sp2..... WHY?

[Guest]

I say why, because after all of the hype about security etc. I was worried
sick about all sorts of people trying to hack into my machine, I could'nt
even sleep at night. I had to install sp2, only having to uninstall it as I
could only boot into safe mode and restore would not function. I downloaded
this product that was supposed to make my computer more secure, better to
use, allow me to rest easy, enrich my online experience. Instead, I wound up
with a machine that didn't work at all. Complete security, even I could not
get into it. I would have gladly paid some hacker heaps of money to access my
machine. I can now almost hear the roar from the experts "How dare you
criticise the mighty MS "Look in the help pages" "Don't post your whinings
here dear boy". Well I did look at the help pages, and why can't I post here
about my whinging, free speech for some maybe? Lets take a reality check
here, many computer users are like me. One lonely desktop at home with one
internet connection, it has a firewall and quality virus software to boot. So
why do I need sp2? it seems like having heart bypass surgery to cure the
common cold. I have managed so far without my computer being raided by
hackers. Giving service pack 2 away free on the front of computer mags is
like leaving sharp objects around in front of the children. Can I suggest
putting something more useful on the front of the mags, like a blank
recordable CD (better still a DVD). If the industry were to do this, then I
won't lay awake all night worring about if I have the latest update, I can
get on with my life and the computer can get on with it's work.

Cheers

 

[Jone Doe]

I say why, because after all of the hype about security etc. I was worried
sick about all sorts of people trying to hack into my machine, I could'nt
even sleep at night. I had to install sp2, only having to uninstall it as
I
could only boot into safe mode and restore would not function. I
downloaded
this product that was supposed to make my computer more secure, better to
use, allow me to rest easy, enrich my online experience. Instead, I wound
up
with a machine that didn't work at all. Complete security, even I could
not
get into it. I would have gladly paid some hacker heaps of money to access
my
machine. I can now almost hear the roar from the experts "How dare you
criticise the mighty MS "Look in the help pages" "Don't post your
whinings
here dear boy". Well I did look at the help pages, and why can't I post
here
about my whinging, free speech for some maybe? Lets take a reality check
here, many computer users are like me. One lonely desktop at home with one
internet connection, it has a firewall and quality virus software to boot.
So
why do I need sp2? it seems like having heart bypass surgery to cure the
common cold. I have managed so far without my computer being raided by
hackers. Giving service pack 2 away free on the front of computer mags is
like leaving sharp objects around in front of the children. Can I suggest
putting something more useful on the front of the mags, like a blank
recordable CD (better still a DVD). If the industry were to do this, then
I
won't lay awake all night worring about if I have the latest update, I can
get on with my life and the computer can get on with it's work.

Cheers

Nochastising, just a simple and accurate statement. If your machine was
clear of viruses and other nasties, and you had followed the suggestions
before downloading which are listed plainly on the windows update page, you
would have joined the vast majority of users now enjoying a much better
operating system under SP2.

 

[Phil]

I say why, because after all of the hype about security etc. I was
worried sick about all sorts of people trying to hack into my
machine, I could'nt even sleep at night.

Paraniod? Believe me no hacker want sto get into joe schmos computer,
there's nothing in it for them. Hackers usually hack computers that have
worth while info on them. Usually the home user only has to worry about
there computer getting a trojan or virus and either sending the virus out
without them knowing or turning their computer into a "zombie" to do ddos
attacks and such. Most of "hacker activity" on a home machine is dealing
with trojans and viruses, not actually getting in your machine and stealing
stuff.

I had to install sp2, only
having to uninstall it as I could only boot into safe mode and
restore would not function. I downloaded this product that was
supposed to make my computer more secure, better to use, allow me to
rest easy, enrich my online experience. Instead, I wound up with a
machine that didn't work at all. Complete security, even I could not
get into it. I would have gladly paid some hacker heaps of money to
access my machine. I can now almost hear the roar from the experts
"How dare you criticise the mighty MS "Look in the help pages"
"Don't post your whinings here dear boy". Well I did look at the help
pages, and why can't I post here about my whinging, free speech for
some maybe?

You surely can post what you did and what happened, no prob. But just know
that sp2 messing up a system is not the norm. Something had to be "wrong"
with your setup before the install of sp2. Or some setting or program you
have is conflicting with sp2. There is a cause, you just have to find what
it is. Don't just blame sp2, as it works fine.

