Is SP2 a must?

[hindhede]

Hello everyone out there,

I knew SP2 wasn't that compatible with some of the softwares and applications out there..I decided not to install it. Today i reformatted my HDD and reinstall XP Pro. When i go to the windows updates, there was only a few standalone critical patches(compared to the period b4 SP2 was out), and SP2 update component..

I reckoned most of the critical updates and patches now included in SP2...

Does installing SP2 my only way out now??

[ozgeek]

It is recommended that you install SP2 for the sakes of protecting your privacy and stuff. Most software publishers are starting to release patches so that their software will work on SP2.

[Bearded Kirklander]

SP1 with third party apps can keep you just as safe, if not safer, I believe. Zone Alarm is a better firewall, Mozilla is a better browser and Thunderbird is a better email app. You don't have to limit yourself to Microsoft if you don't want to. :)

[Colin-uk Veteran]

ive been fine without SP2 or SP1

[golazo]

you'll be fine without service pack 2

[insanekiwi]

not a must. but it gave me a nice performance increase.

[conan_2000]

I would download it, just because it's got all the hotfixes and updates that MS have released, you can easily disable stuff like the security centre and automatic updates anyway. I use 3rd part apps which are better than the integrated MS ones anyway. You just needto spend some time disabling services and such like, as I would recommend with any version of Windows.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Since installing SP2 I have experiened a very noticable performance increase on my XP Pro machine. It really should be considered a MUST if XP is your OS. Otherwise you are really running an older OS without the collected bugfixes!

[Bearded Kirklander]

I did a Norton Ghost before I installed SP2 via the Windows Update site just to be safe. While this time I have not had any real issues with SP2, it is incompatible with some of my stuff (like OE-Quotefix) and the firewall is not nearly as good as the press said it would be (not truly blocking outbound like Zone Alarm does) so I'm going to drop back to SP1 for a while and wait until new versions of apps come out that are fully SP2 compatible. Frankly, I'm pretty well covered with the stuff I use and the config I have, so don't need what SP2 brings to the table, at least not right now. :)

[hindhede]

Ok guys..its been an informative thread session for me.. Deepy appreciated all the help rendered

I guess i will go ahead with SP2 and see if its really does go cranky on my PC :)

[dougkinzinger]

Is SP2 a must?

Yes.

Duh.

No question at all.

[Chris Allen Veteran]

Since you formatted, install SP2.

Why would they release something you totally do not need? Of course it's a good idea. It's like wearing a condom while having sex. It prevents you from getting pregnant. It's your choice to wear one or not.

[jedimasterk]

Wave,Aug 29 2004, 07:03] Since you formatted, install SP2.

Why would they release something you totally do not need? Of course it's a good idea. It's like wearing a condom while having sex. It prevents you from getting pregnant. It's your choice to wear one or not.

A condom with a small hole in it. You take a chance!. :cool:

[Qarth]

I love SP2.

[marcoo]

SP2 is a must, even if some people say it has problems again.

No software will be perfect.

It has very cool feature for OE: blocking tracking images that incoming emails almost always have.

[HoochieMamma]

Slipstream and install post haste :yes:

[Bearded Kirklander]

SP2 is a must, even if some people say it has problems again.

No software will be perfect.

It has very cool feature for OE: blocking tracking images that incoming emails almost always have.

I think I just need to wait for my applications to get full support for SP2 first. Still, I don't think it is a must.

BTW, OE 6 with the latest Windows Updates (PRIOR to SP2) also has the ability to block tracking images/html stuff. Tools > Options > Read > Read all messages as plain text. 6.00.2800.1123 is the version I have in use currently. Just thought I'd let you know. :)

[Premgenius]

Yes :D

[kiddingguy]

It has very cool feature for OE: blocking tracking images that incoming emails almost always have.

Still available in OL2003 :p

Though SP2 will only be available up until next week for me :crazy: , I think SP2 is a must-have!

Can't wait to install it...., but before that I'll have to make an image of my C-partition in case something goes wrong.

I really do hate to perform a completly fresh install of Win XP including plus all my other software/games, so I'm just updating/'upgrading' my system to SP2.

[MazX_Napalm]

Step 1: Billy Boy creates an OS

Step 2: People use the OS

Step 3: Problems are found in the OS (ie bad code and/or security holes)

Step 4: Billy releases fixes

Step 5: Repeat Step 3 & 4

Step 6: After a while a service pack is released containing all the fixes so far. There cound be hundreds of them. Also some that have not been made public.

Step 7: Repeat Step 5

So, in short, the Service Pack is there to fix holes and code in the OS. It is up to you to leave your OS as is or to update. I would rather update.

The updates are fairly well documented, so where do you think script kiddies are going to start? Trying to find new holes or trying to find unpatched, known holes?

[hindhede]

Yeah...

I am in the process of making a slipstreamed XP CD with SP2 :)