Microsoft to Add Service Packs for Visual Studio

But Redmond has no plans to patch pre-2002 versions of its developer tools so that they will work with Windows XP SP2. Microsoft is planning to "service" its 2002 and 2003 versions of the .Net Framework and Visual Studio tool suite in order to insure they will work properly with Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 2. But versions of the .Net Framework and Visual Studio suite that predate 2002 won't be upgraded, a company spokesman said, as they lack a number of security enhancements needed by SP2.

Microsoft will work to ensure that these tools continue to function correctly on XP SP2, however the tools may not benefit from enhanced XP SP2 security," the company warned. Windows XP SP2 is due out some time in mid-2004, Microsoft has said. The service pack currently is in beta test. SP2 will include, in addition to the normal bug fixes, a number of new security-enhancing features, including additional memory protection, an updated firewall and better e-mail and browsing controls.

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