Query re XP Service Pack 2 and Buying a new compter

[GraemeD]

I have been using W98 on my 5 year old computer and am now thinking of buying a new computer which no doubt will come with Win XP installed . I have seen the announcement that a large Service pack 2 will be released in the coming months and wonder whether I should hold off on the new computer purchase till after release.
I am not sure how these service packs work .Are they released for download only or does Microsoft update its retail product to include the update ? In other words if I buy a new computer in say 6 months time is it going to have a Win XP version with the new Service Pack or will it be the original XP for which I will still have to download the update .
I guess I am thinking of Win 98 and the subsequent release of W98SE which was sold as a new product .
Would appreciate some guidance on this .

Graeme

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Graeme

Have a look at the following links:

"Windows XP Service Pack 2 "
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/sp2preview.mspx

News Groups
http://communities.microsoft.com/newsgroups/default.asp?icp=xpsp2&slcid=us

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


I have been using W98 on my 5 year old computer and am now thinking of
buying a new computer which no doubt will come with Win XP installed . I
have seen the announcement that a large Service pack 2 will be released in
the coming months and wonder whether I should hold off on the new computer
purchase till after release.
I am not sure how these service packs work .Are they released for download
only or does Microsoft update its retail product to include the update ? In
other words if I buy a new computer in say 6 months time is it going to have
a Win XP version with the new Service Pack or will it be the original XP for
which I will still have to download the update .
I guess I am thinking of Win 98 and the subsequent release of W98SE which
was sold as a new product .
Would appreciate some guidance on this .

Graeme

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

It is safe to buy now, most new systems have SP1 already installed, if not
it is a free download, just as SP2 will be. Good luck in your transition.




I have been using W98 on my 5 year old computer and am now thinking of
buying a new computer which no doubt will come with Win XP installed . I
have seen the announcement that a large Service pack 2 will be released in
the coming months and wonder whether I should hold off on the new computer
purchase till after release.
I am not sure how these service packs work .Are they released for download
only or does Microsoft update its retail product to include the update ? In
other words if I buy a new computer in say 6 months time is it going to have
a Win XP version with the new Service Pack or will it be the original XP for
which I will still have to download the update .
I guess I am thinking of Win 98 and the subsequent release of W98SE which
was sold as a new product .
Would appreciate some guidance on this .

Graeme

 

[Guest]

What brand(kind) is your 5 year old computer. I have a 5 year old computer that is a Intel Pentium 3 - Compaq Deskpro EP/SB Series (a commercial unit). The Compaq has a NVIDIA 32MB Video Card, 512MB RAM on a 500Mhz processer. Runs Windows XP Professional Perfect. I have another hard drive that has SP2 RC1 on it, I have had no problems with the computer or SP2 RC1. Why buy a new computer when the one you have will probably work just fine...depending on what brand computer and Mhz size it is & alot of other factors, I guess. Best of luck to your new purchase.

 

[GraemeD]

Thanks to yourself and Will for the quick replies .
Reading the Microsoft web site article it seems to imply there will be a release of XP bundled with the SP 2 and I guess this is what I was looking for .
I really do not fancy a download of 100 mb plus using my Dial Up Modem so when I buy the computer I would like to think I did not have to do that . I realize I would need to check with the computer Vendor whether it be Dell/ Gateway or whatever .
If my understanding of the position is correct In the circumstances I might put off the purchase for a while .

