Is SP2 the point of no return???

[Satfanni]

Hi Guys,

I have been dithering for weeks about whether to install SP2. I have to date been reluctant. I have heard nightmare stories from some quarters about this application and that needing patches from microsoft in order to run correctly under SP2.

My question is simply this. If I create a system restore point prior to installation of SP2 can I return my PC to exactly this state should I encounter unacceptable problems? Will all my settings (particularly my wireless internet configuration) be returned to its original state or would there be problems in doing this?

If I thought that I could return to original settings without any problem, then I would risk upgrading to SP2.

I'm a great believer in the saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and my PC is running OK (with one minor exception) without SP2. I am of course aware of the enhanced security features provided by SP2 and would wish to take advantage of this.

So basically can I go back to the pre-SP2 state after installation or it this a point of no return?

Any help to ease my fears will be greatly appreciated.

Best Regards.

Satfanni.

[F_Porsche]

I'm currently using SP2 and I have to say that it's imho, the best thing to happen to windows xp. It even fixed a pc problem I had where an "Unmountable_Boot_Volume" error would randomly occur when windows is first booting up. Alot of people on this website have problems with sp2, and I think it has something to do with two things: The user not fully updating windows xp prior to installing sp2, and them downloading sp2 through the windows update web site. There's a risk of a hacker connecting to your pc during the sp2 download and infecting your pc with a virus causing the update to be corrupted.

I would suggest getting a free sp2 cd from your local computer store, that's how I got my copy of sp2.
Of course you can do a system restore after installing sp2, but you can also uninstall it from add/ remove programs.
If your computer is working fine before the installation, it will probably perfom a little better after you install sp2, but no guarantee's.

[Satfanni]

Thanks for reply.

If I take the plunge and install SP2, will I have to reconfigure my wireless home network connection on this PC? Or will the new SP2 configuration automatically detect the wireless connection? I currently have a wireless connection to the internet and to another desktop and laptop. This PC communicates wirelessly through a D-Link high speed modum router connected to my second PC.

The reason I ask this is that I am not very confident about reconfiguring my wireless network settings and will have to pay somone to do this for me. My current network was set up for me by PC World ncluding all the security features.

Thanks again for your help.

Best Regards.

Satfanni.

[s7p9a2m4]

I, too, find sp2 just fine and only installed it to get usb2 support which you will have with sp1.
I did find it screwed up my networking however so you may want to take care and prepare for reconfiguring.
Do not do the online install. Download sp2 and then install.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

[bookworm]

well installed sp2 today, clean install of everything, seems ok but don't like the automatic downloads. But I can say no conflicts so far, hope I haven't spoken too soon.

[Zxian]

I've tried SP2, and I noticed a general slow-down of my system after the install. This was on both my desktop and my laptop. I tried installing SP2 from the network install, as well as slipstreaming SP2 onto my XP-Pro Gold CD and installing from there. That's just my experience.

[F_Porsche]

Originally Posted by Satfanni

Thanks for reply.

If I take the plunge and install SP2, will I have to reconfigure my wireless home network connection on this PC? Or will the new SP2 configuration automatically detect the wireless connection? I currently have a wireless connection to the internet and to another desktop and laptop. This PC communicates wirelessly through a D-Link high speed modum router connected to my second PC.

The reason I ask this is that I am not very confident about reconfiguring my wireless network settings and will have to pay somone to do this for me. My current network was set up for me by PC World ncluding all the security features.

Thanks again for your help.

Best Regards.

Satfanni.

I agree with the posts above, You should look at your configuration again after installing sp2. It shouldn't mess up anything else if the install finsihed with no errors. As a matter of fact, there is a couple of wizards that comes with sp2 that helps out with network connectivity, the "Wireless Network Setup Wizard". I haven't used it, so I don't know how effective it is in terms of setup a good configuration.

[Satfanni]

Thanks for the replies.

Seems like my network settings are going to be well and truely screwed up if I upgrade to SP2. I know that there is a wireless network wizard feature on SP2 but knowing my luck I will not be able to correctly reconfigure my settings. I will be forced therefore to pay someone to come out to my home and sort this

Think I will stay with SP1 a while longer.

Best Regards.

Satfanni.

[Happy100]

Hi Guys,

If you up date to SP2, which I agree is the Biz! :-)
You may wish to create yourself a SP2 CD for future use -

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...slipstream.asp

Have Fun

Happy.

[danjwalker]

Originally Posted by Satfanni

Thanks for the replies.

Seems like my network settings are going to be well and truely screwed up if I upgrade to SP2. I know that there is a wireless network wizard feature on SP2 but knowing my luck I will not be able to correctly reconfigure my settings. I will be forced therefore to pay someone to come out to my home and sort this

Think I will stay with SP1 a while longer.

