Re: service pack 3, do I need it?
- From: "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 09:35:00 -0500
Pdigmking wrote:
I've been automatically updating windows XP for years, I upgraded
to SP2 when it came out. I'm reading about SP3 here and it's
described as basically just a bundle of all the post SP2 updates
with a couple extra features for networks. I have two questions.
First: will my automatic update automatically download and attempt
to install SP3? Second: Do I really need SP3? Frankly, since the
change to XP I've never noticed any differnce in performance
associated with any of these updates, and my machines are working
just fine. I don't rely on Windows software for security, and I
don't use windows software for internet functions, e-mail,
browsing, etc. If I pass on SP3, will I be able to get future
updates?
Since you do not use "windows software for internet functions, e-mail,
browsing, etc", I assume you actually have Linux/OSX installed and have some
sort of virtual machine for Windows and it has not access at all to the
Internet - you mearly pass files to it through the virtual machine software
(updates and such)... If that is the case - you certainly have no need for
the updates that Microsoft puts out.
If, however, your message is misunderstood and you do have Windows XP
installed and connected to the Internet and use programs installed on
Windows XP (whether they came with Windows XP or you installed them is of no
concern) to utilize basic Internet functions (from just connecting with your
network card and the built-in TCP/IP functionality to e-mail applications,
Internet browsers, etc) - then you might want to consider staying up to
date.
As far as 'needing' SP3 - no. You don't obviously *need* Windows. You
don't *need* to use the Internet for thaqt matter. Or do you - I actually
cannot say what it is that drives you on a daily basis from this single
posting.
I do know that if you plan on continuing to run Windows XP and that Windows
XP has access to the Internet (no matter whose products you install on top
of it) - you should at least consider applying whatever patches that fill
whatever security holes in the base OS that become available to you.
SP3 is a culmination of patches released (public and otherwise) since
Windows XP SP2 was released as well as a few minor changes. That means -
given your statement, "I've been automatically updating windows XP for
years", you'll probably only have 60-70MB of patchess/change you don't
already have installed. Whethe you get them or not is (always has been)
completely up to you. Sooner or later - it will become necessary (as it did
with SP2) to obtain the last service pack released before you can install
any further updates for the OS. That time may be a couple of years off. So
you get to make the decision (as always) of what you want to do or not do
and live with whatever consequences come of it. ;-)
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
.
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