Graeme

Kelly wrote:
:: Hi,
::
:: It is safe to buy now, most new systems have SP1 already installed,
:: if not it is a free download, just as SP2 will be. Good luck in
:: your transition.
::
:: --
:: All the Best,
:: Kelly
::
:: Microsoft-MVP Windows® XP
:: 2004 Windows MVP "Winny" Award
::
:: Troubleshooting Windows XP
:: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
::
:: Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
:: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
::
::
:: :: I have been using W98 on my 5 year old computer and am now thinking
:: of buying a new computer which no doubt will come with Win XP
:: installed . I have seen the announcement that a large Service pack 2
:: will be released in the coming months and wonder whether I should
:: hold off on the new computer purchase till after release.
:: I am not sure how these service packs work .Are they released for
:: download only or does Microsoft update its retail product to include
:: the update ? In other words if I buy a new computer in say 6 months
:: time is it going to have a Win XP version with the new Service Pack
:: or will it be the original XP for which I will still have to
:: download the update .
:: I guess I am thinking of Win 98 and the subsequent release of W98SE
:: which was sold as a new product .
:: Would appreciate some guidance on this .
::
:: Graeme

 

[Guest]

If you wait 6 months you will buy a 4Ghz CPU for the price of a 3Ghz today
You will probably get a DVD Burner for free or close to it - instead of a DVD-ROM or CD Burner
You will probable get 256Mb More RAM for your money

Will you wait for all this to happen

Don't wait around for SP2 if you need or want to buy a new PC today. SP2 will most likely be available to you on a CD-ROM by order from Microsoft, as is SP1. If not I'm betting that the PC magazines will have it included with their usual cover CD; you know the one with all the shareware, trial ware and other useful bits and pieces. It just help distribution and sell their magazines. Microsoft would want for all users to be at the current security levels, just what the major benefits offered by SP2 are aimed at.

 

[GraemeD]

Karl Dorman wrote:
:: What brand(kind) is your 5 year old computer. I have a 5 year old
:: computer that is a Intel Pentium 3 - Compaq Deskpro EP/SB Series (a
:: commercial unit). The Compaq has a NVIDIA 32MB Video Card, 512MB RAM
:: on a 500Mhz processer. Runs Windows XP Professional Perfect. I have
:: another hard drive that has SP2 RC1 on it, I have had no problems
:: with the computer or SP2 RC1. Why buy a new computer when the one
:: you have will probably work just fine...depending on what brand
:: computer and Mhz size it is & alot of other factors, I guess. Best
:: of luck to your new purchase.

Hi Karl ,
Mine is Gateway 400 celeron 96 mb ram with 5mb hard drive .. To me the cost of upgrading these areas putting in new CD Rom or DVD Burner is not worth it, would rather spend the money on a new machine .
Thanks for the thoughts anyway.

Graeme

 

[GraemeD]

BAR wrote:
:: If you wait 6 months you will buy a 4Ghz CPU for the price of a 3Ghz
:: today.
:: You will probably get a DVD Burner for free or close to it - instead
:: of a DVD-ROM or CD Burner.
:: You will probable get 256Mb More RAM for your money.
::
:: Will you wait for all this to happen?
::
:: Don't wait around for SP2 if you need or want to buy a new PC today.
:: SP2 will most likely be available to you on a CD-ROM by order from
:: Microsoft, as is SP1. If not I'm betting that the PC magazines will
:: have it included with their usual cover CD; you know the one with
:: all the shareware, trial ware and other useful bits and pieces. It
:: just help distribution and sell their magazines. Microsoft would
:: want for all users to be at the current security levels, just what
:: the major benefits offered by SP2 are aimed at.

What you say is true I had overlooked the free CD Rom aspect a good thought . I think I had been looking at the Service pack as almost a new product like Win 98 SE when it came out . Also thought it might be good to have it preinstalled by the vendor to save the conflicts and incompatabilities which sometimes occur when installing such packs.

Anyway will take all the replies I have received on board. Thanks
Graeme

 

[Guest]

Ya, it's worth to getting a new computer if you now have a Gateway.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have been using W98 on my 5 year old computer and am now thinking of buying a new computer which no doubt will come with Win XP installed . I have seen the announcement that a large Service pack 2 will be released in the coming months and wonder whether I should hold off on the new computer purchase till after release.
I am not sure how these service packs work .Are they released for download only or does Microsoft update its retail product to include the update ? In other words if I buy a new computer in say 6 months time is it going to have a Win XP version with the new Service Pack or will it be the original XP for which I will still have to download the update .

