Dell Tech Support recommends against loading SP2

[Babaganoosh]

Hello all,

I am a PC repair person who has benefitted greatly from the Microshaft
release of Service Pack 2. SP2 disasters along with all the problems I'm
seeing with PC's infested with spyware, parasites, browser hijackers,
trojans, viruses, worms etc. has really helped me accumulate enough $ to
make a trip to Europe. At first I thought two weeks would be all that I
could afford, but then came SP2 and the repair $ really started to roll
in! I'm now booked for four solid weeks of relaxation in Italy, Germany,
Spain, Greece and the U.K. Thanx M$....

Oh yeah.... Dell Tech Support.... I've had two customers with Dell
machines tell me that Dell Support told them not to install SP2 until
Microshaft fixes all the bugs in it. I told them that I didn't know of
any bugs, and if Microshaft released SP2 to the public then there
shouldn't be any problems installing it on any computer, even a
Dell...... Hehehe........

I'd like to thank Microshaft for the original release of XP Home & Pro
with all their security issues, vulnerabilities and bugs and also
Microshaft again for the release of SP2..... Secondly, I'd like to thank
Dell, Gateway and HP/Compaq for farming out their technical support to
India and other third-world countries. I've had a constant supply of new
customers who want to have someone who speaks English help them when
their PC has a problem. Lastly, I'd like to thank Governor Ahhnold who
vetoed legislation aimed at preventing the outsourcing of California
jobs to foreign countries.

Business has never been better!

BG

 

[joust in jest]

Your claim is false -- not only does Dell _NOT_ advise against installing
SP2, Dell Support lists five steps to take to ensure that installation of
the patch is trouble-free.

P.S.
I do not own stock in Dell.
I do not own, nor have I ever owned, a Dell.
I do not know anyone who owns a Dell.
************************

http://support.dell.com/support/top.../en/document?dn=1090437&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

You will need to follow some easy steps to prepare your Dell computer
before you download and install Windows XP Service Pack 2.

1. Update and run your spyware removal software
2. Update your anti-virus software.
3. Update your firewall software.
4. It is recommended that you update to the newest BIOS available for your
Dell computer.
5. Check the Driver Updates table below for any specific drivers you may
need to update before installing Windows XP Service Pack 2.

 

[Rick]

Yeah Right !!
Dell also mentions som problems they are having with Dell's and SP2:

1.. Inspiron 1150 Performance Loss

2.. Explorer.EXE - Entry Point Not Found Error

3.. How to Order the Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD

4.. Successful Download but Installation Fails

5.. Information on Service Pack 2 Download Availability

6.. General Windows XP Service Pack 2 Questions

7.. How Do I Install Windows XP Service Pack 2?

8.. Windows Security Center Reports the Norton Anti-Virus Status as
Unknown

9.. Page Cannot be Displayed

10.. How Do I Determine if Windows XP Service Pack 2 is Installed?

11.. Failed to Receive an Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 Notification

12.. Unable to Connect (Wireless) after Installing SP2

13.. Unspecified Bluescreen

14.. Connection Blocked by Windows Firewall

15.. Stop Error - c0000135 (Component not found)

16.. NOW IS THIS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT ON YOUR DELL ?

 

[wideglide01]

Previously in microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support, "Rick"

Yeah Right !!
Dell also mentions som problems they are having with Dell's and SP2:

1.. Inspiron 1150 Performance Loss

2.. Explorer.EXE - Entry Point Not Found Error

3.. How to Order the Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD

4.. Successful Download but Installation Fails

5.. Information on Service Pack 2 Download Availability

6.. General Windows XP Service Pack 2 Questions

7.. How Do I Install Windows XP Service Pack 2?

8.. Windows Security Center Reports the Norton Anti-Virus Status as
Unknown

9.. Page Cannot be Displayed

10.. How Do I Determine if Windows XP Service Pack 2 is Installed?

11.. Failed to Receive an Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 Notification

12.. Unable to Connect (Wireless) after Installing SP2

13.. Unspecified Bluescreen

14.. Connection Blocked by Windows Firewall

15.. Stop Error - c0000135 (Component not found)

16.. NOW IS THIS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT ON YOUR DELL ?

I have SP2 on a Dimension 8400 with no problems.


