# Windows XP service pack 2

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-service-pack-2/269443>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 15, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-service-pack-2/269443 "2004-10-15T20:11:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Carvanal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/57b2e6/32.png) [@Carvanal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carvanal)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-service-pack-2/269443/1 "2004-10-15T20:11:38Z")

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When I’m going to install it, it says that I should back-up all my files and everything:

1. How do I do that?

2. Why do I need to do that?

Thank you.

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**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-service-pack-2/269443/2 "2004-10-15T20:35:52Z")

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I’ve never backed up a HD before, but I can tell you this. Simply setting a restore point ain’t gonna cut it. I had to do a full format and reinstall to correct my earlier problems. (Though the problems themselves weren’t caused by the upgrade). But once you have the upgrade installed, you’re all but stuck with it.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-service-pack-2/269443/3 "2004-10-15T21:20:52Z")

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> [@Carvanal](#):
>
> When I’m going to install it, it says that I should back-up all my files and everything:
> 
> 1. How do I do that?
> 
> 2. Why do I need to do that?
> 
> Thank you.

You need to make sure you have these things:

1. original restoration discs that came with your system
2. original discs of programs you’ve added since you bought the system, or
3. original installation programs you may have downloaded instead of purchased at a store

If you don’t have the these, you will have to do a backup of the harddrive. If you have a CD and/or DVD burner, you _should_ have a backup utility somewhere on your system. If you have a DVD burner, get some DVD-RWs (if the burner supports it). You’ll be able to back a heckuva lot more data this way. If not, a bigger batch of CD-Rs will do.

If you have all those things, you’ll need to back up all data created from the beginning.

Good luck.