Windows XP Service Pack 1 Resources

Service Pack Documentation

Differences Between Windows XP SP1 and Windows XP SP1a
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 813926 - This article describes the differences between Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Service Pack 1a (SP1a). Windows XP updates are distributed in service packs. You can use service packs to help keep Windows XP current and to extend and update the functionality of your computer. On September 9, 2002, Microsoft released Windows XP SP1. On February 3, 2003, Microsoft released SP1 again as SP1a.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Get answers to common questions about Windows XP SP1. Source: Microsoft.com

Hotfix Deployment Guide
This guide provides instructions for administrators installing hotfixes for Windows XP. This guide includes technical details, procedures, and recommendations for successfully installing Windows XP hotfixes on multiple computers in a small business or corporate environment. Source: Microsoft.com

Installation and Deployment Guide
The Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 Installation and Deployment Guide provides instructions for administrators installing Service Pack 1 for Windows XP. This guide includes information for advanced users, technical details, procedures, and recommendations for successfully installing the service pack on multiple computers in a small business or corporate environment. Source: Microsoft.com

Read The SP1a Fine Print
Even though the court of appeals ruled in Microsoft's favor and stayed the lower court's order that would have forced Microsoft to carry the latest version of Java, Microsoft still went ahead and posted an update to its first XP service pack. SP1a removes Microsoft's own Java virtual machine. But Microsoft's not encouraging users to apply the update. In fact, Redmond is doing its best to discourage users from upgrading. "There is no benefit to installing SP1a if you are already running Windows XP SP1. Microsoft does not recommend that you install SP1a if you are already running SP1," Microsoft warns. Source: Microsoft-Watch

ReadMe
This Readme file explains how to install SP1, describes the issues addressed in the service pack and provides specific information that might apply to your setup. Source: Microsoft.com

Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 1
This article contains a list of Microsoft Knowledge Base article numbers for release notes and known issues with Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1). To view any of these articles, click the article number. Source: Microsoft.com
 
List of Bugs That Are Fixed in Windows XP Service Packs 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 324720 - This article provides a list of the bugs that were fixed in Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1). Service packs are cumulative. This means that the bugs that are fixed in a service pack are also fixed in later service packs. Source: Microsoft.com

Useful Articles

Hard Disk Space Requirements for Windows XP Service Pack 1
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 326583 - This article describes the hard disk space that is required for installing Service Pack 1 (SP1) on computers that are already running Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, or Windows XP 64-Bit Edition. Note that the working space that is described in the following table is required for files that are used only during the installation process. This requirement is temporary and does not contribute to the total space requirements. 

How to change the Windows XP Product ID
Since the release of Windows XP Professional, Microsoft has discovered that the vast majority of illegitimate copies in use are using a small handful of leaked "corporate" keys. In an effort to thwart these illegitimate users, Windows XP Service Pack 1 (and possibly all future updates) will not install on systems using these keys, and it is unclear what additional steps Microsoft may take in the future. Microsoft claims that legitimate licensed users of XP Professional should be unaffected, however there are a number of different ways one of these leaked keys can find its way into an otherwise legal environment and cause serious deployment issues. (When a legitimate corporate key is not at hand during an installation process, it's a common practice for some administrators to simple search the web for a valid key.) Here's how to check if your systems are using a leaked key, and how to change the product activation key if they are. 

How to Use the SPCheck Tool in Windows XP
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 312646 - This article describes how to use the SPCheck.exe tool in Windows XP to determine the service pack level of installed components on a file-by-file basis. SPCheck.exe is included with the Windows XP Support Tools package. 

HOW TO: Schedule Automatic Updates in Windows XP and Windows 2000
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327838 - If you are logged on as an administrator, the Automatic Updates feature in Windows notifies you when critical updates are available for your computer. There is a new Automatic Updates feature that you can use to specify the schedule that Windows follows to install updates on your computer. This article describes how to install this new Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP and Windows 2000 and how to use it to schedule Automatic Updates. 

How to Use Powercfg.exe in Windows .NET Server 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 324347 - This article describes how to use Powercfg.exe, a utility that was introduced in Windows .NET Server Family and Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1). You can use this tool to access the settings from the Power Options tool in Control Panel and to set these... 

