XPSP2

[ek]

How can I determine which version of Win XP is running on my machine? I
purchased a Dell 8250 with WinXP Prof, but I had to do a recent
re-installation, and now I cannot seem to find that information.

Thanks for any help.

Because of a local problem, please send reply to rather than
to the currently unreachable address at umich.
--
ek

[Dave Patrick]

Start|Run|winver

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"ek" wrote:
| How can I determine which version of Win XP is running on my machine? I
| purchased a Dell 8250 with WinXP Prof, but I had to do a recent
| re-installation, and now I cannot seem to find that information.
|
| Thanks for any help.
|
| Because of a local problem, please send reply to rather
than
| to the currently unreachable address at umich.
| --
| ek

[Ron Bogart]

In ,
ek > did some thinking and came up with these words:
> How can I determine which version of Win XP is running on my machine?
> I purchased a Dell 8250 with WinXP Prof, but I had to do a recent
> re-installation, and now I cannot seem to find that information.
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> Because of a local problem, please send reply to
> rather than to the currently unreachable address at umich.

Right click on My Computer - Properties - your version info will show in the
properties window that opens up.

--
Ron Bogart {} ô¿ô¬
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
"Life is what happens while we are making other plans."

[Alex Nichol]

ek wrote:

>How can I determine which version of Win XP is running on my machine? I
>purchased a Dell 8250 with WinXP Prof, but I had to do a recent
>re-installation, and now I cannot seem to find that information.

Start - run WinVer

Sp2 will say Version 5.1 .Build 2600 xpsp.sp2 etc Service Pack 2

A machine with SP1 should similarly refer to SP1


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K. (remove the D8 bit)

[ek]

Thanks, Ron. I'm sorry to have written an unclear question. What I really
want to know is if XPSP2 is installed, and also about any other updates. I
had kept up to date, but then I had to use Dell's original disk to re-install
the OS. Now, despite using Windowns Update, I do not seem to have any of
them.

So, please help more, again? And again, sorry.

ek

"Ron Bogart" wrote:

> In ,
> ek > did some thinking and came up with these words:
> > How can I determine which version of Win XP is running on my machine?
> > I purchased a Dell 8250 with WinXP Prof, but I had to do a recent
> > re-installation, and now I cannot seem to find that information.
> >
> > Thanks for any help.
> >
> > Because of a local problem, please send reply to
> > rather than to the currently unreachable address at umich.
>
> Right click on My Computer - Properties - your version info will show in the
> properties window that opens up.
>
> --
> Ron Bogart {} ô¿ô¬
> Associate Expert
> Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> "Life is what happens while we are making other plans."
>
>
>

[ek]

Thanks Alex,

Now all I get is . . build 2600 and some apparently random numbers and
letters -- no mention of SP1 or SP2. I have gone to the Dell site to update
my BIOS. I have MS's SP2 disk, but is there any reason I cannot seem to
update via Windows Update?

Thanks again.

ek

"Alex Nichol" wrote:

> ek wrote:
>
> >How can I determine which version of Win XP is running on my machine? I
> >purchased a Dell 8250 with WinXP Prof, but I had to do a recent
> >re-installation, and now I cannot seem to find that information.
>
> Start - run WinVer
>
> Sp2 will say Version 5.1 .Build 2600 xpsp.sp2 etc Service Pack 2
>
> A machine with SP1 should similarly refer to SP1
>
>
> --
> Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
> Bournemouth, U.K. (remove the D8 bit)
>

[Ron Martell]

"ek" > wrote:

>Thanks Alex,
>
>Now all I get is . . build 2600 and some apparently random numbers and
>letters -- no mention of SP1 or SP2. I have gone to the Dell site to update
>my BIOS. I have MS's SP2 disk, but is there any reason I cannot seem to
>update via Windows Update?
>

If you have been on the Internet with an unpatched original release
version of Windows XP then your computer is almost certain infested
with the Blaster or Sasser virus (or both). The average time to
infect a machine like this is less than 2 minutes after first
connecting.

