Comments on: Editors' Picks: SP2: To install or not to install

After a long wait and many Microsoft promises, SP2 is finally here. But will you (or should you) install it?

Haven't Microsoft been unfair giving us the impression SP2 was available?

I think the majority of us have been SO frustrated the past week worrying as to why SP2 wasn't downloading when the update page had given the impression it was. I even emailed the support team regarding the lack of download box and even though they replied they failed to point out it wasn't available to EVERYONE.
Microsoft may have made pc's more widespread in the World, but they surely should not mislead us like that.Especially as the user will think that as a conseqeunce of not having the update they are vulnerable to the new malware that will inevitably occur taking advantage of people who haven't got it !

[tonyfay123]

Time to Move On

Let's move on out of this Microsoft mess. Do what I did, migrate to Linux.

SP2 Downloaded

I downloaded SP-2 today, despite all the negativity I have read the install went great. There are no conflicts. I guess the lesson I learned is don't always believe what you have read. I recommend MS SP2 to anyone who has WIN XP, the system is even faster now

Haven't Microsoft been unfair giving us the impression SP2 was available?

I think the majority of us have been SO frustrated the past week worrying as to why SP2 wasn't downloading when the update page had given the impression it was. I even emailed the support team regarding the lack of download box and even though they replied they failed to point out it wasn't available to EVERYONE.
Microsoft may have made pc's more widespread in the World, but they surely should not mislead us like that.Especially as the user will think that as a conseqeunce of not having the update they are vulnerable to the new malware that will inevitably occur taking advantage of people who haven't got it !

[tonyfay123]

Time to Move On

Let's move on out of this Microsoft mess. Do what I did, migrate to Linux.

SP2 Downloaded

I downloaded SP-2 today, despite all the negativity I have read the install went great. There are no conflicts. I guess the lesson I learned is don't always believe what you have read. I recommend MS SP2 to anyone who has WIN XP, the system is even faster now

[Smarterdanu]

What??

What do you mean? Only so many people can download it at once, even Microsoft doesn't have enough server power to let everyone with XP to download SP2 at once. They'll get to you. Or it's downloading in the background already...

[Smarterdanu]

^^Meant to reply to comment above^^

yea

[Smarterdanu]

What??

What do you mean? Only so many people can download it at once, even Microsoft doesn't have enough server power to let everyone with XP to download SP2 at once. They'll get to you. Or it's downloading in the background already...

[Smarterdanu]

^^Meant to reply to comment above^^

yea

"Trustworthy" computing?

How can we trust a company that somehow manages to release a product that isn't even compatible with a lot of their own mainstream products? Where I work, we do not recommend anyone install SP2 if you have an nvidia video card, any of the 50 apps, or care anything about your computers functionality. While it adds a lot "when it works", there is much too much risk in things breaking for it to be worth installing yet.

"Trustworthy" computing?

How can we trust a company that somehow manages to release a product that isn't even compatible with a lot of their own mainstream products? Where I work, we do not recommend anyone install SP2 if you have an nvidia video card, any of the 50 apps, or care anything about your computers functionality. While it adds a lot "when it works", there is much too much risk in things breaking for it to be worth installing yet.

Just say no to beta testing

I typically recommend to clients to wait at least 3-6 months before applying Microsoft updates like this. Security updates are applied as soon as feasible and as appropriate; but I have convinced most clients that they are better off waiting and not beta testing another Microsoft update. Being an early adopter of this SP is tantamount to beta testing. Now, there may be compelling reasons to be an early adopter; but people should understand the risks and benefits and then decide. There's no penalty for being prudent (at least not yet).

Good luck!

[Jan Modaal]

Re: Just say no to beta testing

SP2 release candidates have been widely available to the world for many months now.
Instead of blaming Microsoft for any problems with third party software, blame the company in question for not having an update ready months ago.
Microsoft updates Microsoft software, it's only responsability is to supply other software vendors with a preview early enough so they can adjust their own products if and when needed.

