The second service pack (SP2) for Office XP rolls previous fixes and security enhancements into a single release, and it will be required by future fixes to Office XP. SP2 includes previously released updates that addressed security problems in Excel, Word, Outlook, and Office Web Components, as well as updates released since Mar. 2002 for the Office XP speller, clip art, Word, and Excel. However, it is not cumulative; users must first install Office XP SP1 (released in Nov. 2001).

Microsoft recommends that end users install SP2 through the Office Products Update site, which can detect the user's current version of Office and will download only needed components. The 15MB service pack can also be downloaded in its entirety or purchased on CD-ROM for those who want to keep a copy handy in case they need to reinstall Office XP. An administrative release with a slightly different file name (oxpsp2a.exe rather than oxpsp2.exe) is also available for those who install Office and Office updates from a network installation point.

To install SP2, most users will need their original Office XP CD-ROM or access to their network installation point. In some cases a reboot will also be required. SP2 will install successfully over any interim updates that users have installed since SP1 was released.

The service pack cannot be uninstalled. In the event of any problems with SP2, users will have to uninstall Office XP, reinstall it from the original CD, and apply any previous service packs and fixes that they might have installed.

Microsoft recommends that users of the Office XP Multilingual User Interface Pack also install an additional, special service pack that will be released at a later date.

A general guide for installing both client and network installation versions of SP2 is available in article Q325671 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base, at support.microsoft.com.

Various methods for applying SP2 for organizations that install software over their network from an administrative installation point are described at www.microsoft.com/office/ork/xp/journ/Oxpsp2a.htm.