Microsoft is offering the first service pack (SP 1) for Windows XP. Windows XP SP1 includes all security patches available for the product from Windows Update, as well as updates from a Windows code review conducted earlier in 2002, the company says.

There are also changes related to the proposed consent decree signed with the U.S. Department of Justice and state attorneys general. These let computer manufacturers and users remove access to Microsoft Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Windows Messenger, Outlook Express, and Microsoft's Java virtual machine if they don't want these options on the machine.

Microsoft says retail and manufacturer license sales for Windows XP exceeded 46 million as of the end of June 2002.

The service pack is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/default.asp.