windows XP SP2 Being Released soon

[Konaguy]

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1632921,00.asp
http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,64514,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_6

[pzarquon]

I've been running SP2's various beta releases since early summer, as I was fortunate to get in on the testing program for their Tablet PC development team. Just the improvements alone on the tablet/ink side make the SP2 release a must-have for Tablet PC users, but the tweaks included are all over the spectrum.

It's not a small upgrade, of course, and I'm sure tech support and in-house PC support departments the world over are biting their nails over whether it'll break something unexpectedly.

[Konaguy]

I am running XP Home and I am just chomping at the bit to install SP2 on my computer. I like to run my computer with all the latest security updates/service packs from Microsoft.

[Konaguy]

Windows XP SP2 download page

http://tinyurl.com/5bobl

[Konaguy]

I d/led SP2. It was not a pain at all. Everything appears to
be ship shape thus far. The really impressive thing I like
is the much better integrated firewall . Since I don't use
IE that much, the pop-up blocker I won't be using that much.
It appears the my software still is working also.

I also burned it to CD-R for future usage.

[adrian]

Woah.

Kinda slow eh this forums?

I installed it yesterday morning. (screenshot from today; just to show proof that I suffered through the download and install like everyone else).

http://photobucket.com/albums/v457/hithreads/th_41182fbe23ebc.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/hithreads/41182fbe23ebc.jpg)

[pzarquon]

Kinda slow eh this forums?Some might say slow, others might say cautious. Having participated in my share of Windows beta tests, I know firsthand that you don't always want to be the first on the block to install a system patch. Some of those helpful "Windows Update" tweaks have actually mucked up perfectly functional systems. Setting your system to automatically download andinstall stuff that Microsoft puts out? That's definitely asking for trouble. At least have it prompt you... so you can search the tech sites to find what bugs each update kills and possibly creates anew.

I figure most folks are just going to wait for Microsoft's metered/throttled system to deliver SP2 to their desktops while they sleep over the next week or so, then cross their fingers when they click the "Install Now" button in the morning.

[helen]

And not everyone is running Windows XP. Dare I ask but is this SP2 for XP Professional or XP Home or both?

[adrian]

Some might say slow, others might say cautious. Having participated in my share of Windows beta tests, I know firsthand that you don't always want to be the first on the block to install a system patch. Some of those helpful "Windows Update" tweaks have actually mucked up perfectly functional systems. Setting your system to automatically download andinstall stuff that Microsoft puts out? That's definitely asking for trouble. At least have it prompt you... so you can search the tech sites to find what bugs each update kills and possibly creates anew.

That is why I partitioned my Hard Drives and am ready to reformat in a moment's notice :D

And not everyone is running Windows XP. Dare I ask but is this SP2 for XP Professional or XP Home or both?
I'm sure that its for both (home and pro).

[Konaguy]

Woah.

Kinda slow eh this forums?

I installed it yesterday morning. (screenshot from today; just to show proof that I suffered through the download and install like everyone else).


Before today unless you were a MSDN subscriber you could download XP SP2
as far as I know.[Unless you downloaded it off a P2P client which I would not recommend]

[easTTriver]

Some might say slow, others might say cautious. Having participated in my share of Windows beta tests, I know firsthand that you don't always want to be the first on the block to install a system patch.

you can expect MS to put out a lot of critical updates once sp2 gets into wide release. certainly, there will be many security flaws exposed with the new components.

[easTTriver]

That is why I partitioned my Hard Drives and am ready to reformat in a moment's notice :D


reformat? why not do a system restore instead. is installing sp2 not reversible? i haven't read up on it and don't know...

[Glen Miyashiro]

IBM is telling its people to be cautious and not install XP SP2 just yet (http://www.itworld.com/Comp/4063/040809ibmwinxp/) due to potential conflicts with business applications. My friends in state government are telling me that they are getting the same warning from their IS people.

[helen]

Was dealing with some new PCs that were shipped with Windows XP Professional, when attempting to run the Windows Update from Microsoft SP2 was not listed in the Critical Updates Section. There was a hint in the Update Site to do it but I did not follow the links to do it.

I thought it was pretty strange that SP2 was not listed in the Critical Updates section.

[Konaguy]

reformat? why not do a system restore instead. is installing sp2 not reversible? i haven't read up on it and don't know...

I believe it is reversible as there is add remove entry for SP2.

[Konaguy]

Was dealing with some new PCs that were shipped with Windows XP Professional, when attempting to run the Windows Update from Microsoft SP2 was not listed in the Critical Updates Section. There was a hint in the Update Site to do it but I did not follow the links to do it.

I thought it was pretty strange that SP2 was not listed in the Critical Updates section.


Because it is not available for Windows Update yet.The version available
is for IT professionals doing more than one computer upgrade. But
that does not mean you can't do it. As I d/led that version and it worked fine.
The Windows Update version will be smaller sized vs 266MB for folks still
on dial up and not needing to update more than one computer.

http://tinyurl.com/5bobl

[easTTriver]

SP2 compatability issues (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242)

above link lists apps that MS has identified so far as having issues with XP SP2

[adrian]

I believe it is reversible as there is add remove entry for SP2.
Yeah, thats what I did when I got it some weeks ago.

And System restore will not solve every problem, especially if its related to a virus. I'll repartition my hard drive to include all of the install files to do a no CD install (and probably make a batch file to make an automatic install as soon as windows is finished loading from a format).

[helen]

As I d/led that version and it worked fine.

What is d/led?

[easTTriver]

What is d/led?
downloaded

[craigwatanabe]

Too confusing, dstm/ksns (doesn't make sense) :eek:

[Konaguy]

Too confusing, dstm/ksns (doesn't make sense) :eek:


Naaah, I have had zero problems upgrading to SP2. All you have to remember
is turn off the security center service and everything should be good. Bear in mind no offense you need to be cklueful to know how download virus definitions and Windows Updates [The Security Center is a built in security reminder service]