Service Pack 2

[aznraver1022]

Um, I've heard that the Service Pack 2 for Windows is either faulty or sux or something. Should I install it?

[thecoalman]

There's a few threads below here discussing SP2 scroll down a few threads or pages. I personally am holding off for about another month.

[redwudz]

Don't believe everything you hear. SP2 works fine, big improvements in security, very few problems. I've got it in three machines no problems at all.

[guns1inger]

I don't think either statement is accurate, however SP2 is a major change to XP, gets right into the bowels of the OS, and has been causing problems for some software. I know a number of people who have installed it without any problems, and some who have had to rebuild windows to get things right.

The best advice I have seen is to install it only as part of a clean install of windows, prior to installing ANY other software.

[thecoalman]

I don't think either statement is accurate, .

Which is why I'm holding off for another month until either MS or the software vendors get things straight. You know the patch for the fix for the update....... I never said I wasn't going to install it, just not yet.

[gitreel]

I have now installed sp2 on 5 computers.

No major problems.

[redwudz]

I agree it is better with a clean install of XP, Though I've done both.

I like the built in popup stopper and finally being able to get the MSMessenger icon off my taskbar.

Some of the security settings can be irritating, but for novices, it's safer. Pros can turn them off as needed. Even though I have a hardware firewall, I left the SP2 one in place, just made some settings adjustments. SP2 doesn't like you to download anything and that part I need to work on. All in all, I like it.

[gitreel]

I turned the security center off on my two running systems.

[thecoalman]

I like the built in popup stopper and finally being able to get the MSMessenger icon off my taskbar.

Some of the security settings can be irritating, but for novices, it's safer. Pros can turn them off as needed. Even though I have a hardware firewall, I left the SP2 one in place, just made some settings adjustments. SP2 doesn't like you to download anything and that part I need to work on. All in all, I like it.

I don't have a msn messenger icon on my task bar now :P It only rears it's ugly head when I launch OE then disappears when I close it.

The security center wil be getting disabled on my machines too. I'm already behind a router and Zone Alarm. Just more shit to load on startup.

Yes I will have to agree alot of the security enhancments for IE are long overdue.

[gitreel]

They were overdue, but as we speak, new vulnerabilities are being discovered.

[thecoalman]

Yes but some of the vulnerabilities fixed were user initiated such as the "do you wish to install spyware" active x box.

[gitreel]

sad but true.

I like to call that keyboard-user interface error.

[simonko]

Installed SP2

I slipstreamed it to my WindowsXP SP1 disc. (clean install) It does make your system run a little slower. I have two exact computers one with SP1 and the other with SP2. The SP1 executes and runs alittle faster like a quarter to half of a second. I really notice the diffence in speed when I run IE.

I've had no problems with DIVX playing, nor with problems on BT and DC++. I only had to configure the build in firewall to allow certain ports.

I probably just need newer faster computers. I'm currently running old AMD 1300 Duron, 512MB SDRAM, 40Gig 7200rpm 8MB WD HD, Asus A7S-WM motherboard.

[dxj40c]

The only effects of SP2 I have noticed are (1.) Nero 6 didn't work but there was an update at the Ahead Software site that fixed that. (2.) My computer boots faster, I don't think it has to do with the update per se, I was beginning to think some file had gotten corrupted and I think it must have been one of the files the SP2 replaced, works correctly now. (3.) It was causing my Norton Virus 2004 to pop up at boot asking if I wanted to continue to use Norton as my security software, I fixed this by disabling all of the new Windows Security stuff. I guess you might call this a conflict but it is easily fixed.

[Cobra]

SP2 on my machine works just fine - I have Nero 6 too and they seem to get along fine. It does bring up a message to say that it knows there is a problem with Nero 6 - would I like to continue. I did, and it's fine.

I haven't noticed any problems so far.