SP2 Automatically Downloaded-Important Info For Windows XP Users
Many Windows XP users have noticed the recent inability to see graphics within incoming e-mail messages. That's because Microsoft has now made its Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) a "required critical update" for all people using Windows XP. One of the "features" of the SP2 software is that it blocks images from being displayed within incoming e-mail messages. (See below for information on changing your settings to allow images to reappear within e-mail messages.)
More About Microsoft's Recent Automatic SP2 Update
As of April 12, 2005, anyone using the Windows XP operating system that had not previously downloaded SP2 onto their computer was forced to do so. This was accomplished through Windows XP's Automatic Update feature which is "turned on" as a default setting on all Windows XP systems. Thus, it's highly probable that if you use Windows XP, SP2 has been downloaded onto your machine whether you've requested it or not. Once this download occurs, however, users must then install the software to activate it. For installation instructions, see: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2aumng.mspx
Why SP2 For Windows XP Operating Systems?
Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 2 is a security software update for Microsoft's popular Windows XP operating system. Costing almost one billion dollars to develop, this free and huge (200 megabyte) software download promises to make users of Windows XP much safer from cyberattacks. SP2 adds protection by closing entries to viruses, increasing spyware barriers, and improving the safeguards of users' personal data.
SP2 Does Not Replace The Need For Third-Party Virus Protection
Windows XP Service Pack 2 DOES NOT REPLACE the need for third-party a) Virus Protection, b) E-mail Filtering, or c) Firewall Protection. If you use third party anti-virus software programs from companies like Symantec and McAfee, for instance, you'll still need to continue to regularly update your software and scan e-mail attachments for viruses as you've done in the past. SP2 does not include robust protection in these three areas.
So Why Am I Unable To See Graphics Within Incoming E-mail Messages?
One of the protective features added to Outlook Express for those Windows XP users who have installed Service Pack 2 (SP2) is the blocking of images being displayed within incoming e-mail messages. However, it's not nearly as much fun to receive an e-mail message from a friend or source you trust unless you can also view the message's graphics and images. Microsoft provides an easy option to allow images to appear within messages, either on a per e-mail basis or for all e-mail messages. To see the graphics within messages on an e-mail-by-e-mail basis, with your Preview Pane open, do the following:
1. Click your cursor arrow on the gray bar located
just below the subject line of the message. It
will say, "Some pictures have been blocked to
help prevent the sender from identifying your
computer. Click here to download pictures." If
you click anywhere on that gray bar, the
pictures for that particular e-mail will appear
for as long as you have that e-mail open.
2. If you go to a different e-mail and then come
back to this message, you will need to click on
that bar again to see the images within the
message.
Note: If you don't see the gray bar, open the message in its own window and follow steps one and two above. Otherwise, click your cursor arrow on the "View" menu and drop down to "Layout." When the "Window Layout Properties" window appears, make sure "Show preview pane header" is checked.
If you want to be able to see all pictures on all incoming e-mail messages that contain images, you can disable this blocking feature. Here’s how:
1. Go to the Outlook Express "Tools" menu and drop
down to "Options."
2. When the "Options" window appears, click on the
"Security" tab. About half way down the window,
you'll see an item titled "Download images."
You will see a checkbox next to the words
"Block images and other external content in
HTML e-mail." If you uncheck this box, it will
allow images to be viewed again just like
before your SP2 update.
3. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save your new
settings and close the window.
Note: If you do not have the Automatic Update feature activated on your system and would like to do so, go to this link for step-by-step assistance: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/updates.mspx
If you use Windows XP and are not sure whether SP2 has been downloaded and installed onto your computer, go to this link for more information: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
