Anyone happy with XP SP2?

[Wayne]

I work in a line where we continually use many different software apps.
Practically all of the software comanies have advised against installing SP2
on systems running their current XP platform software, so none of my
professional acquaintences have installed it. I have not seen any posts to
this newsgroup reporting trouble-free installations. I have not installed it
on my personal computer, either. I was hoping to read some feedback from
the other side of the fence. Are there any success stories from users who
are happy with SP2?

 

[Johnny Lingo]

I am very happy with it. I have installed it on over 50 machines and have
yet to have a single issue.

 

[Jim]

I have installed it on my two home computers with no problem.I have 10
workstations that have had no problems.I have installed SP2 on several
friends computers as well all with no problems. People are hysterical over
installing this service pack much like SP1. Remember? Much to do about
nothing.

 

[davexnet02]

I work in a line where we continually use many different software apps.
Practically all of the software comanies have advised against installing SP2
on systems running their current XP platform software, so none of my
professional acquaintences have installed it. I have not seen any posts to
this newsgroup reporting trouble-free installations. I have not installed it
on my personal computer, either. I was hoping to read some feedback from
the other side of the fence. Are there any success stories from users who
are happy with SP2?

Depends what you mean by trouble free. There a different categories
of trouble. For example.
1) the PC wouldn't boot at all - and required a backup or use of
recovery console to restore the PC.
2)Existing apps on the PC are behaving differently or not at all,
in some cases affecting XP itself - such as shell extensions killing
Explorer.
3)Issues related to the security center and associated Microsoft
apps.

There are probably others, but this covers most of it. I had a few
problems related to item 3, but it was just a matter of familiarizing
myself with it, and making the necessary adjustment to my system.
This is to be expected with such a change as SP2 has delivered.
I didn't suffer anything related to item 2 at all.
Dave

 

[yeloduke]

Have updated on both my PC's without any dramas. I think if the PC or OS is
already dodgy before updating, then it will only compound any problems.

 

[Guest]

I had no problems installing SP2. Works great!

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

I work in a line where we continually use many different software
apps. Practically all of the software comanies have advised against
installing SP2 on systems running their current XP platform software,
so none of my professional acquaintences have installed it. I have
not seen any posts to this newsgroup reporting trouble-free
installations. I have not installed it on my personal computer,
either. I was hoping to read some feedback from the other side of
the fence. Are there any success stories from users who are happy
with SP2?

One of the problems for folks being hesitant about installing SP2 are all of
the unsubstantiated claims that people are spouting, like yours about
"Practically all of the software comanies have advised against
installing SP2 on systems running their current XP platform software". If
you have a legitimate source for these claims, please state them.

You will not see a lot of reports on a support newsgroup for trouble free
installations. This is a hospital where people who have sick computers come
for help. If you followed the same reasoning for finding the condition of
the world by visiting a hospital, your logical conclusion would be that the
whole world is sick.

--
Regards,

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

Please reply to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
http://www.dts-l.org
http://www.mvps.org

 

[Richard Urban]

There are quite a few posts here that state the SP2 experience is a
pleasure. Search for them and you will find them!

--

Regards:

Richard Urban



aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Wayne;
The software companies are advising not to probably because they have
not made the necessary changes to their software.
In some cases this may be poorly written software using faults in
Windows XP corrected by SP-2.
In other cases they wrote so close to Windows XP SP-1 that any change
may be unacceptable to the software.

I had no problems installing SP-2 on my computers.
A main reason you see few positive posts is because these newsgroups
are a place to solve problems, much as you see fewer OK automobiles in
an auto repair shop.

Preparation in advance also eliminates many problems:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

 

[Wayne]

I did not mean my question to be a blanket condemnation of SP2, nor did I
intend to scare anyone from SP2 installation. I should have been more
specific by saying that most of the software companies that I deal with
recommend not installing SP2.

However, you certainly must realize that when any developer releases a new
version, especially one with a major re-write (as I have read is the case
with SP2) prudence dictates that one proceed carefully with critical
systems. Software history is full of stories of buggy young applications.
I have seen it many times myself. Microsoft is certainly not immune.

Next, being you asked, here are a couple of the SW manufacturers off top of
my head who recommend not installing SP2 at this time:
Wonderware (InTouch) by Invensys
RSView, RSLinx by Rockwell Software
These are packages used for industrial control systems.

