Is XP SP2 necessary for my setup?

[808smokey]

Hi,

I just built a computer for my kids from old PC's collected over the past few years with a new Celeron D 2.1gig & 768m PC2100. Nothing fancy by any means.

It used to play the Sims mainly, some homework and surf the net.

My question is this:
Do I need to install service pack 2? My network is protected through a Router firewall and sygate. That's enough protection (I hope).

Should I pass on SP2?

Thanks for the input

[redwudz]

SP2 also fixes problems with the OS along with security issues. As far as being really necessary, probably not.

But I still put it on all my computers, even ones not connected to the internet.

I have a router, AVG, Spybot S&D, Spyware Blaster, the XP firewall, and a IP blocker and I still get trojans and viruses occasionally.

[isogonic]

sp2 addresses security issues also, like disabling messenger service and changes to outlook.
as far as the "security center" goes, disable the built in firewall and stay with sygate and router. popups about av may be out of date can be turned off also as well as auto updates function, both of which i found very annoying.

[ROF]

Considering your usage or your kids usage and the likelyhood of them not requiring large hard drives or other issues I'd simply update whatever windows XP you have installed with all the latest updates and forego the windows XP SP2 upgrade. I always install SP2 on my systems and customers systems that purchase WinXP, but considering you probably have a small hard drive, minimal add-on cards, perhaps older RAM, and other "hodege podge" parts I'd say an updated WinXP will serve them fine. Make sure the computer is behind your firewall and never is allowed to bypass this security.

WinXP SP2 is always an option you can choose simply by clicking the windows update button. Microsoft will always ask you if you want to upgrade to SP2. You have the option of skipping that and continuing to download just the updates for your current install.

[ranchhand]

Since they are surfing the net, an unpatched XP version of Windows will be full of malware within a week, especially adware and spyware. The major reason that M/Soft released SP1 and 2 was to patch vulnerabilities in XP.

[Faustus]

If its on the net SP2 is a must have.

[MrFawlty]

On an old PC that has windows installed for ages (6 months +) it might be worth either staying away from SP2 or doing a fresh install. From what you say tho it seems this is a fairly new setup so you shouldn't have any problems at all. The only problems I have ever had with SP2 is on old machines.

[ROF]

Since they are surfing the net, an unpatched XP version of Windows will be full of malware within a week, especially adware and spyware. The major reason that M/Soft released SP1 and 2 was to patch vulnerabilities in XP.

You can download all security patches and misc. downloads via the windows update. Service pack updates include enhancements to the OS which if they are installed on a system with alot of the third party software or has been said systems that have been in use for several years it can result in a botched install in which case the average user with limited knowledge will be visiting a computer shop and paying money to have their system "fixed'.

my solution, if it's not needed and not broken, don't fix it. Since all security updates can be installed without the need to install a service pack in some cases this maybe more desirable. It makes no difference whether it's a net machine or not. you'll have a patched system with all security updates anyways. Windows firewall and their security suite is more of a nuisance than a protection system anyways.

[ranchhand]

Well, this is going beyone the initial subject a bit, but the single easiest way to have your cake and eat it to is to create a slipstreamed XP cd. Then SP2 is installed with any new installation on a harddrive. No crashes or problems. Just a thought...

[ROF]

slipstreaming will save you considerable time if you regularly clean out and re-install your OS. Because I interchange parts frequently I've done this but the time I've saved downloading the SP2 update has been negated by the time I spend on the phone with Microsoft verifying my rights to add new hardware.