Installing Windows XP Service Pack 1 by Using Systems Management Server
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 326696 - This article describes how to install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) from a shared distribution folder on a network by using Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS). You can use this update installation method to install SP1 on SMS client computers that are already running Windows XP.

Multilingual User Interface (MUI) Updates Are Included in Windows XP SP1
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327773 - The updates for Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI) for Windows XP are included in the English-language version of Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1). There is no separate update package for MUI. 

Using Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 in a Managed Environment
This white paper provides information about the communication that flows between components in Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (SP1) and sites on the Internet, and how to limit, control, or prevent that communication in an organization with many users. The white paper is designed to help you, the administrator, plan strategies for deploying and maintaining Windows XP Professional SP1 in a way that provides an appropriate level of security for your organization’s networked assets. Source: Microsoft.com

Known Bugs and Issues

"Application Failed to Start Because Netdtect.dll Was Not Found" Error Message When You Install Windows XP SP1 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327120 - When you try to install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), you may receive the following error message during the "Inspecting your current configuration" phase of the "Updating Your System" portion of Setup: Update.exe - Unable to Locate Component This application has failed to start because netdtect.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem. This behavior may occur if there is a third-party driver on your computer that is trying to link to Netdtect.dll. Netdtect.dll is no longer included with Windows

Cannot Use DirectPlay Programs on the Internet After You Install Windows XP SP1
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327299 - After you upgrade a Windows XP-based computer that is using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to Service Pack 1 (SP1), programs that use DirectPlay (for example, Age of Empires, or Midtown Madness 2) may not work properly on either the ICS host or the... 

Cannot View Web Content Files in Thumbnails View
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327833 - If you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), you may not be able to view some Web content files in Thumbnails view in the My Computer window or in Windows Explorer. 

Default Permissions for Shared Folders Is Read-only Access for Everyone
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 328065 - By default, the setting for folders that you share through Windows Explorer in Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) is for everyone to have read-only access. This is also true for folders that you share through the New File Share wizard and the Net.exe command. Before SP1, shared folders had default permissions that gave everyone full control.

Documentation Error in CD-ROM Version of the Windows XP Service Pack 1 Release Notes
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 328259 - The following portion of the Release Notes for Service Pack 1 for Windows XP contains a documentation error: Microsoft Virtual Machine for Java 32-bit Platform: The Microsoft virtual machine (Microsoft VM) is now only available as a Web download. 

Error Message: The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 326904 - When you try to install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), you may receive the following error message: The Product Key used to install Windows is invalid. Please contact your system administrator or retailer immediately to obtain a valid Product Key.

Error Message: Windows Has Detected That One or More Protected Core System Files (Kernel) on Your Computer Have Been Modified
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327101 - When you try to install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), you may receive the following error message: Windows has detected that one or more protected core system files (kernel) on your computer have been modified. The Service Pack contains updated... 

Error Message: Windows Service Pack 1 Has Detected That One or More Protected Core System Files on Your Computer Have Been Modified
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327120 - When you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) on your computer, you may receive the following error message: Windows Service Pack 1 has detected that one or more protected files on your computer have been modified. The Service Pack contains updated versions of those files, which work to provide a stable environment for your programs. You receive this error message if the computer has a modified version of the Ntoskrnl.exe file

"File or Network Path No Longer Exists" Error Message When You Copy Files in Windows XP SP1
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 329170 - If you copy a large file over the network in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) and the source file is located on a Microsoft Windows 2000-based share, you may receive the following error message: File or network path no longer exists. The error message may occur if the source file is located on a Windows 2000-based share. This is a network-related Server Message Block (SMB) packet issue that may occur if SMB signing is enabled on the source Windows 2000-based computer. When this problem occurs, the copy process may work about 50 percent of the time, but is more likely not to work under high network stress or if another network connection is opened while the file is being copied

Game Stops Responding (Hangs) or Quits Unexpectedly When Introductory Video Clip Is Played
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327979 - If you try to start and play certain games on a Windows Home Edition Service Pack 1 (SP1)-based computer, the game may stop responding (hang) or it may quit unexpectedly when the introductory video clip starts. 

