Windows XP Service Pack 2 Requirements
- Upgrade your operating system to Windows XP SP2 and unleash your computer's potential.computer image by fotografiche.eu from Fotolia.com
Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) is an update to the Microsoft Windows XP operating system, provided free of charge by Microsoft. If you still have the original version of Windows XP, you may have found that certain programs won't work properly, or even at all. Before you update your Windows XP operating system, you'll want to make sure you have the proper requirements on your computer. - Your computer will need a Pentium 233-megahertz processor, or better, to operate with Windows XP SP2. Although this is the basic minimum requirement, Microsoft recommends that you get at least a Pentium 300-megahertz processor for optimum usage. To find out which processor you have, click "Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information."
- RAM, or random-access memory, is the memory your computer uses to save and recover information in any particular order. To run Windows XP SP2, your computer will need at least 64 MB of RAM, although 128 MB or more is recommended. You can check to see how much RAM you have by clicking "Start>My Computer," and then right-clicking an empty area in the window that pops up. Click "Properties," and look under the "General" tab to see how much RAM you have.
- In addition to your RAM and processor, you'll need some other basic hardware items, including: a CD/DVD ROM drive, a video adapter and monitor (computer screen) with Super VGA (Video Graphics Array) having 800 x 600 resolution or higher, a sound card and speakers or headphones, and a keyboard and mouse (or some type of pointer device). Almost all computers built in the past decade have built-in internal sound and video cards. If you're buying a monitor separately, check on the box to make sure the resolution is at least 800 x 600, or visit whatismyresolution.com to find your screen resolution.
