How to detect presence of SP2?

[Guest]

Hi,

I just installed a new VPN solution for my company. As a security
precaution, I'd like to have it check for the presence of sp2 before allowing
users login to the network. Does anyone know what's a reliable way to detect
wheather sp2 is installed on a windows XP system? What registry key does it
use?

Thanks.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Value Name: CSDVersion
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: Service Pack #

Service Pack # will be Service Pack 2 if SP2 is installed. Service Pack 1
for SP1. I do not know what you have if no Service Pack is installed.

How to tell if SP2 is installed.

Start | Run | Type: winver | Click OK
If it says Service Pack 1, you do not have SP2.
If it says Service Pack 2, you have SP2.

Windows Security Center (wscui.cpl) will exist.
Start | Run | Type: wscui.cpl | Click OK |
Windows Security Center will open if SP2, you'll get an error if not SP2.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 will be listed in Add or Remove Programs, unless
XP was installed with SP2.

$NtServicePackUninstall$ will be in %windir% or C:\WINDOWS (There may be one
of these folders that relates to SP1). $NtServicePackUninstall$ will not
exist if XP was installed with SP2.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Value Name: CSDVersion
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: Service Pack #

Service Pack # will be Service Pack 2 if SP2 is installed. Service Pack 1
for SP1. I do not know what you have if no Service Pack is installed.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[John Smithe]

Hi,

I just installed a new VPN solution for my company. As a security
precaution, I'd like to have it check for the presence of sp2 before
allowing users login to the network. Does anyone know what's a
reliable way to detect wheather sp2 is installed on a windows XP
system? What registry key does it use?

Thanks.

Right clock on 'My Computer' and select properties. 'Service Pack 2' will
be listed under 'System'.

 

[Leythos]

Hi,

I just installed a new VPN solution for my company. As a security
precaution, I'd like to have it check for the presence of sp2 before allowing
users login to the network. Does anyone know what's a reliable way to detect
wheather sp2 is installed on a windows XP system? What registry key does it
use?

Bigger question is why do you allow any access that would require SP2 as
part of your security measures?

If you want to allow remote workers there are many apps/methods to allow
them access to company files/documents without giving them a full open
pipe inbound. You could use VNC or Remote Desktop, which means you only
have to expose 1 port and it doesn't really matter if their local
computer is compromised or not.

A VPN doesn't have to allow all ports TCP/UDP, once you setup the VPN,
then create a rule that only permits TCP3389 for Remote desktop for the
"User" authenticated by the firewall.

 

[Robert Moir]

Wesley Vogel wrote:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Value Name: CSDVersion
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: Service Pack #

Service Pack # will be Service Pack 2 if SP2 is installed. Service
Pack 1 for SP1. I do not know what you have if no Service Pack is
installed.

Remember that if you take Wesley's good advice here, you shouldn't check
for SP2, you should check for *SP2 or Higher*.