Windows Xp Sp2, service pack 2

[TheCarolinaScotsman]

Microsoft has started releasing XP SP2 today. Although not yet available for single computers, it is available to IT professionals for network installtion. Full details are available at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechn...n/winxpsp2.mspx

[dundee]

for what it is worth

our IS dept advised not installing it at this point.... i believe its just a precaution to make sure it doesnt do bad things.......

[Aragorn]

I will wait for most of the minor bugs to be worked out before installing it. I am not the least bit thrilled about all the issues they have had in the past getting this service pack to market. So, I will be opting out for at least a month if not longer. I tend to shy away from first releases of any Redmond software.

[Aaediwen]

I wouldn't touch it with a 100' pole at this point. let it sit out there for a while. See what breaks first.

[CelticRoz]

Well I got this from the Kim Komando site:

AND NOW FOR TODAY'S TIP... Should you wait to install SP2?

Q. Our computer service guy at work said to wait a couple months
to download XP Service Pack 2 because it will inevitably have a lot
of glitches, and we'll just be guinea pigs for Microsoft. He said if
you wait a couple months, they'll have any major bugs worked out, and
we'll avoid the headaches of software not working right. Is this wise?

A. Microsoft has long had a reputation for taking three tries to get
things right. For example, Windows 3.1 captured desktop computing in
the early '90s. Windows 1 and 2 were flops. And Internet Explorer 3 was
the first version that could stand up to Netscape. That is probably
what your guy is talking about.

In recent years, Microsoft has done a much better job of getting things
right the first time. Recent versions of Windows worked well out of the
gate, although they have needed security updates.

So, to answer your question, I wouldn't wait. I ran the beta (test)
version of SP2 on my test box and never had any problems. Last week,
I installed SP2 on my office computers. No one has reported any issues.

SP2 includes all of the security updates previously issued. So if you
have maintained the updates, you should be safe. But it includes new
features that are nice. For instance, it warns you when hijackers try
to grab your home page or search function. (These are called browser
helper objects--truly a bizarre characterization!)

SP2 also has a pop-up blocker. And it will isolate dangerous e-mail if
you're using Outlook Express. That feature also can be used by other
e-mail software publishers.

I can't rule out possible problems. Microsoft has found about 40
programs so far that have problems with SP2. Most are used by big
businesses. These are programs that need to access the Internet, and
are having problems with XP's firewall. The firewall in SP2 is much
tougher (and safer) than the original one included in XP. Microsoft
explains on its Web site how to fix the problems. You can get a
complete list of programs that have problems at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242

Microsoft has poured a lot of resources into SP2. I suggest you do
as I did--go ahead and install it.

[CelticRoz]

Okay.................with head held humble..................I installed the XP Service Pack 2 because it was recommended to me from different sources and thank God for System Restore! This program or whatever this monster is screwed up my computer so badly that I had to remove it and do a system restore. Even then I was scared to death that wouldn't work..............but thankfully it did and I am back to normal! but I would not recommend installing this program at all! Should have listened to Aaediwen!

[Irish Stepper]

I downloaded it yesterday without knowing what it was. Just did a "windows update" and it came up as a critical update, so I downloaded it. Goes to show how much I pay attention!

Well either way, I haven't had any problems with it so far...(knock on wood). Some parts are actually cool, like the pop-up blocker. Now I don't get 50 pop-ups from the live365 player. I'm liking that part.

[CelticRoz]

Yes, I would agree that there are things that were really cool about it such as the firewall and the pop-up blocker. But it also disabled many of my other programs such as my anti-virus!.........boo hoo! So I will wait.

[Madadh]

Microsoft themselves have given a large list of programs and services that have shown problems with SP2. These include word, office, etc. I would suggest waiting until they get it correct.

[gtrplr]

I got one word for all y'all:

LINUX!

(Seriously, take a look at Xandros, Mandrake, Fedora or SUSE. They're easy to install and use, and the chances of a virus are almost nil.)

[Aragorn]

Right now I have 2 computers, one is running Windows XP w/SP1 and I will never upgrade to SP2 unless it has been deemed perfect...hehe, that will never happen and my other computer is running Fedora Core 2. I love my linux box!!! Very easy to use and has a lot of powerful programs. Besides it is free!!! Only draw back is Linux does not run my games 8(.

[Aaediwen]

Doom 1, and 2. Quake (all versions), Unreal (All decent versions) already run great on Linux. Better than on Windows IMHO except for this strange issue I have with UT2K4 crashing on my the first time I run it. reload it though and it'll run 'till the cows come home. I'm quite convinced of better graphics performance under Linux though I expect ID is hard at work on the Linux port of Doom3 as we speak.

[CeltWolf]

I've been running SP2 for a while and it hasn't caused a problem, except that there seem to be some really strange issues with Dawn of War in multiplayer, but that only seems to affect one of the four other SP1 machines trying to connect... Very strange.

Otherwise, I don't notice much of anything. I've been using Firefox/Opera for so long that popups are something I vary rarely deal with (layers are vile, though), and I've never really run the windows firewall. Right now, my project (heh, after school stuff) is to get CHX-I Packet Manager fully functional. Nice, proper SW firewall (better than Zone Alarm).

The Office Suite works JUST fine, too. Really, all the animus surrounding SP2 reminds me of when XP was originally released. Most of those folks caved eventually. SP2 doesn't do much of anything, from my perspective.

[maisky]

I added the sp-2 pack last week. I have had no problems at all. Maybe they have it de-bugged. The pop blocker is nice, since it means I have 2 of them going. Not many get past.

[Blue_Rogue]

My boss here just bought a new dell, making our shop computer count to 6 now.
He bought it for the technicains for BMW's new "pass through" tool for diagnosing the new cars (they no longer offer stand alone diagnostic machines).

BMW states that the computer needs Windows XP, not NOT sp2.

I not had any issues yet with the new machine, but then again, we haven't recieved the "pass through" tool and software.