• There are known issues with Windows XP, Service Pack 2 (Windows XP2).broken black computer keyboard isolated image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
  
  Microsoft periodically releases software downloads known as service packs for their operating systems. These service packs are numbered and newer computers will have the most recent service pack, while older computers generally download them through Windows Update. Windows XP, Service Pack 2 (sometimes shortened to Windows XP2) is generally considered a very stable release of Windows XP, yet there are some issues that can come up when you install this operating system.
  
  

Pop Up Blocker

• Pop up blocker is a security feature implemented in Windows XP, Service Pack 2. Around the time the software was released, many web sites had begun to use pop up windows, which are basically windows that “pop up” in front of what you were viewing. Service Pack 2 largely did away with these by implementing a pop up blocker for Internet Explorer. At times, however, pop ups happen for good reasons; for example, when you download a file, the download often begins from a pop up window. The pop up blocker function can be disabled in Windows security, or you can click on “allow pop ups” from a particular web site and reload the page.
  
  

Internet Connection for Certain Programs

• The Windows Firewall program, which is automatically enabled when you use Service Pack 2, can cause issues with some programs connecting to the web. In order to make your computer more secure, the firewall closes off most TCP/IP and UDP ports, and certain ports must be open to assure Internet access. If you happen to have a program that uses one of these ports, go to "Control Panel" and into the Firewall settings to open them.
  
  

The Logo Changes

• When you start Windows XP after installing Service Pack 2, you may notice you no longer see the Windows XP Pro or Windows XP Home logo. This is intentionally done by Microsoft and cannot be changed back.
  
  

ActiveX Controls Don’t Function

• Another issue with Service Pack 2 is that ActiveX functions in Internet Explorer are largely disabled by default. You'll see a message asking if you want to run these controls on a particular website. Choose “yes,” then reload the site.