XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Havn't posted for a while but really need some guidance on this one. Windows update keeps prompting me to install this, but I'm not sure, anyone had any problems with it?? and is it easy to install!!! dont want to end up causing problems for mysef! :dunce:

Re: XP sp2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I'm still hanging on for a while........

Re: XP sp2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Why??

Re: XP sp2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Mine has been fine with SP2 for over a month now.:tu:

EDIT. I did back up to CD some stuff but installed on a system that had been running original XP for 18 months without any problems whatsoever, you just have to get used to the nannying you now get in OE and IE.

Re: XP sp2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I've not had any significant problems with it. There are some benefits, the biggest inevitably being keeping your machine patched to reduce risks from the inevitable nastys floating around the computing world.

There are a few potentially useful additions, although equally they can be problematic, dependent on your needs. Particularly Ive found that SP2 adds Security Centre (go into control panel). That is the place for setting of further windows update stuff, but particularly windows firewall. SP2 turns that on by default, great if you don't have one, but for me, where both my home or business PCs are protected by a hardware or server firewall, one on the PC as well is a pain, so it gets turned off.

SP2 is a fairly big patch. As such it always has potential to screw up. On that basis before running it, make sure you do have backups of any critical data.

Re: XP sp2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Some people have had endless problems with it, while others have had perfect installs.


It seems to be best if installed on a fresh install of XP, rather than on a system which has had lots of stuff installed/uninstalled over time.


Loads of threads on it...

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/se...earchid=272177


I installed it recently, but only after a re-format & fresh install of XP. No problems at all.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

If you do, make sure you have an image or some other way to restore your pc to it's pre SP2 state, then if it goes t*ts up, at least you can revert. :)

Re: XP sp2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

i would agree with that :tu:

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I installed it ages ago - no probs.
My brother in law installed it over a coolwebsearch infected PC - fixed that and no probs.
My dad installed it - had to format and reinstall XP !

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

ive installed it on all 3 of ours and not a single glitch.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

The IT technician says he is going to wait for about 6 months before installing it on the school network because it can wait until he is absolutely certain that newer updates of other software have been caught up with.That way he hopes to have less conflicts when he does upgrade.So when he upgrades I may well do so. ;)

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I thought it would be a vital, necessary patch to install SP2 - with the better security fixes and features it offers.

Installed a couple of weeks ago, no problems yet. <touch wood> lol ;)

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I installed it on my laptop after I did a clean install of XP and I have not had any problems. Our Network Admin at school is installing it on systems that have been freshly installed as well as I think if he does install it on all machines there are bound to be problems.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Well thanks for all that everyone, I shall hang on for a while I think.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Go on, be a devil, you know you want to really....there are plenty of people here who will hold your hand.;)

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I installed it after a format and reload of xp. No probs what-so-ever!. Quite like the pop up stopper though!!

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Errrrrrrrrrrr, what's a re-format & how do I do a re install of XP???..........see I really am that bad!!! :dunce:

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

At it's simplest level it means you will be completely wiping your PC of all the data held on it. So stage 1 must be to back up everything you might want (emails, letters, photos, but also any software and similar gumpf).

If you put your original windows XP CD into the drive, then switch the PC off, and on again, hopefully you will have an option come up to reboot from the CD rather than it going straight to the Hard Disk, and current windows installation. If it doesn't boot from CD, you may need to edit the boot sequence in your BOIS settings. Depending on your computer as you switch it on, before it gets as far as any windows logo, hold down the DEL, or F2 keys. Be very sure and careful of any changes you make in the BOIS as you can make some very nasty changes.

When you do get to boot from the Windows CD, you will have the option to repair or install windows. You want to install. But first when you get the option as to where to install, on which partition, you want to format the partition. You may have to delete the partition first and recreate it to force the formating. By formating you will ensure no trace of your old windows settings exist that could continue corruptions into your new setup.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

reformat basically means wiping the hard drive, everything gone. You'll need an XP disc to reinstall.....asuming you got one for your puter!

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Well said!

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I've installed it on two computers and had no problems whatsoever.
I think it's pointless people "waiting to see if my applications will work" because the majority are running 32-bit CPUs and the only minor issue with compatibilty is caused by AMD64 CPUs when you enable No-Execute extensions and a program fails, which is easy to solve when you run into it because you just click "Allow"!

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I have to agree with the not waiting to see bit. You could but meanwhile M$ are already releasing patches based on users running SP2, not earlier versions. Thus, any new major exploit from viruses, and the like may not be properly dealt with. In the meantime something like SP2 and what it does to your PC will have been extensively tested, with all mainstream software and hardware before release. Thus, unless you really do have something obscure running on your PC, I cannot see how your mainstream programs would be affected.

