SP2 Install Questions Please

[golfnut]

I have held off installing SP2 due to many issues folks have had with it in the past. Is it safe to download now? If so what should I do to prepare for the download, if anything? Where should I download it from, microsoft? Is there anything I should do or know prior to downloading? Any information/help anyone could give me on this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your help and reply. By the way I am running XP Home.

[jman98]

Boy, do I understand where you are coming from here. I had similar concerns, but I installed it on both of my PCs at home and they worked with no problems at all after installing it. I would recommend that you install it. Too many of Microsoft's security patches are now requiring it.

It's best to get it from Microsoft. However, you should know that Microsoft does this stupid "Windows Genuine Advantage" test now to be sure that you have a legit copy of Windows. They will let you download and install SP2 even if you don't have a legal copy, but if you don't have a legal copy, do NOT under any circumstances turn on automatic updates as that won't work for you and it will just cause problems you won't want to deal with.

Be aware that you can't directly download SP2 from Microsoft, that you have to jump through a lot of hoops before it will let you get it. You have to install their stupid WGA tool before it will let you even try to download it.

[golfnut]

jman98 thank you for the reply. Did you back up or is there a need to back up your hard drive prior to downloading? I do have legit copy of windows so that should not be an issue. Can I not just hit the "automatic updates available" icon in my tool bar and download? Thanks again for your help.

[psx_pirate]

Heres a direct link to the sp2 download ... its designed for use by it depts when installing on more than one pc (so the download is bigger than it would be from the windows update site) ... i used this to install sp2 and found it to be more reliable than using microsoft update ... also when you update from ms update it doesn't allow you to save the download (it downloads and instals on the fly) ... with this one you can choose to save the file on your pc and instal at your leisure .... its also useful in case any thing goes wrong while instaling as you can just start again from scratch and any corrupt files will be fixed

also this is good for those (naughty) people who don't have a genuine copy of windows xp as you can download from here without going through the windows genuine advantage checks

get the download here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368...displaylang=en

[golfnut]

psx_pirate thank you for the reply. Should I back up hard drive prior to install? If so can you recommend most dependable program for back up? Thank you again.

[ahhaa]

another option is to get the XPsp2 CD direct from microsoft, if you've waited this long, it only takes a couple days. Then you have it for future use too. (many of the updates are builtin)

[psx_pirate]

i have installed sp2 on numerous pc using this download without any problems ... i have never backed up the hdd before installing sp2 using the download .... however i would point out that any important files should be backed up to another hdd or to a cdr/dvdr ... you should backup important files on a regular basis regardless of whether you plan to do any upgrades or not (hdd's can fail at any time without warning)

Having backups of your important files means that if something goes wrong during the instal of sp2 (or any other software) you can always reformat the hdd and start with a fresh instal of windows etc

If you feel that backing up your hdd is neccessary then by all means make a backup .... but like i said i have not come across any problems installing sp2 from this download package

[psx_pirate]

Additional .... when you instal sp2 it will create a restore point before it installs .... so if anything goes wrong you can always use system restore to go back