Delivering on its promise to release Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) in the coming days, Microsoft announced late Friday that it will issue the critical upgrade to its latest desktop OS on September 9. With XP SP1's release to manufacturing (RTM), the company will finally provide its first comprehensive set of bug and security fixes to the fastest-selling Windows version ever. Beginning September 9, XP users can download the SP1 release for free from the Microsoft Web site or order the release on CD-ROM for about $10.
"Microsoft is always focused on improving the reliability and security of Windows for our customers, and \[SP1\] is the latest delivery on our commitment to those customers," said Jim Allchin, group vice president for the Platforms Products Group. "Windows XP is the most secure and dependable \[OS\] we have ever produced, but our work doesn't end when we ship the product. Windows XP \[SP1\], along with services such as Windows Update, \[is an example\] of how we help customers keep their PCs updated with the latest and greatest technology."
XP SP1 includes all the security patches Microsoft has issued for XP since it initially released the product in October 2001, security fixes that resulted as part of Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing source-code review, support for new technologies such as USB 2.0, and some UI changes the company's proposed settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) required.