__________________________________________________________________________

People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's
safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.
-Unknown
__________________________________________________________________________
Remove "die spammers" to email

 

[joust in jest]

Of the possible problems listed, only #1 is specific to Dell computers --
the rest are possible problems that any user running any brand (or
home-built PC) could run into.

How, exactly, can these items be construed as problems? They are GENERAL
INFORMATION, not "problems".

3.. How to Order the Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD
5.. Information on Service Pack 2 Download Availability
6.. General Windows XP Service Pack 2 Questions
7.. How Do I Install Windows XP Service Pack 2?
10.. How Do I Determine if Windows XP Service Pack 2 is Installed?
11.. Failed to Receive an Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 Notification

Item #8 -- how do you get "Dell" out of Norton Anti-Virus?

8.. Windows Security Center Reports the Norton Anti-Virus Status as
Unknown

Item #16 did NOT come from the DELL website:

16.. NOW IS THIS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT ON YOUR DELL ?

 

[Babaganoosh]

On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 12:17:01 -0700, "joust in jest" <joust in

Your claim is false -- not only does Dell _NOT_ advise against installing
SP2, Dell Support lists five steps to take to ensure that installation of
the patch is trouble-free.

Why don't you tell that to the Dell support people who are advising
customers against installing SP2 - you'll have to call India though.....

P.S.
I do not own stock in Dell.
I do not own, nor have I ever owned, a Dell.
I do not know anyone who owns a Dell.
************************

http://support.dell.com/support/top.../en/document?dn=1090437&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

You will need to follow some easy steps to prepare your Dell computer
before you download and install Windows XP Service Pack 2.

1. Update and run your spyware removal software
2. Update your anti-virus software.
3. Update your firewall software.
4. It is recommended that you update to the newest BIOS available for your
Dell computer.
5. Check the Driver Updates table below for any specific drivers you may
need to update before installing Windows XP Service Pack 2.

"Five 'EASY' Steps", huh. Who does Dell think are buying and using their
computers? Tekkies? Computer Specialists? NERDS? HELL NO! Most people
who own computers are complete morons when it comes to anything
technical - I hear it all the time from my customers: "I know nothing
about computers". They barely know how to browse the Internet and check
email and Dell expects them to be able to check their drivers and
"UPDATE THEIR BIOS" ?!?!?!? Give me a break! If Microshaft had any real
programmers, they would write some simple code that would scan a
computer and determine whether or not installing SP2 could kill it,
without any user intervention. Instead, SP2 is "use at your own risk".
If it wipes out your data, oh well.......

BG

 

[Babaganoosh]

On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 17:28:20 -0400, wideglide01

I have SP2 on a Dimension 8400 with no problems.

Amazing!........... not that SP2 is running, it's amazing that you have
a Dell Dementia with no problems..

 

[C. A. Upsdell]

On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 12:17:01 -0700, "joust in jest" <joust in



"Five 'EASY' Steps", huh. Who does Dell think are buying and using their
computers? Tekkies? Computer Specialists? NERDS? HELL NO! Most people
who own computers are complete morons when it comes to anything
technical - I hear it all the time from my customers: "I know nothing
about computers". They barely know how to browse the Internet and check
email and Dell expects them to be able to check their drivers and
"UPDATE THEIR BIOS" ?!?!?!? Give me a break! If Microshaft had any real
programmers, they would write some simple code that would scan a
computer and determine whether or not installing SP2 could kill it,
without any user intervention. Instead, SP2 is "use at your own risk".
If it wipes out your data, oh well.......

As someone else has already pointed out, none of these 5 steps is specific
to Dell: they apply to all PCs. So why are you picking on Dell?

Another point: Microsoft recently announced that SP2 updates had exceeded
106 million PCs, a substantial fraction of which must be Dells. Don't you
think that, if more than an insignificant number had problems updating to
SP2, the media would be all over such an major news event? Instead:
silence.

Methinks you make much ado about very little.

 

[Babaganoosh]

SNIP

As someone else has already pointed out, none of these 5 steps is specific
to Dell: they apply to all PCs. So why are you picking on Dell?

Another point: Microsoft recently announced that SP2 updates had exceeded
106 million PCs, a substantial fraction of which must be Dells. Don't you
think that, if more than an insignificant number had problems updating to
SP2, the media would be all over such an major news event? Instead:
silence.

Methinks you make much ado about very little.

