Sp2

what is your honest opinion on sp2? I scan my system once a week with avi, spybot, ad-aware. I visit microsoft, read about each available download, and d/l each patch that I need, once a week. Do not play games or d/l music, other files or etc. from sites on the internet,except for certain programs from sites like this one. I do not allow anyone else (found this a wise decision when our kids are visiting) to d/l anything at all unless Iam sitting in the chair and the one doing the key punching. Funny how they suddenly don't want to give you any private passwords or info. Try to keep everything as clean and lean as possible. We always try and backup everything on a regular schedule. The only problems we have ever encountered happened after letting someone else "use our computer" for a minute. That does not ever happen now. I sent for and received sp2 on cd from MS and it is sitting with all the other cd's. After reading about, and hearing about all the problems people are having once this is installed, I am just leaving it sit to see what happens over the next few weeks with all of the bugs or problems. Am I paranoid??? Is this something that I really need to install now? Thanks for any expert opinions on this.

 

Concern is fine. Paranoia is overkill. I have successfully installed SP2 on over 50 machines. I had one yesterday that didn't like some HP toolbox software and wouldn't load the shell which was easiliy fixed by eliminating it from the startup..

As usual, backup all important data before updating. make sure the system is clean of viruses and spyware. You should make sure you have all the latest patches for all of your 3rd party software. All updated drivers etc.

Shut down all open programs(even the ones in systray).. end any un-necessary processes and load SP2.

 

kodo
thanx, I'll give it a shot when time allows. Are the fixes in sp2 really an improvement or help? Guess I have the overkill complex, but relatives, just wanting to borrow the truck, car, computer or whatever have given it to me.

 

SP2 includes many security enhancements to the operating system and not just IE. There are also numerous fixes for bugs etc. It IS an improvement (under the hood if you will) but you won't "see" a lot of the improvements other than the popup blocker in IE and some other IE options, the security center and wireless zero configuration.

 

Many, many cars travel the streets of my town each day. The great precentage of them do so without incident. We think nothing of this fact. Ever so often someone does have a traffic accident (usually a fender bender). These accidents make headlines in our little county newspaper

As you read online computer newgroups, it is important to remember that most of the time people post in them to reveal their problems and to seek help in correcting their problems. Reading online newsgroups can be like reading newpapers...you get to read about the bad stuff (problems).

The vast majority drive our streets and upgrade their software without any hiccups. This is generally true if we are talking about Microsoft, Linux, Apple, etc.

SP2 is no different. It is my opinion that you should go for it. As has been said before, you still might want to make a backup first

 

Totally agree! and to further prove that point, you didn't see me post 50 messages about every good upgrade.

 

Hey, guy!

If you're really nervous about this, do the backup thing and then make sure that you check off all of the items on my sheet at
http://editorsdesktop.com/SP2inst.html

Just a little preparation and forethought makes for a smooth installation of the Service Pack.

I haven't tallied as many installations as Mr. K., but I've done at least 20, and only two of them had glitches -- and the glitches were *easy* to fix.

Get ready by making sure that you have a lean, clean, current machine, and then run that upgrade and move on.

 

Apart from the major improvements to security and Internet Explorer, SP2 also now offers full official support for Bluetooth, and improved wireless support.

In the past, XP only supported it's own Bluetooth devices, namely Micro$$oft keyboards and mice.

If you don't install SP2 now, rest assured that in the future Micro$$oft will require it to enable you to install any further patches.

Also, a lot of these horror stories that are blamed on SP2 usually end up not being related, and in a lot of cases can be tracked down to people not following instructions or installing it incorrectly.

 

okay thanks to all for answering some of my questions. You have cleared up a few clouds in my noggin. Not too sharp at my age when it comes to understanding a lot of the explanations that microsoft puts out in regards to it's patches or upgrades. End up doing a lot of google searches etc. thanx again.

 

thanks to all for making it a little clearer. Answered my questions in a way that an old coot like me can understand. I always seem to find the answer here, or at least some useful information.