I have XP installed next to SUSE and I have Kerio firewall and F-Prot installed on XP. I was wondering should I install the SP1 and/or SP2 service packs or is it a wast of time?

If you want the ever so buggy and holed XP to remain that way, don't do it. If you like to keep it up to date and secure, do it.

You can also slipstream SP2 into Windows XP to make an XP SP2 install cd. To save time next time.

What about the new firewall that comes with SP2? Should I use that and ditch Kerio or is the SP2 firewall crap?

Patching makes a lot of sense in the Linux world, but in the Windows world how often do the patches actually help more problems than they solve? I'm always hearing about companies waiting a long time to install a windows patch because of fear that the patch causes more problems than it fixes.

Can you explain the slipstream thing in more detail?

Ditch the XP firewall and keep Kerio. The XP one is extremely basic and provides almost no protection.

Slipstreaming is where you download SP2 and then take your XP cd and from it and SP2 create a new Windows XP Pro (or Home) Service Pack 2 cd. It will still ask you for your cd key, so I believe it is still legal.

Here are some links:
http://www.informationweek.com/story...cleID=47212312
http://unattended.msfn.org/

(and for info:
http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-11-15.htm#1 for a cut down version of Windows)

I have created a slipstream XP/SP2 cd and can report that it works fine. It also saves you a fair bit of time.

I also subscribe to The LangaList a free newsletter with lots of good tips like this. (BTW, I'm not affiliated with the site or newsletter, just recommend it)

As to patches causing more problems than they solve, in companies you tend to get lots and lots of different and third party apps and some patches, while solving the problem they were created for, will break other programs. The best thing to do, in that case, since the company has obviously bought the app(s) is to first contact the app writers and ask if they are broken by a patch.

SP1 is very good and stable. i refuse to put SP2 on any system until it has its first patch to fix the incompatablility issues it has with its own software.

SP1 and all critical updates that follow would be a very good idea for your XP box. i would hold off on SP2 for a bit.

everything that SP2 does you can manualy do without the garbage that is SP2 and not worry about programs all of the sudden up and dieing on you.

Cool, thanks.

My windows CD got scratched to hell. Luckily I have all the setup files saved in a zip file on my second hard drive I use for backing up my CD's. Problem is when I backed it up I didn't include the boot information to make a boot CD.

I can re-burn my windows CD but I can't make it bootable. Any idea how I can make this CD bootable after I patch it with SP2?

--------------

Hey, never mind I figured out how to make it bootable. Maybe next time I should try reading before asking.

all SP2 does is break (almost?) every program people use windows for, while offering almost no additional security ... like most windows patches, it aint worth it

I felt lazy and didn't read all the posts so if I'm repeating something, I'm sorry.

I recommend installing SP2. Don't use the included microsoft security options though because they are extremely basic. However, Microsoft did do something right (for once) by leaving the XP security settings off if there's a 3rd-party software already doing that function. I have SP2 with ZoneAlarm Firewall and AVG Anit-Virus and it works fine. The security monitor does keep track of your 3rd party security programs and tells you if your Firewall is off or if your Anti-Virus is out of date. Also if you use broadband leave auto update on. If you use Dial-up turn it off and make sure you check microsoft update periodically.

SP2 does plug some holes from SP1 and there's been a couple patches to plug some SP2 holes.

I also feel bad for SciYro. Those patches do keep you safer. Sure Linux is a more secure option but if you must use windows you should download and install all updates.

(I'm just as lazy as zuggy)

no no, you have it backwards... use linux as a firewall to protect your windows machine!!! the windows box will stay much cleaner.

IMO, if windows XP is behind a firewall, sp2 is really not necessary because the firewall machine automatically implements basically every fix that windows attempted to implement in the service pack... thereby negating its usefulness. Besides, I find it rather obnoxious. So... don't bother with the download... get a linux iso instead

and never under any circumstances (apart from updates) use IE...

ps . Does anyone else find it interesting that Windows is the only software that will 'rot' if left attached, unattended, to the internet?! ha...

I would install SP2 but make sure you disable the firewall otherwise Windows creates a wonderfull Denail Of Service attack against its own applications.

If you are at home/in charge of your own net connection, then far more important that whether or not you have SP2 is getting a (non-microsoft) machine to act as firewall between you and the world. Personally I'd do it with a cheap headless linux box, as I like to "play", but if you'd rather there are plenty of dedicated devices you can get...

I to have installed SP2 on XP. The only app that requires this OS is Electronic Workbench.

One thing that changed was that before where the opening screen said someting about XPHome, It now just says XP. And the most noticable change, is when booting, there was a yellow thing that moved from left to right. I guess to show it was working. Now that thing is blue or green. A great improvement.

<edit> almost forgot. This XP thing sits behind a Linux firewall to keep it safe. Poor little XP.

I`m using WinXp with both SP (installed on 2 different PCs) and I can say that SP2 is a CRAP ... until they`ll release some patches...
why I`m saying this? I`m using PuTTY almost daily, and since i installed sp2 on one of my comps., PuTTY stopped working.. it says something about a Visual C++ library...
So.. 'till they will solve the problems with SP2, i recommend you SP1.

PS. about the SP2 firewall... SP2 is designed to work with almost any firewall installed on your PC. this means that this firewall u asked about is not really a firewall...