Windows (Dis)Advantages of XP SP2

As someone who has heard a lot of bad rumours, I am reluctant to install SP2 onto my XP pro + sp1 install. I am up-do-date with previous security patches and have Norton AV/Internet Security installed and maintained.

With this in mind, can anybody with experience outline the +/- points of installing sp2 for me? (i.e. are any plus-points redundant etc)

I've done a basic google but only turned up results from forums so I won't bias your responses by mentioning them here.

Also, will I be forced to install sp2 (i.e. previous patches no longer available) if I do a fresh install in future?

Thanks in advance guys.

 

Pros:
Everything is up to date and you don't have to be downloading stuff.
You don't have to worry about blaster or sasser.
You can make a new bootable CD with SP2 already included, so next time you install WinXP it will also install SP2 without having to install it later, it even changes a part of the install and asks you if you want to enable or disable SP2's firewall.
It has a firewall, but I recommend to disable it and use a 3rd party firewall, in my case I like Kerio.

Cons:
Restricted number of connections.
You can read more about that using the search option
Here you with 2 fixes.
http://trustyfiles.com/help-sw-xpsp2.php
http://www.lvllord.de/


Some people say that SP2 is a piece of crap, but I think they say it more because of beign 1337, this is stupid, if it was a matter of leetness, they are all n00bs because they aren't using Linux or any other "1337" OS.
They don't say why it sucks, they just insult it.

 

Installed it on every xp machine I have. Not one problem.

 

ditto

 

i'll second that

 

~~~does anyone have instructions on how to do this? thanks!

 

Google for winxp cd sp2 slipstream

 

Thanks a lot guys!

I've heard a bit about the in-built pop-up blocker that is as useful as your granny giving you blunt scissors - is it possible to to disable this (if this is part of sp2 at all)?

I basically want to avoid annoyances and barriers to functionality, that's the main thing.

 

thanks mate, i'll give this a go, sound's v useful, though my xp's from HP so may not work this way

 

You can deactivate the pop-up blocker, firewall, and the "no antivirus" warning.

PS: yw

 

No probs with sp2 on all new pc builds or customer upgardes yet. Even on domain workstations with older servers works ok.

 

I've only ever had a problem with one install and it worked okay for a week or two. Turns out the memory had shafted itself - no idea why - but on running memtest it ended up with 350,000 errors! SP2 seems to be pretty tight (atm). I agree with running a 3rd party firewall. XP's built in firewall may be improved, but it only monitors traffic coming in, not any going out. So if you've inadvertantly installed some malware, nothing's going to stop it phoning home.

I use Zonealarm which is free and seems to be okay for me. Another good freebie to consider is avast!, a free antivirus program that requires an email to be sent every fourteen months to receive a free key to activate it.

I found SP2 takes about at least half an hour or so to install btw, so keep that in mind if you decide to install it.

EDIT: The program I use (and comes highly recommended) is Autostreamer. I found it eventually through some forums, but if you have trouble finding it I could possibly email it to you.

 

I agree with the above posts on SP2. I have no problems with it. I recommend a better firewall as well. Here is a link to a guide on the slipstream and bootable CD process. Click me!!