I’m collecting all my SP2 questions and answering them on this site. Got a question? Send me a note. I’ll try to answer the most interesting questions here.
Ken Gardner asks:
What is the difference between “automatic download” available on August 4 (today) and SP2 being available on August 25 at the Windows Update site? Where do I need to go to get an “automatic download” if somewhere other than Windows Update?
Well, my guess is that the “automatic download” refers to Windows XP’s Automatic Updates feature, which downloads in the background if AU is turned on. I’ve never really checked to see whether patches appear on AU before they appear on Windows Update for manual download. But that’s the implication of this report.
I’ve seen nothing official on Microsoft’s Web site yet, so this is still just a guess. Paul Thurrott has a story on WinInfo this morning that agrees with the broad outlines of Neowin’s report but has a different set of dates:
As with previous service packs, Microsoft will stage the release of SP2. First, the product will be made available for download to its premier customers and then the general public via the company’s Web site (the so-called release to Web, or RTW), and Microsoft will begin taking orders for the free CD-based version of the product. Two weeks later, SP2 will be made available to customers through Windows Update and Automatic Updates. And by early September, PC makers will begin shipping new PCs with the software installed.
Ed Bott 