognized issues and release them for use by customers. On a regular basis, they combine many of these fixes into a single package and make the package available for customers to install on their computers. These packages are called Service Packs. SP2 will bring users the latest security updates and innovations from Microsoft to help protect your machine with increased network protection, memory protection, email handling, and enhanced browser security. It will establish stronger security settings that help defend against viruses, hackers, and worms and will provide unique new security features designed to make it easier for you to protect your PC.

In terms of Media Center this will update any previous version of Windows XP Media Center 2002 or 2004 (including beta versions of SP2 v2096 & 2138-2179) to Media Center 2004 build 5.1.2600.2180. This is handy if your OEM is no longer providing the upgrade to Media Center 2004; however this release is mainly a bug fix/performance update rather than adding new features (unless you’re upgrading from Media Center 2002 of course). All updates made available so far for MCE2004 such as the Critical Update Q830786 (http://www.salloway.org.uk/mceblog/default.aspx?date=2004-06-01#a17812051-53c0-4ec9-ad9d-2d75ef489e58) are included in SP2. In addition to this SP2 fixes issues with elevated processor usage when viewing TV after installing Q830786, and updates for DVB-T channel scan reliability.

Service Pack 2 is a release everyone running XP should install, particularly those who use it on the internet open to the kind of attack prevented by SP2. People that use Wireless networking will also be pleased to see that that connecting to a network and distributing network keys is much simpler under SP2. Service Pack 2 also includes updated versions of Windows Media Player 9, DirectX 9.0c, Windows Installer 3.0, Windows Messenger (4.7), Windows Movie Maker 2.1 and Internet Explorer 6.0/Outlook Express SP2.

The release schedule will go like this

8/6 Release to manufacturing
8/9 Release to Microsoft Download Center (network installation package)

Network installer download :
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

8/9 Release to MSDN subscription site (CD ISO image)
8/10 Release to Automatic Updates (for machines running pre-release versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2 only)
8/16 Release to Automatic Updates (for machines NOT running pre-releases versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2)
8/16 Release to Software Update Services
Later in August Release to Windows Update for interactive user installations

Microsoft have also taken the decision not to block any more product keys beyond those already black listed by service pack 1.

‘We expect that nearly all Windows XP users, running genuine or pirated
Windows, will have access to the security technologies in SP2. The same
users that were blocked from installing SP1 - those that have used a small
set of legacy pirated product keys - will be blocked from installing
SP2. We
believe that there are very few systems in use today that use these keys
--
in other words, the pirates have moved on to other keys which we are not
blocking.

So how do we characterize our policy?

We want to make sure that the broadest number of people can install SP2.
The nature of malicious attacks on computer users is constantly changing
and we will continue to evaluate how we deal with security updates for pirated
versions of Windows to best protect our genuine Windows customers.’

Links:

Order your copy of Service Pack 2 on CD

Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2

The New Wireless Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Manually Configuring Windows Firewall in Windows XP SP2

New Networking Features in Windows XP SP2

The New Wireless Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Windows XP General Newsgroup

Additional Information on release schedule sourced from msdn.com

...and in other news

Wed, 04 Aug 2004 05:43:46 GMT

ZDnet Australia is currently reporting that the final version of Windows XP Service Pack 2 has gone gold and that customers will be able to download SP2 from August 25th. However at this point they seem to be the only people saying this and there is no announcement on the Microsoft PressPass site, which does make you wonder about the credibility of the report.

'Update: A red-faced Microsoft Australia has backflipped on a statement issued earlier today that said Windows XP Service Pack 2 had been released to manufacturing.

