XP Service Pack 2 question

[Tony Vella]

My Windows Updates tells me that I should install Service Pack 2. Some
people have told me that installing SP2 was the best thing they ever
did, while others tell me that since they installed SP2 half their
programs no longer worked and they wish they had never bothered. My
computer seems to be working fine (except for OE6, I'm using Thunderbird
to post this, as you can see) so I was wondering how advisable it would
be to just ignore SP2 altogether. Any advice is appreciated in advance.

 

[Earl Grey]

Hi Tony:

I don't want to sound like a smart-alec, but SP 2 is really a
no-brainer. The security upgrades are very important.

The great majority of people who had trouble with SP 2 are the same
people who have trouble with most software updates: They're the type who
who don't prepare and don't follow instructions; who have been using
their computers in unsupported ways; who have malware; and who generally
have an 'I know better' attitude.

Here's all the information you'll need for a successful upgrade:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx

Earl Grey

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My Windows Updates tells me that I should install Service Pack 2. Some
people have told me that installing SP2 was the best thing they
ever did, while others tell me that since they installed SP2 half
their programs no longer worked and they wish they had never
bothered.

It doesn't matter what the subject is--if you ask some people you get one
answer, and if you ask others, you get the opposite answer.

Should I install SP2?

Should I install IE7?

Should I install Vista?

Should I get a PC or a Macintosh?

Should I run Windows or Linux?

Should I buy a Ford or a Chevrolet.

Should I vote for the Democrat or the Republican?

My computer seems to be working fine (except for OE6, I'm
using Thunderbird to post this, as you can see) so I was wondering
how advisable it would be to just ignore SP2 altogether. Any advice
is appreciated in advance.

My advice is that not only should you install SP2, you are derelict in not
having installed it long ago. It was a major upgrade, with major security
implications. If you don't have it, even though you may never have had any
problems as a result, you have been running with much greater security
exposure than was necessary.

Does that mean that I can guarantee you that you won't have any problems as
a result of installing it? No, of course not. There *are* people who have
had problems after installing it. However in every instance that I know of,
those problems were caused by installing SP2 on a malware-infested computer.
First be sure that your computer is malware-free, and the risk of problems
are very slight. I've personally installed it on many computers, and never
had a problem as a result.