Microsoft Service Pack 2

[Guest Looby]

I recently went to download the Windows Media Player 11 Beta but it says I need the Service Pack 2 to operate. It is available as a download (far too long) or on a CD from them with a 6 week delivery. Firstly( apart from switching the Windows firewall off so it doesn't clash with Norton) does it install with absolutely no problems ie. affecting Outlook or anything else on the PC? Secondly, if so is the CD available elsewhere? Many thanks...looby. :)

[Guest]

Its kinda hard to say, theres always the possibility that something on your machine will clash, however I installed SP2 on over 50PCs in work with no problems at all if you want to paly safe, you should backup everything on your machine ...............

Outlook was not affected at all either btw, I'm afraid I son't know where else you can get a CD, just start downloading and leave it goin over night.

hth

gR

[Guest Disco Stu]

Not sure what this has to do with Smartphones so moved to the Lounge :)

[Guest Looby]

Its kinda hard to say, theres always the possibility that something on your machine will clash, however I installed SP2 on over 50PCs in work with no problems at all if you want to paly safe, you should backup everything on your machine ...............

Outlook was not affected at all either btw, I'm afraid I son't know where else you can get a CD, just start downloading and leave it goin over night.

hth

gR

Many thanks for your prompt reply gerryr. :)

[Guest fraser]

I wouldn't run without SP2 nowadays. Never had a problem with it, installed it on various different hardware configs over the years. It's worth it for the free firewall, less Norton is always good!

While you cannot get a CD, you can get a standalone installer, handy if you want to keep a copy or have other machines to install to. Beats using Windows Update to get it. See:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...45-9e368d3cdb5a

[Guest Tech]

sorry im confused

you can download SP2 for XP from Microsoft's website:

www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsxp

you can also update your computer from the windows update which will install SP2 as well.

these days, nothing from Microsoft will install on XP without XP SP2 as this is a core/crucial update to the system and overall makes the system better which is cool

I've never had a problem ever, on personal systems and at work as we deploy everyday about 20 times on test machines etc....

if you have a genuine version of XP (which you should!!!!!!) then installing SP2 will be easy otherwise well, let's just leave it at that :)

WMP11 has nothing to do with Windows functionality or outlook or any programs, it is simply a Windows Media Player of a new version - doesnt touch anything else as it has no purpose to, nor was it designed this way!

Edited May 30, 2006 by Tech

[Guest muff]

always, always do a backup first

I had a sad story once when upgrading to SP2, it basically ate the OS meaning that I had wipe the drive and start again - fortunately I'd done a backup first to keep my data files

since then I've installed SP2 on several machines and had no other problems, but as I say, always take a backup first - if only of your data and not the OS

[Guest Matt Kirby]

Just to add my 2c:

It's not worth running XP these days without SP2, so I'd go for it.

Do take a backup though (as people have said), as I've had two SP2 installs go pear-shaped on me (although I have had countless ones go without a hitch).

It is worth downloading the stand-alone and burning to CD, just in case you nedd to re-install XP at a later date (needing to do a re-install is a bummer anyway, without having to download SP2 again!).

[Guest Tech]

Matt: a bit OT but i like your avatar - simple.... :) good stuff!

[Guest Dr Who]

I recently went to download the Windows Media Player 11 Beta but it says I need the Service Pack 2 to operate. It is available as a download (far too long) or on a CD from them with a 6 week delivery. Firstly( apart from switching the Windows firewall off so it doesn't clash with Norton) does it install with absolutely no problems ie. affecting Outlook or anything else on the PC? Secondly, if so is the CD available elsewhere? Many thanks...looby. :)

If you are installing the entire service pack from disk on something with bluetooth it will overwrite your existing drivers with the microsoft ones, or at least it did when first released. It is a bit of a pain if you want to reinstall your existing BT stack if this happens.

[Guest Looby]

If you are installing the entire service pack from disk on something with bluetooth it will overwrite your existing drivers with the microsoft ones, or at least it did when first released. It is a bit of a pain if you want to reinstall your existing BT stack if this happens.

