Should I update to Windows XP Service Pack 2?

[Saint]

Have you updated your XP to SP2?
I read news about its problem, compatibility with certain application softwares.

Is it ok to update?

 

[dduardo]

I've upgraded two computers and had no problems. The thing is that I don't see SP2 really helping much. Most users run as adminstrator meaning that any program they run can destroy their computer. I've tried setting up a limited user accounts on another machine, but ended up scrapping the whole thing when the user wasn't able to run some of their programs. It is also a hassle to install stuff. You have to logout, log in as admin, install, logout, log in as the limited user. Linux is so much easier to manage.

 

[The_Professional]

I've read somewhere of a security hole in SP2, surprise surprise.

 

[badgermilk]

I upgraded to SP2 and it totally screwed my computer up. I suggest waiting to to upgrade when MS had worked more of the bugs out(1-3 months)

 

[Dagenais]

I upgraded to SP2 and it totally screwed my computer up.

What exactly went wrong?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I started to download and had to stop. Now the installation fails after 1.90 of 98 something Meg. Has anyone else seen this? I started walking through the troubleshooting procedure but so far nothing works, though I do have a bit of troubleshooting to go through yet.

 

[Dagenais]

The thing is that I don't see SP2 really helping much.

Well, it improves the firewall and Internet Explorer, two things that definitely need improving.

It's easily worth the download.

 

[badgermilk]

If i were you i would wait.I downloaded SP2 and it cost me $90 to fix it.

 

[Nylex]

This is the reason I've not upgraded to SP2 yet, think I'll wait till it's safe.

 

[Monique]

Well, it improves the firewall and Internet Explorer, two things that definitely need improving.

Why does IE need improving?

I'm definitely going to wait until everyone else has downloaded it and reported all the problems I recently downloaded a servicepack to IE and now I get complaints from sites (internetbanking, hotmail) that I am using an unsupported version of IE, even that I am running IE 4.0, while I have IE 6.0.. something is messed up I guess it DOES need improving

 

[Dagenais]

Why does IE need improving?

Opera, Firebird or Safari are all better browsers and Explorer needs to catch-up. Firebird and Safari are faster than Internet Explorer, and all have pop-up blocking. Also, Firebird is suppose to be a much safer browser. Safari is very pleasing to the eye.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,116996,pg,2,00.asp discusses the some of the improvements for Internet Explorer:

IE (Finally) Gets Several Big Fixes

One of SP2's most useful features is the pop-up (and pop-under) ad blocking it adds to Internet Explorer, letting you stop any unwanted browser windows from spawning. IE will permit pop-ups you initiate purposefully, such as when you click a link that triggers a new window, and it will allow you to view blocked pop-ups via a handy (and surprisingly unobtrusive) Information Bar.

Less successful is IE's new Manage Add-ons feature, which permits you to disable unwanted browser plug-ins. Some plug-ins, such as adware programs, can be quite malicious. While the ability to disable undesirable plug-ins is laudable, Manage Add-ons is unable to delete them completely--a silly limitation when many PCs already have useless (and potentially dangerous) spyware or adware plug-ins installed, and the process to remove plug-ins is tedious and user-unfriendly (click Tools, Internet Options, click the Settings button, click the View Objects button, select the plug-ins that you don't want, and press the Delete key).

I get complaints from sites (internetbanking, hotmail) that I am using an unsupported version of IE, even that I am running IE 4.0, while I have IE 6.0.. something is messed up

Have you tried ever Firebird? I just downloaded it to replace Safari since Safari wasn't compatible with Google Email. It's really quite simple and convienient. It even imports bookmarks (although I had to download SBE in order for it to work with Safari).

Firebird

I'm definitely going to wait until everyone else has downloaded it and reported all the problems

SP2 will likely have problems, no matter how many people download it. Look at Windows, tons of users and it still has problems.

Usually PCWorld has very good coverage and tips with Microsoft products and problems.

 

[Tom McCurdy]

Hmm what's the eta on working version of sp2

 

[amwbonfire]

I haven't upgraded to SP2. All the computer magazine's I've read tell me I should, and at work I'm encouraged to update all new computers before we send them out. However, here at home I'm on a dialup connection, and I don't have the time or patience to download a 90Mb (usually bigger, depending on your computer) file.