Microsoft Releases Windows XP Service Pack 1

Today, Microsoft released Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), the long-awaited collection of bug fixes for the company's best-selling OS. XP SP1 includes all the XP security fixes that Microsoft has issued to Windows Update since last October, security fixes that resulted in an early 2002 Trustworthy Computing code review, compliance changes dictated by the company's proposed antitrust settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ), and so-called enabling technologies for new XP versions such as Windows XP Media Center Edition (due in mid-October) and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition (due November 7).

"Microsoft is always focused on improving the reliability and security of Windows for our customers, and [SP1] is the latest delivery on our commitment to those customers," said Jim Allchin, group vice president for the Platforms Products Group, when the company released SP1 to manufacturing late last month. "Windows XP is the most secure and dependable [OS] we have ever produced, but our work doesn't end when we ship the product. Windows XP [SP1], along with services such as Windows Update, [is an example] of how we help customers keep their PCs updated with the latest and greatest technology."

XP users will be able to download SP1 through Windows Update, which is probably the most bandwidth-sensitive way to obtain the updates. Administrators and users who want to roll out SP1 on multiple machines can download the 130MB SP1 release from the Microsoft Web site (see the first URL below). And MSDN Professional and Universal subscribers can download SP1 and new slipstreamed versions of XP with SP1 included from the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Subscriber Downloads Web site (see the second URL below).

Download Windows XP SP1 (130MB)
MSDN Subscriber Downloads