Am I the only one who hates XP SP2?
 

I mean seriously, I don't seem to get performance as smooth overall, and the networking changes only seem to be a hindrance.

Anybody else?

I hate it too... nothing seems to work as well. I hate its internal pop-up blocker and having to add websites to its safe list... very inconvenient.

I haven't installed too much yet, I think I'm going to go back to SP1a and patch up from there.

It just pisses me off.

XP has already downloaded it for me, and I keep putting off giving it permission to install...

I've tried to install it 5 times unsuccessfully.

installed, first try, no problems observed since.

It's a lot of little things mostly. Shared folders disappearing, computers disappearing off of the network that I can still reach if I search for them, an icon telling me there's no connectivity yet I can still use the connection, explorer crashing when I right click something. Silly things mostly, but it's definitely not an improvement, especially if you use alternative protection and Firefox.

I got lucky and a friend of mine called and warned me not to install the service pack 2, and since he's an IT kinda guy.. well I listened, alhtough I already had it downloaded, and all I've heard is well... not horror stories, but for the most part things getting all screwed up on an already wonky operating system.

although have you tried mozilla firefox as an alternative to IE? it works just as well and there are a hell of alot less security risks... sometimes simpler is better

I rarely use IE...I prefer Moz. I just wish they would let me use it at work.

My system had crashed and I was in a position of having the option. I wanted to try it out. Luckily I haven't taken the time to install too many things. SP2 is going away next week.

have you ever tried to hunt down (or buy) a version of Roxios' GoBack? it does the whole take a snap shot of your hard drive and you can revert it to where you were before something went awry.. it's saved my ass on a couple of occasions.. easy to use and damn! it works.. i got it bundled w/ norton 2k3 handy little program to have. just a thought

I had installed from an SP2 instllation CD so there was no going back. It had been time to reinstall anyway.

Next time I'm going to make an image of a pure vanilla install so that no matter what, all I have to do pop in the CD (DVD nowadays anyway) and the whole OS with drivers and required software goes back on without all of the drama.

oh yucky.. and good plan. I keep a drivers disc handy at all times (as I've had the misfortune to have to re-install windows a couple of times.. and yeah finding all the driver discs proved to be a solid pain in the ass) still you might want to look at Roxio, and a few others by way of keeping your comp (and as addicted to the damn machine as we all are.. otherwise we wouldn't be here :) ) closer to free of trouble... but regardless! Xp spc2 sucks (and not in a good way)

XP system restore saved me from SP2. :mad:

The only problem with system restore is that it doesn't restore all of the dll's and system files to their original state. It may have gotten rid of most of SP2, but it still leaves it's taint.

A buddy of mine says, "OH, you have to get Windows XP! It's the greatest thing since sliced bread!" Personally, I think the fact that we were able to land on the moon a little more impressive than that, but I digress. After 2 weeks, he's reinstalling everything. I've been running Win98 for a few years with no problem. Sometimes, the newest thing is not the best.

Bad thing: running an old OS means MS is not writing important security patches for it, anymore.

Good thing: Windows 98 is so old that no one in their right mind has written an exploit for it in years.

Actually, Microsoft has extended their 98 support for another two years.

Oh..so that's what that smell is. At least it appears to be working OK. :sweat:

Hate XPSP2, relative to what?
 

XPSP2 is a pain. True.

But it is less pain than no SP2. The two articles below discuss the "pain" of having a Windows based pc and the "pain" of having to maintain it properly and the "pain" of neglecting that responsibility.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/indust...honeypot_x.htm

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20041130-4426.html

As for not being able to uninstall SP2, for whatever reason, here is a link to instructions for doing so. I have used this successfully in the past. I had to uninstall a whacked install of SP2 because the machine was non functional. The SP2 did it, but only because the machine was infected BEFORE I installed SP2 in the first place.

Moral of the story, if you insist on running XP, use SP2. It needs to be installed properly, a nontrivial task. But the consequences of not installing it are considerably more ominous.

I run SP1a, do the service changes myself and keep my anti-virus and patches up to date.

A little work that goes a long way to keeping a machine happy.