Windows XPService Pack 2

Question

Hey folks,   I am a 'newby'. My computer (home edition) tells me it wants to install the Windows XPService Pack 2 as an update. Should I do this? Something tells me I heard that a lot of people had problems with this update i.e. hard drives being wiped out. Any advice?   James in Barrie

bacillus · Answer

What model laptop are you using?
My advice is not to let Windows update do the updating but to slipstream the network version of SP2 into your present XP operating system CD. The link on the easy way to do this is at the bottom of this post.
After you slipstream the service pack, do a repair reinstall using the new CD. This will give you the cleanest install apart from actually doing a fresh install of XP with SP2 already included and will potentially avoid network problems.

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337&st=0&#entry2453585

natedogsworld · Answer

I've read about some performance issues with SP2, games and programs running a bit slower, but not by too much.  SP2 has a lot of security patches that SP1 doesn't have.  It's recommended to install the patch so your computer doesn't get highjacked by hackers.  I haven't heard of any hard drives getting wiped out, and so far my computer has run fine with the install.

Bay Wolf · Answer

SlipSteam is an excellent program.  I used it to slip steam my SP2 into WinXP.  It made is an easy step by step procedure.

James13 · Answer

Re: Bacillus (sp?)

My computer is a not a laptop; it is a Dell Pentium 4 stand alone (dimension 2400(?)). If this does not mean anything, and I don't hear back, I will download the SP2 this W/E. My folks have the laptop. Should I have them download the SP2 also?

James

Bay Wolf · Answer

In my opinion, SP2 has enough security features that I would definately recommend installing it.  On yours and your folks.

bacillus · Answer

I have slipstreamed sp2 on to my XP CDs for both my laptop and desktop using the method outlined in the link I've provided. On both machines, I reinstalled using the repair install procedure and haven't run into any problems especially network ones which other people seemed to have experienced.
The network install of sp2 should be available on the front covers of setting computer magazines or you can get it for free from Microsoft.

Storage, Drives & Media

Windows XPService Pack 2

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