A Microsoft Australia spokesperson told ZDNet Australia this afternoon the company's Australian operation had "prematurely" issued the statement and while XP SP2 would be available shortly, "it had not been released to manufacturing as indicated by Microsoft Australia on Wednesday".'>>

http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/0,2000061744,39155375,00.htm

Hyperthreading Fun

Wed, 04 Aug 2004 05:38:33 GMT

An interesting tool I've used this week to fix a problem of mine is imagecfg.exe which originally shipped as part of the Windows 2000 Resource Kit. Among its abilities is to patch a win32 exe to use a particular CPU, rather than having affinity with every processor in your system when executed. Particularly this is useful if you’re running an application or some Windows 9x games which seem to come apart at the seams should they see Hyperthreading Enabled/SMP systems. It offers a nice benefit of not having to entirely disable hyperthreading or bringing up the task manager each time you start an application to set a single affinity. Another application called XPCU offers the ability to launch a program with particular affinity settings and does not modify the exe as imagecfg does, instead it working on the command line settings issued by the user.

For Longhorn I’d like to see affinity settings for applications integrated into the existing Application Compatibility since we seem to be heading towards a time where Hyperthreading and Multicore CPU’s will be the norm.

For more information on XPCU see:
http://www.appliedvisual.com/xcpu.htm

For more information on this use of imagecfg see:
http://www.robpol86.com/misc_pgs/imagecfg.php>

Spot an SP2 User Coming

Mon, 19 Jul 2004 06:56:25 GMT

After installing Service Pack 2 ‘SV1’ is added to Internet Explorers HTTP User Agent, so should you want to display certain content only to SP2 users they can be filtered out as long as they use IE.

Here’s some sample PHP I have created to do this, which first looks for Windows XP, then Internet Explorer, then SV1. Transferring this to other languages should be pretty simple.

<?php

if (strstr($_SERVER["HTTP_USER_AGENT"], "Windows NT 5.1"))

{

if(strstr($_SERVER["HTTP_USER_AGENT"],"MSIE")) {

if(strstr($_SERVER["HTTP_USER_AGENT"],"SV1"))

{

echo "Your system may have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed";

}

else

{

echo "Your system was identified as a Windows XP system using Microsoft Internet Explorer that does not currently have Service Pack 2 installed. Service Pack 2 is an important update which can greatly increase the security of your system, please see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2 for more details.";

}

else

{echo "Sorry we cannot accurately tell which Service Pack is currently installed due to the limited information disclosed by your browser. This is the expected result if you are not using Microsoft Internet Explorer to view this page.";

}

else

{echo "This page is designed for use only with Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Internet Explorer";

}

Although not an entirly fool proof solution, its good to have an idea without installing components on the visiting machine.

http://mvps.org/marksxp/WindowsXP/sp2detect.php

Media Center Update (Windows XP SP2 Release Candidate 2)

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 21:57:19 GMT

NOTE: Release Candidate 2 of Service Pack 2 is still Beta software, and may cause unforeseen problems on your system. This shouldn't be installed on a system which you cannot afford to reinstall. The final version should be with us Summer 2004.

In terms of Media Center this will update any previous non beta version of Windows XP Media Center 2002 or 2004 to build 5.1.2600.2149. This is mainly a bug fix/performance update rather than adding new features.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Release Candidate 2 (Full Network Installer):
http://download.microsoft.com/download/C/1/6/C169BA60-E2D6-4C5F-B4F2-23DA024C9FA8/xpSP2.exe

Service Pack 2 RC2 Release Notes:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/relsprc2.mspx

Media Center Update (Windows XP Service Pack 2 RC1)

Tue, 11 May 2004 01:11:36 GMT

Windows XP Service Pack 2 offers users many changes which greatly enhance the security of their systems. What it also does is install the Service Pack 2 build of Media Center on to any existing (Non Beta) version of Windows XP Media Center 2002 or 2004 installation. So if you've not yet been able to obtain a Media Center 2004 upgrade from your OEM, SP2 can help here. This update doesn't provide any new features that were not included in the last release (MCE 2004 with Q830786 installed), this is mainly a bug fix. The current build number for this build is 5.1.2600.2096

NOTE: The current version of Service Pack 2 is a Release Candidate. It is still Beta software, and may cause unforeseen problems on your system. The final version should be with us Summer 2004.

Download:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/sp2preview.mspx