I just got one of those update nags from Microsoft, suggesting I download SP2.
I’ve received the very same type of update messages before - in a cartoon-like balloon coming from the systray, so it seems to be legitimate.
Assuming computer-sophisticate Dopers have also gotten this message, can any of you comment on the advisability of doing the download at this time, i.e., has the SP2 danger been lessened with the inclusion of the patch I’ve been hearing about?
If the patch you’re talking about is this one (KB885894), then that isn’t really related to safety. It’s a fix to a bug in the installation process, that causes some computer to freeze part-way thru the installation process. You only need it if that happens when you try to install SP2, it isn’t really a patch that everyone needs.
As for doing the download & install at this time, that’s up to you. If you have XP, you will want to do this eventually. So is now a good time for you? Do you have current backups? Do you have your software install disks handy, just in case? Do you have time to spend a few hours, if needed, working on this? And, if things should go really bad, could you get by for a couple of days with your computer not working – do you have any pressing deadlines?
It’s has been a couple of months, and many, many people have installed SP2, most of them without problems. There has been a lot of discussion of the common problems, and ways to avoid them. You might look at
Scot Finnie’s Newsletter or Fred Langa’s Newsletter for more details.
But generally, it seems that we’re beyond the “bleeding leading edge” on SP installs.
I’ve started rolling it out on my work PCs so I’ve done a dozen upgrades so far with no problems. Of course, these PCs are locked down with no chance of spyware or odd-ball programs/processes so there’s not much for SP2 to choke on.
SP2 took fifteen minutes for me to install. (The same time as for my kettle to boil, but I can’t blame Microsoft for that. Yet.) If all goes well, as it probably will, you’ll just have a few popups about security - the most important is the firewall. If you don’t have one running so far, then you should do what you’re told. If you’ve got one running then feel free to turn off Microsoft’s.
In the long run, SP2 is going to make your computer much more secure. In the short run, there’s a chance of problems.
Back up all essential files, just in case. If you have a firewall, you should disable or uninstall it (SP2 has its own that you can use until your firewall vendor makes an SP2-compatible versions). And do a spyware scan and remove anything that might be running (especially TV Media).
If you do this, you’re probably going to be OK. The good news is that once you boot into SP2, it’ll work fine. The bad news is that if you can’t boot into it, it can be difficult to fix.