Am I the only one who hates XP SP2? - Page 2

Hugo Zorilla · 01-23-2005, 09:32 AM

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.

Kitsune · 01-23-2005, 10:20 AM

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.

Troubleshooter · 01-23-2005, 11:16 AM

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

xoxoxoBruce · 01-23-2005, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

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.

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

BigV · 01-24-2005, 01:33 PM

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.

Troubleshooter · 01-24-2005, 03:22 PM

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.

01-23-2005, 11:16 AM	#18
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Actually, Microsoft has extended their 98 support for another two years. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

01-24-2005, 01:33 PM	#20
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	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. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

01-24-2005, 03:22 PM	#21
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	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. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

01-23-2005, 09:32 AM	#16
Hugo Zorilla The Great White Gorilla Of Doom Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 21	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.

01-23-2005, 10:20 AM	#17
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	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.

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