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Just how bad is SP2?
I have never previously experienced major problems with Microsoft products. Until SP2.
Since my PC downloaded it from the web, and I foolishly agreed to it installing itself, I must have spent four man-days trying without success to remedy the disastrous impact it has had on my system.
I have called Microsoft (sorry sir, we have no reports of that problem), emailed Dell support ( a commitment to own the problem, but no support to actually solve it), posted on here (thanks to all those who have tried to help) and wasted a day of a friend's time ( a Microsft-trained technician).
And still we are all stumped. And I have an operating system (XP) which now is less effective than it was before (lots of updates lost in the process of reinstalling) and a paranoia about letting XP do anything I haven't researched thoroughly for impact.
And I am told by a friend that his company has just withdrawn it from use after lots of problems.
So I have two questions:
1) Is this actually a complete f**k up? Or does it always seem like this to a minority of users?
zbestwun2001
4 Apprentice
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8831 Posts
289
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Posted October 15th, 2004 18:00
I am running it now with XP PRO and have had no problems at all.
Dell 8300
P4 3.0HT 800fsb
512RAM Fuel Injected
dual dvd and dvd burner
zip
floopyMessage Edited by zbestwun2001 on 10-15-2004 12:59 PM
Message Edited by zbestwun2001 on 10-15-2004 12:59 PM
dkhartline
3 Posts
289
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Posted October 15th, 2004 19:00
I think it has something to do with the software configuration. I am the "computer girl" at work and we have 8 computers. I have installed SP2 on 7 of the computers (one is too old for it- just the mechanics ordering tool) and have had problems on 2 of those 7 computers. My computer at home started f*&#ing up all over the place when I installed it and when I tried to uninstall it it crashed my system and I had to reformat the hard drive. If I had a choice now, I probably wouldn't ever install it again. I really wish someone would come out with a better operating system that still runs all the Windows based programs. I thing Microsoft obviously messed up big with this. My mom's computer stopped having sound (and I cant seem to fix it even with loading all new drivers and reinstalling it completely), my reformat, 2 other computers with problems... doesn't sound like a minority- sounds more like the majority!!KatieInstalled have SP-2 on over 30 machines so far and had one problem . . and the software vendor had a patch the next day. I clean up spyware, uninstall oddball programs and in some cases, do a clean installl from a slipstreamed version. . comments from clients are positive, all systems run better than with SP-1.
wrs
JRosenfeld
2 Intern
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4383 Posts
289
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Posted October 16th, 2004 00:00
If you did a clean install of XP, you don't need any of the intermediate updates, just the SP2 update, it includes everything prior to it, including SP1. But I think you'll have less trouble if you can get that on CD, or if you have broadband, download from
Diane MK Johnso
9 Posts
289
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Posted October 16th, 2004 16:00
Hi figwold
Originally I download sp2 from my Windows update and had a lot of problems, ending up uninstalling sp2. My encountered problems are on these 2 threads:
Then I sent for the disk from Microsoft. So prior to using the disk to install sp2, I scanned my computer with SpyBot and AdAware, did a virus scan, scanned my disk and defragged. Then I disconnected from internet, shut down my firewall and anti-virus and installed sp2.
It has worked like a charm since then, except for one problem, which I found the solution for and noted on this thread:
So I would say persevere.
I have a Dell Dimenson 2400 with Intel Pentium 4 CPU, 40 HGz, 512 MB of RAMwith Windows XP Pro on it.I was bound and determined to get sp2 to work on my computer. Just my 2 cents worth.Don't waste your time......I had to reinstall my O/S plus all of my programs and files twice because of SP2 and it's qwirks and have not been able to get any results from either Dell or Microsoft on how to install it "safely"..................What a nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!
My PC runs just fine without it.....Who needs it??
- I have no issues with SP2, and in this topic I have provided a method to cleanly install Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. I currently run 3 partitions with Windows 98 Second edition on Drive C, Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4 on Drive E, and Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 on Drive D. It is a multiboot environment, and my three systems run flawlessly without errors or blue screens.
- Listen to yourself....do think the average user could do that??.....I am somewhat pc savvy , but if I have to go through all of that.......forget it .........I have no need to run a "multiboot environment" with 3 partitions........and am certainly not that savvy!Do you have any suggestions for, let's say, the "average" user to get SP2 running safely?
figwold
8 Posts
289
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Posted October 15th, 2004 18:00