just a SP 2 warning I saw

[Donald]

I saw this and thought I would post it here.Please excuse me if something like this has already been posted before.After this , I am through posting anything about SP2(unless it is a reply). Maybe people have had their fill of SP2, I just don't know--------don

Anyone installing SP2 from the Microsoft site better have a legitimate copy of XP!
This is "some" of the information recorded by Microsoft >

Computer make and model
Version information for the operating system, browser, and any other Microsoft software for which updates might be available
Plug and Play ID numbers of hardware devices
Region and language setting
Globally Unique Identifier (GUID)
Product ID and Product Key
BIOS name, revision number, and revision date
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How is this data used?
Windows Update collects the Product ID and Product Key to confirm that you are running a validly licensed copy of Windows. The Product ID and Product Key collected are not retained after you are finished using Windows Update, unless the Product ID is not valid!!!


GUID :

Short for Globally Unique Identifier, a unique 128-bit number that is produced by the Windows OS or by some Windows applications to identify a particular component, application, file, database entry, and/or user. For instance, a Web site may generate a GUID and assign it to a user's browser to record and track the session. A GUID is also used in a Windows registry to identify COM DLLs . Knowing where to look in the registry and having the correct GUID yields a lot information about a COM object (i.e., information in the type library, its physical location, etc.). Windows also identifies user accounts by a username (computer/domain and username) and assigns it a GUID. Some database administrators even will use GUIDs as primary key values in databases. GUIDs can be created in a number of ways, but usually they are a combination of a few unique settings based on specific point in time (e.g., an IP address, network MAC address, clock date/time, etc.).

PS: more on GUID if you put GUID in Google earch engine