Can't anyone read? My original post said that Dell support was
recommending against loading SP2 and that I was told this by two of my
customers who own Dell computers. Period. I also thanked Microshaft for
releasing (unleashing?) SP2 because of all the business it's generated
for me due to the problems associated with installing it. Thirdly, I
thanked Dell, Gateway and HP for farming out their technical support to
India, which in turn has generated more business for me, the
English-speaking computer professional who has been servicing computers
for the past 28 years. Period. End of story.

BG

 

[C. A. Upsdell]

Can't anyone read? My original post said that Dell support was
recommending against loading SP2 and that I was told this by two of my
customers who own Dell computers. Period. I also thanked Microshaft for
releasing (unleashing?) SP2 because of all the business it's generated
for me due to the problems associated with installing it. Thirdly, I
thanked Dell, Gateway and HP for farming out their technical support to
India, which in turn has generated more business for me, the
English-speaking computer professional who has been servicing computers
for the past 28 years. Period. End of story.

I can read. Though others can't, since in your reply you snipped off the
five points to which I was responding.

I am also pleased that your story is over. It was getting to be very
boring.

[signed] yet another Dell user who had NO problems upgrading to SP2

 

[Guest]

ok I just bought a Dell POS and noone at Dell told me about no 5 steps or
that there was any problems with them at all...bought this thing at Christmas
and one week later internet explorer went nuts...I got error after error and
had about 50 to 60 internet explorer pages come up on my screen at
once...shut down logged back on and same thing....called Dell and the fix was
to lose everything and reinstall windows xp and like they told me.."It'll be
like getting your computer new out of the box"...oh well groovy 2 new comps
in 2 weeks?...I reinstalled windows xp like they told me to and yep it was
like brand new untill 2 weeks later I had a blue screen that I hear tell of
now that I done paid for this Albotrose...called dell again told them I had
reinstalled windows and now I had blue screen and their fix to this
WAS.....ding ding ding reinstall windows xp and it will be like gettin it
sraight out of the box lol.....I did it again and here I am lookin for
answers again before I UPS this thing back to them with a shot gun hole in it

Can't anyone read? My original post said that Dell support was
recommending against loading SP2 and that I was told this by two of my
customers who own Dell computers. Period. I also thanked Microshaft for
releasing (unleashing?) SP2 because of all the business it's generated
for me due to the problems associated with installing it. Thirdly, I
thanked Dell, Gateway and HP for farming out their technical support to
India, which in turn has generated more business for me, the
English-speaking computer professional who has been servicing computers
for the past 28 years. Period. End of story.

I can read. Though others can't, since in your reply you snipped off the
five points to which I was responding.

I am also pleased that your story is over. It was getting to be very
boring.

[signed] yet another Dell user who had NO problems upgrading to SP2

 

[C A Upsdell]

ok I just bought a Dell POS and noone at Dell told me about no 5 steps or
that there was any problems with them at all...bought this thing at Christmas
and one week later internet explorer went nuts...I got error after error and
had about 50 to 60 internet explorer pages come up on my screen at
once...shut down logged back on and same thing....called Dell and the fix was
to lose everything and reinstall windows xp and like they told me.."It'll be
like getting your computer new out of the box"...oh well groovy 2 new comps
in 2 weeks?...I reinstalled windows xp like they told me to and yep it was
like brand new untill 2 weeks later I had a blue screen that I hear tell of
now that I done paid for this Albotrose...called dell again told them I had
reinstalled windows and now I had blue screen and their fix to this
WAS.....ding ding ding reinstall windows xp and it will be like gettin it
sraight out of the box lol.....I did it again and here I am lookin for
answers again before I UPS this thing back to them with a shot gun hole in it

You said "I got error after error and had about 50 to 60 internet
explorer pages come up on my screen at once".

This sounds very much like spyware has infected your PC. Check your PC
for spyware (and viruses etc.), and if there is any, totally clean it
out before reinstalling XP SP2. You must not install SP2 if your PC is
not clean.

 

[James B]

in it

You said "I got error after error and had about 50 to 60 internet
explorer pages come up on my screen at once".

This sounds very much like spyware has infected your PC. Check your PC
for spyware (and viruses etc.), and if there is any, totally clean it
out before reinstalling XP SP2. You must not install SP2 if your PC is
not clean.

