RE: SP2 Really Necessary??
From: MAP (MAP_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 09/29/04
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Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 09:45:01 -0700
"Bob Hunt" wrote:
> I have read so many horror stories on here about the SP2, I am hesitant to
> put it on my computers that are working, and having no problems. I use
> Mozilla Firefox, have a router (firewall), AntiVirus, Spybot, SpySweeper,
> Ad-Aware, and SpamFilter installed on both of them. What if anything other
> that the touted security from Microsoft will the SP2 provide me? I don't
> like problems. It appears that getting a successful SP2 installation is
> really a hit or miss type installation. Is it really worth the hassle?
> I would like to see the pro and cons on this.
>
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This is from a newsletter I recieve and it may be a couple of weeks old but
it is
still good advice,
NOTE: It is from a "computer expert" that is not related to Microsoft.
1) Go Slow With XP's SP2
Many readers are wondering what to do about XP's SP2, which is starting to
trickle out in a limited release. But over the next few weeks, just about all
XP users will be offered the download in a carefully sequenced rollout
designed to prevent the overload of Microsoft's servers.
When you're offered SP2, my advice is: Do nothing; wait a bit.
SP2 is huge--- so big it's almost a whole new version of XP. Like any new
version of any OS, it *will* contain bugs, and it *will* cause trouble on
some setups. The more complex and/or nonstandard your setup is, the greater
the likelihood of a problem.
Plus, there's no "must have right now" element to SP2: Much of SP2 is
designed to force uninformed (or just plain lazy!) PC users to use basic
security--- to stay current with updates, to use a firewall, etc. (These are
the users running the unpatched/unprotected systems that allow most
worms/viruses to spread.)
But odds are, if you're reading this newsletter, you already know about and
are using pretty good security practices, such as good firewall, antivirus
and anti-spyware tools, and you're keeping up to date with Critical Updates.
If that's the case, you won't gain a lot by rushing into SP2.
Instead, wait a bit--- even as much as a month or two--- to let the worst
problems with SP2 come to light and be fixed on other user's PCs.
Again, as long as you're already using the kinds of security tools and
techniques we discuss in this newsletter every week (example:
http://www.informationweek.com/840/langa.htm ), there's no need to rush into
SP2.
I'm not the only one suggesting this "go slow" approach. See, for example
these other authors:
http://www.scotsnewsletter.com/60.htm
http://channelzone.ziffdavis.com/article2/0,1759,1633858,00.asp
But if you absolutely must try it as soon as you can, MAKE A FULL IMAGE
BACKUP OF YOUR SYSTEM! (There, I hope that got your attention! <g>) You can
use a free trial version of BootIt for example (
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/ ), and have a bulletproof way to roll your
system back to pre-SP2 condition if things don't work out. Note that standard
uninstall, backup or roll-back tools (like Go Back) may NOT suffice for an
update of this size and scope. If you want to be 100% sure you can undo SP2
in its totality, you *must* use a heavy-duty imaging tool. See
http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=imaging&sp-a=0008002a-sp00000000 .
But for most of us, the answer's simpler: Relax! Take a break, and let
others blaze a trail for you! Eventually, SP2 will be worth installing, but
for most of us--- almost everyone--- there's no particular need for, or
benefit from, being an early
- Next message: Harry Ohrn: "Re: Help please, anyone who can, please"
- Previous message: spurious: "outlook express problems"
- In reply to: Bob Hunt: "SP2 Really Necessary??"
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