What am I missing by not installing SP2?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JS
  • Start date Start date
J

JS

I run XP Pro with SP1. I have installed all the hotfixes shown at
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

Is there any reason I should go to SP2?

------

I do not use Internet Explorer so the benefits of "Safer Browsing
and Communication" shown at this page would not be useful to me.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/features.mspx

The second section on that page lists "Powerful Security Tools"
but the 'Windows Security Center' is not really much use to me.
Further, I do not use XP's firewall and I do not want automatic
updates.

Finally the section "Improved Experiences" lists technologies such
as Bluetooth that I do not use. I have installed Windows Media
Player 10 and also the latest DirectX updates.
 
Instead of convincing you to - explain why you are hesitant to do so ?

The benefits are well documented. If you use imaging, your exposure
to downtime is nearly non-existent. The XP platform has moved
forward. Drivers & Applications are now tuned/tweaked for use on it.
Unless you have an application or hardware that is non-complaint
for SP2, I can't think of a reason not to upgrade to it.
 
There are several improvements 'under the hood' that make SP2 a very important update. For example Local Machine Zone Lockdown, memory protection (DEP, 'Data Execution Prevention') and TCP/IP hardening really mitigate some recent (and future) vulnerabilities which have a deeper and more important impact on Windows XP SP1 systems, for example.

Additionally, SP2 includes some 'post-SP1' hotfixes that have not been openly released by Microsoft, so XP SP2 is more reliable and has fewer bugs than the former 'gold release' or 'cardinal point' (Service Pack 1). Even if you often update your operating system I'd recommend that you install the SP2 update.
 
I also am not using SP2. For my firewall I am using Zone Alarm since it also
checks on outgoing requests. I also are do not want automatic updates.
I originally did not update since after reading the problems users had
with the update I figured I would keep SP1. Since I am also running
Norton Anti Virues,Spybot, Ad-aware, & Spy Sweeper I am almost
sure that by installing SP2 I will run into problems. SP1 seems solid
so I will stay with it. marvo
 
FORD states that there is an issue with your ignition switch and failure to
have this changed out will cause the vehicle to burst into flames and explode.
Not only is the SP2 an IE update but an update to the OS itself, making the
system more stable.
You do not use certain features? Turn them off, you can turn off many of the
features within XP that the common home computer user does not need.

Good Luck
 
JS said:
I run XP Pro with SP1. I have installed all the hotfixes shown at
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

Is there any reason I should go to SP2?

------

I do not use Internet Explorer so the benefits of "Safer Browsing
and Communication" shown at this page would not be useful to me.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/features.mspx

The second section on that page lists "Powerful Security Tools"
but the 'Windows Security Center' is not really much use to me.
Further, I do not use XP's firewall and I do not want automatic
updates.

Finally the section "Improved Experiences" lists technologies such
as Bluetooth that I do not use. I have installed Windows Media
Player 10 and also the latest DirectX updates.

------

What am I missing by not upgrading to SP2? Are there some
important features which are not listed but work for me in the
background?
Click to expand...

Many of the core modules were rewritten/compiled to remove buffer
overflow issues. Much of the change in SP2 is not obvious. The biggest
problem in upgrading to SP2 is systems that are infected with malware
or have other problems. One should never upgrade an OS to fix a problem
unless you know for sure the ugrade is intended to fix that problem.
 
 
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