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To SP or Not to SP, That is the Question

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by dkline, 2004/12/10.

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  1. 2004/12/10
    dkline

    dkline Inactive Thread Starter

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    Two years ago I installed and then quickly un-installed SP1 after I discovered it slowed down my lean mean computer considerably. Since then, I've installed all the security updates from Microsoft but not SP1 itself. In fact, I've apparently installed enough of them that the Windows Updates site now offers me the chance to install SP2 as well as SP1. Which seems weird.

    Anyway, I'm wondering if it makes sense now to go ahead and install SP2 (or both SP1 AND SP2). The reason I'm thinking of doing so is not because I'm experiencing any problems right now, but because I'd like to get ahold of Movie Maker 1.2 which only comes with SP2. But if I'd be opening myself up to problems like degradation of PC performance by doing so, then I'll just buy a good video-editing program.

    Can anyone tell me if the bugs in SP1/SP2 have been worked out, and if there are positive reasons to install these rather than just keep downloading the security updates as they come along?

    Please note that I don't need SP2 for its firewall features (at least I don't think I do) because I already use ZoneAlarm and all my ports are totally invisible to the outside world (or so says that Gibson Research site).

    Opinions, anyone?

    Thanks.
     
    dkline,
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  2. 2004/12/10
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    The majority of folk have no problems with SP 2. There may have been isolated incidents of SP 2 slowing a m/c down, but this is not the general case. I noticed no degradation in performance whatsoever. The key is to have enough RAM - 256 Mb absolute minimum, 512 Mb preferred, I run 1.5 Gb RAM.

    There is no need to install SP 1 as SP 2 is cumulative.

    In due course it is likely that SP 2 will be a requirement to obtain Windows Updates, so it is not really a case of 'if', but 'when' :)

    You are correct in saying that you do not need the XP firewall - of any flavour, as you have Zone Alarm. BTW MS do not recommend running two firewalls in tandem.
     
    PeteC,
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  4. 2004/12/10
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    Steve R Jones,
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  5. 2004/12/10
    Welshjim

    Welshjim Inactive

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    Welshjim,
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  6. 2004/12/10
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    I think that lots of us noticed a faster PC with SP2 than with SPnone or SP1.
     
    Newt,
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  7. 2004/12/11
    dkline

    dkline Inactive Thread Starter

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    Pete, Steve, Jim and Newt:

    Although I don't come here much anymore, your common sense level-headed advice is exactly what I love about this site. Thanks for your help.

    So I'm going to clean up my machine and install SP2. (I assume it's installed just like any other "update" -- i.e., download and auto-install, right?)

    Since my old tape drive busted, though, I haven't had a backup system. Do you think I should wait on installing SP2 until I get one? And what, by the way, do you recommend nowadays for backup? An external USB hard drive? And what software?

    (Maybe I should post those questions elsewhere on this forum, but technically they're related to installing SP2 so I thought I could get away with asking here about backup strategy.)

    Anyway, thanks again.
     
    dkline,
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  8. 2004/12/11
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni

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    Hello dkline,

    Do you think I should wait on installing SP2 until I get one?
    Not especially. SP2 creates an Add/Remove entry. The "backup" for SP2 will be in the Windows folder - $NtSevicePackUninstall (contains pre-SP2 windows files that it replaced). It will be 366 MBs and once you decide SP2 is there to stay, can be removed. It's a 'hidden" file, have to turn the option to view them in the Folder Options > view tab.

    And what, by the way, do you recommend nowadays for backup? An external USB hard drive? And what software?
    The options are another HD - internal or external - CD or DVD Burners.

    While the software being convenient with nice GUI's, really don't need it if all your doing is backing up folders.

    XP does have Backup software - have to load it out from the XP CD if the XP is the Home version. And XP has a built in CD burner - info in Help and Support - search for "burn ".

