Scared to install Service Packs because never backed up computer

[Guest]

Someone said that my pc is performing slow because i don't have those Service
Packs 1 and 2. When I tried to install them, it suggested I back up my
computer. It said it would be 12 days or so to back it up. That's insane (I
would think) because I can't sit by my pc for that long popping in new discs.
Plus, I don't even know if I should use a cd or floppy disc.
Anyway, because I don't want to back up for 12 days, I won't install the
service packs. But I know my computer used to be fast and now takes forever.

I live under Murphys Law and am sure if i install the packs w/out backing
up, my pc will fry. Help

 

[Robert Moir]

Someone said that my pc is performing slow because i don't have those
Service Packs 1 and 2. When I tried to install them, it suggested I
back up my computer. It said it would be 12 days or so to back it up.
That's insane (I would think) because I can't sit by my pc for that
long popping in new discs. Plus, I don't even know if I should use a
cd or floppy disc. Anyway, because I don't want to back up for 12
days, I won't install the service packs. But I know my computer used
to be fast and now takes forever.

I live under Murphys Law and am sure if i install the packs w/out
backing up, my pc will fry. Help

Ok.

You *need* to backup your computer whether or not you install service packs
or not. Computers sometimes break down, and if one of the parts, known as a
hard disk, were to break down tomorrow you'd lose all the information stored
in your computer.

There is no way around that fact. Sorry.

You can, however, probably reduce the amount of stuff you are backing up.
First of all, if you have the windows install disks and the install disks
for all your programs then you don't need to back those items up if you
don't want to; this will save you the majority of space and time on the
backup.

Hopefully all you need to worry about backing up is your user account area
(usually c:\documents and settings\your username) and anywhere else you've
chose to store things you want to keep.

Lastly - 12 days? Thats a lot of time. How are you doing this backup? I
should add that you should definately use CD-Rs to backup to rather than
floppies - this will make things go much faster and leave you with a more
reliable backup afterward.

 

[Jerry]

The backing up statement is really only a suggestion. You can just install
service pack 2. (Service pack 1 does not have to be installed first.)

 

[ExTex]

The best solution, without doubt, is one that my computer-smart son-in-law
accomplished for me. As a gift, he gave me a hard drive, installed in
internally, named it E: and that is my backup medium. Quick, sure and not
expensive with today's costs. My needs are covered with a 40MB drive.

hd

 

[persian ram]

Princess,
You only need to back up your data files. If you want to back up your e
mail you need to get a neat little application (oebackup) that will handle
your address book and desired messages.

If your machine is running really slow you may have spy ware interfering
with the digestive tract. ad-aware is very helpful and free.

SP2 is available via disc for free from MS. I recommend using the disc.

Will you see a big difference with SP2? probably not. It is supposed to fix
a bunch of problems, but it may also throw a curve.

chuck