The security center wouldn't recognize my Norton Antivirus after install. Is that Microsoft's fault? Or Symantec's for not distributing an update in time for the SP2 release?

Lay the blame where it belongs for a change.

Just say no to beta testing

I typically recommend to clients to wait at least 3-6 months before applying Microsoft updates like this. Security updates are applied as soon as feasible and as appropriate; but I have convinced most clients that they are better off waiting and not beta testing another Microsoft update. Being an early adopter of this SP is tantamount to beta testing. Now, there may be compelling reasons to be an early adopter; but people should understand the risks and benefits and then decide. There's no penalty for being prudent (at least not yet).

Good luck!

[Jan Modaal]

Re: Just say no to beta testing

SP2 release candidates have been widely available to the world for many months now.
Instead of blaming Microsoft for any problems with third party software, blame the company in question for not having an update ready months ago.
Microsoft updates Microsoft software, it's only responsability is to supply other software vendors with a preview early enough so they can adjust their own products if and when needed.

The security center wouldn't recognize my Norton Antivirus after install. Is that Microsoft's fault? Or Symantec's for not distributing an update in time for the SP2 release?

Lay the blame where it belongs for a change.

SP2 is fine! don't believe the media!

SP2 works fine. I've thrown it at every machine I come across and I'm a network manager for over 1000 nodes. Everything works. It hasn't broken an application yet. Someday, the media will tire of bashing Microsoft's every move. And all of these "managers" that are putting SP2 on hold, it makes me wonder if they've actually tested it. Somehow I doubt it. Oh well. Some of us have tested it for months, know it well and we know it works.

Um, yes, most of them have

Just because you personally have had success, doesn't mean noone else has tried it. We have tried it where we work, and it has caused nothing but headaches for us, especially if you have an nvidia video card.

Don't "ass"-ume things, and you know what that does...

SP2 is fine! don't believe the media!

SP2 works fine. I've thrown it at every machine I come across and I'm a network manager for over 1000 nodes. Everything works. It hasn't broken an application yet. Someday, the media will tire of bashing Microsoft's every move. And all of these "managers" that are putting SP2 on hold, it makes me wonder if they've actually tested it. Somehow I doubt it. Oh well. Some of us have tested it for months, know it well and we know it works.

Um, yes, most of them have

Just because you personally have had success, doesn't mean noone else has tried it. We have tried it where we work, and it has caused nothing but headaches for us, especially if you have an nvidia video card.

Don't "ass"-ume things, and you know what that does...

SP2 is fine

I think any home user who is concerned about the security of his/her home computer should install this product a.s.a.p. I installed it with just a few problems which was easily resolved.

yes

sometimes it does work fine... but install at your own risk. if you are worried about security right now I would recommend a good AntiVirus and a free firewall, or even the basic windows firewall is sufficient most of the time.

Just be warned that there is a high risk of incompatibilites and problems.

SP2 is fine

I think any home user who is concerned about the security of his/her home computer should install this product a.s.a.p. I installed it with just a few problems which was easily resolved.

yes

sometimes it does work fine... but install at your own risk. if you are worried about security right now I would recommend a good AntiVirus and a free firewall, or even the basic windows firewall is sufficient most of the time.

Just be warned that there is a high risk of incompatibilites and problems.

[Earl Benser]

Acceptable

If you think that a PC with XP, IE and OE is a first class computer
combination, then go for SP2. You are probaby going to need it.

[Earl Benser]

Acceptable

If you think that a PC with XP, IE and OE is a first class computer
combination, then go for SP2. You are probaby going to need it.

Wait

I think Network administrator and Regular users should wait for this SP2 until it became perfect ( when Microsoft relase a patch ) til that time keep reading about the conflect that the SP2 make with your currently OS (which has been made ironkly by Microsoft)

Wait

I think Network administrator and Regular users should wait for this SP2 until it became perfect ( when Microsoft relase a patch ) til that time keep reading about the conflect that the SP2 make with your currently OS (which has been made ironkly by Microsoft)