Microsoft has released an update of Windows XP Service
Pack 2 and said it is on track to deliver the security-focused
update in the third quarter.
The long-awaited Release Candidate 2 (RC2) version of Service
Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP has been made available to beta testers
and should be posted to Microsoft's website soon, the company
said.
RC2 could be the final test version of the already delayed
service pack, which was originally due in the first half of this
year.
The updated test version does not bring many obvious changes
from RC1, which was released in March.
"Because we are getting close to what that final code will be,
there are very little changes," said Matt Pilla, a senior product
manager at Microsoft.
Most changes are based on feedback from testers and include
improvements in compatibility, usability and reliability.
Pilla would not say if Microsoft has plans for a third release
candidate or a refresh of RC2.
Like RC1, the second release candidate of Windows XP SP2 will be
available publicly. However, RC2 is still a test version and is
primarily meant for IT professionals and software developers so
they can do compatibility and regression testing and give Microsoft
feedback, Pilla said.
Although Microsoft has deemed Windows XP SP2 a service pack,
analysts and users see it more as a new release of Windows.
SP2 contains bug fixes and updates, but it also makes
significant changes to the Windows software in network protection,
memory protection, e-mail security and browsing security.
Microsoft has warned that Windows XP SP2 could break existing
applications because of the changes that are made.
Joris
Evers writes for IDG News Service
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