Lets take a reality check here, many computer users are
like me. One lonely desktop at home with one internet connection, it
has a firewall and quality virus software to boot. So why do I need
sp2?

SP2 is more than what you have read about. It updates over 5 million lines
of code. It's not just security, it's an os overhaul.

it seems like having heart bypass surgery to cure the common
cold. I have managed so far without my computer being raided by
hackers.

Because as I said, hackers have no interest in you or your machine.

Giving service pack 2 away free on the front of computer
mags is like leaving sharp objects around in front of the children.

What makes you say that. Sharp objects can hurt your child, sp2 cannot. Can
sp2 make a computer not run correctly? Sure, but that the nature of software
and computers these days. Some people will have probs, there's just too many
variables for software coders to deal with. I think ms did a dam good job
with sp2.

Can I suggest putting something more useful on the front of the mags,
like a blank recordable CD (better still a DVD).

What good would a blank cd-r be? They cost like 50 cents. Spend 10 dollars
and get a 20 or 30 of them. I wouldn't even want a free blank cd-r as my
cereal prize. I'll take the plactic dinosaur over one blank cd-r anyday.

If the industry were
to do this, then I won't lay awake all night worring about if I have
the latest update, I can get on with my life and the computer can get
on with it's work.

If you lay awake at night worrying about hackers then you don't need to get
on with your life, you need to get a life. Your computer being hacked,
attacked, or spywared is a non-issue if you have sp2, anti-virus, a outbound
and inbound blocking firewall, run anti-spyware software and use common
sense. There are more important things to worry about.

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
I could'nt even sleep at night. I had to install sp2
....

So why do I need sp2?

Errr. OK let us know when you decide which is true.

 

[Guest]

:

You surely can post what you did and what happened, no prob. But just know
that sp2 messing up a system is not the norm. Something had to be "wrong"
with your setup before the install of sp2. Or some setting or program you
have is conflicting with sp2. There is a cause, you just have to find what
it is. Don't just blame sp2, as it works fine.

No, not on my machine. I dare say that there is a cause, but the resolution
is beyond my own skill and that of many others. I am a computer user not
fixer, SP2 falls way short of the sort of update that I look for in it's
functionality. I take all reasonable precautions to keep my computer safe.

Because as I said, hackers have no interest in you or your machine.

I think you may have missed the point. It was a tongue in cheek comment. Any
hacker on my machine would die of bordom

What makes you say that. Sharp objects can hurt your child, sp2 cannot. Can
sp2 make a computer not run correctly? Sure, but that the nature of software
and computers these days. Some people will have probs, there's just too many
variables for software coders to deal with. I think ms did a dam good job
with sp2.

Another tongue in cheek comment. As for your thoughts on MS I cannot agree,
SP is sniffy to say the least on which machines it works on.

What good would a blank cd-r be? They cost like 50 cents. Spend 10 dollars
and get a 20 or 30 of them. I wouldn't even want a free blank cd-r as my
cereal prize. I'll take the plactic dinosaur over one blank cd-r anyday.


If you lay awake at night worrying about hackers then you don't need to get
on with your life, you need to get a life. Your computer being hacked,
attacked, or spywared is a non-issue if you have sp2, anti-virus, a outbound
and inbound blocking firewall, run anti-spyware software and use common
sense. There are more important things to worry about.

Do you have a sense of humour?

 

[Guest]

Very thought provoking, but no, I don't think I do after all

 

[Guest]

Great. Well I'm glad you worked that out for yourself
then. Let us know if we can help you out with anything
harder.

