Service Pack 2 is very unstable

I do have 2 computers and decided to install SP2 this weekend, disregarding
the warning I got from friends and acquaintance (Out of 10 users that
installed or attempted to install SP2, 4 faced significant issues that leaded
to system failure). The results of my attempts can be summed up as follows:
1. My desk top computer at to be rebooted from disk and restored to a pre
SP2 date... Windows was just not starting!
2. My laptop computer showed repeat "windows install" boxes each time it is
started up and my modem has since then failed (May not be related?). As a
result I have also had to restore my laptop to a pre SP2 date.

Conclusion: This has been a great waste of time! What do I do next? Can I
get a CD with the upgrades so that I can attempt to load them one by one? I
am not prepared to waste any more time installing SP2 in its existing
downloaded format...

 

Order SP2 on CD
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

 

I'm with you Laurence. I tried every suggestion offered here without
success. I used a CD to install. Wasted countless hours. I am sticking to
XPpro with SP1. When I buy a new box I will make sure SP2 comes pre
installed.

 

Laurence;
Did you or your friends verify all hardware and software are
compatible with SP-2?
This is especially important with laptops.
Were the computers ready for SP-2?
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

Also, because of the added security measures, there may be what appear
as problems but actually simply need a reconfiguration or patch from
the manufacturer of the hardware or software.
The links above have more details.

 

Why are laptops particular vulnerable to problems with SP2 updates? My
Toshiba Satellite, 4 years old and WINME vintage, runs SP2 without problems.

 

Edward;
More proprietary parts.