Thanks for all your replies. Yes I do have a legitimate copy of Windows ( a fairly new PC ) and I do have Belkin Bluetooth installed on it. Does it mean that the download version will also overwrite the drivers ? My bluetooth works well and as you say re-installing it and getting it fully functional again could be mega hassle.Looby, :)

[Guest jimbouk]

Without SP2 you are not protected from some fairly major loopholes - and as the guys above have said, you can't get a lot of recent updates without it.

I can't remember for sure but think that SP2 took just a couple of hours to download over a 512 connection.

With regards to bt drivers, go a google for xp sp2 and your bt supplier - if its a problem - it will be out there!

[Guest mark4130]

For some reason SP2 wont load on my PC. 100% genuine version of XP, but every time I try to install it gets to the stage where it is installing "unidrv.dll" and then gets kicked out say INSTALL ERROR...

Its getting really annoying as I need SP2 to install some VB stuff...

[Guest fraser]

You shouldn't need to do a backup as you should already have backups! Never rely on "doing a backup", when you need it most, you won't have "done" it. Got two PCs in the house? Have one back up the other.

[Guest Confucious]

Running XP without SP2 is like running Windows 98 - it can be done but it is obsolete.

@Looby - do you have a connection that restricts your downloads? If not , then just download it overnight but if you do have a very low limit then let us know. It was on the cover disc of PC Pro but having moved recently I cleared out all my old discs....

There are a very few PCs that had a problem with XP2 - check your maunufacturer's web site first. If it is a new PC how come it didn't come with XP2?

Your BT drivers will be over written as SP2 has it's own built in BT stack which makes life a lot easier. Do a google fror Belkin BT SP2 problems and see if there is an isssue - with any other manufacturer you could check there website but Belkin's tech support is, in my experience, almost non existant.

[Guest Looby]

Many thanks Confucious for your comprehensive reply. I bought my PC just before SP2 came out. You are correct in what you say as I noticed the other day I received an update for the Microsoft Antispyware that I have installed and it said it needed SP2 to operate. I have acquired a CD from PC World. With regard to the bluetooth being overwritten by Microsoft, does this mean I can un-install the Belkin Stack and use the Microsoft version or does it mean I have to re-install the Belkin Bluetooth to replace the Microsoft drivers? I have been apprehensive to install SP2 as my PC works so fluently and I didn't want to upset it. I will let you know how I get on next week..... :)

[Guest Looby]

Downloaded Service Pack 2 from disk. No problems. ActiveSync OK. It seems to have cleaned my PC making it run more smoothly. Now have WMP 11 Beta. Excellent. Thanks to all. :) :)

[Guest Tech]

glad it worked

it will install the MS BT stack however you can still use your belkin BT Stack if you wish.

As for the installation bumming out at "install_error" check the event logs and see what it says :)

Make sure you

1) disconnect from the internet completely (just to be sure)

2) disable anti virus

3) disable firewall

then install XP SP2...all should be well but if not - look at the event logs :)

Edited June 7, 2006 by Tech

[Guest Dr Who]

glad it worked

it will install the MS BT stack however you can still use your belkin BT Stack if you wish.

When I did it, it wasn't quite that easy though. I was trying to put the Widcomm stack back, since the MS one had a bad rep at the time. However becaue the MS stack is signed and the Widcomm one wasn't whenever I reinstalled the driver it would over-ride my choice and install the signed driver in preference. To get round this I had to rename the MS stack so it couldn't find it during the driver install. Except it took me nearly a whole weekend to figure this out and now, although my BT is working with the Widcomm drivers, I seem to have a bit of the MS stack left. For instance I turn my laptop on and after about 5 minutes I get an error message saying unable to start BT service, even though I might be happily using it. There is information on how to do all of this on the MS website.

However, I believe the MS stack is now considered to be pretty much OK, (correct me if I'm wrong!) and newer BT drivers may be digitally signed these days.