I think the point was more to the fact that Dell's answer to every tech
problem at the PC level is, "reinstall".

 

[Guest]

I have to agree with Babaganoosh. I have worked on two separate Dell
computers in the past month. Both times I worked with Dell tech support and
both times the technician told me that SP2 should not have been installed.

 

[Bum]

I have to agree with Babaganoosh. I have worked on two separate Dell
computers in the past month. Both times I worked with Dell tech
support and both times the technician told me that SP2 should not have
been installed.

SNIP

I have installed SP2 on XP at least a couple dozen times. NO Dell does
recomend against SP2. (If they do please post the link.) I have yet to
experience a problem updating to SP2. Me thinks it is a two part problem,
one is the failure to slave scan the drive prior without system restore
turned on and second is the failure to search for the usual suspect
registry entries. The minor inconviences experience has to do with the
proper video drivers and IDE controller software. However, the average
home user who do not work on these systems daily do not think about these
issues or do not have experience with the PC or Laptops.

BUM

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

If Dell has that as an policy, it would be listed on the website.
Call back and ask again.
If the tech states the same, ask for a web reference.
If the tech can not, ask for a supervisor.
The tech is most likely stating personal opinion as company policy to the
detriment of Dells customers.
There are some valid specific reasons not to install a specific patch or
Service Pack but a general statement of not to install is incompetence.

 

[Dwight Stewart]

If Dell has that as an policy, it would be
listed on the website. Call back and ask
again. If the tech states the same, ask for
a web reference. If the tech can not, ask
for a supervisor. The tech is most likely
stating personal opinion as company
policy to the detriment of Dells customers.
There are some valid specific reasons
not to install a specific patch or Service
Pack but a general statement of not to
install is incompetence.

I agree. I just helped my neighbor install SP2 on his almost 2 year old
Dell and the process was entirely painless. Indeed, I probably spent more
time explaining the new features than doing the actual installation. I've
looked at his computer a couple of times since (to do minor user tweaks) and
everything still seems to working correctly. So SP2 obviously isn't a
problem with all Dell models, hence no reason for a blanket statement
against SP2. Further, if it was a problem with some Dell models, that
information would certainly be on their web site by now.

Stewart

 

[DWhitley]

The tech is most likely stating personal opinion as company policy to the
detriment of Dells customers.

I think you are right about the tech presenting a "personal" opinion.
I know of two people that own older Dells and both have SP-2 installed
and running. However, there does seem to be some scuttlebutt going
around concerning SP-2 not being compatible with existing Dell line of
computers. For example, an email read on Tech-TV about whether or not
to install SP-2 on a Dell was met with this same response by the
person reading the email to not attempt to install SP-2 on a Dell.
Probably the Tech-TV guy was also giving out personal opinions.
Problem is, if this is a false concern, then this scuttlebutt is
gaining wide coverage thanks to media like Tech-TV.

DW

Remove "spam" from address to email.

 

[C A Upsdell]

I think you are right about the tech presenting a "personal" opinion.
I know of two people that own older Dells and both have SP-2 installed
and running. However, there does seem to be some scuttlebutt going
around concerning SP-2 not being compatible with existing Dell line of
computers. For example, an email read on Tech-TV about whether or not
to install SP-2 on a Dell was met with this same response by the
person reading the email to not attempt to install SP-2 on a Dell.
Probably the Tech-TV guy was also giving out personal opinions.
Problem is, if this is a false concern, then this scuttlebutt is
gaining wide coverage thanks to media like Tech-TV.

I have a year-old Dell. No problem with SP2.

 

[George]

I just installed a brand new 8400 Dimension. The problems that I DID have
with the new Dell was caused by the Norton Internet Security sweet that was
installed onto the PC, (no way around it???). That app alone caused the
network of 5 PC's to stop working and then it caused the DSL modem to stop
working.

Releoaded a copy of XP Pro without all of the Dell apps and everything works
fine now, and I have updated the system with all of the Windows patches
etc...

I have heard this from so many people that know nothing about working on
their PC's...it is a farce and YES you do need SP2 for security reasons.
Of course people hear the horror stories and then.....

Here is the really scarey part. In a room of 5 people, I was the only one
that knew anything about how to protect yourself on the Internet and how to
keep your system clean and free of Spyware, etc. 4 out of 5 didn't know
what I was talking about...
George