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Linda's Soapbox
Windows XP SP2 ... The Waiting Game
~~ by Linda Johnson, Linda's Computer Stop

Well, I'm not going to bore you with all the pros and cons of the new SP2 update for Windows XP cuz I'm sure you've seen LOTS about that already ... every computer newsletter you read lately has an opinion, and I've even heard comments about it on TV and the radio.  There are lots of places where you can find this info and I DO recommend you do some reading before you make your decision.  Just do a Google search on XP SP2 and you can find enough reading material to last you a lifetime.  Here's the results of the Google search I did, which resulted in 2,800,000 matches.

What I want to talk about is my own thought processes I have gone thru in making my own decision, then I'm going to do the deed on one of my computers as I write this and tell you what you can expect, using Windows Update.

A few months ago, the beta version of this security patch was released and I immediately downloaded it (it's a whopper in size, so consider your download time if you intend to download it, or go to Microsoft's website and order the free CD version if this time intimidates you.  I've heard that MS is pretty speedy in its delivery.)  Before I installed it, I started watching the newsgroups and forums I belong to and started hearing LOTS of bad reports about computers that would no longer boot up and programs that wouldn't run, after the update was installed ... so I decided to wait.

Then, once the beta testing period ended, Microsoft offered the update for download for "IT professionals" only ... I figured this was me, so once again, I downloaded the monster.  And again, I watched the forums, and again I heard lots of complaints and problems .... so I decided to wait.

Recently I went to visit my buddy, Vic Ferri, in Canada and he, being so much braver than I, said "Let's do it here, so we can see if we have any problems."  I figured, better his computer than mine, and said "OK!"  So, he downloaded that IT Pro copy and installed it.  And all seemed fine (though occasionally we would look at each other and say, "did the update cause THAT?" when we saw some strange new behavior, but most of this was very minor, no serious problems).  Now, Vic still uses Windows 98 as his main operating system and had only recently reinstalled XP on a partition and did not have much software installed in XP so we realized this might not be a fair test,  But, I must say that he then did install some software and most everything worked fine.  He even installed some file sharing software since we figured this might cause problems with SP2's new and improved firewall, but all that happened was a little window popped up asking him if he wanted to allow this software to access the internet, he said yes, and XP never bothered him again ... and the file sharing seemed to work normally, without any problems. So, I came home ready to give it a shot on my own computer.  Then I started hearing reports that the update seemed to cause no real problems with Microsoft software, but many problems with non-Microsoft programs that were not yet up to snuff to handle the update.  Since I do run quite a few non-MS programs that are very important to me, I decided to wait.

Just the other day, Windows Update informed me that SP2 is now available to the general public and I could download and install it from the Windows Update site. WHAT A DILEMMA!!  Since I knew I had to get ABC out this week, along with many other important projects I had to do, I decided to wait.

Sitting here now, writing this article, I figured this isn't going to tell you anything unless I make a decision.  So, I decided to STOP waiting! However, being the coward I am, I figured I should try it on my older XP machine instead of this one, especially since that computer has LOTS of shareware/freeware programs installed on it, so it should be a good test machine ... so, as I type here, SP2 is installing on that machine. (However, I did click the link to order the CD version for free, so I have it for the future in case I need to do this again.)

So, let's wait together, while it installs, and see what happens.

While it's installing, let me tell you what I've done.  First I had to download and install something called Background Intelligent Transfer and reboot.  Then, I went back to Windows Update and clicked on the links on the right of the Windows Update page that tell me what I need to do and need to know before I install it.  So, following Microsoft's lead and my own basic common sense, I set a system restore point and backed up my registry and important data, turned off background applications (like my firewall and AV program), ran my spyware removal programs to be sure I had a limited amount of "junk" on my computer, turned off my screensaver and energy savers, and I'm waiting here with baited breath while SP2 downloads and installs.

• "Preparing to download" seems to take a really long time. waiting  zzzzz

• "Downloading" goes pretty quickly, but when it got to 98.20mb of 98.40mb it sat there FOREVER and I started to worry while I waited

• Eventually it went to "Verifying Download", which was slow too, but I waited

• Next comes the Install Wizard and it's inspecting my current configuration ... this one is really slooooowwww ... so I'm waiting again (only hoping that all this waiting insures me MS is doing a thorough job LOL)

• Fortunately this is being done on another machine and not the one I'm using to prepare this ezine, or ABC would be a day late *wink*

• Now it's "Preparing Cabinets" ... looks like another long wait (reminding myself that patience is a virtue as I gaze at the progress bar which is only about 10% done)

• "Backing up files" seems like a good idea, so I'll try to be patient while I wait for it to do that.  At least it shows me the files as it backs them up, so I know it's running  (looking at my watch and worrying that I need to get to the Post Office before it closes)

• "Creating Restore Point" seems redundant since I did this already, but what the heck ... better safe than sorry, so I'll just wait some more

• FINALLY, "Installing files".  Keeping my fingers crossed while I wait some more (progress bar still hasn't hit 50% .. this seemed to go MUCH faster at Vic's .. either it's cuz he downloaded that IT Pro version or Windows Update is just flooded with downloaders today)

• Just made the decision that I will go to the Post Office on Monday since I will never make it now. Thankful I have a high speed cable connection, or this would take even longer LOL

After waiting 1 hr. and 37 mins. the process is finally done.  Everything appears to be working ok:  did a virus update and it let that through, ran some instant messaging software and it let that through, went to some websites and all seemed well, and sent an email and that worked. It also seems to still be recognizing my network, so that's good.  However, it tells me that my anti-virus program cannot be confirmed, which is strange cuz Norton appears to be functioning fine.  I had to tell it I would monitor my own AV program without its help in order to get it to stop popping warning bubbles up at me all the time.

My conclusion?  Unless you want to blow way too much time, order the free CD and WAIT til it arrives, which is what I will do for this machine.

Linda Johnson is a college instructor of all of the Microsoft Office Programs, as well as Adobe PhotoShop and Windows. She also teaches online distance learning classes in Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word at Eclectic Academy. She has worked helpdesk and teaches and lectures at many local businesses and tech schools in her area. Support this newsletter by checking out Linda's eBooks, MS Word MAGIC!, Book I: Fonts, Fun & Formats and Book II: Table Wizardry, How To Get Started As a Software Trainer, and her newest series of MSOffice eBook Tutorials and CD