1-11LESSON 2 IDENTIFYING MAJOR FEATURES OF WINDOWS XP SERVICE PACK 2CO...

1-11Lesson 2 Identifying Major Features of Windows XP Service Pack 2

connects periodically to Windows Update on the Internet (or possibly to a Windows

Update Services server on a corporate network). When Automatic Updates discovers

new updates that apply to the computer, it can be configured to install all updates

automatically (the preferred method) or to notify the computer’s administrator (or

other users configured to receive notifications) that an update is available.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 provides several enhancements to the Automatic Updates

feature, including the following:

■

The latest version of Automatic Updates offers expanded support for Microsoft

products, including Microsoft Office.

■

Previous versions of Automatic Updates could download only critical updates.

Now Automatic Updates can download updates in the following categories: secu-

rity updates, critical updates, update roll-ups, and service packs.

■

Automatic Updates now prioritizes the download of available updates based on

the importance and size of the updates. For example, if a large service pack is

being downloaded, and a smaller security update is released to address an exploit,

that security update will be downloaded more quickly than the service pack.

■

Automatic Updates is now more automated. The need for users to accept End-

User License Agreements (EULAs) has been eliminated. Also, the user now has a

choice of whether to restart the computer following the installation of updates that

might require a restart. Updates that do require a restart can now be consolidated

into a single installation so that only one restart is required.

Real World A New Windows Update Site

A forthcoming update to the online Windows Update Web site will provide many

of the same features that Automatic Updates provides to users of Windows XP

Service Pack 2 who choose not to use Automatic Updates. These features include

the ability to download updates for Microsoft applications in addition to operating

system updates, to perform express installations that require minimal user input,

and to research updates more easily.

The Windows Update site offers a more hands-on approach to updating Windows than

Automatic Updates. If a user resists using the Automatic Updates feature, teach the user

to frequently visit the Windows Update site and perform an Express Install that scans

for, downloads, and then installs critical and security updates.

Windows Firewall

A firewall protects a computer from attacks originating outside the computer (specifi-

cally, the Internet) by blocking all incoming network traffic except that which you spe-