If you have the XP SP2 update CD from Microsoft then use that to
upgrade your PC.

But first do a virus scan. Start with Stinger (free) from
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger'

Then try installing SP2 from the CD and see if it will go okay. If
not make absolutely certain that the Windows XP Firewall is active on
the computer and go to http://housecall.trendmicro.com and do their
free online virus scan.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

[ek]

Hi Ron,

Thanks. Let me follow up in the hope of more help. I have installed McAfee
VirusScan 8.0 and run a complete scan. It found two problems, which it
claimed to have taken care of. I also use Zonealarm, and am further
protected behind the University of Michigan firewall, which I am pretty sure
takes care of the nasties you mentioned.

When I did try to install SP2 from the disk, everything apparently went
perfectly -- download, install -- all the right messages. But then I found
my cursor (arrow) frozen in the middle of the screen. I tried several things
to no avail. Finally, i did a System restore via Cntrl-Esc and the keyboard.
Now I can again use the mouse, but thre is no SP2 on my machine!

Any chance you (or anyone else -- thanks for jumping in when you did) can
help me further on this?

Thanks again.

ek

"Ron Martell" wrote:

> "ek" > wrote:
>
> >Thanks Alex,
> >
> >Now all I get is . . build 2600 and some apparently random numbers and
> >letters -- no mention of SP1 or SP2. I have gone to the Dell site to update
> >my BIOS. I have MS's SP2 disk, but is there any reason I cannot seem to
> >update via Windows Update?
> >
>
> If you have been on the Internet with an unpatched original release
> version of Windows XP then your computer is almost certain infested
> with the Blaster or Sasser virus (or both). The average time to
> infect a machine like this is less than 2 minutes after first
> connecting.
>
> If you have the XP SP2 update CD from Microsoft then use that to
> upgrade your PC.
>
> But first do a virus scan. Start with Stinger (free) from
> http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger'
>
> Then try installing SP2 from the CD and see if it will go okay. If
> not make absolutely certain that the Windows XP Firewall is active on
> the computer and go to http://housecall.trendmicro.com and do their
> free online virus scan.
>
> Good luck
>
>
> Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
> --
> Microsoft MVP
> On-Line Help Computer Service
> http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
>
> "The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
>

[ek]

L:

Thanks for the tip. I just ran virus-Scan, Ad-Aware, and Spy-Subtract again
as well as checking that my ZoneAlarm fiewall is up to date. Found no real
nasties. Any idea what else I might do?

ek

"Leythos" wrote:

> In article >,
> says...
> > I also use Zonealarm, and am further
> > protected behind the University of Michigan firewall, which I am pretty sure
> > takes care of the nasties you mentioned.
>
> Don't be so sure about this statement - we had a number of students in
> OSU Dorms that had the worst of the lot infected machines. They were
> behind a firewall also, but there were connected in a network with a
> BUNCH of other kids - one infection spread behind the firewall like
> roaches in a slum.
>
> --
> --
>
> (Remove 999 to reply to me)
>

[Ron Martell]

"ek" > wrote:

>Hi Ron,
>
>Thanks. Let me follow up in the hope of more help. I have installed McAfee
>VirusScan 8.0 and run a complete scan. It found two problems, which it
>claimed to have taken care of. I also use Zonealarm, and am further
>protected behind the University of Michigan firewall, which I am pretty sure
>takes care of the nasties you mentioned.
>
>When I did try to install SP2 from the disk, everything apparently went
>perfectly -- download, install -- all the right messages. But then I found
>my cursor (arrow) frozen in the middle of the screen. I tried several things
>to no avail. Finally, i did a System restore via Cntrl-Esc and the keyboard.
> Now I can again use the mouse, but thre is no SP2 on my machine!
>
>Any chance you (or anyone else -- thanks for jumping in when you did) can
>help me further on this?
>
>Thanks again.
>

Here is a checklist site for upgrading to SP2. You may find it of
some assistance.

