Does Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition OEM come with service pack 1? (I know it does not come with sp2)?
490491
goto microsoft download site and download SP2, this will include all SP1 and well as newer fixes for XP
92327
It is difficult to determine what exactly, aside from security rollups will be included in Windows XP Service Pack 3.  In fact, Service Pack 3 is *not* currently available, and according to Microsoft's own Service Pack Roadmap, SP3 is not due out until the second half of the year 2007.\n\nI've included a link to their Service Pack Roadmap below.
1115135
Go with sp2.  The different packages reflect the fact that microsoft found bugs in the operating system and came out with sp1 and 2 in order to correct them.
222145
You can,but I wouldn't.I would download and install Windows XP Service pack 2,and then go to Windows Update and take all available updates,and then set it to take automatic updates,and keep your Windows XP up to date.You can download Windows XP Service Pack 2 at the site below.
253141
Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 2 is not only "better" it is a requirement if you are using windows XP.  SP2 is an "upgrade" if you will to the original shipment of Windows XP.  It offers fixes for a number of security holes and other bugs in the software.  In addition as part of some of the security fixes, it brings a standard firewall to windows which is on by default.  It also Enables automatic windows update by default.     And lets not forget the pop-up blocker added to Internet explorer.\n\nService pack2 does not however add anysort of anti-virus protection.  This is still software you will want to purchase from companies like trend micro, symantec, mcafee, etc..\n\nUltimately there were alot of updates done to windows XP with Service Pack 2.  If you have a machine running windows xp and put it on the internet you MUST install SP2.  \n\nhopefully this helps.
663995
Here is your fix:\n\nYou MUST have an OEM Win XP CD.\n\n1. Boot up with the WinXP CD and at the Setup Screen press the Enter Key.\n  \n2. You will be taken to the Windows XP Licensing Agreement. Press F8 to proceed.\n\n3. The next screen gives you the option to do a fresh (clean) install or to repair\n     the selected Windows XP installation. To run a Repair Install press "R".\n\n***CAUTION*** if you do not see the option to repair the selected Windows XP\ninstallation DO NOT choose the option to continue installing a fresh copy without\nrepairing as that will overwrite your data and cause unrecoverable data loss.\n\n4. If you originally installed XP with Service Pack 1 and later installed Service Pack     2,  you will need to re-install Service Pack 2.\n\n5. If you have any Microsoft Office products installed,  you will need to re-activate\n    with the Product Key code. Contacting Microsoft may be required.
915745
You do not need it. Hewlett Packard installs it whether you like it or not, whenever you buy one of their machines. I usually reformat the hard drives on them and reinstall Windows Xp from a Microsoft CD whenever I get a HP (or a Compaq), as it irritates the crap out of me, as well. Dell used to do that stuff, too, but they're getting better these days.
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Do you mean that you are running a pirated XP? Well, I used to have one until a month ago. Its not that bad, but there are many security lapses, of course. I am now using genuine XP Pro now, and its much better. Moreover, you cannot also get any of the new Microsoft products, like Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Defender or WMP 11. Still, if you cannot afford a genuine XP, then the pirated one is OK. By the way, a free and open source Operating System called Ubuntu is available over the net. My friend says its pretty good, and has all the basics of XP Home edition. You may like to have it.\nhttp://www.ubuntu.com/\n\nDon't do anything yourself. Hire a technician or a professional.
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Ring Microsoft.  They are very helpful.  You still need the product code which is either a sticker on your computer or on a box you bought Windows XP on.  You don't need to register with Microsoft but you do need to Activate the operating system after a reinstall or repair.  If you think you have a dodgy copy of Windows, go out and buy a student version which will be fairly cheap and use that product code.  It must be the same type ether home or professional.\n\nNote: It really isn't worth cracking or using a pirated version because every time you update the patches or have to do a reinstall you will meet this issue again.
483493
sp2 is for home use too ... some programs or sites require it
591229
All the other things will stop working if you wipe it clean and start over. However, you should be able to re-install a legitimate copy of Windows over top of the existing one and everything in the registry for the other programs will be kept, and the programs should still work....even if they are counterfeit.\nMine came with XP Home Edition already installed.