The bigger difficulty with any patch tends to be the numerous permutations of hardware. In my view it's more likely to be that which will kill an upgrade to SP2. I've no upgraded my home PC, laptop and all work PCs, with SP2, no difficulties, once I downloaded the full update option (so you didn't use the internet download specific to a PC). The online update was troublesome, but that's more likely to be down to the vagaries of the internet connection. Download the whole thing and install from that executable, and I rekon its OK.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I've now installed this on at least 10 computers without a hitch ....

I do the following before I install it ....

• Do a disk cleanup (Right click on the drive in My computer)
• Run Spybot S&D
• Run Adaware SE
• Clear out temp areas
• Do a defrag
• Do antivirus scan
• Install SP2

Worked so far :D

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Cheers Nem......I'll give it a go now :tu: :)

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Unless you are on the internet, I see no reason to install SP2.
As long as you have SP1 and an adequate firewall, do not use Internet Explorer and Outlook as there are better more secure equivilents, then I dont think there is a need for it.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Now that sounds easier to me!!! Will try it later after Ramrod has let us know if it was ok for him ;)

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

It's gonna take a while to do all of that but I'll wade through it and let you know at the end :tu: :)

edit.....well, 'disc cleanup' bluescreened my pc :disturbd:

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Your machine is notoriously dodgy anyway .... IMO it really needs a complete KDRB ..(Knock Down Re Build).

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Or putting into a very large dustbin bag.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I know, I know..........just can't be ars*d to reformat and haven't got permission to get the Alienware yet :dozey: :D

Though it does manage to run UT2004 with all the bells and whistles turned on :shrug:

edit--found a fix for the disk cleanup crash here......seems it's a common problem with win XP

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Disk cleanup now works..........getting close to downloading SP2 :erm: :disturbd: :D

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Permission? Pfft. Buy it, face the consequences later.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Great idea but (to paraphrase the Blues Brothers) .....I'd look pretty stupid eating corn on the cob with no f'kin teeth :erm: :D

Anyhoo.........SP2 went on just fine.......system seems faster now as well. Probably my imagination though. :D

Re: XP sp2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I have no probs whatsoever. I did with the RC but with the final release of it. No probs at all.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Show her it, tell her it's also ornamental, if that doesn't work, throw her out and buy it to console yourself ;)

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Yes, but who would feed the kids and cook and clean then? Not to mention the sex........I'm too old to go on the pull these days, besides I'm useless at chatting up women:D

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Okso .. buy it, then do the whole Dr. Evil thing when she starts to complain.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Just installed it this morning, went on fine & no probs so far, so thanks Ramrod for being my Guinea pig !!! ;)

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I have installed SP2 and all the updates as they come along. The SP2 upgrade was via a cover disk on a recent copy of a pc magazine,much less tedious than over the net. It worked fine,no probs

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

what I want to know is, does Joint Operations Typhoon Rising work with SP2, when I tried SP2 beforei t didnt work, it just had a black screen and no menus or anything appeared... the intro movie with the choppier didnt even play either... :(

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Hello,

SP2 has automatically downloaded to my pc but I have not yet installed it. I have also got a cd from Microsoft, will it be better to use the cd or to install the download, and should AVG and ZoneAlarm (free) be disabled during installation.
I would like to install Sp2 but after reading of many problems I have been a bit nervous about doing it, but everyone here seems more positive.

Thanks

Church Mouse

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Well I'm no expert, but I installed from the auto update with no problems at all, I use pc cillin anti virus & left it running during the installation,.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Well, I've also got ZA and AVG free - I yanked the cable out of the back of the CM, turned off both, and did the update. SP2 has its own security centre that recognised both ZA and AVG (when I put the cable back in, of course ;) ) so I reckon I could have just left them running, but it only takes a few minutes to install so why risk it?

Everything is fine so far; Shareaza's a bit slow downloading though I don't know whether it's just the particular files I'm d/l ing or the infamous SP2 half open connection limit ... I'm sure as hell not going to install some dodgy TCP/IP patch to find out .... ! :Yikes:

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Glad to be of service :D
edit...and really glad it went well for both of us!

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I installed it last week after putting it off for a while.

I've had no problems what so ever. But i do get a little narked at some of the warnings that appear because of the firewall. Still small price to pay.

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I find the information bar to be very intrusive. I had a hell of a time trying to get it to allow active x on a trusted site. :mad:

Re: XP SP2 Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Yes you should. Simple answer to the thread :)