Windows XP Home, Service Pack 2

[Jimmybar]

I am wondering whether I should install Windows XP service pack 2 now or later.

I read from some magazine that service pack 2 does not allow more than 10 TCP connections ?

Does Steelbeasts use TCP ?

If you have installed Windows XP SP2, can you be client and/or host in SB multiplay ?

Did you have to configure something ?

Did you have any problems with other games because of service pack 2 ?

[Bluewings]

1) Do a Restore point before install (Windows does it anyway , but 2 Restore points are better than one) .
2) SP2 can be un-installed .

I don 't want it yet . I 'll wait a little longer before to do so .
Nevertheless I did install it 2 weeks ago to have a look at it . I did not like what I saw . The winXP Firewall is bollocks and very ennoying . The whole package is very intrusive , too much for my liking .
So I used a Restore point to put my PC like it was before SP2 intallation , it went fine .

Yes SB uses TCP , but you can still configure the WinXP Firewall , but it 's pain in the neck .

It 's up to you to install it in the end of the day ...

Cheers . :3starSK:

[Hell_Hound]

I had no problems hosting or playing SB through the XP firewall. However, XP (with and without SP2) screwed up my internet connection - or made me vulnerable to a virus which screwed up my internet connection. Whichever it was, I uninstalled XP after a week and went back to 98SE. I'll live with the crappy task manager and poor USB compatibility.

To amplify what BW said, though, it is very simple to remove SP2 if it gives you problems. The SP2 installer even creates a restore point for you without being told, so there's really no reason not to give it a try.

[Poker]

When I installed SP2 it found my Nortons firewall and didn't install, actually, activate the XP firewall.

I haven't (to my knowledge) had any probs w/ SP2 ...... so far.

[Chaplain]

If you want integrated security, than I recommend Service Pack 2. If you prefer running a separate firewall program, popup blocker, and use a browser other than Internet Explorer, then you probably don't need SP 2.

At my organization, we have about 60 Windows XP computers. We installed SP 2 on all of them. All but two took the upgrade without any problems whatsoever. One developed a problem with a driver, but with some investigation I was able to change a setting and the problem went away. One computer did have serious problems, and as a result we reinstalled the OS. We then applied SP 2 to that clean install, and it works fine.

[9erRed]

Greetings to Hell Hound and ref your USB devices not working after a reinstall of 98SE,

Look here for the 98SE fix to update the : Uhcd.sys, Usbhub.sys, and Usbd.sys. that will allow you to install the correct drivers from the 98SE CD.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299264


Ps: here's the entire troubling shooting page for USB and 98SE.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;263218

Additional note here: You can always get a plugin add-on USB port or ports for the back of your machine. Normally in 2 or 4 configuation slots, as I have 6 slots avail. from front to back.

Later ..... 9erRed

[Hell_Hound]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

Each of my USB gizmos works fine in isolation - the problem is that when I unplug one and plug in another, it doesn't always detect-and-install the way it's supposed to. We'll see if those new files make any difference...

[ShotMagnet]

SP2 has lots and lots of issues, still. I installed it about two months ago and it promptly knocked my system down; I had to run the restore discs that came with my machine. 'Results may vary' as they say, but I recommend with all earnest going to http://www.microsoft.com/technet/default.mspx.

There you will find out whether or not the chipset you are currently running will play nice with SP2 or not, and what to expect from SP2 regarding the chipset you are running.


Shot

[Lone*star49]

...

Gentlemen, my buddy, Ray ie TURBO (as in Turbo Props.. lol) who is building my new Gaming PC, has read all the above, and assures me that with a new, first install of WXP Pro, with SP2, acc to a gaming tech site he researched the issue of SP2, and acc to the site, Games run "faster" with SP2..

FYI (its all chinese to me :? )


LS

[Ssnake]

Well, SP2 certainly is not an evil thing. It summarizes all security-related hotfixes of SP1, and while one may be able to do without for a while, it certainly is not advisable to bypass the security-related bugfixes. As far as I can see, the advantages of the second service pack by far outweigh the disadvantages that it may have in rare cases. It may not be a "must have", but it sure is a "should have".

[Juan]

SP2 caused no visible problems with my computer. Everything ran fine, and all software seemed to work. That is untill I tried getting online. For some reason my comouter just stoped recognizing my Wireless USB adapter. It doesn't even show on the device manager, and a driver reinstall didn't fix it.

I tried to do system restore, but ti wouldn't take any of the restore points. Then I uninstalled SP2 and attemped the SR with the same effect. Now I am without SP2, and I still can't get my internet connection back up. The only solution I can think of is to do a clean install of windows.

Backing up all my files is incredibly boring.....