Windows XP Conundrum

[Margot]

To those of us still labouring in the Dark Ages with the Neanderthals.....and using Windows XP service pack2 -

...Has anyone tried the new WindowsXP servicepack3.....(which Microsoft just released and are now doing their utmost to "force-feed me" thru Automatic Updates)?
I HAVE installed all the prior patches for SP2 - and wonder whether there's any reason to go thru the upgrade hassle.

[gary]

Rumour has it that SP3 is all the security upgrade from Vista without all the baggage...

[gary]

Just had a read - if you install SP3 you may be persistently pestered by "Windows Genuine ADvantage" requiring that you authenticate your version of XP,

Read it here for yourself

[gtappend]

I haven't had too much time to look into XP SP3 yet, so at the moment I won't be installing it on any of the computers that I look after as they should all be up to date with their security patches anyway.

I have had to recover one PC already that someone installed SP3 on. Whether the problem was down to SP3 itself, I haven't found out yet. But no amount of repairing XP was going to get it working again and I ended up installing a fresh XP and recovering the data.

[Margot]

Hello "2 G's" (Gary/Graham):

Well then - the vote's in: "Don't bother". That's what I take away from your input above, which I really appreciate (excellent link, Gary - thanks for that).

I'll bet you've spared me a "blue-screen nightmare"!

For Margot....
It's status-quo

[Juanjo]

[quote=Margot;50299]Hello "2 G's" (Gary/Graham):

Well then - the vote's in: "Don't bother". That's what I take away from your input above, which I really appreciate (excellent link, Gary - thanks for that).

I'll bet you've spared me a "blue-screen nightmare"!

For Margot....
It's status-quo [/quote]


My machine has been running XP3 without problems for the last couple of months. It took a long time to install though.

[deecree]

Windows XP SP3 sends PCs into endless reboot


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05...boots_crashes/

[Margot]

Originally Posted by deecree

Windows XP SP3 sends PCs into endless reboot
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05...boots_crashes/

Whew!....best spare myself the frustration and dizzyness...besides - that would keep me from my favorite place (right here!)

Juanjo: By all accounts you are one lucky man!

[gtappend]

Originally Posted by deecree

Windows XP SP3 sends PCs into endless reboot
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05...boots_crashes/

Yes, that sounds like the problem. It's interesting that there appears to be an issue with AMD processors. I shall have to find out what sort of PCs here have been successful and which one went wrong.

[Margot]

Originally Posted by gtappend

Yes, that sounds like the problem. It's interesting that there appears to be an issue with AMD processors. I shall have to find out what sort of PCs here have been successful and which one went wrong.

Graham - I think you might want to take a look at this:

http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Windo...ree_17405.html

[gtappend]

Originally Posted by gtappend

Yes, that sounds like the problem. It's interesting that there appears to be an issue with AMD processors. I shall have to find out what sort of PCs here have been successful and which one went wrong.

I visited the site with the PC today and it was an Intel inside

Originally Posted by Margot

Graham - I think you might want to take a look at this:

http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Windo...ree_17405.html

OK, that sort of confirms my advice so far!

[deecree]

Originally Posted by gtappend

I visited the site with the PC today and it was an Intel inside



OK, that sort of confirms my advice so far!

Maybe someone swapped the AMD stickers for Intel ones just to annoy you.
I know I'd do that.

[Brian]

I've been waiting for all the other poor sods to upgrade to SP3 first before deploying to my clients. Generally speaking, it's a good idea, but installing any major upgrade to a system requires a bit of research before launching in.

[Juanjo]

Originally Posted by Brian

I've been waiting for all the other poor sods to upgrade to SP3 first before deploying to my clients. Generally speaking, it's a good idea, but installing any major upgrade to a system requires a bit of research before launching in.

Dead right! Multiple decades in the computer business taught me to be suspicious of any new technology or upgrades. Our motto was "Pioneers are those with arrows in their back!"

Juanjo

[Berti]

From a grey dome to a bald one!
From late April I began experiencing unplanned computer shut downs, as my machine is quite old I was a while working through the possibilities, including a new machine required.
However I also found an article on the SP3 and noticed that the date of it's entry into my machine was a direct hit for the crashes ( my machine was set for automatic downloads from miscrosoft)

After many days and hours of balding from grey, I may, just may have resolved my own problem and of course I have not reloaded the SP3.

However it is clear to see that many have not experienced the same problems and they will happily continue to have their own domes trimmed, unlike those whose hair falls out over such computer dramas.