Do I need to have Windows XP SP1 installed before I install SP2?

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Summary: There is no need to have Windows XP SP1 before you install SP2.

Nope. Service packs are cumulative, meaning that they roll-up all fixes that came before them into a single package. I expect SP1 will be hard to find after SP2 has been out for a while because it'll no longer be needed.

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Related:

Ask Leo! - Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) - Should I Install it?

Microsoft - Installing Service Pack 2

Article C2150 - August 9, 2004

Recent Comments

8 Comments

Service Packs for Windows are cumulative. Not however for Microsoft Office. Go figure.

Posted by: michael horowitz at August 21, 2004 2:58 PM

just tell me does sp2 has all files of sp1 in case of xp so that i dont install sp1 and then sp2 ........after insatlling xp

Posted by: saurabh sachan at September 30, 2004 8:40 PM

The article answers this. If it's unclear please let me know.

Posted by: Leo at October 1, 2004 8:12 AM

if i burrn sp2 to a disk and reformat my computer, do i need to get other updates before i can install sp2? or can i just directly install sp2 without other updates?

Posted by: jeremie at March 31, 2005 10:31 AM

You would: install XP, install SP2, then visit Windows update for the post-SP2 updates.

Posted by: Leo at March 31, 2005 12:15 PM

MY XP RECENTLY CRASHED AND I REINSTALLED AFTER FORMATTING AND I HAVE A SEAGATE EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE--IT CAN NOT BE SEEN--SEAGATE TOLD ME I NEED THE 1394 HOST CONTROLLER FOR IT TO WORK--IS THIS CORRECT AND IS THAT HOST CONTROLLER IN SP1 OR SP2
HELPPPPPPPPPP--CURTIS F

Posted by: CURTIS FITZGERALD at August 28, 2006 8:11 PM

That host control is in Windows XP itself. If you have the hardware to support it, that is. Try running the "add new hardware" wizard and see if a re-scan finds it.

Posted by: Leo Notenboom at September 7, 2006 3:31 PM

I have SP2 installed. Windows Update says I need to install high priority update: Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1. Why?

Posted by: Digital at December 31, 2006 7:52 AM

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