Windows XP Service Packs: What's New in XP SP2 What's New in Service Packs Forrest Stroud
What's New in Service Packs
New in SP-2 RC2: Across-the-board security enhancements and infrastructure, new networking features (new Windows Firewall - replaces ICF, Windows peer-to-peer networking, wireless provisioning services, and updates to IPv6), increased manageability and control, "enhanced user experience"; Release Notes; RC2 Notes Upgrade Meter:1
Note: SP2 RC2 Preview is unsupported and is intended for testing purposes only.
New in SP-1a: Does not include or install the Microsoft VM, which provides support for running Java programs (per Microsoft/Sun court injunction); no other changes or fixes. To be followed shortly by SP-1b, which will feature Sun's Java; Release Notes Upgrade Meter:1
New in SP-1: Several hundred bug fixes for the following areas: setup, application compatibility, operating system reliability, and security; Release Notes Upgrade Meter:2