Icons and Commands Are Not Available on the Desktop and Start Menu After You Remove Windows XP SP1
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327982 - If you hide Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook Express, Microsoft Windows Media Player, or Microsoft Windows Messenger, and then you remove Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP, the icons for these programs are not restored to the Start menu

Roxio DirectCD 5.1 Stops Responding When You Copy Large Files to CD-ROM
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 328600 - After you install Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP, the DirectCD program included with Roxio Easy CD Creator version 5.1 may stop responding when you use it to copy large files (for example, files of more than 100 megabytes [MB]) to a CD-ROM. 

Setup Prompts You for the Windows XP SP1 CD or I386 Folder When You Try to Add a Windows Component 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 328096 - When you try to add a Windows component (for example, Fax Services) to your Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1)-based computer, Setup may prompt you for the Windows XP Service Pack 1 CD-ROM or for the I386 folder on the network that contains the Windows XP SP1 source files

STOP Error Occurs When You Restore Backup Windows XP SP1 Files
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 328035 - After you restore a full backup of a Windows XP installation, you may receive the following Stop error message: STOP: 0xc0000139 Entry Point Not Found The procedure entry point LdrEnumerateLoadedModules could not be located in the dynamic link library ntdll.dll. After you receive this error message, the computer may automatically restart. After this error message occurs, you may not be able to start the computer in Safe mode.

The Exchange Instant Messaging Service Client Is Not Updated with Windows XP Service Pack 1 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Microsoft Knowledge Base Article After you install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), clicking About Windows Messenger on the Help menu in Microsoft Windows Messenger reports version 4.7. However, the Microsoft Exchange 2000 Instant Messaging Service client component is not updated.

"The Update.inf File Is Not Correct" Error Message When You Try to Install Windows XP Service Pack 1
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 326815 - When you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), you may receive the following error message: Setup Error The path\Update.inf file is not correct. 

"Stop 0x0000006b" or Setup Stops Responding at "Setup is Starting Windows" When You Install a Windows XP SP1 Client Image from a RIS Server 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327536 - When you try to install a Windows XP client image with slipstreamed Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later from a Windows 2000-based Remote Installation Services (RIS) server, Setup stops responding (hangs) at the "Setup is Starting Windows" message.

Ultra DMA Mode 6 Devices Are Not Enabled After You Install Windows XP SP1
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327805 - After you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), ATA-133 (Ultra DMA Mode 6) devices are not enabled, even though SP1 supports Ultra DMA Mode 6. 

Windows Installer Requires a Path to the RTL8139.sys File During Windows XP SP1 Installation
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 328003 - When you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), you may receive a message that states that Windows Installer requires a path to the RTL8139.sys file. 

Windows Messenger Starts When You Start Outlook Express After You Remove Access to Windows Messenger 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 326053 - After you remove access to Microsoft Windows Messenger by using either of the following methods in Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Messenger may still start when you start Microsoft Outlook Express:

Winmodem Device Does Not Work on Toshiba Portege 2000 After You Upgrade to Windows XP SP1 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327804 - After you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), the winmodem device no longer works on your Toshiba Portege 2000. When you view the device in Device Manager, it is displayed with a yellow "!", which indicates that the device is experiencing problems.

You Cannot Play Licensed WMA Files in MUSICMATCH Jukebox After You Apply Windows XP SP1
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327991 - If you try to use MUSICMATCH Jukebox to download and play Windows Media Audio (.wma) files that are licensed with Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions after you apply Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), your browser may redirect you to a Microsoft Web site that displays the following message, instead of redirecting you to the Web site of the appropriate content provider

You Cannot Sign In to or Use Exchange Instant Messaging After You Upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 1 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 327810 - After you upgrade your computer to Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) from Microsoft Windows 98 or from Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, you may find that you can no longer sign in to or use Microsoft Exchange 2000 Instant Messaging Service

You Cannot Use the "Start Windows Using Last Known Good Configuration" Feature to Remove SP1
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article  Q328001 - After you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), you cannot use the "Start Windows Using Last Known Good Configuration" feature to undo the installation of Windows XP SP1. To undo an installation of SP1, use the Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel