[updated 21th March 14:15]

This is just a quick note to say that the release notes are WRONG (and will be changed) in stating that IE7 has to be uninstalled.  Also, if you have automatic updates turned on, SP2 will still prompt prior to an install as the EULA needs to be accepted, so no discovering that it was installed by the note that the server has rebooted.

I did the install today my system is fine and I have had it confirmed that unless you specifically fall into the problem areas listed in http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/932600:

• You upgrade from an evaluation copy of Windows Small Business Server 2003 to the full retail version.
• You upgrade from Windows Server 2003 to the full retail version of Windows Small Business Server 2003.
• You migrate to Windows Server 2003 from Windows Small Business Server by using the Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Transition Pack.

For information on SP2 and what it delivers, please look at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsserver/sp2.mspx.

This is a follow up to several people blogging (Susan, Vlad, Nick and many more) who, in my personal opinion, were right to say that some notice should have been given about the date of shipment!!

Mark Stanfill of the offical SBS blog has also put some more information up at http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2007/03/14/can-i-install-windows-server-2003-sp2-on-sbs-2003.aspx and while writing I noticed that Susan also has details at http://msmvps.com/blogs/bradley/archive/2007/03/14/install-sp2-over-the-top-of-ie7.aspx

[update]

The text has been replaced on the web. The link for the release notes now points here - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b6fcca62-c291-4303-8cb8-cdb255d849f6&DisplayLang=en
(Note the old web page still physically exists – so if customers have bookmarked the old one they need to update their bookmark… or follow the links once again)

The new text on the webpage is as follows

<snip>

Internet Explorer

You do not need to uninstall Internet Explorer 7 prior to installing Windows Server 2003 SP2.

If you have previously installed Internet Explorer 7 on a computer running Windows Server 2003 with SP1 and are now installing Windows Server 2003 SP2 using Microsoft Update, the downloadable SP2 update from the Microsoft Download Center, or the SP2 update CD, your computer will retain Internet Explorer 7 as expected.

If you have previously installed Internet Explorer 7 on a computer running Windows Server 2003 with SP1 and are now installing the integrated version of Windows Server 2003 SP2 (that is, the full operating system integrated with the service pack), the computer will have Internet Explorer 6 as the default browser in Windows Server 2003 SP2. You will need to reinstall Internet Explorer 7.

For more information about options for installing Windows Server 2003 SP2, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=85899.

</snip>

[update 2]

If you find the help and support service missing after installing SP2 then go to Help and Support Service not working / there after Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) is applied to a machine to find a link to the solution.

If you are having VPN and NAT issues then look at this VPN, SecureNat/Nat and Outlook clients not working after installing Windows Service Pack 2 in SBS 2003

ttfn

David