 

[Don Burnette]

I say why, because after all of the hype about security etc. I was
worried sick about all sorts of people trying to hack into my
machine, I could'nt even sleep at night. I had to install sp2, only
having to uninstall it as I could only boot into safe mode and
restore would not function. I downloaded this product that was
supposed to make my computer more secure, better to use, allow me to
rest easy, enrich my online experience. Instead, I wound up with a
machine that didn't work at all. Complete security, even I could not
get into it. I would have gladly paid some hacker heaps of money to
access my machine. I can now almost hear the roar from the experts
"How dare you criticise the mighty MS "Look in the help pages"
"Don't post your whinings here dear boy". Well I did look at the help
pages, and why can't I post here about my whinging, free speech for
some maybe? Lets take a reality check here, many computer users are
like me. One lonely desktop at home with one internet connection, it
has a firewall and quality virus software to boot. So why do I need
sp2? it seems like having heart bypass surgery to cure the common
cold. I have managed so far without my computer being raided by
hackers. Giving service pack 2 away free on the front of computer
mags is like leaving sharp objects around in front of the children.
Can I suggest putting something more useful on the front of the mags,
like a blank recordable CD (better still a DVD). If the industry were
to do this, then I won't lay awake all night worring about if I have
the latest update, I can get on with my life and the computer can get
on with it's work.

Cheers

C'mon now, couldn't sleep at night?
Heck, if it affected me that bad, I would have unhooked it from the
internet, or just unplugged the power .

Do you not want any help on any issues you were having? Lots of
knowledgeable folks here that can probably help you.
If your just here to critisize, your wizzin in the wind. You might want to
consider contacting MS with your complaints.

 

[Guest]

Do you not want any help on any issues you were having? Lots of

knowledgeable folks here that can probably help you.
If your just here to critisize, your wizzin in the wind. You might want to
consider contacting MS with your complaints

So far no replies from MS

What does "wizzin in the wind" mean?

 

[Al Smith]

I say why, because after all of the hype about security etc. I was worried

sick about all sorts of people trying to hack into my machine, I could'nt
even sleep at night. I had to install sp2, only having to uninstall it as I
could only boot into safe mode and restore would not function. I downloaded
this product that was supposed to make my computer more secure, better to
use, allow me to rest easy, enrich my online experience. Instead, I wound up
with a machine that didn't work at all. Complete security, even I could not
get into it.

I told you so, but did you listen? Noooo. SP2 is a roll of the
dice. It works fine for maybe 60% of the people who install it.
The other four out of ten have problems. Around two out of ten
have major problems. Do you want to gamble with your data?

Sure, the odds are pretty good, when compared with Vegas, but if
you win, you get nothing, since your computer was running well
before you tried to upgrade to SP2. Even if you are successful,
your computer will still only be running well. That's best case
scenario.

 

[Jone Doe]

So far no replies from MS

What does "wizzin in the wind" mean?

A nicer way to put it would be "spitting in the wind"

 

[Al Smith]

Nochastising, just a simple and accurate statement. If your machine was

clear of viruses and other nasties, and you had followed the suggestions
before downloading which are listed plainly on the windows update page, you
would have joined the vast majority of users now enjoying a much better
operating system under SP2.

Oh sure, criticize this poor sap because he did what Microsoft
said he should do, tried to upgrade with SP2, and screwed his
system in the process. Add insult to injury. I don't blame him for
being pissed off. Maybe Microsoft should put this disclaimer in
the EULA:

"Warning! If you attempt to install SP2 and you encounter
difficulties, it is ALL YOUR OWN FAULT. That's right, you are
responsible for the failure of your system to boot. You are
responsible for the blue screens. You are responsible for the
slowness of your system. Because SP2 always works, when installed
*properly* -- a proper install is defined as any install that does
not result in problems."

 

[Jone Doe]

I told you so, but did you listen? Noooo. SP2 is a roll of the dice. It
works fine for maybe 60% of the people who install it. The other four out
of ten have problems. Around two out of ten have major problems. Do you
want to gamble with your data?

Sure, the odds are pretty good, when compared with Vegas, but if you win,
you get nothing, since your computer was running well before you tried to
upgrade to SP2. Even if you are successful, your computer will still only
be running well. That's best case scenario.

Interesting you are changing the percentages. I don't suppose you have a
source for your 60% claim. The actual percentages are 90% with absolutely
no problems, 10% with issues, that's providing you take "Hey, it doesn't say
say home (or Pro) anymore" as an issue. Probably 90% of the 10% with an
issue it's a simple fix, for the other 1% it's usually a computer that is
not compatible with the system, IBM systems seem to be having the biggest
problem.

Want to post your source for 4 out of 10 having problems, or apologize for
posting it?

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

I told you so, but did you listen? Noooo. SP2 is a roll of the
dice. It works fine for maybe 60% of the people who install it.
The other four out of ten have problems. Around two out of ten
have major problems. Do you want to gamble with your data?

