SP2 query...

[ross m. greenberg]

Is there any real advantage -- or disadvantage -- to installing SP2? I'm up
to date on SP1 and for each subsequent update. I have not updated to
Internet Explorer 8 (I generally use Firefox or Opera, and sometimes
SeaMonkey instead of IE)

Is SP2 entirely un-installable? I tried an early release on SP2 I downloaded
from MSDN and my system was entirely screwed up for a few weeks. I am loath
to chat SP2 and have the same thing happen again.

Ross

 

[Tae Song]

Is there any real advantage -- or disadvantage -- to installing SP2? I'm
up to date on SP1 and for each subsequent update. I have not updated to
Internet Explorer 8 (I generally use Firefox or Opera, and sometimes
SeaMonkey instead of IE)

Is SP2 entirely un-installable? I tried an early release on SP2 I
downloaded from MSDN and my system was entirely screwed up for a few
weeks. I am loath to chat SP2 and have the same thing happen again.

Ross

I initially had problems trying to install SP2, but it only brought to light
a bug in the way Windows keeps track of system files. After some research
and some careful edits to the registry to work around the problem, it
installed fine.

I found out afterwards, SP2 has "improved" (more like changed) Bluetooth
support. But it made Vista incompatible with my Bluetooth software/drivers
(WIDCOMM 6.1). It was causing Windows Explorer to stopped working anytime I
tried to open my Computer or the Control Panel. I downloaded WIDCOMM 6.3
and it works a lot better now.

Only issue I have left is Windows Media Player 11 for Vista. I created a
new account on this computer and at one point tried to start Media Player
under the new account. It takes you to the Welcome screen where you pick
default settings or customize. But selecting and pressing the finish or
continue button doesn't work.

SP2 installed a new version 6.0.6002.18005 and the version of Setup_WM.exe
installed is 6.0.6001.7000 won't work with it. After looking through system
file records in the registry, there's suppose to be a Setup_WM.exe version
6.0.6001.18000 installed. It's no where to be found on this computer. I
think System Restore must've put the older version of Setup_WM.exe back.
System Restore never worked right for me and I loathe to ever use it again.
I'm currently in the process of installing Vista on a virtual machine using
Virtual PC. I'm up to installing SP1 as I write this and then I'll install
SP2 and try to see if there is a Setup_WM.exe version 6.0.6001.18000 I can
copy over.

Otherwise Vista with SP2 is running just fine. I even have a work around
for the Media Player Welcome screen.

 

[Ralph]

I always let the brave do the initial testing on Windows Updates, and let
the update come to me when I'm notified. I've only once had a problem with
an update in Vista, and that wasn't MSs fault. I had other software
interfering. I test lots of software, and expected a lot more grief than
I've gotten. Vista's been a champ at dealing with this.

If I read about people having problems, (the brave always go looking to be
the first to download, and warn me) I do a disk cleanup, scan and reboot
beforehand.
I did not do that this time.

SP2 installed without a hitch, restarting once about halfway through, and
again at the end. IE8's working great, too.
I get the occasional tab that doesn't want to connect, but an additional tab
always works.

If you don't do the updates, the foundation of your system will crumble.

 

[+Bob+]

I initially had problems trying to install SP2, but it only brought to light
a bug in the way Windows keeps track of system files. After some research
and some careful edits to the registry to work around the problem, it
installed fine.

I had serious restart problems to after SP2, but once I got around
that it has been running fine.

There seem to be some improvements in reading network drives. I
suspect both improvements are due to the alleged improvements in
"reconnecting drives of Vista coming out of sleep mode". They had some
real issues with Vista dropping off connections and I think they
tweaked those in some way that benefitted Vista's (horrible)
networking performance in general.

If you use Bluetooth, be aware that lots of bluetooth devices have
stopped working. See posts here with issues.