SP2 and Dell Computers

Question

I read the post about you saying that it wasnt really the SP2 that had a problem but actually Dells flaky hardware and systems. You said only Dell could correct this. I ordered a Dell Inspiron XPS with 2 gigs of ram, and with a 3.4GHz P-4 Extreme Edition with Hyperthreading Technology about a week ago and it is supposed to get her wednsday. At the moment I currently have a Dell Inspiron 8500 with only 512 gigs of ram and a 2.6GHz P-4M without any hyperthreading technology running SP2 that I installed from a Windows XP Professional Cooperate Edition that I integrated SP2 in to then did a fresh, clean formatted install and it runs excelent. My question is should I take the same approach with my Inspiron XPS that I will be getting in a day or two? I really want to be able to put SP2 on it because I love SP2 and its security features and dont want to go without it, but i do not want my system slowed down or messed up at all.

one last question I had was I used Intels Utility to check the microcode and it said that the CPU revision should be at least at but when I check mine it is 1A. What does this mean. Thanks.

mattcowger · Answer

Theres is nothing about Dell hardware that would contraindicate SP2. Install it.

darrin99 · Answer

I have SP2 on my i5150, and my Dimension 8200. No problems at all.

Oditius · Answer

@Jared_good wrote:

My question is should I take the same approach with my Inspiron XPS that I will be getting in a day or two? I really want to be able to put SP2 on it because I love SP2 and its security features and dont want to go without it, but i do not want my system slowed down or messed up at all.

When you recieve your XPS go ahead and install Sp2 before anything else is done. It should be just as good as a clean install.

Jared_good · Answer

ell, its not a rumor but is actually proven by Intel itself if you look here at this link. http://cquirke.mvps.org/sp2intel.htm

darrin99 · Answer

@Jared_good wrote:
But i mean since its an Extreme Edition of the p-4 processor could it mess it up? I have read alot about mess ups and performance slow downs if you are running an Intel P-4 Extreme Edition.

I haven't heard any such rumors.

Jared_good · Answer

But i mean since its an Extreme Edition of the p-4 processor could it mess it up? I have read alot about mess ups and performance slow downs if you are running an Intel P-4 Extreme Edition.

bacillus · Answer

you'll just have to update to the latest bios if it's not already on your laptop & try it out yourself. hopefully you won't have to do anything with update.sys.
btw you must be made of cash to buy a pc with the top line intel extreme edition cpu.

NemesisDB · Answer

I mean, simple fact, if the microcode ain't correct it's not going to run SP2.  I've never run intel's utility so I can't really help you there ... perhaps shoot off an email to that person's site and ask?  Or call microsoft (free SP2 help) as they now have a KB article confirming the prescott/wrong-microcode issue.

NemesisDB · Answer

even if you use the omega drivers?

zeeber · Answer

if you have the radeon mobility 9800 256 MB graphics card on the XPS DO NOT INSTALL SP2. The reason for this is SP2 is not compatible with the current dell drivers for the RM9800 card. We have to wait until the newer drivers are released....(not the 8/16/04 ones)

Jared_good · Answer

I installed SP2 and it is even faster now it seems with no problems.

davidlwhitley · Answer

Inspiron 8200. I installed Sp2 two days ago. My computer will not shut down now. The "saving your settings" screen appears and remains. I deleted the MSN messenger folder completely to prevent it's loading. No help.

I am using an ethernet cable modem connection to web.

My Bios was updated summer 2003.

maggie99635 · Answer

Davidlwhitley. I put SP2 on my I 8200 and it is working very well. Bios A11,  I did upgrade not clean installed. All the latest Dell drivers.  Did put XP Pro retail on there last year. I don't have any Dell Support stuff on there except Access Direct.

davidlwhitley · Answer

I wrote that after installing my computer would not shut down..... I uninstalled SP2 and now the computer works OK.

I asked DELL TECH about it (they recommended the uninstall) and they have informed me that due to many DELL customers' problems they are now NOT RECOMMENDING the SP2 ungrade until DELL ENGINEERING oks it. They are supposedly looking at it. I asked how notification would be made, but did not get a satisfactory answer.

davidlwhitley · Answer

BTW, SP2 will install MICROSOFT MESSENGER whether you like it or not. DO NOT remove the folder. That will mess up your registry. There is a procedure for turning it off:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1056993&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04

the program will remain on the computer but will not load at startup.

The above link is wrong. To turn off MESSENGER go to:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302089

Sorry about that. The first link takes you to XP uninstall/reinstall.

David

Message Edited by davidlwhitley on 11-14-2004 06:17 AM

Locked Topics – Laptops General

SP2 and Dell Computers

Was this post helpful?