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

At a minimum, disconnect the machine from the network and temporarily
disable both Zone Alarm and McAfee before trying the SP2 install
again.


Good luck
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

[Ron Martell]

Leythos > wrote:



> I also use an email client (9.0) that scans both in/out bound
>emails.
>
>AVG free/personal antivirus will scan in/outbound email in Outlook.
>

Antivirus scanning of emails is right up there with Santa Claus,
Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy - lots of hype and no substance.

It is also one of the major causes of corrupted email files in Outlook
Express.

See MVP Tom Koch's article "The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption
in Outlook Express" at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx
especially the section "Viral Irony: The Most Common Cause of
Corruption".


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

[Don Taylor]

Ron Martell > writes:
>Leythos > wrote:
>> I also use an email client (9.0) that scans both in/out bound
>>emails.
>>
>>AVG free/personal antivirus will scan in/outbound email in Outlook.

>Antivirus scanning of emails is right up there with Santa Claus,
>Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy - lots of hype and no substance.

Really? Care to explain a little more about this?
Thus far I've received 55102 Swen virus email, well
actually a few thousand more than that were received
before I automated the entire complaint system for
handing them to the abuse admin for each domain and it
keeps track. tiscali.it has sent 3420, etc, etc.

I haven't automated handling of the Beagle virus or
any of the others but I'd estimate a few thousand of
them have been dealt with in email, those I handle
manually. Some infected clown in Turkey was sending
me a dozen a day and it went on for months, no matter
how many complaints I sent. ihug.co.nz took months
to deal with their spewing customer, etc, etc.

But then I've been using this email address for maybe
fifteen years and lots of little net vandals have it.

However a couple of the people I do support for were
hit by email viruses even though I had threatened
them with bodily injury if they did anything silly.
Maybe I don't understand what you are saying, please
explain a little more clearly.

Thank you

>It is also one of the major causes of corrupted email files in Outlook
>Express.

That I can't comment on but I wouldn't be surprised.

>See MVP Tom Koch's article "The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption
>in Outlook Express" at
>http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx
>especially the section "Viral Irony: The Most Common Cause of
>Corruption".


>Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
>--
>Microsoft MVP
>On-Line Help Computer Service
>http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

>"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

[Ron Martell]

(Don Taylor) wrote:


>Really? Care to explain a little more about this?
>Thus far I've received 55102 Swen virus email, well
>actually a few thousand more than that were received
>before I automated the entire complaint system for
>handing them to the abuse admin for each domain and it
>keeps track. tiscali.it has sent 3420, etc, etc.
>
>I haven't automated handling of the Beagle virus or
>any of the others but I'd estimate a few thousand of
>them have been dealt with in email, those I handle
>manually. Some infected clown in Turkey was sending
>me a dozen a day and it went on for months, no matter
>how many complaints I sent. ihug.co.nz took months
>to deal with their spewing customer, etc, etc.
>
>But then I've been using this email address for maybe
>fifteen years and lots of little net vandals have it.
>
>However a couple of the people I do support for were
>hit by email viruses even though I had threatened
>them with bodily injury if they did anything silly.
>Maybe I don't understand what you are saying, please
>explain a little more clearly.
>
>Thank you
>

I to have a widely known email address that I used publicly in
newsgroups for many years, and I get up to 300 or so mostly spam and
virus emails to that address every day.

I have the email protection shut off in my antivirus program (AVG7)
but it still fully protects me should I ever attempt to save or open
any of the virus laden file attachments.

Read Tom Koch's article that I cited in my previous post. Symantec
Tech Support used to have detailed technical documents with the same
conclusions about email scanning (useless except as a marketing hype)
on their web site but these have been removed recently, ostensibly
because of pressure from the marketing group at Symantec.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."