A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get
SP2 or 3?

Rob Graham

From: "Rob Graham" <rttgraham@btinternet.com>

| A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get
| SP2 or 3?

| Rob Graham

Is it necessary to change the oil in an automobile ?

Is it necessary to change spark plugs, check air pressure, winterize, etc. ?

Both automobiles and computers with operating systems are "complex systems" that must be
maintained. Failure to maintain a complex system of any kind can have detrimental and/or
catastrophic consequences.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

David H. Lipman wrote:
> From: "Rob Graham" <rttgraham@btinternet.com>
>
> | A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get
> | SP2 or 3?
>
> | Rob Graham
>
> Is it necessary to change the oil in an automobile ?
>
> Is it necessary to change spark plugs, check air pressure, winterize, etc. ?
>
> Both automobiles and computers with operating systems are "complex systems" that must be
> maintained. Failure to maintain a complex system of any kind can have detrimental and/or
> catastrophic consequences.
>

Sure. But if I'd asked what's the downside to not checking your tyres
you might have replied that (a) they may be bald and you don't realise
(b) the pressures may be so low that the vehicle is dangerous. So now I
know what the downside is to not checking my tyres.

Now I'd like to know what the downside is to not using the Service Packs.

Ta

Rob

On 11/26/2009 8:27 AM, Rob Graham wrote:
> David H. Lipman wrote:
>> From: "Rob Graham" <rttgraham@btinternet.com>
>>
>> | A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get
>> | SP2 or 3?
>>
>> | Rob Graham
>>
>> Is it necessary to change the oil in an automobile ?
>>
>> Is it necessary to change spark plugs, check air pressure, winterize,
>> etc. ?
>>
>> Both automobiles and computers with operating systems are "complex
>> systems" that must be maintained. Failure to maintain a complex
>> system of any kind can have detrimental and/or catastrophic consequences.
>>
>
> Sure. But if I'd asked what's the downside to not checking your tyres
> you might have replied that (a) they may be bald and you don't realise
> (b) the pressures may be so low that the vehicle is dangerous. So now I
> know what the downside is to not checking my tyres.
>
> Now I'd like to know what the downside is to not using the Service Packs.

For starters you'd leave yourself wide open to a number of security
vulnerabilities that were patched with SP2 & SP3...

--

Roy Smith
Windows XP Pro SP3

"Rob Graham" <rttgraham@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:utidnfKIPcbGDZPWnZ2dnUVZ7t2dnZ2d@bt.com...
> David H. Lipman wrote:
>> From: "Rob Graham" <rttgraham@btinternet.com>
>>
>> | A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get
>> | SP2 or 3?
>>
>> | Rob Graham
>>
>> Is it necessary to change the oil in an automobile ?
>>
>> Is it necessary to change spark plugs, check air pressure, winterize,
>> etc. ?
>>
>> Both automobiles and computers with operating systems are "complex
>> systems" that must be maintained. Failure to maintain a complex system
>> of any kind can have detrimental and/or catastrophic consequences.
>>
>
> Sure. But if I'd asked what's the downside to not checking your tyres you
> might have replied that (a) they may be bald and you don't realise (b) the
> pressures may be so low that the vehicle is dangerous. So now I know what
> the downside is to not checking my tyres.
>
> Now I'd like to know what the downside is to not using the Service Packs.
>
> Ta
>
> Rob

One of the downsides is that your system will not be as secure as it would
be with SP3 (or even SP2). There have been a lot of security updates
released between your time and now, and most of them should be installed.
Unless, of course, you never connect to the internet ;-)

SC Tom

"Rob Graham" <rttgraham@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:RI-dnbugDoYiFZPWnZ2dnUVZ8vudnZ2d@bt.com...
> A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get SP2
> or 3?
>
> Rob Graham

There are considerable downsides to NOT updating. Like having an UNSECURE
computer.

Rob Graham wrote:
>
> Sure. But if I'd asked what's the downside to not checking your tyres
> you might have replied that (a) they may be bald and you don't realise
> (b) the pressures may be so low that the vehicle is dangerous. So now
> I know what the downside is to not checking my tyres.
>
> Now I'd like to know what the downside is to not using the Service
> Packs.

Giant festering, oozing, necrotic, pustules will appear on your torso and
you will die!

It's happened.

Alternatively, the computer will die or be crippled for life.

On Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:27:43 +0000, Rob Graham
<rttgraham@btinternet.com> wrote:

> David H. Lipman wrote:
> > From: "Rob Graham" <rttgraham@btinternet.com>
> >
> > | A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get
> > | SP2 or 3?
> >
> > | Rob Graham
> >
> > Is it necessary to change the oil in an automobile ?
> >
> > Is it necessary to change spark plugs, check air pressure, winterize, etc. ?
> >
> > Both automobiles and computers with operating systems are "complex systems" that must be
> > maintained. Failure to maintain a complex system of any kind can have detrimental and/or
> > catastrophic consequences.
> >
>
> Sure. But if I'd asked what's the downside to not checking your tyres
> you might have replied that (a) they may be bald and you don't realise
> (b) the pressures may be so low that the vehicle is dangerous. So now I
> know what the downside is to not checking my tyres.
>
> Now I'd like to know what the downside is to not using the Service Packs.


The downside is that you are exposed to problems (many of which are
security issues) that the service pack corrected. Not installing the
latest service pack, and other updates, is foolhardy. Install SP3, not
SP2.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

From: "Rob Graham" <rttgraham@btinternet.com>

| David H. Lipman wrote:
>> From: "Rob Graham" <rttgraham@btinternet.com>

>> | A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get
>> | SP2 or 3?

>> | Rob Graham

>> Is it necessary to change the oil in an automobile ?

>> Is it necessary to change spark plugs, check air pressure, winterize, etc. ?

>> Both automobiles and computers with operating systems are "complex systems" that must
>> be
>> maintained. Failure to maintain a complex system of any kind can have detrimental
>> and/or
>> catastrophic consequences.


| Sure. But if I'd asked what's the downside to not checking your tyres
| you might have replied that (a) they may be bald and you don't realise
| (b) the pressures may be so low that the vehicle is dangerous. So now I
| know what the downside is to not checking my tyres.

| Now I'd like to know what the downside is to not using the Service Packs.

| Ta

| Rob

Well if you didn't check your tires (I'm in the USA ) then you may get a blowout and have
a severe accident.

If you don't patch your system your system may be compramised with a keylogging trojan or
a data/password stealer and you may become the victim of indentity theft or and empty bank
account.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

In article <utidnfKIPcbGDZPWnZ2dnUVZ7t2dnZ2d@bt.com>,
Rob Graham <rttgraham@btinternet.com> wrote:

> Now I'd like to know what the downside is to not using the Service Packs.



Many service packs include security updates that enhance certain
modules and update them so as to protect against possible infection.

Sometimes the updates may improve a module to some degree to allow it
to work with newer programs, or correct a flaw of some nature.

1) there are some programs
that are hard coded for sp1.

2) your winxp sp1 cd wont do
sfc /scannow or repair installations.

3) there is a lot of preparation
needed before you consider before
installing sp3.

-----------

why mess with what works.

my suggestion is to
leave well enough alone.



--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- ********.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>

"Rob Graham" <rttgraham@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:RI-dnbugDoYiFZPWnZ2dnUVZ8vudnZ2d@bt.com...
> A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get SP2
> or 3?
>
> Rob Graham

Does it matter if his computer's subject to scores of thousands of security
vulnerabilities?

Does it matter that he can't possibly have a functional anti-virus
application or anti-spyware application installed?

4 Steps to Protect Your Computer
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx

Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx

Avoid Rogue Security Software!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx

NB: Computers running WinXP SP2 will NOT be offered any further critical
security updates, Automatic Updates will cease to function, and Windows
Update website will not be available after 12 April 2010 until SP3 is
installed. (His WinXP SP1 computer hasn't been able to obtain updates since
August 2006!)

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...66ae41add7dd2b
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com

Rob Graham wrote:
> A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get
> SP2 or 3?

Rob Graham <rttgraham@btinternet.com> wrote in news:RI-dnbugDoYiFZPWnZ2dnUVZ8vudnZ2d@bt.com:

> A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get
> SP2 or 3?
>
> Rob Graham

It's no more necessary than having a computer;-)

Service Packs include the lastest fixes (security and otherwise) to improve the OS. While not necessarily they
are strongly recommended.

Rob Graham wrote:
> A friend's computer is running W XP SP1. Is it really necessary to get
> SP2 or 3?
>
> Rob Graham

Thank you all for your help.

Rob