No SP2!

[Johnny]

How long can my PC work without the SP2 update?
I have had the free Shields Up scan which found my PC
achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single
packet - solicited or otherwise - was received from my
system as a result of their security probing tests. My
system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings
(ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing
probes of any hacker, my machine does not exist on the
Internet.
The update has downloaded, but I am really afraid to
install it!

Johnny

 

[Tom G]

I have uninstalled SP2 Twice cause it messes up my programs.. I DONT WANT IT

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

SP2 is a solid, secure release. It is a major "Critical Update"
for Windows XP and updates over 5 million lines of code,
enabling much stronger security, stability, and affords a tad better
performance benefit. SP2 was extensively tested on hundreds of
thousands of various computer configurations over a period of
many, many months. I would encourage you to install it at your
earliest convenience.

You may wish to view the following:

Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspx

List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=windowsxpsp2

Learn About Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/preinstall.mspx

Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Jupiter Jones]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| How long can my PC work without the SP2 update?
| I have had the free Shields Up scan which found my PC
| achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single
| packet - solicited or otherwise - was received from my
| system as a result of their security probing tests. My
| system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings
| (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing
| probes of any hacker, my machine does not exist on the
| Internet.
| The update has downloaded, but I am really afraid to
| install it!
|
| Johnny

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Tom;
If you uninstalled it twice, that also means you installed it twice.
Did you verify SP-2 compatibility with your programs before
installation?

Also many poorly written programs take advantage in some of the
vulnerabilities Windows XP had.
You may simply need to reconfigure the program or security of the
computer.
Often less time consuming than uninstalling SP-2 once much less twice.

If you intend to install SP-2, see these links:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm

 

[TDP]

With the greatest respect if what you say is true regarding extensive
testing of SP2 perhaps you could explain why so many thousands of requests
for help post SP2 install are jamming the related newsgroups and computer
website forums? Also why was it not made clearer (emphasised) that SP2 is
not compatible with computers that have 64bit cpu's,have you seen the number
of cries for help from people who have tried to install it only to find that
their computer fails to boot up? Try asking a purchaser of a brand new
"Mesh" (if you are outside the UK Mesh is a large computer retail
company)computer what they think of SP2? or in fact anyone who has had the
same problems with computers that have Intel "Prescott" cpu's,Did M$ not
know of the existence of these cpu's mentioned? The list of problems seems
to be endless, It is my opinion that M$ has not done itself any favours with
this shambles of a service pack and I have recommended to all my clients to
leave this well alone until M$ has sorted this out!

SP2 is a solid, secure release. It is a major "Critical Update"
for Windows XP and updates over 5 million lines of code,
enabling much stronger security, stability, and affords a tad better
performance benefit. SP2 was extensively tested on hundreds of
thousands of various computer configurations over a period of
many, many months. I would encourage you to install it at your
earliest convenience.

You may wish to view the following:

Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspx

List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=windowsxpsp2

Learn About Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/preinstall.mspx

Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Jupiter Jones]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| How long can my PC work without the SP2 update?
| I have had the free Shields Up scan which found my PC
| achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single
| packet - solicited or otherwise - was received from my
| system as a result of their security probing tests. My
| system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings
| (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing
| probes of any hacker, my machine does not exist on the
| Internet.
| The update has downloaded, but I am really afraid to
| install it!
|
| Johnny

 

[luminos]

With the greatest respect if what you say is true regarding extensive
testing of SP2 perhaps you could explain why so many thousands of requests
for help post SP2 install are jamming the related newsgroups and computer
website forums? Also why was it not made clearer (emphasised) that SP2 is
not compatible with computers that have 64bit cpu's,have you seen the
number
of cries for help from people who have tried to install it only to find
that
their computer fails to boot up? Try asking a purchaser of a brand new
"Mesh" (if you are outside the UK Mesh is a large computer retail
company)computer what they think of SP2? or in fact anyone who has had the
same problems with computers that have Intel "Prescott" cpu's,Did M$ not
know of the existence of these cpu's mentioned? The list of problems seems
to be endless, It is my opinion that M$ has not done itself any favours
with
this shambles of a service pack and I have recommended to all my clients
to
leave this well alone until M$ has sorted this out!

In the entire world of computers, these are minor and insignificant in
total. Could you image the combinations of motherboards, cpus, ram
architectures, etc. etc. that would need to be tested? Is it Microsoft's
fault that there are some incompatabilities? Why *are* Prescott cpus
different than all the rest? Or certain motherboards?

The same thing happens when new Linux Kernel components are introduced. If
you want an open architecture you pay. Otherwise, we establish, as Apple
attempted in the past, to authorize everything through the company allowing
for no third party hardware or software unless approved by, let us say,
Microsoft.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Most of it is "sorted this out"
For example the Prescott issue has been resolved:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...99-5d75-454f-ae07-b620727be8d8&DisplayLang=en

Many other problems are resolved by simple setting changes.

As for extensive testing, SP-2 possibly had more testing than any
other piece of software.
But complete testing is an impossibility.
How many Windows XP computers in the world?
Now consider that no two are identical.
Testing of all configurations can not be done at all.

