SP2 Install or Not??

[Victor]

I have been hesitating to install SP2 due to a lot of
negative feedback on many forums. It seems that SP2
centres mostly on security. I have installed all of the
previous winxp security updates.

I am using Norton AV and update often, BlackIce firewall
and Aluria Spyware Eliminator as well as the Opera browser.
I feel my pc is quite secure.

Would there be any advantages for me to install SP2 as I
would not be using the XP firewall? Pros? Cons?

Thanks.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

SP2 is considered a "Critical Update" and updates over
5 million lines of code in Windows XP. You'll experience
stronger security and a tad more performance by installing SP2.

If you are relying on some negative information about SP2
found in newsgroups, remember that only folks with issues
tend to post and many issues are not even related to SP2.

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

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

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

------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have been hesitating to install SP2 due to a lot of
| negative feedback on many forums. It seems that SP2
| centres mostly on security. I have installed all of the
| previous winxp security updates.
|
| I am using Norton AV and update often, BlackIce firewall
| and Aluria Spyware Eliminator as well as the Opera browser.
| I feel my pc is quite secure.
|
| Would there be any advantages for me to install SP2 as I
| would not be using the XP firewall? Pros? Cons?
|
| Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Another important reason to get SP2 as soon as possible,
and updates for any program that processes .jpeg images:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/200409_jpeg.msp
x

 

[Jone Doe]

I have been hesitating to install SP2 due to a lot of
negative feedback on many forums. It seems that SP2
centres mostly on security. I have installed all of the
previous winxp security updates.

I am using Norton AV and update often, BlackIce firewall
and Aluria Spyware Eliminator as well as the Opera browser.
I feel my pc is quite secure.

Would there be any advantages for me to install SP2 as I
would not be using the XP firewall? Pros? Cons?

Thanks.

Yes, and then get rid of black ice, which actually attracks rather than
blocks invaders.

 

[Al Smith]

Another important reason to get SP2 as soon as possible,

and updates for any program that processes .jpeg images:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/200409_jpeg.msp

Except that you can apply the JPEG patch separately, with no need
to install SP2. Something I recommend everyone should do, if they
aren't installing SP2. For information and download links:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-028.mspx

 

[Plato]

I have been hesitating to install SP2 due to a lot of
negative feedback on many forums. It seems that SP2

http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop20.htm#1

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have been hesitating to install SP2 due to a lot of
negative feedback on many forums. It seems that SP2
centres mostly on security. I have installed all of the
previous winxp security updates.

I am using Norton AV and update often, BlackIce firewall
and Aluria Spyware Eliminator as well as the Opera browser.
I feel my pc is quite secure.

Would there be any advantages for me to install SP2 as I
would not be using the XP firewall?

SP2 modifies a great deal of code to remove underlying vulnerabilities
that can be attacked by things that have been allowed round such tools;
you cannot be totally sure of no attack coming in for example from an
infectious web site except by never browsing the net at all. And a
number of other under the hood matters which do not receive the
attention. People here seem bent on putting it down on the basis of one
or two effects that happen to have annoyed them; for help in
installing, see Installing SP2 section at :
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=45