I realize that people usually post here when they have problems, not when
things are going well. That is specifically why I made the post. I hoped
to get some positive feedback when none would ordinarily be posted.

I am not alarmist, just careful.

 

[Squire]

Symantec had a minor problem, but came out with a fix that cured it,
Their Virus program was set up so no outside influence could change the program, and had to make a minor adjustment to work with SP 2.
Outside of that everything works like a charm.

--
JerryM (ID)

MURPHY'S COMPUTER LAW
A man who can smile when things go wrong,
has thought of someone he can blame it on.

 

[Guest]

Hi there I had no probs installing sp2,only gripe Ive got with it is when I
click on my email inbox in messenger it takes me to outlook express instead
of hotmail,like it used to before installing sp2,Ive tried installing windows
messenger add in but it dont seem to do anything.Anyone else had same prob?
or found a cure?

 

[Richard Urban]

When push comes to shove, it is the software vendors that have to keep
current with the operating system. It is NOT the manufacturer of the O/S
that must forever, and always, have the operating system remain compatible
with other software.

If it were any other way, we would NEVER advance!

--

Regards:

Richard Urban



aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Guest]

Other then web browsers now act like they are on dialup
and point to multipoint apps time out

all due to the 10 connection / second limit

it should be at least 50

 

[Bob Huntley]

Very happy with it.

No problems at all on my laptop.

On my desktop the installation process itself had a few problems (I had to
power-off reset a couple of times when the machine froze), but since then
has worked fine.

 

[PA Bear]

It's like buying a new car. If you love it and there are no problems with
it, you tell 5 people. If it's a POS, you tell 100 people.

¡3 beta builds and the final all installed on two machines (desktop &
laptop): no problemas!

 

[Formerprof]

53 installations without a single fault so far in my university.

formerprof

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

I did not mean my question to be a blanket condemnation of SP2, nor
did I intend to scare anyone from SP2 installation. I should have
been more specific by saying that most of the software companies that
I deal with recommend not installing SP2.

However, you certainly must realize that when any developer releases
a new version, especially one with a major re-write (as I have read
is the case with SP2) prudence dictates that one proceed carefully
with critical systems. Software history is full of stories of buggy
young applications. I have seen it many times myself. Microsoft is
certainly not immune.

Next, being you asked, here are a couple of the SW manufacturers off
top of my head who recommend not installing SP2 at this time:
Wonderware (InTouch) by Invensys
RSView, RSLinx by Rockwell Software
These are packages used for industrial control systems.

I realize that people usually post here when they have problems, not
when things are going well. That is specifically why I made the
post. I hoped to get some positive feedback when none would
ordinarily be posted.

I am not alarmist, just careful.

You are prudent to be careful when considering a major update, especially to
the operating system.

That said, it is still the responsibility of the third party software
vendors to keep up with the new technology, security standards and other
protocols that the OS must address.

Microsoft certainly makes it easy enough for these software developers to
participate in the process of designing, testing and implementing any major
upgrade. This process begins many months or even years before the actual
update is released and the developers have the ability to participate in
every phase of this development. They have the ability to test their
applications with every interim beta release and provide feedback.

If a third party application has problems, post release, then the vendor
must bear the lions share of the responsibility for these issues.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I did not mean my question to be a blanket condemnation of SP2, nor did I
intend to scare anyone from SP2 installation. I should have been more
specific by saying that most of the software companies that I deal with
recommend not installing SP2.

They are covering their backs, and disguising their slackness. Why did
they not start checking their products back in *March* when SP2 Release
Candidate 1 came out, so as to be in a position to give honest advice?

 

[Fred]

There are quite a few posts here that state the SP2 experience is a
pleasure. Search for them and you will find them!

But they are sort of fibbing. It's just that they knew how to
fix/reconfigure things to get their computer back into the condition
they want it in.

How many people use StyleXP/uxtheme? - not a single one of them
installed SP2 and had it working without taking some action.

How many people use a third party firewall? Every one of them needed
to turn off XP's firewall.

How many people deleted all the extra crap SP2 put on their computer?

In my configuration... the install deleted the Control Panel and
Internet Options shortcuts out of the Quick Launch toolbar. Is that a
problem for me - no. Is it a problem - yes, because I had to take an
action to overcome what SP2 did to my configuration.


Rectifying what SP2 does, as in doing you favors you don't want done,
is no big deal, calling it a pleasure is a bit overboard. Wouldn't
you think?