WinXP SP2...vulnerabilities, improvements, etc.

[kram 2.0]

Hey,

I've been trying to follow this whole thing about installing Service Pack 2 on Windows XP...I've been hearing lot of mixed stuff. Yes, sorry this is another thread on it, but I've had trouble comprehending the general opinion.

I've read Statica's Sticky Post on the general results, looking positive there. I'm on a Toshiba Laptop, with WinXP Pro SP1, 30GB HDD, 256SDRAM, and Intel Celeron 1.2Ghz Processor. I'm wondering to what extent should I consider SP2 a necessity. I've been hearing that there was a huge security hole, but at the same time, some security updates from older SP1. I use Wi-Fi 802.11b on this laptop - I hear also that SP2 fixes the shaky wireless signal issues I get with SP1. I have crucial software and documents on here that I cannot delete for a fresh install (a lot it is corporate edt. and my sys admin's on vacation!) - will this be like my recent install of SP1 in that it will allow me to preserve my programs? Would a restore point do anything about this?

I do understand this is a lot of questions I'm asking at the same time - I do appreciate it, however. I'm lost admist this debate of the major Service Pack update. Heck, I didn't install SP1 until just months ago! In any case, should a SP2 install be recommended, I plan to order the CD from MS, as ADSL with 1.5Mbps Download doesn't cut it for me .


Thanks,
kram

[Statica]

Hey kram8806:

Yes there is a hole in SP2 that was discovered (and needless to say there are more coming), but there are a lot of huge holes covered up by SP2 that werent done so in SP1. So if your decision is based on patching vulnerabilities then SP2 is a good choice. Realize that the hole in SP2 that made the news will be patched up, but till you get SP2 the previous vulnerabilities will not be patched.

As I've said before, there are a ton of features on SP2 and changes in functionality that you should be aware of that make SP2 a must do. Download the documentation here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en or check it out here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../sp2chngs.mspx
Especially read the section on network protection - Wireless that outlines the changes in WiFi access. I can tell from personal experience that I am now using XP on WiFi networks. Given the flakiness of pre-SP2 using WPA on certain Wifi networks, I was wholly recommending wired networks than having to go down to WEP (I now have 24/7 connxn).

Finally the question of your mission critical system; well a system restore does nothing for it, nobody ever said that a sysem restore was a reliable backup source. You should have an image of your hard drive before you begin, and hopefully you are in the habit of doing it often. The question shouldnt even be about whether system restore is a good enough parachute for recovery, it wasn't designed to be so!
So make an image or other such off-computer backup and try SP2. Again, given people's hesitation with installing SP2 (of course it's none of my business but I find it funny when I see folks who install Kazaa and other such P2P programs or would readily download a set of smiley cursors and wouldnt hesitate installing any other program would be "wary" of SP2 ), I can't say what is a must have for you, but it certainly is a recommendation.

[Statica]

Addendum: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...uy/cg0804.mspx

[kram 2.0]

Thanks Statica - I'm looking through some of them now. The one of Wireless LAN - seems like there are more options when turning on the Wi-Fi...that I'm definately going to consider. I understood as I read through the overall updates that it's much like a cumulative Win Update. Looks like I might get SP2 tomorrow...just need to find some method of backing up my HDD (CDRW drives the best I've got ).

Thanks again,
kram