Upgrading OS from XP Pro SP1 to XP Pro SP2

Hi MajorGeeks! :wave
It has been strongly recommended from many of the malware fighters here that I upgrade my OS from Windows XP Professional Version 2002 SP1 to SP2 to eliminate many security risks currently existing. I stongly agree I should do this. However, I do have some questions about this, and I hope some of you who have done this can assist me in allaying some concerns.

1. Backing Up: I have approximately 50 GB. of my hard drive capacity currently used. If I make a bootable backup disc (on DVD), does it require only the used portion of the main drive to be backed up, or would the entire capacity (including free space) be backed up as well?

2. Program Settings: I have several applications (Media Players, Image editors, etc.) installed. Could the proposed upgrade to XP SP2 alter any of the settings on these non-related system applications?

3. Is it recommended to disable the Windows Firewall included with SP2 considering that I have a pretty good Software Firewall already installed?

4. Are there any unexpected changes in system performance or computer operation that are found post upgrade?

Thank you to anyone who can allay my concerns about this necessary upgrade.

 

Hi Tom K, :wave I also have Windows XP Prof., and have upgraded to SP3. and IE7

I had SP1, then updated to SP2, then SP3. I also updated from IE6 to IE7...
I didn't notice anything different at all, and I doubt if you will either.. Are you on a dial-up connection, or hi-speed? If you are on a dial-up connection, might want to think about burning it to a CD and loading it that way... If on hi-speed, it should load fine.....

I didn't have to disable the firewall either...(I am on a dial-up connection) Like I said, "I" didn't see any changes, but the computer knew what to do, and no application problems... I think you will be fine, and I am sure there will be more to encourage you in your quest also...

Are you going to update to SP3 also? OK, you have a great evening

 

#1 Just back up your important stuff (JMO)

#2 everything will remain the same

#3 You will have to disable your 3rd party firewall

#4 There shouldn't be but one never knows.

I would recommend getting a complete SP3 or SP2 and burning it to disk, that is if you have a good connection as they are large. You then just put the disk in and some 40 minutes later you're all done. Much easier and faster than going through Windows Update.

SP2 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

SP3 http://majorgeeks.com/Microsoft_Windows_XP_Service_Pack_3_d4323.html

BTW, SP3 includes SP2 so only run one or the other.

 

Do you have two Software Firewalls installed?

One can have only 1 software firewall installed otherwise there will be some conflict. Windows Firewall is only blocking inbound traffic and not the outbound. Many good Firewalls other than Windows will automatically disable the Windows Firewall when installing. What is the other Firewall you're using?

 

Ok - I am probably gonna get hollered at but why not just create a restore point? :confused Seems to me the easiest way....if I am wrong please explain why

 

Well the SP's automatically create a restore point and if there's an unlikely catastrophe then the OP can start with a fresh copy of XP and reload their backedup files.

 

Thanks for explaining Augiedoggie

 

Hey MGs,
I really appreciate the advice you have given :major I want to answer some questions:

TeeCee: I use a Broadband Internet Connection, so I anticipate the download, albeit large, to not be too time consuming. I may upgrade to XP SP3 in the future, but as I understood from some of the Microsoft literature, XP SP2 must be fully installed prior to doing so.

I had been concerned that the upgrade would downgrade the XP Professional status to standard XP, but if you have XP Professional and successfully upgraded the OS with SP2 and ultimately SP3 while retaining the "XP Professional" OS, then I should not have any problems with that.

augiedoggie: Do you mean I should disable the 3rd party software firewall immediately prior to the upgrade? If so, I gather I would be correct to reenable it immediately after the upgrade?

Oma: I only have one Software Firewall installed which is Jetico Personal Firewall. It's okay, but I was limited in choices due to my currently unupgraded OS. I may look into a different free license software firewall after the upgrade as many of them require the OS to be at least XP SP2 for operation. I understand from the guys on the malware forum that Windows Firewall, even in SP2, is severely inadequate.

