Is XP SP2 Still a crap shoot?

[sjm1027]

Not sure what to do as of yet. I have a SP2 CD from Microsoft received it 2 months ago but was afraid to use it on my system.
I read the polls and it looks pretty good... not great that most people are doing fine with SP2 installed.
Are there things I have to be aware of before I do it. I know the common turn off your antivirus stuff but is there anything else? I have an AMD chip... I am reading that they have many issues but I as we all know we can't believe everything we read on the Internet. The system in question is listed in my signature.

Thanks

[RJ]

Well, SP2 has never been a crap shoot, and it has never changed. It is just nothing "new" anymore, but that is it.
It is still the same SP2 as it was when it was released. I have it since the beginning, and no problem.
So, just go ahead and install it. If you experience problems, you can still uninstall it.
Also be sure to back up your data, just in case.
And before installing SP2, scan your PC for adware, spyware, and viruses. If you install SP2 on a messed-up system, you will get problems. If you install it on a clean system, it will work fine.

RJ

[Statica]

I'd concur with RJ here, an extensive amount of testing goes into putting in SP2; if you feel you would benefit from the extra security, then you shouldve been using SP2.

[Confused]

I have run into two problems since installing SP2 and I think both are related to the increased security of SP2.

1) I have a Ameritrade account and I log in to enable the Streamer function which I use for real time tracking of my holdings. Streamer comes up in another screen. After a period of time when I go back to original Ameritrade screen and attempt using any function there, the screen has timed out. I have to click a second time to get it to work.

2) I have a Asus board using the Nvida onboard sound. I have my ATI TV tuner card sound output routed to my Nvida MIC in to hear TV thru my speakers or headphones. Each morning when I enable the TV function I also have to open up Nvida audio controller in Control Panel and uncheck the "Mute" for MIC in. For some reason XP is turning the Mute for the MIC back on after a period of inactivity.

Both problems are minor but frustating because XP assumes I don't have enough sense to set my PC up for my own use.
Chas

[mairving]

It is pretty much a no brainer to install SP2 now. I would say 95% of the time there is no problem at all. Even Dell is now shipping units with SP2 installed.

[raftero]

i have sp2 installed (using free disk from MS) on my xp-pro and wifes xp home both using intel boards and my dell lap top they all worked without a hitch, the increased security and the popup blocker are worth the change, i noticed that google popup blocker on wifes (she uses IE) had not recorded any blocks since installing, i assume sp2 is catching them before google.

[homer15]

i've had one issue on one machine out of elleventybillion after sp2 update, and that was slower printer response with an hp deskjet 5150... other than that, people mostly complain about the annyoing windows balloons (which you can easily turn off)

[HAL9000]

I only had probs on one of my machines...after SP2, I couldn't do the windows updates. MS is offering free support for SP2 problems, but don't expect any fast responses... it took about 2-3 weeks to get my first reply. They didn't have the direct answer to the fix, but one of their suggestions took me the right direction (I like to dig a lil) and it's running fine now.

[JTH]

I upgraded when I reinstalled my OS about 2 weeks ago. Only problem I've had is with Zone Alarm, but a reinstall of that software seemed to fix that issue.

I like the new splash screen as well. I'm a mystified as to why they took away the "Home" and "Pro" edition markings under the Windows XP logo. I would have thought that making the two products closer together would damage sales of the more expensive "Pro" version.

[glc]

Thoroughly clean up the system and research software compatibility, and you *should* be OK. If you are having any issues now, SP2 won't make them go away, and may compound problems. Installing SP2 is like upgrading in place from one version of Windows to another, it's that radical. A clean install is always best.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by HAL9000 I only had probs on one of my machines...after SP2, I couldn't do the windows updates. MS is offering free support for SP2 problems, but don't expect any fast responses... it took about 2-3 weeks to get my first reply. They didn't have the direct answer to the fix, but one of their suggestions took me the right direction (I like to dig a lil) and it's running fine now.

What was the fix, Hal? I had one that wouldn't update also and ended up doing a clean install on a new hard drive rather than continue to fight the old one.

My own machines took the update without a problem and I used the upgrade CD on 3 new builds immediately after installing XP and the mobo drivers. All running fine.

[HAL9000]

Originally Posted by Panama Red What was the fix, Hal? I had one that wouldn't update also and ended up doing a clean install on a new hard drive rather than continue to fight the old one. My own machines took the update without a problem and I used the upgrade CD on 3 new builds immediately after installing XP and the mobo drivers. All running fine.

