Is it worth taking SP2 yet - or wait?

[Rabs Keynes]

Is it worth taking SP2 yet or is it better to wait for a while?

Are there any fixes in SP2 which I would not be able to get via
the windows updater?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

SP2 is a solid, secure release. You may wish to view the following:

List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=windowsxpsp2

Learn About Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/preinstall.mspx

I would suggest performing the following maintenance prior to
installing SP2:

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310312&Product=winxp

How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315265&Product=winxp

After installing SP2, run the above maintenance utilities again, then perform a Defrag:

HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305781&Product=winxp

Windows XP Service Pack 2 - Direct Download
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

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:

| Is it worth taking SP2 yet or is it better to wait for a while?
|
| Are there any fixes in SP2 which I would not be able to get via
| the windows updater?

 

[Eric]

Apparently many third-party utilities and programs don't
work with SP2, such as firewalls, etc.

You have to wait until the developers issue updates for
their products.

Therefore, it's best not to update until these matter are
all out in the open or resolved.

Eric,
http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/
http://www.sharedbirthday.co.uk/

 

[Opinicus]

Is it worth taking SP2 yet or is it better to wait for a
while?

There's no point in waiting because even if there is
something in SP2 that needs to be fixed, you'll have to have
SP2 installed before you can update it.

 

[Guest]

this is wt happened after i installed SP2

1) IE6 took 15times longer to load
2) my pc started to freez
3) most of my programs that required internet connection
lost it even after i dissabled XP firewall

the only noted change is the Security center with a new
firewall, Anti Virus monitor and automatic update
monitor. yet on the other hand if your pc is still
working today i guess you already have a firewall and
know how to use an AntiVirus software.

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
Is it worth taking SP2 yet or is it better to wait for a while?

Are there any fixes in SP2 which I would not be able to get via
the windows updater?
.

What would you expect from an MS employee...

Regardless if SP2 is "solid and secure", you'd better know
what is NOT going to work once you install the release.
Whether you're a business or home user, there are a
considerable number of KNOWN applications that will NOT
work once you install SP2 (some of them include AntiVirus
software). There are a couple sources of information on
the MS support page I suggect you read before you apply the
update, including a white paper (so you cen tell how much
of an issue installing this release can be - they had to
write a white paper!).

As for me - I am holding off rolling this out in the
organization I manage until the vendors have a chance to
put out mods to their apps and I get a chance to read all
of the docs and test it thoroughly. I already know of a
couple areas where functions will stop, which is not good
for business!

Good Luck!!!

 

[Greg R]

SP2 is a solid, secure release. You may wish to view the following:

Where have you been? Looks like you need to read this group again
and read all the problems with xp sp2.

Greg R
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/

 

[Peter Row]

Hi,

Hmmm... you mean all the stuff listed here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;ln;xpsp2swhw

If you were that worried about installing it then all you have to do
is check the Microsoft website - how hard is that?!

Their site has tons of info about what apps don't work, what things
might go wrong or need reconfiguring after installing.

I have installed it on 3 PCs, 1 DELL laptop and 2 custom PCs
all have worked fine. 1 machine has a ton of development stuff on
such as SQL Server, VS.NET etc.. etc..

One had Norton Firewall, Norton AntiVirus (actually Internet
Security v2004) and they all got integrated into the new
Security Centre with no probs.

Regards,
Peter

 

[Vlar Schreidlocke]

Hi,

Hmmm... you mean all the stuff listed here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;ln;xpsp2swhw

If you were that worried about installing it then all you have to do
is check the Microsoft website - how hard is that?!

Obvisouly, they can't list every program or hardware item that won't
work there. SP2 killed my firewire audio interface and there is no
current solution. Also, that particular device and accompanying
software is not listed on the microsoft site.

Restoring to pre-SP2 status fixed all problems.

