More than a month and a half after completing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Microsoft has released the first patch that fixes a problem with the OS. The patch fixes a performance problem with Virtual Private Network (VPN), a feature that lets telecommuters and other mobile workers securely connect to their workplaces.
  
"This update helps resolve an issue on computers running Windows XP Service Pack 2," a note on Microsoft's Web site says. "Programs that connect to IP addresses in the loopback address range may not work as expected, and you may receive an error message indicating you cannot establish a connection. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer."
  
To download the patch, visit the Microsoft Web site. Note that the company is now instituting an interesting new validation check before letting customers download the patch. Apparently, you must be running a correct and activated type of Windows (both version and language) to get the patch.

In related news, Microsoft is apparently concerned that only a small fraction of XP users have upgraded to SP2, so the company is accelerating SP2 distribution through Automatic Updates. To date, only 20 million XP users have downloaded the release. Microsoft hopes to ship SP2 to 100 million XP users by October 18, the company says. It will also accelerate the SP2 release of various languages; to date, Microsoft has shipped SP2 in just 16 of the 25 languages the company will eventually support.