I have AMD - Should I install SP3, or wait?

[VanguardLH]

I've heard about horrible problems involving SP3 on some AMD computers. I
cannot afford to have my work computer down, even for a day.

I think I'll wait until this mess gets cleared up.

And what in SP-3 can you not afford to have?
Have you even read the overview notes on SP-3?
Explain, in detail, just why you think you need SP-3?
Yeah, figured as much.

 

[Paul Pedersen]

I do have a backup, of the most important files. But face it, if my computer
exploded and I had to recreate everything from the backup on a new computer,
I'd have to install the operating system, all updates, all applications and
their updates, then all my files. It would probably take most of a day
anyway, and that's assuming that everything goes smoothly.

 

[Anna]

I do have a backup, of the most important files. But face it, if my
computer exploded and I had to recreate everything from the backup on a new
computer, I'd have to install the operating system, all updates, all
applications and their updates, then all my files. It would probably take
most of a day anyway, and that's assuming that everything goes smoothly.

Paul:
Setting aside for a moment that potential problem with SP3 and certain AMD
(apparently) OEM systems...

Since you indicate your PC is a "work computer" it's obvious the data on
that machine is absolutely vital to you. As such, you should really give
serious consideration to employing a disk cloning or disk imaging program
that would provide you with a comprehensive backup of your system and which
you would use on a routine systematic way. Such a program would provide a
complete backup of your system, including the operating system, all your
programs & applications, and of course your user-created data - in effect -
a precise copy of your day-to-day working HDD. So if & when the time ever
comes when your working HDD becomes defective or the OS becomes corrupt and
unbootable, you would have at hand a precise bootable copy of your HDD and
thus be able to easily return the system to a bootable, functional state.
What better backup system can one have? Do give this some thought for the
(near!) future.

As to the problem, or potential problem, that you mention. We're advising
our customers (as we usually do in situations involving major upgrades to
the OS) not to install SP3 on their working machines for the time being.
There is no terrible urgency to do so and our advice is to let things sort
out for a while and then by & by install that upgrade. But not for the
moment.

Naturally it's fine to install the SP on a non-production drive and work
with it for a while to determine that all is well. Many of us do that in
routine fashion. So far our experience with SP3 has been quite positive,
even including a variety of AMD-based machines on which the SP has been
installed.

Actually one of the great benefits of using a disk-cloning program as I've
recommended is that you can use the cloned drive for exactly that purpose
I've mentioned above. So give it some serious consideration.
Anna

 

[Paul Pedersen]

Paul:
Setting aside for a moment that potential problem with SP3 and certain AMD
(apparently) OEM systems...

Since you indicate your PC is a "work computer" it's obvious the data on
that machine is absolutely vital to you. As such, you should really give
serious consideration to employing a disk cloning or disk imaging program
that would provide you with a comprehensive backup of your system and
which you would use on a routine systematic way. Such a program would
provide a complete backup of your system, including the operating system,
all your programs & applications, and of course your user-created data -
in effect - a precise copy of your day-to-day working HDD. So if & when
the time ever comes when your working HDD becomes defective or the OS
becomes corrupt and unbootable, you would have at hand a precise bootable
copy of your HDD and thus be able to easily return the system to a
bootable, functional state. What better backup system can one have? Do
give this some thought for the (near!) future.

As to the problem, or potential problem, that you mention. We're advising
our customers (as we usually do in situations involving major upgrades to
the OS) not to install SP3 on their working machines for the time being.
There is no terrible urgency to do so and our advice is to let things sort
out for a while and then by & by install that upgrade. But not for the
moment.

Naturally it's fine to install the SP on a non-production drive and work
with it for a while to determine that all is well. Many of us do that in
routine fashion. So far our experience with SP3 has been quite positive,
even including a variety of AMD-based machines on which the SP has been
installed.

Actually one of the great benefits of using a disk-cloning program as I've
recommended is that you can use the cloned drive for exactly that purpose
I've mentioned above. So give it some serious consideration.
Anna

Thanks for the response.

You mean a mirror raid system? Or a disk cloning program?

Backing up the system would help in the case of a failed disk, but not in
the case of other hw failures, like processor or mobo (which has happened
before).

I actually do have two other working computers, onto which I could move my
backed-up work files (I have several copies in different locations including
online) if necessary. I'd have to install some software, but the disruption
would be much less than if I had to start from scratch on a new computer.

 

[Anna]

Thanks for the response.

You mean a mirror raid system? Or a disk cloning program?

Backing up the system would help in the case of a failed disk, but not in
the case of other hw failures, like processor or mobo (which has happened
before).

I actually do have two other working computers, onto which I could move my
backed-up work files (I have several copies in different locations
including online) if necessary. I'd have to install some software, but the
disruption would be much less than if I had to start from scratch on a new
computer.

Paul:
No, I'm not referring to a RAID mirroring system. While that is an option I
really don't think (for a variety of reasons) it gives one the same degree
of security that a disk-to-disk cloning program does.

Of course a disk-cloning program would not help in the event the processor
fails or the motherboard becomes defective or some other major component
dies and the system becomes unbootable and thus dysfunctional. That's not
the point at all. You can always replace those components. What other choice
would you have? But should the HDD fail (and that is surely the most common
scenario re major hardware failures, is it not?) you would have at hand what
is really the most crucial component in your system - especially a work
system like yours. You would have a bootable, functioning HDD that is a
precise copy of your failed HDD and be able to return your system to a
functioning state with a minimum of time & fuss. Isn't that what you really
want in a comprehensive backup system?

Frankly, from reading the second paragraph of your last post and comparing
it with the information you provided to Nonny in your response to his post,
I'm really not entirely clear as to what your real objective is re a backup
system. If you're now saying that what you're primarily (if not exclusively)
interested in is a backup of your "work files" then virtually any basic
backup program should suffice. You certainly don't need a disk-cloning
program to achieve that objective.

As to your comment on the "disruption" caused by "install(ing) some
software", I'm at a loss to understand what you're referring to. Are you
referring to the installation of a disk-cloning program? I can't imagine
this would rise to the occasion of a "disruption". But you know your
system(s) better than anyone else so you're the best judge of what you need
and what your system(s) can accommodate.
Anna

 

[sjlentz]

I have a AMD 64 CPU with the Asus A8N-SLI MB. I installed XP SP3 with no
issues. I did not have an OEM image or version of XP. I installed myself
years ago with a not for resale version of XP.

Yeah, the consent agreement with Sun.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

See
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jes...ed-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx
[NB: The above has been updated many times and now includes "a small tool
that will detect the IntelPPM problem and mitigate it before installing
[WinXP SP3]."
--
~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/

I have a AMD 64 CPU with the Asus A8N-SLI MB. I installed XP SP3 with no
issues. I did not have an OEM image or version of XP. I installed myself
years ago with a not for resale version of XP.

Yeah, the consent agreement with Sun.

On Mon, 12 May 2008 13:09:32 -0500, "Tom [Pepper] Willett"

SP1a was the same as SP1, except the Microsoft JVM was removed.


Yes, because of a legal requirement to do so.


out anyway.

MS may well release "SP3a" soon. Didn't they do that before, with SP1?