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You should definitely back up your personal data. SP2 is a major patch and there are changes in there that even the experts are not sure about. So it would be foolish to assume it won't break anything. It seems to be reasonably solid, but each PC and each Windows Registry is different so there are no guarantees. As for how you do it, someone who has a clue about Windows software will be along in a minute, My own view is that it's better to do backups as you go along than rely on a single-process backup program not to mess things up at a critical moment. I find there are very few files on my PC that change on a daily basis so I keep a "current work" directory and backup the rest less frequently.
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Back up your personal data by all means but do ensure, when you come to install SP2, that you first create a System Restore point.
Then close down all running processes including those on the Task Bar before commencing the installation.
I had no problems with installing SP2 and none since - everything works exactly as it did before. However, you will need to configure the Security Center in particular if you wish to retain your present (?) firewall and Internet Explorer settings.
My son, an IT support specialist, has installed SP2 on a large number of systems now and has come across minimal problems.
It just needs to be done in a calm, straightforward manner without any efforts made to do it "as quickly as possible"...:-))
If, by any chance, you do have problems with some applications or programs, there is plenty of help and advice on the Microsoft website at www.microsoft.com
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>I had no problems with installing SP2 and none since ... My son, an IT support specialist, has installed SP2 on a large number of systems now and has come across minimal problems.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
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If you mean what I suspect you mean, I ddidn't read through 94 earlier posts but looked for the "new" listings....
Life is too short.
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What I meant was that it doesn't matter how many people say "It worked for me"; that's just anecdotes, not real evidence. So I'd back up the files. What on earth did you think I meant?
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>>What on earth did you think I meant?>>
My posting in this thread on Sun 12 Sep 04 13:18 ..:-)
I never intended it to be an anecdote, merely an expression of reassurance - there have been far too many unnecessary scare stories about SP2, often from some people who should know better.
Yes, as you rightly point out and which I have done in other threads, the backup facility is available in XP Home, but has to be installed from the CD-ROM installation disk as, unlike XP Pro, it is not installed by default. Regular backup of vital data should be a matter of course in any case.
However, it should be pointed out that you can't back up to CD media with it unless you do so via the hard drive image format (which I do anyway when burning disks with Nero 5.5).
Strange that it can be used with tape etc and restored using the same wizard....:-(
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it should be pointed out that you can't back up to CD media ..
>>
www.pcanswers.co.uk/tutorials/default.asp?pagetype...7
".. Although a recordable CD/DVD would be the ideal destination for your data, unfortunately the Windows XP Backup Utility doesn?t permit you to copy directly to disc. The way around this problem is to create a folder on your hard disk and save the back-up file to that location initially. Then later, you can manually copy that folder to disc. ..
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>>Then later, you can manually copy that folder to disc. ..>>
But that's precisely what I said I do...:-)
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"unnecessary scare stories"
I don't think it's unreasonable to be on one's guard, and a certain amount of scepticism is necessary to balance MS hype.
Gartner (a large, independent and respected firm of IT analysts) says that “Windows is the largest beta-test in history”. See www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/21/gartner_security_.../
Harsh, but fair, IMO.
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>>"Windows is the largest beta-test in history".>>
Are we talking about Windows or SP2?
SP2 has been in beta form for many, many months - the RC2 version came out towards the end of last year.
Providing your current XP setup is running smoothly and is properly updated then installing SP2 should not (at least in theory) provide more than the odd glitch and easily sorted.
The who intention of SP2 is to upgrade overall security to a much higher level for those who don't or don't care about such matters.
Whether we like it or not, Microsoft is de facto in the operating systems world and until someone, somewhere can seriously challenge that then we are all (but a handful) in the same boat.
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i will keep out of the fisticuffs. vinyl record still stuck in the groove.
as for the original question -
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx
"Protect your important files.
We strongly suggest you back up or make a copy of your important and irreplaceable personal information, such as pictures, documents, music, and financial data. "
however, i am surprised you say there is no back-up facility within xp-home. but there are many freeware progs out there that will do the job.
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back-up facility within xp-home
>>
backup utility: directions on how to install this in xp-home are at
www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/backup.ms...x
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>> back-up facility within xp-home >> backup utility: directions on how to install this in xp-home are at www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/backup.ms...x
Unfortunately I haven't got an XP Home Edition CD-ROM because XP Home was already installed when I bought the computer, and the CD-ROM wasn't supplied.
--
L'escargot by name, but not by nature.
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You probably have all the files, frequently in a hidden partition.
Try Control Panel, Add or REmove Programs, Add/Remove windows components
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You won't find them from that source in XP Home, only from an installation disk.
The backup facility is found in \valueadd\msft\ntbackup where you should double-click on NTBACKUP.MSI
You can download ntbackup.msi from:
www.onecomputerguy.com/software/ntbackup.msi
However, Automatic System Restore (ASR) is not supported on Home edition.
IF you install NTBACKUP.MSI from the CD to the Home Edition, ASR functionality will appear to work fine during the backup session.
But since the setup does not support ASR in Home, there is no way to initiate the ASR restore in case of a disaster.
If you need to restore from this session, install Windows XP manually and then restore from the ASR media.
Backup to CD-RW (or preferably CD-R).
If you decide to backup to a CD-R or CD-RW, you cannot target that device directly. You must create a backup set of
650MB or less and backup to a file. After the file is complete, copy the file to the CD-R or CD-RW.
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Try Control Panel, Add or REmove Programs, Add/Remove windows components
Had a look, but it's not there.
--
L'escargot by name, but not by nature.
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Unfortunately I haven't got an XP Home Edition CD-ROM because ..
failing mark(rlbs)'s method, here is a sample list of freeware -
www.nonags.com/nonags/diskbk.html
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i will keep out of the fisticuffs. vinyl record still stuck in the groove.
I think you're being unfair and more than a little dull and unimaginative yourself. Stuart and I both answered the question as far as we felt able. If we disagree about how important the backup is, well different opinions are what make online support useful. If you want a pat answer, go to PC World.
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OK children settle down, or they'll be no milk handed out this lunchtime.
DD.
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"make a copy of your important and irreplaceable personal information, such as ... music"
That's actionable in the US, I seem to recall!
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You should definitely back up your personal data. SP2 is a major patch and there are changes in there that even the experts are not sure about. So it would be foolish to assume it won't break anything.
The above quoted from ChrisR's post should be read by anyone about to install SP2. Mine downloaded on an automatic update at about 6'0 clock last night, and like an idiot I installed it. Never again! When I clicked the "Restart Windows" button the pc shut down, but refused to start even in safe mode or anything else.
The result was that I was up till two am re-installing the operating system, all my programmes and settings and all my important data which I had fortunately backed up. Like most, I would think, I had lots of useful but non-essential stuff on the drive which was not backed up, and it is a pain in the butt to have lost it.
One good thing I suppose is that I now have a clean machine, but any future updates will be refused. I will take a chance on a decent anti-virus and firewall, and stuff tinkering with what works ok anyway.
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