They figured that the BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) wasn't enabled, but it was... but when I clicked on the tab for log on... it showed that the service for profile 1 was disabled... I enabled it and away it went.

[kram 2.0]

As a test, I installed WinXP SP2 on my Toshiba Laptop because security was a major concern - it is an Intel Celeron 1.2Ghz with 256MB SDRAM. It went from a decent speed laptop to a lagaciously irritating one...as SP2 is the only thing I've installed, I cannot see anything else I can blame it on. As a result, I've decided personally to refrain on installing it until Microsoft can do something about one...the software/game compatibility and also the higher sys resources it bites out.

kram

[mairving]

I have not actually noticed any performance hits going from SP1 to SP2.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by kram8806 .... It went from a decent speed laptop to a lagaciously irritating......

Since uncle Merriam only gave me these as alternatives:

sagaciously
loquaciously
fugaciously

What the heck is "lagaciously"?

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by Panama Red Since uncle Merriam only gave me these as alternatives: sagaciously loquaciously fugaciously What the heck is "lagaciously"?

It's like "craptacular", "fantastical" and such...take a word and add "ous" or "tacular" to it and voila! I see a new Shakespeare in me (invent a word if none fit ).

kram

[Panama Red]

Ok, I get it! Like Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious!

[sjm1027]

Ok, SP2 loaded without a hitch.

Thanks
Steve

[Panama Red]

Congrats, Steve. If you get sick of that Service Center pop up down by the clock, disable it in Services.

[Panama Red]

Puppypal, consider this a warning. That type of post and language will not be tolerated. Clean it up.

Post removed.

[JPMiller]

Originally Posted by puppypal41 are you crazy, sp2 SUCKS!!! It --- up your pc!!!

Informative post... at least now we know the technical aspects...
I myself wont be switching soon....
Ive spent quite a bit of time lately fixing the managerie of problems it has caused people, works great sometimes, and others it causes systemwide failures or certain programs to stop working...
I believe if you do some research and use good safety habits in the first place, use a firewall or router, scan regularily and do all security updates regularily, that you will be no more at risk than anyone else...
Theres no huge reason one way or the other...

[glc]

The one machine that I've upgraded works fine. However, I've seen machines where the customer has done their own upgrade that run like total dog-doo. As I and others have said, there are preparations that you must do - installing on top of a "dirty" system gives you a REAL dirty system. I'm advising customers not to do their own upgrade - if they want it right, let me do it. If they insist on doing their own, I advise them to make the thing squeaky clean first, disconnect from the Internet, disable their antivirus, and do it with the M$ CD - not a download - and make sure they have a good system restore point AND their data backed up first.

[raftero]

i think glc has the answer, all my comps were clean, i spend nearly as much time keeping them that way as using them, wifes comp isn't kept quite as clean so i really cleaned it before install and also turned of all AV and firewalls.

[Statica]

There is absolutely no need to turn off AV's and firewalls for installation of SP2. Cleaning the system does not mean you turn down a level of security that you have. It is logical to clean from spyware and virus, but that should be the case whether you're going to upgrade your computer or not. There is no documentation whatsoever to support that an antivirus actually interferes with an installation of a service pack, this is the case be it for WinXPSP2 or XPSP1 or whatever else out there. It's actually the same as when I had people complain that XP was unstable, when diagnosed turned up with bad RAM etc. An OS or a SP is not a cure for the fallacies that exist within the computer, it is meant to enhance an existing clean system.

[raftero]

statica i'm sure is much more knowledgeable than me but i know on my computer at least i cant download updates or sp's with sygate firewall on , i havent tried to install with it on however.

[glc]

Statica, have you ever tried to install *anything* with McAfee or Norton 2K4/2K5 running? It ain't pretty.

[Statica]

You're trying to out a technicality .. but answer me this, my friend, have you ever seen a working computer that has McAfee or Norton 2k5 running? Chances are after putting in SP2, and you install McAfee you are back at ground zero.

When I see keep the antivirus running, I meant SP2 installs fine when a decent antivirus is running.

[glc]

I'm not saying uninstall the antivirus - I'm saying you temporarily disable the real time protection or the system will get bogged down seriously scanning every file that is being unpacked as part of the installation process.