# Should I install Service Pack 2 for Win XP? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 3, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274 "2004-10-03T02:23:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/21 "2004-10-03T16:19:13Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > I got this too. It’s not ZA, **Early Out** , it really is XP. Ah, thanks for the assist. I knew I’d seen it, and managed to make it go away, I just couldn’t remember how! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/22 "2004-10-03T16:35:26Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Click the button under “Virus Protection” and in the dialog that comes up click the checkbox for “I have an anti-virus program that I’ll monitor myself”. The Virus Protection section will then declare itself as “Not Monitored”. Really? Can I be trusted to monitor my own anti-virus program, though? I’m really not that bright . . . That’s why I hesitated to push that button. Kinda like, “I’ll be President of the U.S., you guys just kick back.” ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/23 "2004-10-03T16:37:24Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Really? Can I be trusted to monitor my own anti-virus program, though? I’m really not that bright . . . That’s why I hesitated to push that button. Kinda like, “I’ll be President of the U.S., you guys just kick back.” Now you’ve got _me_ worried. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/24 "2004-10-03T17:23:33Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I’m really not that bright . . . I think you’ve gotten yourself confused with a different poster. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/25 "2004-10-03T21:57:54Z")
I didn’t want to install it, but dear husband decided that I just didn’t understand how important it was. So, my computer has been crashing every so often for the past few days, saying I need a new video card driver. Only, I have the newest driver and you don’t care, computer thingie! YOU DON’T CARE! _seethe_ ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/26 "2004-10-03T21:58:34Z")
Well I did it. It went pretty smoothly and everything seems to be working. Thanks for your replies. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/27 "2004-10-03T23:39:23Z")
I’m glad it went well for you. Speaking as a techie who has installed it on many PC’s, my experience with it has been absolutely no problems. Every upgrade I’ve done has been smooth sailing. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/28 "2004-10-04T05:18:05Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Really? Can I be trusted to monitor my own anti-virus program, though? I’m really not that bright . . . That’s why I hesitated to push that button. Kinda like, “I’ll be President of the U.S., you guys just kick back.” > [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > I think you’ve gotten yourself confused with a different poster. Hey, they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? I installed it the first day it was available for XP Home, and have had nary a problem. Of course, I’m running it on a custom machine with virtually no unnecessary software, so the opportunities for a conflict are mininal. It has, if anything, though, been more stable than SP1. ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/29 "2004-10-04T05:29:25Z")
I installed it and wish I had not. It totally screwed up my network, and I spent a lot of time getting it to work again. ---
**Author:** ![saluki\_fan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@saluki\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saluki_fan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/30 "2004-10-04T06:44:50Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I’d heard horror stories about people having internet connections severed and peripherals ceasing to work. Took out my internet connection. I am working on fixing my computer now ☹ ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/31 "2004-10-04T13:00:16Z")
I did it and had no problems, except that now when I reboot I get a “enter your logon password” screen that I have to click past. Haven’t figured out how to get it to skip that since then. Just a minor annoyance, really. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/32 "2004-10-06T04:21:26Z")
I installed it. It seems all right so far, but I’m nervous about it because of what I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![Psychodispotic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@Psychodispotic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psychodispotic)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/33 "2004-10-07T00:17:33Z")
I just requested the CD from MS. 4-6 weeks for delivery they say. Curious to see how long it takes - if it’s coming direct from Redmond, WA \< 5 miles from me. Anyway, you check out this link (and meet me over on Scardy Kat Way!) [http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en\_us/default.mspx](http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/34 "2004-10-07T01:44:19Z")
At work: It works perfectly. At home: I had a trojan, but never knew. I installed SP2, and it made my computer unusable until I paid someone to fix everything for me. Now, it works pretty well. Except I’ve been getting spam like you wouldn’t believe since installing - I’m not sure if the two things are linked, but… ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/35 "2004-10-07T01:46:14Z")
It seems to have slowed my computer down a lot. Must see what can be done. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/36 "2004-10-07T02:36:41Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I did at home with my XP-Home, and it worked perfectly - but installed Windows Media Player 9 which took over all my settings, and now steals association for all streaming video files, which pisses me off. It almost did the same thing to me too but I caught it. Also, it warned me that _iTunes_ might not be safe. Suuuuuure Mr Gates. :rolleyes: Other than that, no problems. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/37 "2004-10-07T12:08:33Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Well, I installed it (it kept _nagging_ me), and the only problem I have is the annoying “Your computer might be at risk” balloon that I click and it tells me my virus protection status is unknown, but no matter what I click, _it won’t goddam let me do anything about it_, except giving me that stupid balloon everytime I turn my computer on. This is he only problem I’ve had aswell. Stupid balloon… ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/38 "2004-10-07T14:47:11Z")
> [@saluki\_fan](#): > > Took out my internet connection. I am working on fixing my computer now ☹ Let us know how this turns out, and what you had to do to restore your internet connection. I have a friend with the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/39 "2004-10-07T15:06:13Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Let us know how this turns out, and what you had to do to restore your internet connection. I have a friend with the same problem. Our neighbors lost their connection, too. Their ISP advised them to call Microsoft customer support - who were able to instruct them on how to correct the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274/40 "2004-10-07T15:09:18Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Well, I installed it (it kept _nagging_ me), and the only problem I have is the annoying “Your computer might be at risk” balloon that I click and it tells me my virus protection status is unknown, but no matter what I click, _it won’t goddam let me do anything about it_, except giving me that stupid balloon everytime I turn my computer on. Update your virus protection software manually and that balloon will go away…for a couple of weeks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-install-service-pack-2-for-win-xp/267274.md?page=3)