Service Pack 2

  • Thread starter Thread starter PMorgan
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PMorgan

My computer is pestering me to install Service Pack 2. However, I've been
following the commentary on these newsgroups for awhile and it's been hotly
debated -- so it seems like this might be more difficult and/or dangerous
than I'm comfortable with without detailed tutoring.

Can someone kindly point me to a definite website that will give me VERY
SIMPLE step-by-step instructions (like they're directed to a first-grader)
for preparing my computer for the upgrade and then installing it?

Also, do I really need this upgrade? What will happen if I don't install
it?

Thanks in advance.

Perri
 
SP2 is a solid, secure release. It is a major "Critical Update"
for Windows XP and updates over 5 million lines of code,
enabling much stronger security, stability, and affords a tad better
performance benefit. SP2 was extensively tested on hundreds of
thousands of various computer configurations over a period of
many, many months. I would encourage you to install it at your
earliest convenience since it renders SP1 virtually obsolete.

You may wish to view the following:

Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspx

List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=windowsxpsp2

Learn About Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/preinstall.mspx

Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

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

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Jupiter Jones]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| My computer is pestering me to install Service Pack 2. However, I've been
| following the commentary on these newsgroups for awhile and it's been hotly
| debated -- so it seems like this might be more difficult and/or dangerous
| than I'm comfortable with without detailed tutoring.
|
| Can someone kindly point me to a definite website that will give me VERY
| SIMPLE step-by-step instructions (like they're directed to a first-grader)
| for preparing my computer for the upgrade and then installing it?
|
| Also, do I really need this upgrade? What will happen if I don't install
| it?
|
| Thanks in advance.
|
| Perri
 
When i installed mine it made my screen have diffent color specks on it. and
it really distored the picture of my computer so i uninstalled it. and now my
computer is okay. but i dont know what went wrong. Now my computer is always
saying for me to install it. but i dont want it to do the same thing to my
computer.

Byte said:
Get SP2 on a CD it saves a lot of time downloading and is more stable.
Install it off-line in Safe Mode with the anti-virus disabled. Enable
anti-virus
after installing SP2 before going on-line (the Net): :~)
Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx
"How to Boot in Safe Mode"
http://www.columbia.edu/acis/capture/safemode.html

Carey Frisch said:
SP2 is a solid, secure release. It is a major "Critical Update"
for Windows XP and updates over 5 million lines of code,
enabling much stronger security, stability, and affords a tad better
performance benefit. SP2 was extensively tested on hundreds of
thousands of various computer configurations over a period of
many, many months. I would encourage you to install it at your
earliest convenience since it renders SP1 virtually obsolete.

You may wish to view the following:

Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspx

List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=windowsxpsp2

Learn About Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/preinstall.mspx

Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

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

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Jupiter Jones]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| My computer is pestering me to install Service Pack 2. However, I've been
| following the commentary on these newsgroups for awhile and it's been hotly
| debated -- so it seems like this might be more difficult and/or dangerous
| than I'm comfortable with without detailed tutoring.
|
| Can someone kindly point me to a definite website that will give me VERY
| SIMPLE step-by-step instructions (like they're directed to a first-grader)
| for preparing my computer for the upgrade and then installing it?
|
| Also, do I really need this upgrade? What will happen if I don't install
| it?
|
| Thanks in advance.
|
| Perri
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Begin Carey Frisch [MVP] quote:

; Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
; http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspx

Do you have any links from independent sources about why SP2 should be
installed? Of course Microsoft is going to say "install it, it is
good." (Not an MS bash, just a fact that since they wrote it, they'll
tout it.)

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

Peter's Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord, #203.
I will not employ an evil wizard if he has a sleazy mustache.
 
Go to Microsoft.com, and in the left pane click on windows, scroll down to "
Have you installed windows XP sp2? " click on that and it will bring you to
windows service pack 2. This should answer you question. I have sp2 on my
computer and it works fine. Hope this helps , Bill.
 
Why would Microsoft invest $1 billion in a service pack development
and not suggest installing it? Reason: ENHANCED SECURITY!

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Do you have any links from independent sources about why SP2 should be
| installed? Of course Microsoft is going to say "install it, it is
| good." (Not an MS bash, just a fact that since they wrote it, they'll
| tout it.)
|
| --
| Jeffrey Kaplan
 
Byte said:
Get SP2 on a CD it saves a lot of time downloading and is more stable.
Install it off-line in Safe Mode with the anti-virus disabled. Enable
anti-virus
after installing SP2 before going on-line (the Net): :~)
Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD
Click to expand...
Thank you! I tried to download it and got weird error messages.
 
Begin Carey Frisch [MVP] quote:

; Why would Microsoft invest $1 billion in a service pack development
; and not suggest installing it? Reason: ENHANCED SECURITY!

That probably means the opposite of what you intended.

I work customer service for a small software company, so I think I know
at least part of "the game".

As I said, this is not a bash against MS, but of course MS is going to
say that people should install the new service pack. As you said, they
invested a lot of money and other resources in it. But please do
remember, that this is the same company that released Windows
Millennium, widely regarded (at least by tech savvy people I'm familiar
with) as +the+ worst version of Windows since version 3.1.

In my company, of course we say that people should upgrade to the
"latest and greatest" version. But we also don't expect people to take
our word on it, which is why it can be tried for free before purchase.
But, unlike a Windows upgrade, if for some reason it breaks or you
don't like it, it's not fatal to your system.

So, like I asked before: Do you have any links from +independent+
sources about why SP2 should be installed?

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

"When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you
get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes
from knowing you are working to make things better." - Pauline R. Kezer
 
PMorgan said:
My computer is pestering me to install Service Pack 2. However, I've been
following the commentary on these newsgroups for awhile and it's been hotly
debated -- so it seems like this might be more difficult and/or dangerous
than I'm comfortable with without detailed tutoring.

