Do I really need the SP2 update?

I am aware that Microsoft will no longer support SP1 after 10/10/06, but
since my computer manufacture, HP, will still support this system, do I
really ned SP2 and all of its inherent problems?
--
mc

SP2 is a critical update and has been available for over two years.
All computer manufacturer's now ship their PCs with SP2.
I have no idea what you mean by "all of its inherent problems".

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://support.microsoft.com/windowsxpsp2

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"mcbye" wrote:

| I am aware that Microsoft will no longer support SP1 after 10/10/06, but
| since my computer manufacture, HP, will still support this system, do I
| really ned SP2 and all of its inherent problems?
| --
| mc

mcbye wrote:
> I am aware that Microsoft will no longer support SP1 after 10/10/06, but
> since my computer manufacture, HP, will still support this system, do I
> really ned SP2 and all of its inherent problems?

Yes, you do.

Alias

"ºAliasº" wrote:

> mcbye wrote:
> > I am aware that Microsoft will no longer support SP1 after 10/10/06, but
> > since my computer manufacture, HP, will still support this system, do I
> > really ned SP2 and all of its inherent problems?
>
> Yes, you do.
>
> Alias
>

Wasn't this on another thread? Anyway, I've had terrible problems with SP2:
I installed it on 2 of my computers when it first came out. It slowed them
down so much, and programs started to crash all the time. I uninstalled it on
one computer, and ended up needing to totally wipe the other computer. Those
are my "inherent problems" with SP2. I'd call that fairly serious! Now that
I'm back to SP1, my computers are running like champs! Oh, and it wasn't me
alone that made that decision, a computer IT specialist advised me on this as
well.

If your computer is new, and comes with SP2 already installed, there seem to
be no problems, though. Our laptop is ok.

dm1 wrote:
>
> "ºAliasº" wrote:
>
>> mcbye wrote:
>>> I am aware that Microsoft will no longer support SP1 after 10/10/06, but
>>> since my computer manufacture, HP, will still support this system, do I
>>> really ned SP2 and all of its inherent problems?
>> Yes, you do.
>>
>> Alias
>>
>
> Wasn't this on another thread? Anyway, I've had terrible problems with SP2:
> I installed it on 2 of my computers when it first came out. It slowed them
> down so much, and programs started to crash all the time. I uninstalled it on
> one computer, and ended up needing to totally wipe the other computer. Those
> are my "inherent problems" with SP2. I'd call that fairly serious! Now that
> I'm back to SP1, my computers are running like champs! Oh, and it wasn't me
> alone that made that decision, a computer IT specialist advised me on this as
> well.
>
> If your computer is new, and comes with SP2 already installed, there seem to
> be no problems, though. Our laptop is ok.

I have a computer that was bought in 2000, made in 99. It came with 98.
It was an HP. I replaced the motherboard that was bastardized by HP with
an identical used ASUS board so I could add RAM. I installed XP, did a
clean up and defrag. Then I installed SP2 and did a clean up and defrag.
Then I installed 45 updates from Windows Update and did a clean up and
defrag. Then I installed all the programs and finally the devices. It
boots up in 54 seconds and runs like silk.

Alias

>
> I have a computer that was bought in 2000, made in 99. It came with 98.
> It was an HP. I replaced the motherboard that was bastardized by HP with
> an identical used ASUS board so I could add RAM. I installed XP, did a
> clean up and defrag. Then I installed SP2 and did a clean up and defrag.
> Then I installed 45 updates from Windows Update and did a clean up and
> defrag. Then I installed all the programs and finally the devices. It
> boots up in 54 seconds and runs like silk.
>
> Alias
>
So, in other words, you started with a completely wiped computer when you
installed SP2. I would have to wipe my computers again, reinstall XP, clean,
defrag, install SP2, clean and defrag, then install programs and devices, not
to mention completely backing up in case everything crashes again? That
sounds like an awful lot of work. Which version of XP do you have? I have Pro
on one computer, and Home on another. The one with Home just slowed down
terribly until I removed SP2, the one with Pro, I had to completely wipe and
start over again, with SP1, on the advice of an IT specialist. Is there a
Windows specialist here who can address these issues? I'd sure appreciate
some reassurance before I proceed with this.,