Best Regards.

Satfanni.

SP2 gives extra features like better encryption. It is a good move. I dont know anyone that has not done SP2 now. Just remember that it switches the firewall on as standard. If you have a router, just switch that off and you are away!! Also use the highest encryption that your wireless access point or router can use. That way, you cannot have some idiot outside your house nicking your bandwidth!

Thanks
Dan

[mrcoons]

I have installed SP2 (from the CD) on my laptop where I traditionally install all new updates first. My laptop is part of my network and has all the same software on it as my desktops.

After the install my network still worked fine and SP2 had recognized that I already had a firewall and left XP's firewall turned off. I did have to go turn off the automatic update feature but that's no big deal.

My only complaint was all the bloat left behind by the upgrade. Somewhere at home I have an article that tels me how to clean up the crap left behind but I have not do it yet. For a temporary solution I just increase the size of the partition that the OS was on and then defragged it.

Once I verify that my desktops BIOS and video drivers are SP2 compatible I'll be updating them too. Not sure why other than to stop XP from constantly reminding me that I should do so.

[danjwalker]

What you can do is delete the c:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$ and c:\i386 directory. That should free a couple of megs and I think thats all that it wastes. The first directory I mentioned on my system was 360Mb (size on disk) and I cannot remember the size of the i386 directory.

The first dir is the uninstall directory, which I personally don't think anyone will use. The second is where it expands the downloaded files ready for usage.

I assume that you have got the administrators version of SP2, not using automatic updates to get it. This is what I use.

[Harnic]

Originally Posted by Satfanni

Hi Guys,

I have been dithering for weeks about whether to install SP2. I have to date been reluctant. I have heard nightmare stories from some quarters about this application and that needing patches from microsoft in order to run correctly under SP2.

My question is simply this. If I create a system restore point prior to installation of SP2 can I return my PC to exactly this state should I encounter unacceptable problems? Will all my settings (particularly my wireless internet configuration) be returned to its original state or would there be problems in doing this?

If I thought that I could return to original settings without any problem, then I would risk upgrading to SP2.

I'm a great believer in the saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and my PC is running OK (with one minor exception) without SP2. I am of course aware of the enhanced security features provided by SP2 and would wish to take advantage of this.

So basically can I go back to the pre-SP2 state after installation or it this a point of no return?

Any help to ease my fears will be greatly appreciated.

Best Regards.

Satfanni.

I built a new Pentium 4 workstation for my digital imaging as the old Pentium 3 unit couldn't handle the drivers for my new Epson Stylus Pro 7600 pinter. I installed XP Pro w/SP2 imbedded & other than the usually microsloth glitches, it's been pretty smooth sailing. Take the plunge, the quality of help here will walk you through any trouble you may encounter.

[Play_The_0dds]

If you upgrade to SP2 check for updates on everything you have, hardware, software, bios...everything. I have it now and all is great...I had issues with it on alot of things but now I like it...but I know everything about my pc because I built it and know how to find patches and updates.
I tried several different things and you all have the misfortune of getting to read my crap.
I have installed SP2 through auto updates, I downloaded a copy, even had the prerelease beta copy, I have the update CD from MS, and I have slipstreamed SP2 from the CD from MS with autostreamer, and using the -s.
If you have XP installed, the cd from ms is the only way to go, find the link and order it, it's free anyway. Slipstreaming sp2 into the install worked fine, but the os seemed to lag badly after it was all installed.
the installation I have now is all around different, I had my wife call, MS with the story that her computer downloaded SP2 and now has problems of all sorts and when we try to use out XP disk to repair, or fix it it says it's not the same version of XP...well they sent her a XP SP2 disk for free.....sooooooo I had my sister call them with the same story for my XP PRO disk and they sent that one to her address. You HAVE TO HAVE A LEGAL retail full install, or upgrade for this to work....because they will not do it for OEM. You can order a replacement cd, cost about $30us and have them send you the sp2 edition. since I installed it from the disk they sent me life is good. I like it now, there is no descibing the difference in the way it works now over the past attempts I made at using SP2....Hell if you have to pay them a little for the embedded disk, it seems worth it. I am cheap and figured I paid enough when I bought my copies they didnt need no more blood from me...and besides as much as I have been in tech forums helping people with problems from thier software they should forgive a little lie that got me the cds......atleast I dont use XP Corp.

[Disk_Contented]

A slipstreamed XP works as good as an original.
You need auto update turned on, or you can't use the update site.

atleast I dont use XP Corp.

What's wrong with XP corp?