win xp service pack 1 /2 question

[ricardouk]

Hi everyone.
Just downloaded canopus procoder demo yesterday and when installing it it said something about .net framework and sp1 installed to procoder to run.
I haven’t installed sp1 or 2 , never had any probs even when browsing the web.
My question is should I install them? Are new programs being made having the services packs in”mind” to work?

I have net framework installed already

Thanks, Ricardo

[ricardouk]

If I install them and something goes wrong, will a system restore put everything back together as it was before the install?

[anitract]

I'm not sure on that last question (I don't use system restore...I hate it), but I do know that SP1 is very stable. SP2 initially gave people a lot of problems, but I think I heard that most of this was fixed in later releases.

I also think that the whole .NET framework is a bunch of bloated garbage, but that's besides the point...there's stuff out there that requires it so there's nothing you can do about that.

Anyway, I have SP1 and am happy leaving it at that.

[jimmalenko]

Personally I haven't had many issues with SP2 across 100 machines (work). I've had probably 3-5 programs that have required later versions to run under SP2 but that's about it.

[ricardouk]

HI, Thanks for all the info guys.

i tried to install sp1 and sp2 and you know what it said the the windows xp pro that i have was installed using a pirate key.

im going down the shop where i bought the pc over a year ago and ask about this. am i in the right on demanding a proper install of windows xp pro on my sistem even if i bought the pc a while ago.

[ricardouk]

are the sp1 and 2 packs for windows xp only?
can i install it on my windows xp pro?
thanks

[Poppa_Meth]

It's for both. I'd call microsoft about the pirated key if it is the retailer slipping one over on you.

[guns1inger]

SP1 only baulks at a small subset of pirate keys, specifically a set of corporate keys that went into the wild just before XP was released to the public. SP2 has a much larger range of blacklisted keys. You can test the validity of your key by going to microsoft update (the new, improved windows update) and running the windows genuine advantage validation. If you fail, nail your vendor.

I have upgraded several hundred XP laptops and desktops to SP2, and have not yet had a problem. As with others, on a small subset software has had to be upgraded to run, but that was also true of 2000 SP releases.

BTW, you only need SP2 - it has SP1 and a lot more included.

SP2 brings more stability and security, but even the improved windows firewall is no match or substitution for a decent 3rd party firewall (I use Sygate personal firewall pro) and you still need good spyware protection. A good start is firefox.

[ricardouk]

[quote="guns1inger"]

BTW, you only need SP2 - it has SP1 and a lot more included.

quote]

thanks for the info guns1inger

i havent had the time but i will definitely have a chat with the shop that sold me the pc and if they say its not their fault i will get in touch with microsoft(dont know if they will make something about it as i am only 1 person)

thanks guys