Microsoft Talk

Until Microsoft release Windows XP SP3, you will have to manually update your Windows XP installation. And if you have done a fresh install, you are doomed

Now now.. don’t despair. There is a workaround.

RyanVM’s Post-SP2 Update Pack by Ryan VanderMeulen, which automates the procedure to a high degree

Unfortunately, Post-SP2 Update Pack is only designed to update a Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD image?it doesn’t update live systems. That said, if you’re starting to build desktops with Windows XP and want the most up-to-the-second disk image you can create, this utility is fairly effective. It also ensures that the installed packages are pre-validated through Microsoft’s own code-signing mechanisms.

Using RyanVM’s Post-SP2 Update Pack

To use RyanVM’s Post- SP2 Update Pack, you need the application and the update collection (this can be downloaded directly from Microsoft and collated by the application author). After copying the contents of the installation CD to a writeable folder, you simply point the SP2 Update Pack program at the writeable folder and at the update packs to apply. Once integration is finished, all that remains is to re-burn the results to a CD or use the patched files in a network-based installation.

Other than the usual collection of hotfixes and Windows updates, you can also download update packs to add Windows Media Player 10, Windows Genuine Advantage (the most recent edition), DirectX 9.0C and other additional/optional programs (such as SyncToy and TweakUI) that do not come with Windows by default.

As a safety measure, it’s recommended that you only do this by starting with the install files from a factory-created or MSDN-downloaded XP SP2 install CD. Don’t attempt this with an install disc that has already been manually updated. Also, if you download future update packs to use with this program, they should only be applied to a factory-fresh SP2 CD. Finally, RyanVM’s Post-SP2 Update Pack should be considered an unofficial solution to the post-SP2 update situation, so it’s best to test it out before using it in any kind of production environment.

XP, SP3, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

XP, SP3, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar