SP 3...I Just Can't Pull the Trigger :o

[Monica]

Got the XP SP3 CD today. I've created a System Restore point. I do NOT use
IE (use FF). My nearly 4 year old Dell computer runs like top. Should I
leave well enough alone? Why SHOULD I install this SP?
Monica

 

[Big_Al]

Monica said this on 2/20/2009 6:21 PM:

Got the XP SP3 CD today. I've created a System Restore point. I do NOT use
IE (use FF). My nearly 4 year old Dell computer runs like top. Should I
leave well enough alone? Why SHOULD I install this SP?
Monica

My suggestion is, if you're a bit edgy, get something like Acronis True
Image Home, and image the hard drive. Make sure you make the recovery
CD. Then load SP3. If it fails you can restore the HD to its original
point.

Norton Ghost is another. Do backups other ways too. As even
Acronis/Ghost can fail once in a while.

Support for SP2 is going to end, not today, but it will. So you might
want to do it some time. A lot of people have, and I've done 5 PC's
now. If you have time and do the research and backups, you can
minimize your issues.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

A1. The CD you ordered and received from MS can be used to install SP3 on
any machine (i.e., Home and Pro) running WinXP SP1(a) or WinXP SP2.

A2. Having SP3 installed no later than April 2010 will allow you computer to
keep receiving critical security updates through 2014. If SP3 is not
installed, no updates, period.

A3. A Restore Point will be created automatically when you install SP3.
Should you encounter difficulties afterward and want to "undo" SP3, please
do NOT use System Restore as your first resort! Instead, uninstall SP3 via
Add/Remove Programs (in Safe Mode, if necessary).

References:

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3) and only until 14 Apr-09.
Go to http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select
"Windows XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

About IE7 & IE8 and Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Got the XP SP3 CD today. I've created a System Restore point. I do NOT use

IE (use FF). My nearly 4 year old Dell computer runs like top. Should I
leave well enough alone? Why SHOULD I install this SP?
Monica

Well, beside the regular Windows Updates that were released over the
years, there are well over 1000+ updates that NEVER got released, were
hotfixes, or were hotfixes you had to call up MS to get. Additionally,
there's RDP 6.1, WiFI is updated to use the most current standards
(pre-Wi-Max) and is MUCH improved, NAP integration, a couple others
that escape me at the moment. A few undocumented updates as well (RDP
6.1 being one of them). It is a bit snappier as well.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Monica]

My biggest fear? An overall system/Internet slowdown. I try to keep the
clutter on my hdd/in my registry under control.
I figure this SP is going to contain all kinds of crap I don't need or want.
I have two backups of everything I wouldn't want to lose.
If I needed to reformat, I'd want to start fresh so ghosting the drive isn't
something I need to do. You're the second person in a week
to mention the Acronis program. Seems to come highly recommended. I have
two new Seagate FreeAgent drives. They come with
their own backup software. Not the most full featured of backup programs
but it's doing what I need it to do.
Posting here is "doing research" I'll probably get flamed for it, but
since I've been using FF (about 3 years) I haven't downloaded one
MS update...right or wrong, that's part of my regimen for "minimizing
issues"

Monica said this on 2/20/2009 6:21 PM:
My suggestion is, if you're a bit edgy, get something like Acronis True
Image Home, and image the hard drive. Make sure you make the recovery
CD. Then load SP3. If it fails you can restore the HD to its original
point.

Norton Ghost is another. Do backups other ways too. As even
Acronis/Ghost can fail once in a while.

Support for SP2 is going to end, not today, but it will. So you might
want to do it some time. A lot of people have, and I've done 5 PC's
now. If you have time and do the research and backups, you can minimize
your issues.

Yeah, you can say I'm a bit edgy <g> My biggest fear? An overall
system/Internet slowdown. I try to keep the clutter on my hdd/in my
registry under control.
I figure this SP is going to contain all kinds of crap I don't need or want.
I have two backups of everything I wouldn't want to lose.
If I needed to reformat, I'd want to start fresh so ghosting the drive isn't
something I need to do. You're the second person in a week
to mention the Acronis program. Seems to come highly recommended. I have
two new Seagate FreeAgent drives. They come with
their own backup software. Not the most full featured of backup programs
but it's doing what I need it to do.
Posting here is "doing research" I'll probably get flamed for it, but
since I've been using FF (about 3 years) I haven't downloaded one
MS update...right or wrong, that's part of my regimen for "minimizing
issues"
Monica

 

[Monica]

A1. The CD you ordered and received from MS can be used to install SP3 on
any machine (i.e., Home and Pro) running WinXP SP1(a) or WinXP SP2.

A2. Having SP3 installed no later than April 2010 will allow you computer
to
keep receiving critical security updates through 2014. If SP3 is not
installed, no updates, period.

A3. A Restore Point will be created automatically when you install SP3.
Should you encounter difficulties afterward and want to "undo" SP3, please
do NOT use System Restore as your first resort! Instead, uninstall SP3
via
Add/Remove Programs (in Safe Mode, if necessary).

References:

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3) and only until 14 Apr-09.
Go to http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select
"Windows XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

About IE7 & IE8 and Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Thank you for all the information! I'll definitely read it. Still haven't
installed the update.

 

[Monica]

Well, beside the regular Windows Updates that were released over the
years, there are well over 1000+ updates that NEVER got released, were
hotfixes, or were hotfixes you had to call up MS to get. Additionally,
there's RDP 6.1, WiFI is updated to use the most current standards
(pre-Wi-Max) and is MUCH improved, NAP integration, a couple others
that escape me at the moment. A few undocumented updates as well (RDP
6.1 being one of them). It is a bit snappier as well.

- Thee Chicago W

"hot fixes"...nothing's wrong! <lol> I don't need "fixed" ; ) My first
rule of computing...
if it ain't broke, don't fix it". 1000+ updates that were never released?
RDP, NAP...no idea what those are. Guess it doesn't matter tho. If I
install the SP, I'll get 'em.
"...a bit snappier as well".
Now THAT'S music to my ears! That's what I strive for, a snappy, quick to
respond,
computer.
Monica

 

[Leythos]

Posting here is "doing research" I'll probably get flamed for it, but
since I've been using FF (about 3 years) I haven't downloaded one
MS update...right or wrong, that's part of my regimen for "minimizing
issues"

I've seen this discussion going on for weeks, in all that time you could
have installed, determined if it was going to work, and wiped and
rebuilt your machine several dozen times.

Backup your files, disable your AV, install SP3, reboot, make sure AV is
enabled - then go back and do all of the updates, not just the Windows
updates, all of the MICROSOFT updates.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Thank you for all the information! I'll definitely read it. Still
haven't
installed the update.

Remember: Free support (in the highly unlikely event you'll need it) ends in
less than 8 weeks!

 

[Twayne]

Got the XP SP3 CD today. I've created a System Restore point. I do
NOT use IE (use FF). My nearly 4 year old Dell computer runs like
top. Should I leave well enough alone? Why SHOULD I install this SP?
Monica

Go to the MS website for answers to your questions, INCLUDING the
specific steps to take prior to installation. Follow them and all will
go well. It's a well written article and very informative.

Cheers,

Twayne

 

[Twayne]

My biggest fear? An overall system/Internet slowdown. I try to keep
the clutter on my hdd/in my registry under control.
I figure this SP is going to contain all kinds of crap I don't need
or want. I have two backups of everything I wouldn't want to lose.
If I needed to reformat, I'd want to start fresh so ghosting the
drive isn't something I need to do. You're the second person in a
week to mention the Acronis program. Seems to come highly
recommended. I have two new Seagate FreeAgent drives. They come with
their own backup software. Not the most full featured of backup
programs but it's doing what I need it to do.
Posting here is "doing research" I'll probably get flamed for it,
but since I've been using FF (about 3 years) I haven't downloaded one
MS update...right or wrong, that's part of my regimen for "minimizing
issues"

No flame, but you seem to have left out an important part: Microsoft's
article on things to do before installing SP3. If you've been ignoring
updates, and your machine is actually healthy, then you are a very lucky
person. IMO you should quit tempting fate.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My biggest fear? An overall system/Internet slowdown. I try to keep the
clutter on my hdd/in my registry under control.

Does that mean you run a registry cleaner? If so, that makes it far
more likely that you will run into problems. Here's my standard post
on the subject:

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
it may have.

Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

I'll probably get flamed for it, but
since I've been using FF (about 3 years) I haven't downloaded one
MS update...right or wrong, that's part of my regimen for "minimizing
issues"

I don't mean it as a flame, and what you do is your choice of course.
But in my view, what you call your "regimen for 'minimizing issues' "
is exactly the opposite. Not keeping up to date with Microsoft updates
is looking for trouble, and will maximize the number of issues, not
minimize them.

 

[Monica]

Does that mean you run a registry cleaner? If so, that makes it far
more likely that you will run into problems. Here's my standard post
on the subject:

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
it may have.

Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html







I don't mean it as a flame, and what you do is your choice of course.
But in my view, what you call your "regimen for 'minimizing issues' "
is exactly the opposite. Not keeping up to date with Microsoft updates
is looking for trouble, and will maximize the number of issues, not
minimize them.

No, I don't use registry cleaners (anymore) I have in the past used them
sparingly and tried to customize the cleaning to the best of my knowledge.
Ran into problem once (easily fixed) and haven't used one since. My method
of cleaning the registry is by hand. When I uninstall a program,
I'll hand clean what I KNOW is ok. If I'm not sure, I leave it alone.

 

[Monica]

See? I wasn't aware of MS article of things to do before installing the SP.
Good to know! That's why I'm here. Hopefully the CD would have
directed me to a website or directions would be on the CD. Thanks!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

No, I don't use registry cleaners (anymore) I have in the past used them
sparingly and tried to customize the cleaning to the best of my knowledge.
Ran into problem once (easily fixed) and haven't used one since. My method
of cleaning the registry is by hand. When I uninstall a program,
I'll hand clean what I KNOW is ok. If I'm not sure, I leave it alone.

OK, glad to hear it. If you know what you're doing, that's fine.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I gave you several such references in my reply to your thread, Monica.

See? I wasn't aware of MS article of things to do before installing the
SP.

<snip>

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

rule of computing...
if it ain't broke, don't fix it". 1000+ updates that were never released?
RDP, NAP...no idea what those are. Guess it doesn't matter tho. If I
install the SP, I'll get 'em.
"...a bit snappier as well".
Now THAT'S music to my ears! That's what I strive for, a snappy, quick to
respond,
computer.
Monica

If it ain't broke don't fix it. But it's software written by people so
one assumes it's broke and needs to be fixed. Constantly.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Unknown]

If it ain't broke don't fix it? Can you make it better? Safer? More secure?
Why is it people who use that phrase are always looking for updates?