Any problems with doing this (Windows Update and SP2 related)

[Matt_Smi]

I am one of the many waiting for a bit before I install SP2, so for now I have the windows update auto notifications turned off so that balloon will not annoy me. Today I visited the windows update site and there where three new critical updates, so I downloaded them (along with Windows media player 10). Now my question is once I download and install SP2 will these updates that I downloaded today, which came out after SP2 mess anything up? Probably a dumb question but I just want to make sure.

[Karnevil9]

These updates may be part of SP2. I may have my facts wrong, but for the home user, if you leave the auto update block enabled, SP2 will be downloaded onto your computer a little bit at a time. It is not going to be downlaoded as one big package, unless you download it that way from the MS site. (The SP2 download for Administrators).

[Matt_Smi]

Anyone else know anything about this?

[Panama Red]

I've installed SP2 on a couple of machines that were XP new installs and everything has worked fine. Both have the WMP 10 installed as a separate adder. It is not part of SP2. I've updated my own systems like you did without adding SP2. I installed WMP 10 on them too. The security updates may or may not have been part of SP2. It all depends on the timing. MS continues to release security updates, even after the release of SP2. Don't forget to check for office updates too. There have been quite a few security updates there too. Applies to any Office 2000 release and later.

[Matt_Smi]

I just remembered about this post I made a while back, this is still a concern I have if I decide to install SP2. Has anyone else installed SP2 with no problems after installing some (or all) of the updates that were released after it? Now, since SP2 have been out there have been quite a few updates released, probably like 20, I have them all installed but still don’t have SP2, so I am hoping if I do install it now it will not cause a problem. It should not since the updates I have been installing are separate from SP2, but you never know.

[Karnevil9]

I don't think anyone can install XP SP2 without experiencing "problems". I say this because for me SP2 was a little like installing a new operating system. Everything is there and familiar, but at the same time, it changed. For example Windows update and firewall are now part of a bigger security feature along with your own anti virus program. It you don't have an anti virus or firewall program or updates turned on you will get balloons constantly reminding you of this fact. You cann turn the balloons off ofcourse but at frist you have to learn how to navigate the system. Because of the new security windows doesn't like Java programs anymore. A feature that as far as I am aware you cannot turn off, Only bypass temporarily. So if you try to run a program that uses Java you may have issues. Some programs that worked under XP do not work under SP2. You will have to wait until the maker comes up with a fix.
Whether these changes are good or bad I guess is in the eye of the user. It will depnd on how much you liked the older XP. I love the way SP2 handles wireless over XP which was pretty good. I like the security feature reminding me my anti virus may be out of date, even though it is not a windows or norton program. I hate having to be told by windows that I can't run this JAVA program even though I want to. I hate the inconvienence of having software that no longer runs because of SP2. Also some newer windows programs will not run unless you have SP2 installed, so you can't update some windows features until you switch. I don't think it is better or worse as much as it is just different than what I was used to.

[HAL9000]

I've done several SP2 installations without issue... I think I've only come across an issue once and it was on my own machine and with a little help from MS Support, fairly easily fixed.

As to your question, if you put on updates that come after SP2, then install SP2, you MAY have to do those updates again. Just install SP2, then go to windows update for whatever is needed afterwards.