Vista SP2 Questions -- Please Help

I'm considering installing SP2 on my XPS 420 PC using Windows Update. But I
have some questions:

1. Windows Update calls it SP2, but is it really SP2 or just a release
candidate (RC)? If so, should I wait awhile?

2. Reading the mail on this community suggests there are lots of problems
with SP2. If so, should I wait--but how would I know when problems are
fixed?

3. Will it mess up Windows Mail? (Mine works OK with, for example,
AOL-generated e-mails.)

3. Earlier, I downloaded SP1 with no trouble.

P.S. - I'm rather non-technical.

Thanks, Karl

The SP2 offered by Windows update is the real release and not a candidate
or beta.
I have installed it on a few dozen machines so far without any problems. I
have seen no issues with Windows Mail and SP2.
For any service pack, it is important to be sure that the computer is
problem and malware free before installing. A full backup is also a
valuable precaution.
--

"Karl TT" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I'm considering installing SP2 on my XPS 420 PC using Windows Update. But
> I have some questions:
>
> 1. Windows Update calls it SP2, but is it really SP2 or just a release
> candidate (RC)? If so, should I wait awhile?
>
> 2. Reading the mail on this community suggests there are lots of problems
> with SP2. If so, should I wait--but how would I know when problems are
> fixed?
>
> 3. Will it mess up Windows Mail? (Mine works OK with, for example,
> AOL-generated e-mails.)
>
> 3. Earlier, I downloaded SP1 with no trouble.
>
> P.S. - I'm rather non-technical.
>
> Thanks, Karl

"Karl TT" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I'm considering installing SP2 on my XPS 420 PC using Windows Update.
> But I have some questions:
>
> 1. Windows Update calls it SP2, but is it really SP2 or just a release
> candidate (RC)? If so, should I wait awhile?
>
> 2. Reading the mail on this community suggests there are lots of
> problems with SP2. If so, should I wait--but how would I know when
> problems are fixed?
>
> 3. Will it mess up Windows Mail? (Mine works OK with, for example,
> AOL-generated e-mails.)
>
> 3. Earlier, I downloaded SP1 with no trouble.
>
> P.S. - I'm rather non-technical.
>
> Thanks, Karl
It was the real thing when I put it on an XPS420 and another Dell back
in May. It was a 20 min download and 25 minute install for me with no
problems then or since. Windows Mail and Live Mail are fine, I know
nothing of AOL. The only real differences I've noticed is that USB
memory stick transfers are quicker and it reports all RAM fitted.
That's just my experience of course.

Tom

On Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:35:04 -0500, "Karl TT" <>
wrote:

> I'm considering installing SP2 on my XPS 420 PC using Windows Update. But I
> have some questions:
>
> 1. Windows Update calls it SP2, but is it really SP2 or just a release
> candidate (RC)? If so, should I wait awhile?



It's really SP2.



> 2. Reading the mail on this community suggests there are lots of problems
> with SP2. If so, should I wait--but how would I know when problems are
> fixed?


Whenever a new version comes out, if you read the newsgroups,
web-based forums, etc., you will *always* read about problems. These
are places where people come with their problems, not with their
successes, so reports of problems are to be expected here.

But that does *not* mean that SP2 has lots of problems. It's like
hanging around a transmission shop; you'll see lots of problems with
transmissions there, but that doesn't mean that all cars have
transmissions problems.

No, you should not wait to install SP2--not in my view.


> 3. Will it mess up Windows Mail? (Mine works OK with, for example,
> AOL-generated e-mails.)


No, it won't mess up Windows Mail.


> 3. Earlier, I downloaded SP1 with no trouble.


Then I guess you weren't reading the newsgroups and forums enough
then. <vbg>


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:35:04 -0500, "Karl TT" <>
> wrote:
>
>> I'm considering installing SP2 on my XPS 420 PC using Windows Update. But
>> I
>> have some questions:
>>
>> 1. Windows Update calls it SP2, but is it really SP2 or just a release
>> candidate (RC)? If so, should I wait awhile?
>
> It's really SP2.
>
I think the OP may have some confusion because there was a release candidate
SP2 before the official released SP2, because I haven't seen SP2 come up in
Windows Updates, and because I went through the MS site to find the official
release and I believe they made some mention of the release candidate there.

>> 2. Reading the mail on this community suggests there are lots of problems
>> with SP2. If so, should I wait--but how would I know when problems are
>> fixed?
>
> Whenever a new version comes out, if you read the newsgroups,
> web-based forums, etc., you will *always* read about problems. These
> are places where people come with their problems, not with their
> successes, so reports of problems are to be expected here.
>
> But that does *not* mean that SP2 has lots of problems. It's like
> hanging around a transmission shop; you'll see lots of problems with
> transmissions there, but that doesn't mean that all cars have
> transmissions problems.
>
> No, you should not wait to install SP2--not in my view.
>
Asking people in a transmission shop if their cars have transmission
problems may lead you to believe half the cars have problems. The people
bringing cars in with bad transmissions have problems. The people fixing
the transmissions likely don't have problems with theirs.

I haven't noticed any problems with SP2, though I did have a problem after
installing SP2 which appears to be the same problem I had before installing
SP2. Looking at the event logs, it seems to have something to do with
SQLEXPRESS.

>> 3. Will it mess up Windows Mail? (Mine works OK with, for example,
>> AOL-generated e-mails.)
>
> No, it won't mess up Windows Mail.
>
>> 3. Earlier, I downloaded SP1 with no trouble.
>
> Then I guess you weren't reading the newsgroups and forums enough
> then. <vbg>
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Karl TT" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I'm considering installing SP2 on my XPS 420 PC using Windows Update. But
> I have some questions:
>
> 1. Windows Update calls it SP2, but is it really SP2 or just a release
> candidate (RC)? If so, should I wait awhile?
>
> 2. Reading the mail on this community suggests there are lots of problems
> with SP2. If so, should I wait--but how would I know when problems are
> fixed?
>
> 3. Will it mess up Windows Mail? (Mine works OK with, for example,
> AOL-generated e-mails.)
>
> 3. Earlier, I downloaded SP1 with no trouble.
>
> P.S. - I'm rather non-technical.
>
> Thanks, Karl
Service Pack 2 rolled up a lot of other fixes. There have been many security
(critical) updates since. Since you are non-technical, turn on Automatic
updates, relax and stay secure. You certainly won't be able to determine
whether Hotfix KB961371 is good or not, same goes for KB 961501, or KB
968537, or KB 970238, etc.

On Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:25:24 -0700, "Charles W Davis"
<> wrote:

>Service Pack 2 rolled up a lot of other fixes. There have been many security
>(critical) updates since. Since you are non-technical, turn on Automatic
>updates, relax and stay secure. You certainly won't be able to determine
>whether Hotfix KB961371 is good or not, same goes for KB 961501, or KB
>968537, or KB 970238, etc.

I disagree. Turn on notifications, but not updates. Do the updates at
your convenience, not whenever your system finds them. Automatic
updates lead to issues.