If you use your computer for pro graphics or audio purposes, I would
strongly recommend that you don't upgrade to SP2 yet. This sentiment
is echoed on various pro audio and video sites, as well as newsgroups
and forums related to audio and video.

 

[Guest]

I'm glad you had such success with your limited upgrades to
SP2. However, if you review the multitude of sources
regarding SP2, there are issues, and they are NOT all
covered on the MS support page. So, whereas referencing
what MS has documented is not hard (hence my reference to
that point) it is not an end-all, be-all to the complete
knowledgebase for SP2 implementation issues.

From what you mentioned, it sounds like you and/or your
customers are working in MS land. I would hope that at the
very least MS could make it relatively easy for MS centric
customers to implement SP2. However, in the real world, MS
is not the only solution or system/applications used to
fulfill business needs. Therefore, when applying SP2
affects the performance of other vendors apps and systems,
you can't really look to MS to provide the answers. Any
intelligent systems person would load and test the service
pack in a controlled situation before releasing it to the
masses. If you don't agree, I feel sorry for your customers.

 

[phil]

after reading this ng for a while, you would be a FOOL not to take notice of
all the sp2 related posts.

I think that says something about how STABLE? this upgrade is.
I for one wish I had waited a while as I seem to be having an outlook
nightmare!

Phil

 

[Guest]

Here's the list:

rograms that seem to stop working
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242&product=windowsxpsp2

Programs that are known to behave differently
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=884130&product=windowsxpsp2

Few MVPS have compiled list of resources that might help you are
http://bink.nu/files/SP2KBs.htm
http://jmfmvps.mvps.org/SP2.htm

 

[Guest]

A user has posted these recommendations:
1: Made sure I had all the latest drivers for my peripherals
2: Made sure I had all available updates for my software
3: Did a thorough disk cleanup
4: Did a thorough virus scan
5: Did a thorough adware scan with Ad Aware and Spybot
6: Imaged my hard drive using Powerquest Drive Image
7: Installed SP2 - stand alone network install.
8: Did a complete defrag of my system partition

http://communities2.microsoft.com/c...0a90b3-0f15-4ce3-b5ea-6173d879fd88&sloc=en-us

 

[Guest]

WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I lost my HP laptop even after following Microsofts instructions to
install... and i've been waiting for about 2 weeks now to hear back if they
have any idea of how to fix it... Luckily i have other computers i can use
but SP2 has put me back in the market for a new laptop.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

If your laptop is damaged to the point of needing replacement laptop,
something other than SP-2 caused it.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I sure hope you *find* it!

 

[Joe Billionaire]

My experience didn't go so well with Microsoft, and the applications that didn't work with it were:
Microsoft Office 2003
XP Home

Everything else worked fine...so here's what happened:

Outlook 2003 - could not find Word 2003 as the email editor; Office Assistant not available;
customizing not available; broken
Word 2003 - new documents could not be registered; no ability to link documents; broken (ALL Office
2003 components fully up to date)
Windows Installer - could not install, re-install, repair or maintain any Office 2003 OR XP Home
component; broken
System Information - broken due to malfunctioning WMI, which was broken
Services editing - broken ability to stop, disable some services
Services Dependancies availability - broken; NOTHING showed up as a dependancy
WMI - broken
RPC - altered & broken
DEC - totally fuzzy what this is, so assumed broken since too many MS
..exe's didn't work properly w/ or w/out it
Desktop Icon graphics - broken
Speed for anything (applications, windows, browser, surfing etc) -
lost 20%
Ability to rollback SP2; Windows Installer broken, therefore broken

Soooooooooo I did a CD repair and this happened:

All of the above - FIXED!
Word 2003 - no error msgs
Word 2003 Office Assistant - restored even though the little fool is
annoying!
Outlook 2003 - able to find Word 2003 as the editor
Speed; surfing, opening files, windows, applications - gained 20%

All back to usual. Sorry MS but SP2 didn't work for me. I didn't
trust the Rollback either since I've seen issues with that posted.