dm1 wrote:
>> I have a computer that was bought in 2000, made in 99. It came with 98.
>> It was an HP. I replaced the motherboard that was bastardized by HP with
>> an identical used ASUS board so I could add RAM. I installed XP, did a
>> clean up and defrag. Then I installed SP2 and did a clean up and defrag.
>> Then I installed 45 updates from Windows Update and did a clean up and
>> defrag. Then I installed all the programs and finally the devices. It
>> boots up in 54 seconds and runs like silk.
>>
>> Alias
>>
> So, in other words, you started with a completely wiped computer when you
> installed SP2. I would have to wipe my computers again, reinstall XP, clean,
> defrag, install SP2, clean and defrag, then install programs and devices, not
> to mention completely backing up in case everything crashes again? That
> sounds like an awful lot of work. Which version of XP do you have?

On that computer, Pro. Yeah, it's a lot of work.

I have Pro
> on one computer, and Home on another. The one with Home just slowed down
> terribly until I removed SP2, the one with Pro, I had to completely wipe and
> start over again, with SP1, on the advice of an IT specialist. Is there a
> Windows specialist here who can address these issues? I'd sure appreciate
> some reassurance before I proceed with this.,

I have done it with many computers and not one is slow afterwards. Just
for grins, though, right click on My Computer/Properties/Hardware
Tab/Device Manager/IDE and check the properties of the first two and see
if PIO is listed or DMA in Advanced Settings. If PIO is listed,
uninstall it (right click on the IDE in question and choose "uninstall"
and reboot.

Alias

> I have done it with many computers and not one is slow afterwards. Just
> for grins, though, right click on My Computer/Properties/Hardware
> Tab/Device Manager/IDE and check the properties of the first two and see
> if PIO is listed or DMA in Advanced Settings. If PIO is listed,
> uninstall it (right click on the IDE in question and choose "uninstall"
> and reboot.
>
> Alias

Ok, I did check, and PIO Only was not selected, "DMA if Available" was
selected. Is this ok, or do I really need to do an uninstall on these? I
really hate messing with things I don't understand. What effect does this
have on SP2?
>

dm1 wrote:
> > I have done it with many computers and not one is slow afterwards. Just
>> for grins, though, right click on My Computer/Properties/Hardware
>> Tab/Device Manager/IDE and check the properties of the first two and see
>> if PIO is listed or DMA in Advanced Settings. If PIO is listed,
>> uninstall it (right click on the IDE in question and choose "uninstall"
>> and reboot.
>>
>> Alias
>
> Ok, I did check, and PIO Only was not selected, "DMA if Available" was
> selected. Is this ok, or do I really need to do an uninstall on these? I
> really hate messing with things I don't understand. What effect does this
> have on SP2?

No, you're fine and I am at a loss as to why your computer is slow.

Alias

"Alias" wrote:

> dm1 wrote:
> > > I have done it with many computers and not one is slow afterwards. Just
> >> for grins, though, right click on My Computer/Properties/Hardware
> >> Tab/Device Manager/IDE and check the properties of the first two and see
> >> if PIO is listed or DMA in Advanced Settings. If PIO is listed,
> >> uninstall it (right click on the IDE in question and choose "uninstall"
> >> and reboot.
> >>
> >> Alias
> >
> > Ok, I did check, and PIO Only was not selected, "DMA if Available" was
> > selected. Is this ok, or do I really need to do an uninstall on these? I
> > really hate messing with things I don't understand. What effect does this
> > have on SP2?
>
> No, you're fine and I am at a loss as to why your computer is slow.
>
> Alias
>

Did you start with wiped computers at each install, or did some of them
already have XP and you did the update to SP2? Also, at the time I was using
Norton SystemWorks, which also seemed to gum up the system and cause numerous
crashes. I have since removed SystemWorks and use AVG Antivirus instead.
With SP1 and AVG, the computers are humming along.