Can someone kindly point me to a definite website that will give me VERY
SIMPLE step-by-step instructions (like they're directed to a first-grader)
for preparing my computer for the upgrade and then installing it?
Click to expand...

I just installed SP2 last weekend. Used the list on this site for
before, during, and after advice. Took quite a while to get through
everything - and through the installation CD itself - but I'm glad I
did. My computer is running more smoothly than it has for a while.
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

One thing I'd add is that it's a good idea to check that you have
up-to-date drivers. Do any updating a couple of days beforehand, a bit
at a time, to be sure things are going smoothly. Keep the zipped
installation packages on hand in case you need to reinstall.
 
Thanks to all who responded to my question re: SP 2. It sounds like I need
to set aside some dedicated time to do this -- but you've given me the
courage to try.

Thanks again,

Perri
 
Jeffrey Kaplan said:
Begin Carey Frisch [MVP] quote:

; Why would Microsoft invest $1 billion in a service pack development
; and not suggest installing it? Reason: ENHANCED SECURITY!

That probably means the opposite of what you intended.

I work customer service for a small software company, so I think I know
at least part of "the game".

As I said, this is not a bash against MS, but of course MS is going to
say that people should install the new service pack. As you said, they
invested a lot of money and other resources in it. But please do
remember, that this is the same company that released Windows
Millennium, widely regarded (at least by tech savvy people I'm familiar
with) as +the+ worst version of Windows since version 3.1.

In my company, of course we say that people should upgrade to the
"latest and greatest" version. But we also don't expect people to take
our word on it, which is why it can be tried for free before purchase.
But, unlike a Windows upgrade, if for some reason it breaks or you
don't like it, it's not fatal to your system.

So, like I asked before: Do you have any links from +independent+
sources about why SP2 should be installed?

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

"When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you
get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes
from knowing you are working to make things better." - Pauline R. Kezer
Click to expand...
What do you mean that Millennium was the worst Windows since Win 3.1?
Me is good, the only Win9x OS to be alive.
 
Jeffrey Kaplan said:
Begin Carey Frisch [MVP] quote:

; Why would Microsoft invest $1 billion in a service pack development
; and not suggest installing it? Reason: ENHANCED SECURITY!

That probably means the opposite of what you intended.

I work customer service for a small software company, so I think I know
at least part of "the game".

As I said, this is not a bash against MS, but of course MS is going to
say that people should install the new service pack. As you said, they
invested a lot of money and other resources in it. But please do
remember, that this is the same company that released Windows
Millennium, widely regarded (at least by tech savvy people I'm familiar
with) as +the+ worst version of Windows since version 3.1.

In my company, of course we say that people should upgrade to the
"latest and greatest" version. But we also don't expect people to take
our word on it, which is why it can be tried for free before purchase.
But, unlike a Windows upgrade, if for some reason it breaks or you
don't like it, it's not fatal to your system.

So, like I asked before: Do you have any links from +independent+
sources about why SP2 should be installed?

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

"When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you
get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes
from knowing you are working to make things better." - Pauline R. Kezer
Click to expand...
What do you mean that Millennium was the worst Windows since Win 3.1?
Me is good, the only Win9x OS to be alive.
 
I tried to install Service Pack 2 a while back but it just screwed up my
gaming abilities. Have you fixed all of those problems yet?
 
realmqt said:
I tried to install Service Pack 2 a while back but it just screwed up my
gaming abilities. Have you fixed all of those problems yet?


:

SP2 is a solid, secure release. It is a major "Critical Update"
for Windows XP and updates over 5 million lines of code,
enabling much stronger security, stability, and affords a tad better
performance benefit. SP2 was extensively tested on hundreds of
thousands of various computer configurations over a period of
many, many months. I would encourage you to install it at your
earliest convenience since it renders SP1 virtually obsolete.

You may wish to view the following:

Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspx

List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=windowsxpsp2

Learn About Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/preinstall.mspx

Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

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

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Jupiter Jones]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| My computer is pestering me to install Service Pack 2. However, I've been
| following the commentary on these newsgroups for awhile and it's been hotly
| debated -- so it seems like this might be more difficult and/or dangerous
| than I'm comfortable with without detailed tutoring.
|
| Can someone kindly point me to a definite website that will give me VERY
| SIMPLE step-by-step instructions (like they're directed to a first-grader)
| for preparing my computer for the upgrade and then installing it?
|
| Also, do I really need this upgrade? What will happen if I don't install
| it?
|
| Thanks in advance.
|
| Perri
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
SP2 turns on the windows firewall by default. If your doing online gaming
you will have to configure the firewall properly to get the game to work.

gls858
 
realmqt said:
I tried to install Service Pack 2 a while back but it just screwed up
my
gaming abilities. Have you fixed all of those problems yet?
Click to expand...

1. This isn't Microsoft you are talking to. This is a public newsgroup
hosted on Microsoft servers. While some MS employees do post in the
groups, everyone else is a non-employee volunteer.

2. What gaming problems? We have SP2 on all the Windows machines,
including the ones used for intensive gaming. No problems here. If you
are having difficulties, make a new post and include all the details of
your computer, error message texts, etc.

How to ask a question (good newsgroup posts)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555372
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


We'll be glad to help you.

Malke
 
You all post like you know it all so I just assumed you were Microsoft
people. Pardon me for that assumption. And I'll take my questions elsewhere.
 
Don't get offended. Just ask a specific question and supply the necessary
details.

This is one of the best places you can go for help with Windows XP, without
paying a "per incident" fee! There are many here who are more than capable
of assisting you - usually (-:

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from: George Ankner
"If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!"
 
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