Sure, the odds are pretty good, when compared with Vegas, but if
you win, you get nothing, since your computer was running well
before you tried to upgrade to SP2. Even if you are successful,
your computer will still only be running well. That's best case
scenario.

Spot on Al.

 

[Phil]

:



No, not on my machine. I dare say that there is a cause, but the
resolution is beyond my own skill and that of many others. I am a
computer user not fixer, SP2 falls way short of the sort of update
that I look for in it's functionality. I take all reasonable
precautions to keep my computer safe.

Sometimes upgrades go bad. That's computing in the 2000's for you. It
unfortunate that you fell into the bad install/upgrade group. I've done sp2
on over 50 machines and the only prob I had was a nic had to be reinstalled.

I think you may have missed the point. It was a tongue in cheek
comment. Any hacker on my machine would die of bordom

Most people who come here complaining are very serious about blamming
someone. I assumed you were being serious.

Another tongue in cheek comment. As for your thoughts on MS I cannot
agree, SP is sniffy to say the least on which machines it works on.

What can you base that assumption on? How many sp2 installs on different
machines have you done? I've done over 50. What happened to one specific
computer is not the norm and not a good basis for saying sp2 is "sniffy".

Do you have a sense of humour?

Like I said, most people who have sp2 probs that come here are very serious
and are mad and wanting to blame everyone but themselves. I don't look for
humour in a windows xp help group. I answer questions, and give my opinions,
that's it.

 

[Phil]

A nicer way to put it would be "spitting in the wind"

My favorite way to put it is: Don't piss into the wind and then tell me it's
raining.

 

[Guest]

Interesting you are changing the percentages. I don't suppose you have a
source for your 60% claim. The actual percentages are 90% with absolutely
no problems, 10% with issues, that's providing you take "Hey, it doesn't say
say home (or Pro) anymore" as an issue. Probably 90% of the 10% with an
issue it's a simple fix, for the other 1% it's usually a computer that is
not compatible with the system, IBM systems seem to be having the biggest
problem.

I would be curious to learn what your sources are? Even so, a 10% fail rate
is huge, in my own profession that sort of performance gets you the sack!

 

[Jone Doe]

Oh sure, criticize this poor sap because he did what Microsoft said he
should do, tried to upgrade with SP2, and screwed his system in the
process. Add insult to injury. I don't blame him for being pissed off.
Maybe Microsoft should put this disclaimer in the EULA:

"Warning! If you attempt to install SP2 and you encounter difficulties, it
is ALL YOUR OWN FAULT. That's right, you are responsible for the failure
of your system to boot. You are responsible for the blue screens. You are
responsible for the slowness of your system. Because SP2 always works,
when installed *properly* -- a proper install is defined as any install
that does not result in problems."

Not a criticism either. A statement of fact. If you have been in this
newsgroup more than a day, you have seen the postings, "Something was wrong
with my system, so I instlled SP2 to fix it...."

SP2 is an upgrade to an operating system that will work well in almost all
XP platforms providing there are no viruses or trojans in the machine, and
that it is upgraded where it should be. Even in the worst case scenerio,
where you have to start over, you *do* have all your critical data backed
up, don't you?

 

[Phil]

I told you so, but did you listen? Noooo. SP2 is a roll of the
dice. It works fine for maybe 60% of the people who install it.
The other four out of ten have problems. Around two out of ten
have major problems. Do you want to gamble with your data?

Sure, the odds are pretty good, when compared with Vegas, but if
you win, you get nothing, since your computer was running well
before you tried to upgrade to SP2. Even if you are successful,
your computer will still only be running well. That's best case
scenario.

Please post your extensive test data for your claim.
If you have regular backups, like every computer users should, then you
aren't gambling with your data at all. It should always be backed up. If you
don't backup your data then you're not using the tool(computer) correctly.
If you can't use it correctly then live with the consequences if you do lose
your data.
Also after installing sp2 you say you get nothing. If you truely believe
that then you know absolutely nothing about service packs and even less
about computers.

 

[Jone Doe]

I would be curious to learn what your sources are? Even so, a 10% fail
rate
is huge, in my own profession that sort of performance gets you the sack!

Nope, I asked first.