It will take some time for machines to come through that have SP2
included. What I would do is go ahead, for the moment order the
security update free CD from
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp
so as to install it straight off, and as soon as SP2 is announced order
the CD of that. There is almost certain to be one, as with SP1, even if
it is not distributed to magazine cover disks as we are hoping

 

[GraemeD]

Alex Nichol wrote:
:: GraemeD wrote:
::
::: I have been using W98 on my 5 year old computer and am now thinking
::: of buying a new computer which no doubt will come with Win XP
::: installed . I have seen the announcement that a large Service pack
::: 2 will be released in the coming months and wonder whether I should
::: hold off on the new computer purchase till after release.
::: I am not sure how these service packs work .Are they released for
::: download only or does Microsoft update its retail product to
::: include the update ? In other words if I buy a new computer in say
::: 6 months time is it going to have a Win XP version with the new
::: Service Pack or will it be the original XP for which I will still
::: have to download the update .
::
:: It will take some time for machines to come through that have SP2
:: included. What I would do is go ahead, for the moment order the
:: security update free CD from
:: http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp
:: so as to install it straight off, and as soon as SP2 is announced
:: order the CD of that. There is almost certain to be one, as with
:: SP1, even if it is not distributed to magazine cover disks as we are
:: hoping
::
:: --
:: Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
:: Bournemouth, U.K. (e-mail address removed)8E8L.org (remove the D8 bit)


Yes that seems a good idea. Thank you.
Graeme

 

[Kelly]

More information: http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5174903.html?tag=nl

 

[GraemeD]

Kelly wrote:
:: More information:
:: http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5174903.html?tag=nl
::
:: --
:: All the Best,
:: Kelly
::
:: Microsoft-MVP Windows® XP
:: 2004 Windows MVP "Winny" Award
::
:: Troubleshooting Windows XP
:: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
::
:: Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
:: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
::
::
:: ::: Hi,
:::
::: It is safe to buy now, most new systems have SP1 already installed,
::: if not it is a free download, just as SP2 will be. Good luck in
::: your transition.
:::
::: --
::: All the Best,
::: Kelly
:::
::: Microsoft-MVP Windows® XP
::: 2004 Windows MVP "Winny" Award
:::
::: Troubleshooting Windows XP
::: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
:::
::: Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
::: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
:::
:::
::: ::: I have been using W98 on my 5 year old computer and am now thinking
::: of buying a new computer which no doubt will come with Win XP
::: installed . I have seen the announcement that a large Service pack
::: 2 will be released in the coming months and wonder whether I should
::: hold off on the new computer purchase till after release.
::: I am not sure how these service packs work .Are they released for
::: download only or does Microsoft update its retail product to
::: include the update ? In other words if I buy a new computer in say
::: 6 months time is it going to have a Win XP version with the new
::: Service Pack or will it be the original XP for which I will still
::: have to download the update .
::: I guess I am thinking of Win 98 and the subsequent release of W98SE
::: which was sold as a new product .
::: Would appreciate some guidance on this .
:::
::: Graeme


Thanks .
Got that.
Graeme

 

[Alex Nichol]

What I would do is go ahead, for the moment order the
security update free CD from
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp
so as to install it straight off,

Just to add to that: Yesterday I had occasion to do a clean install of
XP Home, and run that CD. After doing so it also wanted the following
Critical Updates, in addition to one or two that really apply only in
commercial networks with Server dangers:

835732 (Sasser)
837009 (OE Cumulative)
832894 (IE Cumulative)
828741 (XP Cumulative)
828028 (ASN 1)
827001 (Jet Engine)

Which I would suggest it is worth downloading where you have a broadband
connection to hand, and put on a CD ready to run before connection even
for a minute. And make sure that the Firewall is enabled on the Internet
connection too

 

[Hilary Karp]

Nothing wrong with Gateway computers. Have a P4 2.53 Ghz one with 1 gB
ram, DVD burner, CD burner, almost 2 years old. Works fine. Had a P3
before that.