Sp1?

I have a new Dell coming and am curios wether I should download XP SP1 and install it. I have Norton Security to put on it. So I basically just want some other opinions about SP1.

 

 
Despite all the reports I have heard about problems with SP1, I have had absolutely no problems installing on over a dozen machines.

I think preparation is a good idea.

Defragment your drive both before and after installing.

Run chkdsk.

Go to Help in Services to find the default settings and set all services to their default settings.

Run Disk Cleanup and get rid of temp files before you install (empty the temp directory manually if you know how).

Check your important drivers for updates (sound, graphics).

Here is a list of the fixes included in SP1:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/support/ServicePacks/Windows/XP/SP1FixList.asp

Here are FAQ's:
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/faq.asp


In other words, if your machine is running well before you install, I don't imagine you will have any problems afterward.

I have to admit that I haven't followed all these steps religiously myself in every case, but I still had no problems.

 

Have installed it on 4 machines without a hitch.
I have heard it's worth uninstalling pre SP1 Windows updates through ADD/Remove programmes in the CP before installing SP1 can help with a trouble free install as well. I did this on one machine but got lazy on the other 3.

 

My Dell PC is about 6 months old and I downloaded SP1. I had to uninstall because of numerous, weird problems, and it wiped out all of my restore points. Also, I now know there is a caveat worth considering. It is the warning that a vendors recovery disk may fail after an uninstall of SP1. I had no problems after the uninstall, and I use the windows update feature and individualize the patches I may need.

With a recently purchased PC, all patches may have been installed, and if so the OS modification should have passed their QC tests and the new owner should not be concerned.

 

Good tips guys thanks for the help.

 

Just getting ready to install SP1 as well...good advise here.

 

For those considering SP1......

If you have the time, connection, and inclination, I'd highly recommend making a slipstreamed CD with SP1. The advantages are that you have a new installation CD with SP1 already included in the installation and you save disk space because there are no backups of the SP1 and earlier files; it installs as a complete package.

Of course, that means downloading the entire SP1, but at least you will never have to download it again if you need to reinstall sometime.
All you need do after slipstreaming is do a repair installation with the new CD.

There are a number of sites that give good directions on doing this:
http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/winxp-sp1-bootcd.html
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?object=article.cfm&id=160