Anyone know if this thing is ok to download now? I remember there was some issues with it in the past but is it still an issue now? My computer keeps prompting me to download it but I don't want to do it if I'm gonna have problems with it.

 

Your computer will explode; don't do it.

 

You need to make sure all the applications you use will work with SP2.

And after you install it, make sure the Windows Firewall has exceptions for all the 'net-enabled applications that you normally use.

 

I personally refuse to download it for my 32 bit machine. Far too many people have had problems. I just use a dose of common sense and havent had any viruses and/or spyware.

 

I've downloaded it without any problems whatsoever. Of course, I have a router with a built-in firewall and Firefox, so most of the security enhancements that come with SP2 are disabled on my machine.

 

I've got a pretty loaded machine with probably one of the worse combination of hardware possible and, knock on wood, I haven't had any issues yet.

Also considering where I work, I don't really have much of a choice.

 

I had sp2 for a little while but alot of my apps did not work very well with it so I had to get rid of it.... a few things like my usb key didnt work as well so it was pretty much a waste of time.

 

Actually, what were the apps that didn't work with SP2?

I'd like to hear about it.

Thanks.

 

We put SP2 on roughly 300 different laptops where I work. The only ones that had problems were machines that were either POS's or full of spyware, "toolbars," and other crap to begin with. If the machine was in good shape, then SP2 presented no problems.

 

I have no plans on downloading it.

 

What was the brand of the USB key you tried with SP2?

 

Like you I waited a while and then asked people about their SP2 experiences. Most of the people I talked to didn't have any problems that weren't documented. The problems that were documented were easily fixed after the install. I since downloaded and installed SP2. The install went smoothly and I didn't have any problems afterwards. I recommend going to www.cnet.com and search for XP SP2. They have a lot of goo tips to help you out with the install.

 

i have it on my 3 machines with out any issues

 

I won't touch SP2

 

Its more trouble then what its worth

 

i installed sp2 and found out that it did not support my cannon laser printer. the printer is @ 5 years old. i called cannon and they helped me set up a patch to manually start my printer everytime i use it. other than that no isues.

 

 

No problems on my two machines at all. I did research on the web and made sure everything was running lean and clean before installing though. MS just needs to entirely redo IE not patch it.

 

The first time I got it, I had various issues.

I did it again later, and I've been fine. I don't use any of the security center stuff, for ad blocking I use adaware, and for firewall I use Zonealarm (both free)

I had some version of winamp which crashed XP2, that always sucks.
Also if Explorer does decide to crash, it fires off something that hangs. (I think it's DrWatson). I have to go into task manager and kill of Drwatson and it's fine.
Overall I'm satisifed with it and use it on my two main computers here and at work.

 

This article may help with the Dr. Watson issue:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;188296

 

i loaded it on 3 machines, all have been working fine.

 

No problems here. Loaded it on my machine almost immediately and had no issues, loaded it onto my parent's and brother's machines a few months later and had no issues. Its actually good for them because it helps prevent some spyware.

A lot of the hardware issues that I had heard were due to very old hardware running on the machines. Thats probably not 100% of them, but I think it might be a large percentage of them. You could always uninstall SP2 if you don't like it ... The installer does a pretty good job of saving all the old files so you can roll back.

 

I am running a P4 with one Fat32 and one NTFS drive, different CD burners, added USB II cards, all kinds of different hardware and software and no problems except it slowed my machine down pretty bad. I found out you should Defrag you machine before you do the upgrade. Since I haven't defraged in about a year, but had no speed issues I didn't think of it. Once I got my maching defraged everything is smooth and fast now.

 

We have deployed it internally where I work. About 50 workstations. Only one machine had an issue. It made his MS Office really slow on the one machine. Uninstalling SP2 fixed it.

I like it because I can group policy the firewall for machines in the domain. The firewall can react differently depending on if it has contact with a domain controller (in the office) or not (at home).

 

works fine for me.

 

I use it, I like the firewall and the pop-up blocker. Always be up-to-date on your patches.

 

BTW - Internet Explorer (assuming you still use it) has been updated to use a new PopUp blocker in SP2 which is the most effective I've run across. It even blocks stuff my paid license of Panic Ware's PopUp blocker doesn't.

 

A major thing about the SP2 firewall is that it only blocks inbound. It lets everything outbound go through by default. If you're like a lot of people and what to keep track of what's trying to access the network from your machine, then the SP2 firewall isn't for you.

 

I waited a while after it came out and then finally loaded onto my workstation and laptop. So far, i haven't had a hint of trouble from either one. The only problem i ran into was with Norton Internet Security and that was actually a Symantec problem, not associated with SP2.

 

I've had the SP2 firewall ask for permission to let applications use the internet. I think there are better software solutions but this one is easy to centrally manage.

 

The best firewalls are hardware firewalls for configuration, protection and performance. You can pick a good one up for a couple of hundred $$s.

 

I have SP2 on all my machines and no problems. That includes the 100 lab machines that I administer

One of them is still running the beta version(that is in my office).

At home I run a corperate level firewall (on one machine that thats all it does and it is also my downloader) and no hardware firewall

 

well on all the mechine i monitor at work SP2 work perfectly. the only pc i noticed that wouldnt take SP2 nicely are PC that is infested with adwares, spywares, viruses and worms. before running SP2 installation make sure u're computer is clear of all those thing before installing SP2.