Is SP1 Necessary?

I've installed every critical windows update except SP1, because when it first came out maybe a year ago, there were some problems with it. I installed it, then had to uninstall it to make my machine work right again.

If I recall, this forum had a number of thrads on that issue, most of which recommended not installing SP1 but just installing the most critically-needed update component of it separately.

Anyway, I'm wondering if SP1 has been updated or corrected and if it's now a good idea to install it. Anyone know?

 

Hello dkline,

If you look in the Add/Remove applet, the MS hotfixes listed there are labeled SP1.

What you have done is installed the critical parts of SP1 a little at a time and if you do not care about the rest, the answer is no.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks, Charles.

 

One thing I do know, if you want your USB 1.1 to become USB 2.0, you have to get them from Microsoft in SP1. It's the only legit source.

 

There are many updates in SP1 that were not included as individual downloads at WindowsUpdate, just as there are many updates and bugfixes only available now by contacting Microsoft and specifically requesting them that will be included in SP2.

Here is a list of fixes in SP1:

http://tinyurl.com/heqz

I'd highly recommend installing it. Considering how many installations there have been, the few problems are remarkable. I have never had any problems with SP1 on the many computers of all types I have installed it on.

 

Okay, thanks. Hell, I can always uninstall it again if it screws up my machine, right?

 

Hi dkline,

"I can always uninstall it again "

If you do, you may have to install the criticals again. I've never had a problem with SP1, so don't exactly know what will happen.

When you do install SP1 again, look in the Add/Remove to see what happens to the hot fixes installed currently.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi,
Just another comment about SP1.

We received the following comments from Microsoft Tech Service after trying to install SP1 twice on our computer. We could not get Windows XP to operate after installing SP1. We had to boot into Safe Mode so that we could uninstall SP1 to get our computer operating again.

"Dear John,

Thank you for your email.

At this time, we can confirm SP1 does not work perfectly with the computer. At this time, in order to avoid any conflicts, I suggest we do not install SP1.

SP 1 is a combination of Hotfixes that were released via the Windows Update site. If you would like to install the updates individually, please refer to this list:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/support/ServicePacks/Windows/XP/SP1FixList.asp

In addition, Service Pack 2 is under development now. It will contain all the updates of SP1, and will be more stable. Please keep an eye on our Windows Update site for the latest news.

If there is any further information that I can provide, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Best Regards,

Tony "

 

So does this mean I should NOT install SP1 but just wait for SP2 instead?

 

Hi dkline,

I've read references to what Tony is writing about re SP2, don't have the those references handy.

If I would have had problems with SP1, yes I would wait for SP2 which is not far off.

Regards - Charles

 

MS changes its mind about SP2:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,1222667,00.asp

Regards - Charles

 

I installed SP1 a few weeks ago, and the installation errored right towards the end, so it didn't install properly. SP1 gave my computer some problems (some errors with IE6, and my computer seemed to work slower) so I uninstalled it, and then reinstalled it again to make sure it was installed properly, and I still had the same problems. This was my original post about it: http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=107732

Even after I uninstalled SP1 the first time, I was still getting errors with IE6. So what I want to do is use System Restore to restore my computer to the point right before I installed SP1. But I was wondering if that would even work? Would SP1 still be on my computer in some way even if I used System Restore? And would it be better if I a.) went right to System Restore or b.) uninstalled SP1 first, and then used System Restore?

Also, this is what my Add/Remove list looks like w/ SP1: http://www.diamond-road.net/misc/addremove-sp1-2.jpg
Does that look odd to anyone?

Thanks for any help,
Michelle

 

Hello Michelle,

My advice would be to uninstall SP1 first, and then use SR.

I have "uninstalled" SP1 on a system not my own just using SR with no ill effects, had to do it that way because the user got rid of SP1's $Un..... file too soon.

Your add/remove is interesting, have never seen that before. I'm assuming that SP1 contained all those hot fixes, that they are gone. With SP1 gone, they will have to be installed again, so I would make a note of their numbers. I don't know this for sure, you'll have to see.

If you use this site http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp?corporate=true to download updates and save them to a folder, you can install them over time manually.

Within this thread, is a list of the individual SP1 patches.

Regards - Charles