As  you probably know, Microsoft releases Service Packs for its software products. There have been 3 service packs for Windows XP, 2 for Windows Vista, and none for Windows 7. There have been 3 service packs for Microsoft Office 2003 and 2 service packs for Microsoft Office 2007.

Where Windows is concerned, at some point, Microsoft will make the requirement that you must have a certain service pack in order to receive further security updates. To that end, if you have Windows XP, this July, Microsoft will start requiring you to have service pack 3 in order to receive additional security updates.

Just to be clear, we recommend you have the latest service pack for Windows.

Here’s how to find out what service pack you have in Windows XP.

If “Computer” or “My Computer” is on your desktop, right-click on it and choose properties.

If not, you can click on Start and then click on “Control Panel”. If you click on start and don’t see control panel, you might have to click on “Settings” first, then control panel. Just depends on how your computer is set. Once you are in the control panel, double click on  “System”. If you don’t see “System”, then you might need to click on “Switch to Classic View” in the upper left hand corner of the control panel.

In the window that comes up, it will tell you which version of Windows you have installed and which service pack as well.

If you don’t have service pack 3 and want to install it, click on Start, All Programs, Windows Update. You may need to install the windows update software. It will tell you if you need to. Then click the express button. It will scan your system and then tell you what updates you need. You can then click on a button to install them.

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