XP Service Pack 2 - any issues?

[Adnams Drinker]

I've inherited a 2.8 Ghz P4 rig from my bro - he's sick of PC's and wanted shot of it - and it's running XP Home SP1.

IIRC when SP2 came out there were a lot of issues/problems with it and I've avoided loading it on any of the XP machines at work for that reason. I now think it's time I just bit the bullet and installed it - are there any major differences between it and SP1 or problems that arise because of it that I should know about?

 

[NathanE]

All the issues back then were caused by third party software not liking the new security rules imposed on them.

If you want to install SP2, here is my recommendation.

1. Uninstall any virtual CD drive software (e.g. Daemon Tools, Alcohol)
2. Uninstall any anti virus, security, firewall, or other low level system software
3. Uninstall any drivers that you know to be SP2 incompatible
4. Uninstall any CD/DVD writing software or additional related drivers (e.g. ASPI)
5. Install SP2.
6. Reinstall the latest versions of all the stuff you have just uninstalled.

 

[aaazza]

Here's me recommendation:

1. Format PC
2. Install Windows XP (possible with SP2 slipstreamed)
3. If SP2 not slipstreamed install once you are into your new install

SP2 can be funny about things so I always like it on a fresh system. But if that's not an option then go for what NathanE said.

aaazza

 

[elkdanger]

For what it's worth I have installed SP2 on many, many machines without removing any software (and certainly not formatting) and never had a single issue with it.

 

[Adnams Drinker]

Cheers fellas.

Of the software that NathanE listed, I think the only couple I have that come into that category is NOD32 and Spybot S&D. Other than the Catalyst 5.10 driver for my video card, everything else is just using the bog standard Windows driver from an XP Home install quite happily.

I think the time has come to just "suck it and see" ...

 

[rickyt]

Yeah , I've built loads of PC's , all with XP on and never had a problem with SP1 or SP2. All my pc's at home are running xp corp with the separate version of SP1 , SP2 and a 80mb file called Hotfix's and all are running sweet as a nut !! .Yet , I have heard of lots of problems caused by SP2 by some .

 

[antc]

For what it's worth I have installed SP2 on many, many machines without removing any software (and certainly not formatting) and never had a single issue with it.

same here and absolutley no issues at all