Please note that the mechanism to temporarily disable delivery of Windows XP SP2 is only available for a period of 240 days (8 months) from August 16, 2004. At the end of this period (after April 12, 2005), Windows XP SP2 will be delivered to all Windows XP and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems. link

Microsoft has decided what’s good for you. I hope you like service pack 2! If it causes or fixes problems is not even the issue. The issue lies in a large multinational corporation enacting control over every possible installation of their software. Just because I chose to buy and install XP2 shouldn’t give Microsoft the ultimate power of it’s update and control. You want that control back? Turn off “auto-update” and go off grid.