Re: Fearful of SP2

From: Ken Blake (kblake_at_this.is.an.invalid.domain)
Date: 10/03/04 

Date: Sun, 3 Oct 2004 10:38:35 -0700

In news:gnc0m0ted3r4chcefsbh52ucmdd2n4n2ep@4ax.com,
Ann B. <annREMOVE@pipeline.com> typed:

> On Sun, 3 Oct 2004 10:04:55 -0700, "Ken Blake"
> <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote:

>>Whenever a new version of *anything* comes out, you always read
>>about people having problems." But realize two things:
>>
>>1. If you're reading about problems *in the newsgroup*, this is
>>where people come with their problems, not with their
>>successes.
>>You get a very distorted view of what's going on in the real
>>world here; as someone once said, "hang around a transmission
>>shop and you will think that all cars have transmission
>>problems."
>>
> True, but something can be inferred from the number of postings
> complaining of problems. There have been many more regarding
> SP2 than
> I'm awaree of with other products.

That's because it's new. Anything that's new results in people
not knowing how to use, making mistakes in its use, etc. You seem
the same kind of flurry of messages about everything new that
comes out; that doesn't mean it's no good.

> You can't just disregard these
> complaints because they're in a newsgroup. Also, complaints
> about
> this SP have appearing in other sources as well: newspapers,
> technical papers, magazines, and word of mouth.

Newspapers and magazines *love* to print complaints. That's how
they sell their products.

> So whereas there
> probably are many installations without problems, it sounds to
> me like
> there are also many with such problems. I just want to be sure
> what
> I'm doing before I wind up spending days trying to put my
> system back
> together if something goes wrong. I've had these experiences
> in the
> past and it's no fun!

Understood. And ultimately, no matter what I or anyone else,
says, it's your choice. I can't make you install it, nor do I
want to. I can only try to give you information that can help in
your decision.

>>2. Most problems, by far, that people report--whether or not
>>they
>>are SP2-related--have nothing to do with defects in the
>>software.
>>They result from people's ignorance, from bad or inadequate
>>hardware, from old drivers, from viruses, from spyware, and so
>>on. And except for very rare situations, they always get a fix
>>for their problems, and in most cases, that fix is a very
>>simple
>>one to implement.

> Yes, but after how much trouble?

Usually very little.

> I've had to scratch my PC in the
> past and reload everything - a task that took 2 weeks to get to
> the
> point I was before the problem. Don't want that to happen
> again if it
> can be avoided.

Again, understood. I, of course, can't make you any promises. All
I can say is that the risk of that occurring with SP2, if you
take the proper precautions before installing it, is extremely
slight. 

-- 
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

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