SP2 is a solid, secure release. It is a major "Critical Update"
for Windows XP and updates about 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. The final release of SP2 is fine and you should
not have problems installing it. There will be no future version of
SP2 as the core files will not change. If future updates are required,
the "Hotfixes" for SP2 will be available via Windows Update.
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
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 Installation Package (Direct Download):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en
I would suggest performing the following maintenance prior to
installing SP2:
Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310312&Product=winxp
How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315265&Product=winxp
After installing SP2, run the above maintenance utilities again, then perform a Defrag:
HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305781&Product=winxp
--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:
| I am using WindowsXP with IE6. SP2 is not yet installed. A few weeks age I
| noted several MVP's or others suggesting that it may be better to wait until
| the bugs are worked out of SP2 before installing. Is that suggestion still
| the case? If so, is there an expected period time (like 6 months, or other
| period) that the bug problems should be mainly solved?
| --
| Sincerely,
| Jack Nation