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Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2
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Go to the microsoft web site and order the cd win sp2 for free.\n\nThey say it takes 4-6 weeks, I got mine within days.\n\nTime for a shameless plug... I run a computer company I fix computers on site or remotely.  I'd be more than happy to try to help you over the phone.\n\n888 851-TECH
931231
Once you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 the windows boot/load screen changes, don't worry about it, its only giving you something to look at while windows loads.
180478
You don't have to install windows XP again, just go to your control panel and on the left hand-side you will find windows update click on it and it will take you the windows update site, it then will automatically scan your computer for updates, download and install them, you should find SP2 as one of them.\nAnother option is to go directly to\nhttp://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us\nWhich should work the same.
620184
When discussing the differences between Windows XP Professional and Home Edition, it's best to simply describe those features in Pro that you can't get in Home Edition.\n\nPro features that aren't in Home Edition...\n\n> Power user Remote Desktop - All versions of Windows XP--including Home Edition--support Remote Assistance, which is an assisted support technology that allows a help desk or system administrator to remotely connect to a client desktop for troubleshooting purposes. But Only Pro supports the new Remote Desktop feature, which is a single-session version of Terminal Services with two obvious uses: Mobile professionals who need to remotely access their corporate desktop, and remote administration of clients on a network. You can access a Windows XP Remote Desktop from any OS that supports a Terminal Services client (such as Windows 98 and, interestingly XP Home). XP Home can act as the client in a Remote Desktop session; only Pro can be the server.\n\n> Multi-processor support - Windows XP Pro supports up to two microprocessors, while Home Edition supports only one.\n    * Automated System Recovery (ASR) - In a somewhat controversial move, Microsoft has removed the Backup utility from the default Windows XP Home Edition, though it is available as an optional installation if you can find it on the CD-ROM (hint: it's in the /valueadd folder). The reason for this the integration of Microsoft's new Automated System Recovery (ASR) tool into Backup. In Pro, ASR will help recover a system from a catastrophic error, such as one that renders the system unbootable. ASR-enabled backups are triggerable from XP Setup, allowing you to return your system to its previous state, even if the hard drive dies and has to be replaced. Unlike consumer-oriented features such as System Restore, ASR is not automatic: It must manually be enabled from within the Backup utility in Windows XP Pro. In any event, while there is a Backup utility available for Home Edition, you cannot use ASR, even though mentions of this feature still exist in the UI. Confusing? Yes. But it's better than no Backup at all, which was the original plan.\n\n> Dynamic Disk Support - Windows XP Professional (like its Windows 2000 equivalent) supports dynamic disks, but Home Edition does not (instead, HE supports only the standard Simple Disk type). Dynamic disks are not usable with any OS other than Windows 2000 or Windows XP Pro, and they cannot be used on portable computers. Likewise, Home Edition does not include the Logical Disk Manager.\n\n> Fax - Home Edition has no integrated fax functionality out of the box, though it is an option you can install from the XP Home CD.\n\n> Internet Information Services/Personal Web Server - Home Edition does not include the IIS Web server 5.1 software found in Pro.\n\n> Security Encrypting File System - Windows XP Professional supports the Encrypting File System (EFS), which allows you encrypt individual files or folders for local security (EFS is not enabled over a network). EFS-protected files and folders allows users to protect sensitive documents from other users.\n\n> File-level access control - Any user with Administrator privileges can limit access to certain network resources, such as servers, directories, and files, using access control lists. Only Windows XP Professional supports file-level access control, mostly because this feature is typically implemented through Group Policy Objects, which are also not available in Home Edition.\n\n> "C2" certification - Microsoft will attempt to have Windows XP Professional certified with the "C2" security designation, a largely irrelevant status, but one which will not be afforded to Home Edition.\n\n> Management Domain membership - Home Edition cannot be used to logon to an Active Directory domain. For obvious reasons, the Domain Wizard is also missing in Home Edition.\n\n> Group Policy - Since Home Edition
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http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/features.mspx