Hopefully you will do more than wait for Microsoft to sort it out
since much of it already has been done, much before SP-2 was released.
Since you recommended your clients wait, hopefully you are researching
their hardware and software configurations for possible compatibility
issues.
Then you can point them the correct location for drivers, patches etc.
You will also be able to tell then how to reconfigure their computer.

These links can be a start:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/

With the greatest respect if what you say is true regarding
extensive
testing of SP2 perhaps you could explain why so many thousands of
requests
for help post SP2 install are jamming the related newsgroups and
computer
website forums? Also why was it not made clearer (emphasised) that
SP2 is
not compatible with computers that have 64bit cpu's,have you seen
the number
of cries for help from people who have tried to install it only to
find that
their computer fails to boot up? Try asking a purchaser of a brand
new
"Mesh" (if you are outside the UK Mesh is a large computer retail
company)computer what they think of SP2? or in fact anyone who has
had the
same problems with computers that have Intel "Prescott" cpu's,Did M$
not
know of the existence of these cpu's mentioned? The list of problems
seems
to be endless, It is my opinion that M$ has not done itself any
favours with
this shambles of a service pack and I have recommended to all my
clients to
leave this well alone until M$ has sorted this out!

SP2 is a solid, secure release. It is a major "Critical Update"
for Windows XP and updates over 5 million lines of code,
enabling much stronger security, stability, and affords a tad
better
performance benefit. SP2 was extensively tested on hundreds of
thousands of various computer configurations over a period of
many, many months. I would encourage you to install it at your
earliest convenience.

You may wish to view the following:

Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspx

List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=windowsxpsp2

Learn About Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/preinstall.mspx

Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service
Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Jupiter Jones]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| How long can my PC work without the SP2 update?
| I have had the free Shields Up scan which found my PC
| achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single
| packet - solicited or otherwise - was received from my
| system as a result of their security probing tests. My
| system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings
| (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing
| probes of any hacker, my machine does not exist on the
| Internet.
| The update has downloaded, but I am really afraid to
| install it!
|
| Johnny

 

[Rock]

How long can my PC work without the SP2 update?
I have had the free Shields Up scan which found my PC
achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single
packet - solicited or otherwise - was received from my
system as a result of their security probing tests. My
system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings
(ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing
probes of any hacker, my machine does not exist on the
Internet.
The update has downloaded, but I am really afraid to
install it!

Johnny

What Shields up shows is just one small piece of the computer security
puzzle. And SP2 is much more than that.

 

[Ron AG]

You WON'T experience issues with SP2 in your pc, unless you're not familiar
about regular computer maintenance.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

With the greatest respect if what you say is true regarding extensive
testing of SP2 perhaps you could explain why so many thousands of requests
for help post SP2 install are jamming the related newsgroups and computer
website forums? Also why was it not made clearer (emphasised) that SP2 is
not compatible with computers that have 64bit cpu's,have you seen the
number
of cries for help from people who have tried to install it only to find
that
their computer fails to boot up? Try asking a purchaser of a brand new
"Mesh" (if you are outside the UK Mesh is a large computer retail
company)computer what they think of SP2? or in fact anyone who has had the
same problems with computers that have Intel "Prescott" cpu's,Did M$ not
know of the existence of these cpu's mentioned? The list of problems seems
to be endless, It is my opinion that M$ has not done itself any favours
with
this shambles of a service pack and I have recommended to all my clients
to
leave this well alone until M$ has sorted this out!

SP2 is a solid, secure release. It is a major "Critical Update"
for Windows XP and updates over 5 million lines of code,
enabling much stronger security, stability, and affords a tad better
performance benefit. SP2 was extensively tested on hundreds of
thousands of various computer configurations over a period of
many, many months. I would encourage you to install it at your
earliest convenience.

You may wish to view the following:

Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspx

List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=windowsxpsp2

Learn About Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/preinstall.mspx

Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Jupiter Jones]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| How long can my PC work without the SP2 update?
| I have had the free Shields Up scan which found my PC
| achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single
| packet - solicited or otherwise - was received from my
| system as a result of their security probing tests. My
| system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings
| (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing
| probes of any hacker, my machine does not exist on the
| Internet.
| The update has downloaded, but I am really afraid to
| install it!
|
| Johnny

 

[Dale Richards]

How long can my PC work without the SP2 update?
I have had the free Shields Up scan which found my PC
achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single
packet - solicited or otherwise - was received from my
system as a result of their security probing tests. My
system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings
(ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing
probes of any hacker, my machine does not exist on the
Internet.
The update has downloaded, but I am really afraid to
install it!

Johnny

ShieldsUP is telling you that your firewall appears to be working correctly,
but there is much more to online security than just firewalls. It is also
vital to keep your operating system updated and patched against known
vulnerabilities. For this reason, SP2 is an essential update.

In addition to a good firewall and an updated operating system, you will
also need an effective, up-to-date antivirus program to remain secure.