SP2 is it worth it ?

[Stuart Crow]

Hello all
I have been watching the posts and information about SP2, and the
impression I gain from them is that SP2 seems to be mainly about a
firewall, popup blocker, ie. Internet security. Please correct me if I
am wrong.
I use avg antivirus, Sygate firewall, Ad-Aware and browse with Opera
98% of the time. If I have to use IE then I have Popupstopper from
Panicware.
Since I am happy with my current security stuff, which seem to work
fine, is it worth installing SP2 ? What, if anything, would I gain ?
Advice gratefully received
Stuart

 

[Rock]

Hello all
I have been watching the posts and information about SP2, and the
impression I gain from them is that SP2 seems to be mainly about a
firewall, popup blocker, ie. Internet security. Please correct me if I
am wrong.
I use avg antivirus, Sygate firewall, Ad-Aware and browse with Opera
98% of the time. If I have to use IE then I have Popupstopper from
Panicware.
Since I am happy with my current security stuff, which seem to work
fine, is it worth installing SP2 ? What, if anything, would I gain ?
Advice gratefully received
Stuart

One significant change was that most of he core modules were recompiled
to remove the buffer overflow problems. Therefore it is a more secure
OS. SP2 works fine on the majority of systems provided it is prepared
properly and there is no malware hiding. If you have a current and
complete backup, keep your system clean, and do some homework prepatory
to the install the odds are things will be fine.

I would suggest that you either download the full network version - 266
MB of it, or get the free CD, either by ordering from MS or get it for
free at office supply stores and computer stores.

Download (This works fine on single workstations)
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2predl.mspx

Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD (I received mine in two days - YMMV)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default810.mspx

Installing Service Packs
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

Pre-Install, Install, Cleaning Up Afterwards
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=45

What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

Get the Latest Updates and Information from Your PC Manufacturer Before
Installing Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/oemlinks.mspx

The hard disk space requirements for Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=837783

Free Technical Support for SP2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;Prodoffer80&sd=GN

 

[Taurarian]

List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=811113

WinXP SP2: What's New for Internet Explorer and Outlook Express
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/ieoeoverview.mspx

 

[Stef]

Hello all
I have been watching the posts and information about SP2, and the
impression I gain from them is that SP2 seems to be mainly about a
firewall, popup blocker, ie. Internet security. Please correct me if I
am wrong.
I use avg antivirus, Sygate firewall, Ad-Aware and browse with Opera
98% of the time. If I have to use IE then I have Popupstopper from
Panicware.
Since I am happy with my current security stuff, which seem to work
fine, is it worth installing SP2 ? What, if anything, would I gain ?
Advice gratefully received
Stuart

As with every upgrade or change of O/S some people will install it without
problems, and others will have problems. I suggest that if you do decide to
install service pack 2, then make sure you have the complete system backed
up before you do it. A little effort before the job can save a lot of time
after, if things go badly for you. I use ghost to make a complete backup of
all the system prior to making such changes to my system. This ensures that
if the worst happens then all is not lost. Of course the other way to look
at it is, if it ain't broken, dont try mending it. If you are happy with
your current situation and you don't feel you need to upgrade, then perhaps
you don't. If you do decide to install SP2, then backup beforehand to save
yourself the hassle of trying to make things good afterwards if things dont
work out. I will finish by saying I have three computers here, two of them
are running SP2, the other one didn't like it (and if I hadn't backed it up
beforehand) I would have lost the whole system, because following install it
failed to boot.... I do like SP2 overall, but I mainly like the new
features and improvements added for wireless networking, which I use all the
time, I like yourself, use a separate pop up stopper in the form of the one
built into MyIE2 (web browser) and also use Ad-Aware, ZoneAlarm and a
firewall built into the wireless router. It sounds to me like perhaps you
are already on top of the security at your side and maybe you don't need to
do anything, unless you fancy having a go and want to try SP2. With your
current setup, I doubt you would gain much, other than the knowledge that
your system is up to date and running SP2. The choice is yours......

 

[Vagabond Software]

I finally finished a very significant software job that was preventing me from updating ANY part of my system, so I decided to give SP2 a whirl.

Other than wrecking havoc upon my 3Com 3CR990-TX-97 network adapter, which was fixed by a driver update from 3Com, the update went smoothly.

However, like you, the firewall adds nothing to my security so I disabled it. I have a free virus scanner from my ISP that I run once a week, but is otherwise disabled (no realtime scanning). I also have also just updated my Ad-Aware to the newer version. The old version would pull any definition files later than OCT 2004, but the new version found 0 (zero) objects on my system, as expected.

So, back to SP2, I don't think it would add anything to your particular system performance or security, and I can only say that the pain of updating to SP2 was very limited for me.

carl

 

[Yves Leclerc]

MS will be forcing SP2 to be installed in Automatic updates and they say you
will not be able to turning it off.

I finally finished a very significant software job that was preventing me
from updating ANY part of my system, so I decided to give SP2 a whirl.

Other than wrecking havoc upon my 3Com 3CR990-TX-97 network adapter, which
was fixed by a driver update from 3Com, the update went smoothly.

However, like you, the firewall adds nothing to my security so I disabled
it. I have a free virus scanner from my ISP that I run once a week, but is
otherwise disabled (no realtime scanning). I also have also just updated my
Ad-Aware to the newer version. The old version would pull any definition
files later than OCT 2004, but the new version found 0 (zero) objects on my
system, as expected.

So, back to SP2, I don't think it would add anything to your particular
system performance or security, and I can only say that the pain of updating
to SP2 was very limited for me.

carl

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Hello all
I have been watching the posts and information about SP2, and
the
impression I gain from them is that SP2 seems to be mainly
about a
firewall, popup blocker, ie. Internet security. Please correct
me if I
am wrong.
I use avg antivirus, Sygate firewall, Ad-Aware and browse with
Opera
98% of the time. If I have to use IE then I have Popupstopper
from
Panicware.
Since I am happy with my current security stuff, which seem to
work
fine, is it worth installing SP2 ? What, if anything, would I
gain ?

Over and above the firewall and popup stopper, SP2 has *many*
lines of new code, and *many* fixes. See
"List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2"

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=windowsxpsp2

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

| MS will be forcing SP2 to be installed in Automatic updates and they say
you
| will not be able to turning it off.
|

Wrong. No one will be forced to install SP2, although the ability to
restrict it's download from Windows Update will end eventually. Regardless
of how SP2 is delivered, it won't install without user permission.

 

[JeezLouize]

As others have pointed out, it has many new lines of code (obvious
from the size of the thing), and as you have observed in this newsgroup,
it's caused others problems. I'd say there is a direct proportion to the
size of the security patch and the number of problems people encounter.
YMMV.

 

[Rick Merrill]

As others have pointed out, it has many new lines of code (obvious
from the size of the thing), and as you have observed in this newsgroup,
it's caused others problems.

People get problems if their machine is not "ready." Make sure it is
clear of maleware and has no garbage in the registry.

I'd say there is a direct proportion to the
size of the security patch and the number of problems people encounter.

That is a certitude.

....
Those are the bigie's but not the only.

....

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Yves;
Very wrong and potentially very dangerous.
Please post a source for this incorrect information.
If you have automatic Updates enabled you will get SP-2, otherwise you
won't.