Twenty-two critical security fixes to be part of the interim service-pack release.
Microsoft has been wavering as to its Windows XP service-pack plans. But now it appears that the Redmond software maker is, indeed, going to issue a service pack prior XP Service Pack 2, which is expected around the third quarter of next year. As reported on Steven Bink"s Windows site, among others, Microsoft notified testers who participated in its Windows Update version 4 program that it was seeking participants to work with two versions of an interim security rollup patch.
The full version is designed to provide users with either all of the security fixes since XP was introduced in 2001 or those released since XP SP1 was introduced in the fall of 2002. The express version will provide security updates issued since SP1 only. The test period for the interim rollup is short; it runs through September 24. Company watchers expect Microsoft to make it available soon thereafter.