New Windows Pack

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2004
New Windows Pack
10
Sun, 09-19-2004 - 3:04pm

Is it safe now to install the new Windows Pack? 


If I install the Firefox or an alternative browser, do I have to uninstall IE first?  If I install an alternative browser, do I need the Windows Pack update?  Is Netscape a good alternative?

KathEy

Kathey


 


Dogs have families, Cats have servents.

Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 09-19-2004 - 3:36pm

Yes we should have SP2. I have it downloaded but have not installed it as yet. But here is some information for you.


http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;ln;xpsp2getinstall


Then do a search for should I install SP2. I know I am going to have to break down and do something but so far I am just sitting on the fence about it.


You can have more than one browser on your computer. And right now I am on the edge about having my system cleaned off and if I do that I am going to have 2 browsers. Why? Well, then I can do what a friend of ours said and it would sure be simple that way.... Log into iVillage without my CL hat and click on the Remember my password on one and log into iVillage with the other browser with my hat on


 


Have a nice day !.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2000
Sun, 09-19-2004 - 5:26pm
Ok, we have XP, so does everybody with XP need this??? I read the blurbs you posted and it sounds like improvements are included, so is there any reason NOT to do it?

 


~~joannaran~~

Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 09-19-2004 - 8:15pm
Yes I think it is needed there are a lot of security fixes and if you go to your windows update it should be there. I think if you do just like it says to do you should be fine. Janet

 


Have a nice day !.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2000
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 1:57am
I went to Windows Update to check this out. It tells you you should back up all the files you'd hate to lose before you add this. Problem is part of the instructions says to put in your XP CD, which of course did not come with our computer, it was pre-installed with no disc, the cheap son of a guns. And when I went to read instructions on how to use the "wizard", it says to click on, in order: start, all programs, accessories, system tools, and then backup. Well, there's no "backup" listed there where it said it would be listed. Sounds like this should be fairly simple to do, as long as you can find everything, sure don't want to mess it up and lose stuff I'd hate to lose. I wish I wasn't a newbie anymore! I hate this stuff because I'm on my own dealing with it - DH was in the computer industry for over 25 years, but this isn't his area at all, he'll just let it go.

 


~~joannaran~~

Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 2:46pm

When I got this computer with XP on it I didn't get a MS Windows XP disk either. But we did reinstall from the disk that came with the computer,,(Dell) you didn't even get that?


 


Have a nice day !.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2000
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 3:56pm
I don't know what else to do except just live without this new service pack and make the best of it. As far as I know, we got no discs at all with this computer, and even though I'm sure the instructions you just told me you used are pretty simple, even that is over my newbie head.

 


~~joannaran~~

Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 5:33pm
Even if you don't install the service pack right now it would be a good idea to give saving your stuff a try. Disks are cheap and if you have something like Easy CD Creator (Roxio now) or Nero or some other software I am sure that you can do it. That way at least YOUR stuff would be safe........Janet

 


Have a nice day !.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2003
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 11:44pm
Hi All!

I decided to get into this discussion an tell you my experience. I read all the Horror stories and I vaguely remember getting the automatic update but declined it for the time being....but then again, maybe I am remembering some of the stuff I read...CRS! When I decided to go ahead with it I didn't have a clue to how to see if it was available or if I might have it....I did check and found that it wasn't downloaded or installed, so I took Kim Komando's advice and ordered the disc from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

Kims message:--> WINDOWS XP SERVICE PACK 2 IS AVAILABLE ON CD

Microsoft has started automatic downloads for Windows XP Pro.

It had previously begun downloads for the Home version.

At more than 80 megabytes, SP2 is a hefty download, especially for

people who have dial-up Internet connections. However, Microsoft is

trickling the download, so individual computer users won't even notice.

If a user goes off-line before the download completes, it picks up

at that spot when the user returns to the Web. So I recommend that

people get SP2 via automatic update. But Microsoft has SP2 on a

CD, too. It's worthwhile, even if you use automatic update.

You never know when you might have to install again--say, if your

system crashes and you need to reinstall XP. You don't even have to

pay shipping for this CD. To get it, go to the Microsoft site at:

http://snipurl.com/8a8s

I also printed out instructions for preinstalling preparations from

http://www.syracuse.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-1/1095239701164420.xml

I Installed the update yesterday and, so far as I can tell, there are no problems and the Popup Stopper is much more efficient than the one I had and uninstalled before I downloaded SP2. It

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2004
Wed, 09-22-2004 - 12:21am

Are you the one, Joanna, who has a Compaq?

Kathey


 


Dogs have families, Cats have servents.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2000
Wed, 09-22-2004 - 3:30am
No, Janet, we have an HP computer that came with XP Home Version already installed and with no disc like they provided in the past. I'll see if DH knows enough to back up everything. Is there some kind of risk involved when you do these updates? I've never seen a recommendation before to back everything up like this. Or I did and just didn't "get it"!

 


~~joannaran~~