KathyM.: After my post, I remembered that XP has restore points. I will create one prior to the upgrade.

After the OS upgrade, I anticipate making Browser upgrades. To those who have done this, like TeeCee, can you import your existing browser's history, auto-complete, and add-ons into the upgraded version? (For example: IE6 to IE7) Thank you again for this very helpful advice. I feel a lot more confident with this upgrade now.

 

Yes and yes but I should have said anti-virus instead of firewall as that could block attempts to install. Sorry about that but disable the firewall anyways. It's always better to have nothing running.

 

Tom: "I had been concerned that the upgrade would downgrade the XP Professional status to standard XP, but if you have XP Professional and successfully upgraded the OS with SP2 and ultimately SP3 while retaining the "XP Professional" OS, then I should not have any problems with that."

I had no problems at all. Still have XP Prof. No bells or whistles went off either... I would advise, to upgrade to SP2, then SP3. SP3 is a bunch of patches and fixes that are all bundled into one, and no, you won't loose your XP Prof... No bells or whistles will go off, heck, I didn't notice anything, and was waiting for the worst... :-D I think you will do fine....

Also, IE7 is very good too, a nice update from IE6.. I am staying AWAY from IE8 tho!

 

I think I have a large problem. I downloaded SP2 but it will not completely install. I have since got an error message that says only a portion of it installed and that Windows XP may not work properly. I am very concerned about rebooting at this point as I don't know if I could get back in (haven't had that problem before, but don't want to risk it) What can I do here? Should I perform a repair from the original XP CD or the Windows Recovery Console?

 

Okay. I successfully rebooted the computer. Startup is very slow but complete. Operation appears normal. Three attempts to install SP2 failed. I suspect there could be corrupted files in either the registry or the OS. Are there any logs I could provide that would help with a determination of what problem(s) exist? I really don't want to perform a complete reinstall as I am able to boot the computer.

 

Thanks for replying, plodr. Unfortunately, System Restore was turned off (I already did this :banghead to myself) and so the only point I can return to is that which existed right after SP2 downloaded and before it was installed. I do not have the option at this time to re-download SP2 - or to completely install it. Currently the computer is running the original OS, XP Pro SP1. Bootup and operation appear normal.

I ran chkdsk using Windows Recovery Console and it found "several errors on the volume" but it didn't list what those errors are. If I could ascertain this information, I would try any attempt to repair them. I would also attempt a complete uninstall of SP2 so I could re-download and install it if that was deemed safe to do. I suspect my OS is in a state of "purgatory" meaning it mainly contains portions of SP1 and some portions of SP2.

Needless to say, I have backed up my important files now in case... I don't want to say it

Any advice on how best to proceed would sure be welcomed.

 

I haven't done anything about this issue over the past week as I have been dealing with two other problems including an intermittant internet connection (now possibly resolved) and an apparently faulty DVD-ROM drive. But I am going to have to return to this soon.

I downloaded the SP2 pack over two weeks ago. I am interested in creating a slipstreamed XP SP2 and SP3 bootable disc. Perhaps I could use AutoStreamer as it is endorsed here on MajorGeeks for this project. Where does SP2 download to?

 

You can go directly from XP SP1 to SP3. All the necessary updates are in SP3.
Just take you XP cd and slipstream SP3 and youre good to go.

 

I was under the impression that SP2 contained omitted elements from SP1. Also, that SP3 contained omitted elements from SP2, and that the service packs are essentially grouped patches on the original OS. Therefore, SP3 would not contain redundant elements from SP2.

I thought Microsoft stated that SP2 had to be installed before SP3 could be placed on top of it. They didn't reference slipstreaming, but would the dual downloads be applicable in both instances (standard OS upgrade and slipstream)?

Also, is AutoStreamer a good utility to create this bootable disc, and Where does SP2 (and SP3) download to?

I really appreciate the advice here.