As you know if you read this channel, Windows XP SP-2 was released to manufacturing last Friday. A lot of people will be scrambling to get their copy. As you may also know, I’ve joined the list of people recommending that you wait just a few weeks, at lest, to install it. It’s well known, by now, that it can seriously break parts of your system. For that reason alone it would be a good idea to wait. Let others find out how to fix things before you break your own system.

One small part of the update is something you may want to get NOW, rather than a few weeks from now- Windows Update 5. Here’s a quote from Scot Finnie’s newsletter. His newsletter is certainly worth signing up for. Heck, it’s almost as good as ours :). He tells the story well, so I decided it would worth including-

TIP: Installing Windows Update v.5.0

If it’s true that anyone who has Windows Update version 5.0 installed, and who has Automatic Updates turned on, will receive XP SP2 on Tuesday is true — and you really want the new code — all you really need is access to Windows Update 5.0. While there is freely downloadable beta code, there’s an easier way:

For more experienced users only, please. There have been some reports of dire issues with Windows Update v.5.0, but I remain more or less unconcerned about it. For more information on Windows Update v.5.0, check out Fred Langa’s article on InformationWeek. To install Windows Update v.5.0 right now, follow these steps. Launch this URL:

http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

When prompted to accept an update to Windows Update, accept it. You should also see a message reading “Get the latest Windows Update software” and an “Install Now” button. Click the button. That will install the new v.5.0 code on your system, and poof, you’re running version 5.0 of Windows Update.

So the only other step required to entice Microsoft to extend you access to the SP2 code is to turn on Automatic Updates. It’s unclear whether you need to turn on Automatic Updates to its fully automatic install-at-will mode or whether you can turn it on to any flavor of “on” (notify only, download automatically but prompt before installing, or full automatic). For what it’s worth, I use the second one. And if I didn’t have a fast broadband connection, I would use the first option.

Microsoft has an elaborately crafted Protect site that explains how to turn on Automatic Updates and do other things to secure your PC. The “let us do it for you” option on this site is similar in functionality to the Windows Security Center.

That said, I’ve installed the new Updater and it offers a lot of options that are totally new. The one I think I like the best is the one that will show you beta versions of upccoming updates. SP-2 isn’t shown, of course, since it’s gone gold. It could give you a heads-up on new technology, even if you don’t choose to go for it right away.