Is it Safe to Use Win XP SP2, Yet?

An anonymous reader asks: "I have to run Win XP for work. However, I have not had the urge to download and install SP2 due to all of the problems that I've heard. Are lots of people still having problems with it? I know I don't have any viruses or spyware, and no, Linux is not an option. I am a consultant and my hardware has to match the client. I have done plenty of searching, but nobody has really followed up and shown what is currently happening with SP2, just what was happening when it was released. Did M$oft release any patches for SP2 yet to fix some of the reported issues? I do use a wireless network, and heard it messes up the connections. Is that true? Thanks for any help." Update: 09/18 04:15 EDT by C : Apparently there may still be some performance issues with XP-SP2, as this later article illustrates, however it may not be so bad as the article makes it out to be. Some readers are suggesting that the performance hit is due to bounds checking in the code, so it begs the question: Would you prefer a slower app that has more security, or a faster app that suffers from typical vulnerabilities that might bite you big-time, later?

Comments

Problems on Fedora Core 2

[Anonymous Coward]

Did anyone manage to get it up and running on Fedora Core 2?

I seem to be having all sorts of problems.

Re:Are we still making childish jokes?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why using M$ is so cool

Better Question

[maskedbishounen]

Is the average Windows user knowledgable/concerned enough to secure his insecure (yes, even with SP2) home or otherwise box, or at least give security a second thought?

No.

Oh, if anyone cares, I installed SP2 on my dad's home box right after it hit Windows Update. Turned on the firewall, and left Zone Alarm on. Walked in to use the said box a few days back and found both firewalls disabled and Kazaa running. He had also managed to pick up Gator -- whatever they're calling it now, and a few other things I care not to mention.

So I did what any sane geek would do. Turn the monitor off and safely retreat to my room, pretending I didn't see a thing! ;P

Don't be lazy

[huber]

do a little testing a research your damn self!

Re:Are we still making childish jokes?

[cft_128]

M$oft? And here I thought this was going to be a serious question.

I thought Micro$oft, M$oft or M$ were the accepted spellings. I read about M$ all the time here on Slashdot and that is how it is spelled. Is there some other way that I'm not aware of?

I heard...

[theridersofrohan]

I do use a wireless network, and heard it messes up the connections.

I heard that if you install SP2, "M$oft" kills a kitten. Also, I heard that it ate someone's mom. I'd be careful.

Re:If you're feeling lucky

[bobbozzo]

IE crashes as soon as you load it now.

That's one of the new security features in SP2, not a bug.