Microsoft has released a critical update for the Windows XP operating system. The update is called Service Pack 2, or SP2.

The SP2 update will greatly enhance your computer's security and also includes many improvements to the Windows XP operating system. Microsoft has created a succinct document detailing the  Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).

In short, the update will provide your computer with better security, and you with better privacy and control. It also will help reduce pop-up ads and potential for crashes while on the Internet.

Warning!      This update may take up to 75 minutes to complete!       Make sure to clear a block of time convenient for you to      not have access to your computer, for instance over lunch time.       Note: It is okay to cancel the install until you have time to do it.

Installing Service Pack 2

You have 2 options to install SP2:

• Windows Update
• Boston College software site

Note: The update is the same regardless of which method you use.

Learn  about some of the new features of SP2.

Do I need to make any changes after installing Service Pack 2?

After you install SP2, you may notice some changes with certain Web sites you visit and applications on your computer. Learn how to make the appropriate changes to allow these to work properly:

• Web site pop-ups blocked by Pop-Up Blocker (including Quest / BC Libraries Catalog & PeopleSoft)
• Retrospect
• Applications blocked by Windows Firewall
• Remote Desktop
• Microsoft's list of known  applications that require modifications to Windows Firewall
  Note: These applications appear to stop working after you install SP2.

Web site pop-ups blocked by Pop-Up Blocker (including Quest / BC Libraries Catalog & PeopleSoft)

After you install SP2, the new Internet Explorer Pop-Up Blocker will try to block pop-ups on Web pages, including pop-ups on Quest / BC Libraries Catalog ( www.bc.edu/quest) and PeopleSoft. Pop-up Blocker is intended to prevent most pop-up windows from appearing over pages you want to view while you are using the Internet. But, if you want to see pop-ups from a specific site, you can configure your Pop-up Blocker to allow these sites.  Learn more about Internet Explorer Pop-Up Blocker.

To configure Pop-up Blocker to allow Quest or other sites:

1. Open Internet Explorer and go to:  www.bc.edu/quest or the Web site for which you want to allow pop-ups
   
   
2. When you click a link that would open a pop-up window, the following notice appears. Click OK (refer to Figure 1):
   
   Figure 1.
   
   
3. Click the Information Bar (refer to Figure 2):
   
   Figure 2.
   
   
4. On the following menu, click Always Allow Pop-ups from This Site (refer to Figure 3):
   
   Figure 3.
   
   
5. On the following window, click Yes (refer to Figure 4):
   
   Figure 4.
   
   
6. To allow pop-ups from other Web sites, repeat Steps 1-5.

Retrospect

When you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), the service pack automatically enables a firewall on the computer running SP2. This firewall can interfere with the execution of backups using the Dantz Retrospect backup client. To ensure that your Retrospect backups continue to work smoothly, please follow these procedures.

Applications blocked by Windows Firewall

After you install SP2, the new Windows Firewall will try to block applications that access the Internet or a network. Windows Firewall helps protect your computer against security breaches and malicious programs that can spread over the Internet. If you want to allow an application access to the Internet or a network, you can configure Windows Firewall to unblock these applications.  Learn more about Windows Firewall.

To configure Windows Firewall to unblock an application:

1. Open the application that you want to unblock from Windows Firewall.
   
   
2. When the following window appears, click Unblock (refer to Figure 5):
   
   Figure 5.
   
3. To unblock another application, repeat Steps 1-2.

Remote Desktop

If you use Remote Desktop, after you install SP2, you will need to add Remote Desktop to the Windows Firewall exception list. Learn more about applications blocked by Windows Firewall.

To add Remote Desktop to the Windows Firewall exception list:

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
   -OR-
   Click Start, point to Settings and then click Control Panel.
2. In the control panel, double-click Windows Firewall to open it.
3. Click the Exceptions tab.
4. Under Programs and Services, check the box next to Remote Desktop, and then click OK (refer to Figure 6).
   
   Figure 6.