A Service Pack (more commonly, SP) is a software program that corrects known bugs, problems, or adds new features. Companies that produce large applications such as Microsoft and their Windows NT-based operating systems typically release a service pack when the number of individual patches to the application becomes too large. Service Packs are easier to install than groups of patches, especially with multiple computers that need to be updated over a network. Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ... A computer program (often simply called a program) is an example of computer software that prescribes the actions (computations) that are to be carried out by a computer. ... A computer bug is an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program that prevents it from working correctly or produces an incorrect result. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT) headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. ... In computing, an operating system (OS) is the system software responsible for the direct control and management of hardware and basic system operations. ... In computing, a patch is a software update meant to fix problems with a computer program. ...

• Windows NT 4.0 currently has 6 Service Packs.
• Windows 2000 currently has 4 Service Packs.
• Windows XP currently has 2 Service Packs.

They are available for download on the official website. Windows NT 4. ... Windows 2000 (also referred to as Win2K, W2K or Windows NT 5. ... Windows XP (codename Whistler, also known as Windows NT 5. ...

See also Windows Update Windows Update automates patching through the Internet Explorer web browser. ...

In IBM midrange and mainframe parlance, individual patches and small groups of patches, when distributed in user-installable form, are referred to as PTFs (Program Temporary Fixes), and large groups of patches distributed to end-users are referred to as Cumulative PTF packages ("CUME" or "CUM" tapes or CDs). International Business Machines Corporation (IBM, or colloquially, Big Blue) (NYSE: IBM) (incorporated June 15, 1911, in operation since 1888) is headquartered in Armonk, New York, USA. The company manufactures and sells computer hardware, software, and services. ... IBM has made several models of midrange computers over the years: the System/3, System/34, System/36, System/38, and finally AS/400 (recently rechristened the iSeries). ... Mainframes (often colloquially referred to as big iron) are large and expensive computers used mainly by government institutions and large companies for mission critical applications, typically bulk data processing such as censuses, industry/consumer statistics, ERP, and bank transaction processing. ...