    Regards - Charles
     
    charlesvar,
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  9. 2004/12/11
    Welshjim

    Welshjim Inactive

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  10. 2004/12/11
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member

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    Hello dkline,

    I too was hesitant about installing SP2 but finally did so a month or so ago and to date have not noticed any problems. I spent a lot of time in the SP2 Forum before I did the deed. The bottom line seemed to be ... make sure your machine is clean before you start the install. Newt was very specific on this point. I cleaned out all the files I felt comfortable cleaning out, updated and ran Spybot, Adaware, and my virus program and then used Housecall prior to starting and I guess it worked. I may have been overly cautious but the folks on this board have bailed me out many times before and I didn't want to have to call on them to work me out of a bad SP2 install.
     
    virginia,
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  11. 2004/12/13
    Johanna

    Johanna Inactive Alumni

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    I would also recommend installing SP2, if only for the additional security features. I know MS says only one firewall is necessary, but I run XP's FW and Norton together, and have had no conflicts. As mentioned above, SP2 is cumulative, so there is no need to install SP1 first.

    Johanna
     
    Johanna,
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  12. 2004/12/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    As I recall MS Backup will not back up to a burner - if it's only data you want to backup burn to CD/DVD or use an external HD. If backing up data to another drive - internal or external then SynchBack is a good bit of freeware.
     
    PeteC,
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  13. 2004/12/13
    dkline

    dkline Inactive Thread Starter

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    Yeah, I need a backup system capable of restoring my complete machine to the exact state it was in if I ever have a meltdown. Suggestions?

    Also, what's housecall? And what's needed in the way of cleaning up the PC prior to SP2 other than running spybot, ad-aware, norton anti-virus, and running the disk clean function in Windows accessories?

    Thanks again.
     
    dkline,
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  14. 2004/12/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Several ways of achieving this ....

    Norton Ghost, Disk Image 7 (?) or if you have more than one partition or a couple of hard drives use XP's Automated System Recovery (ASR) - sure you will get plenty of views on backing up an entire disk :)
    An online Virus checker - another is RAV - see Quicklinks in my sig.
    They should do the trick nicely, but don't select 'Compress old files' in disk cleanup - gains you little space as compression is v. low and can lead to problems.

    You could also run RegSeeker to clean up the Registry - ignore the fact it is beta as it has been this way for a very long time. Delete all items in Green, leave the Reds. Back up the Registry first and make sure that the 'Backup before deletion' box is checked in RegSeeker before you run it.
     
    PeteC,
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  15. 2004/12/13
    Johanna

    Johanna Inactive Alumni

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    What you are looking for in a back up sounds like a drive image restore program. Do a search on the BBS or Google for choices and opinions.

    Housecall is an online virus scanner. So is RAV. Because they do not run from your hard drive, and have the most up to date definitions available, it is a good idea to run a scan now and then, just for peace of mind.

    Johanna
     
    Johanna,
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  16. 2004/12/13
    dkline

    dkline Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks again, everyone. Re: a backup program, don't they make software anymore like Veritas' Backup Exec (which I used with a tape drive a while back) that allows you, if your hard drive melts, to install a new drive and recreate the exact same system you had before the meltdown?
     
    dkline,
    #15
  17. 2004/12/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    PeteC,
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  18. 2004/12/13
    Welshjim

    Welshjim Inactive

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    PeteC--I think NT Backup will burn to CD-R and DVD- +/-R but not to RW's.
     
    Welshjim,
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  19. 2004/12/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Jim,

    I think not, but I am happy to be corrected on this :) ....

    From Help and Support > Backup ....

    In Backup destination, do one of the following:
    Click File if you want to back up files and folders to a file. This is selected by default.
    Click a tape device if you want to back up files and folders to a tape.

    This is Backup on XP Pro SP 2.
     
    PeteC,
    #18
  20. 2004/12/13
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni

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    Hi Pete,

    Backs up to a folder which in turn the user tells XP to burn out.

    PeteC--I think NT Backup will burn to CD-R and DVD- +/-R but not to RW's
    Jim, not directly - see above and not DVD's but will also burn to RW's - do it quite often.

    Re: a backup program, don't they make software anymore like Veritas' Backup Exec (which I used with a tape drive a while back) that allows you, if your hard drive melts, to install a new drive and recreate the exact same system you had before the meltdown?
    Hi dkline,

    Yes they do - very expensive. Drive imaging like Acronis or Ghost is much cheaper alternative.

    Regards - Charles
     
    charlesvar,
    #19
  21. 2004/12/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Charles

    I should have said .... directly to a burner.

    BTW - can you in fact restore from a CD?
     
    PeteC,
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