XP service packs

ravenlooney

Hi, My mum has asked me to set up her broadband. However, before she sets it up she should check that she has upgraded at least to XPsp1 (according to the setup guide). Apparently if she hasnt it will affect her broadband speeds. Thing is, she's never installed a service pack at all and all that windows update is offering is SP2 which will take 11 hours to download at dialup speeds. Would it be ok to set up the broadband and then do the service pack, or will the broadband not work if I dont update first?

albertross_2

You might catch something pretty quickly if you broadband it, and it isn't patched.. (If you aren't infected already)

Have you enabled the firewall in Control Panel, this will help to protect you.

You can get usually get SP2 off the cover of PC magazines

johnrp007

Broadband is likely to work but your PC will be extremely vulnerable although probably no more so than doing an 11 hour dial-up session.

If you go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx
you can order SP2 on CD from Microsoft.

ravenlooney

She has got all other updates, just never taken the service packs. I dont know why. She also has a firewall and antivirus. Im pretty sure the pc is not infected. Would it be ok to do the broadband then download the update or should the update be done first? Thanks

Hunnymonster

If you have broadband and a CD writer or a USB drive, you could download it and then your mum can install it then do her broadband thing.

This is the version you need - the XP SP2 Network install: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=049c9dbe-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

(catchy link eh ? lol)

albertross_2

If you can afford £3.50 for a PC mag, or borrow a CD, or wait for Microsoft to send you one, that would be a safer route.

I have seen several dial-up PC's get attacked and infected in less than a minute of dial-up. Broadband is obviously much faster..

If you are confident that you have a fully updated virus scanner, you may be ok. Personally, I'd spend the 3.50.., it's not worth the risk.

robnye

ravenlooney wrote:

She has got all other updates, just never taken the service packs. I dont know why. She also has a firewall and antivirus. Im pretty sure the pc is not infected. Would it be ok to do the broadband then download the update or should the update be done first? Thanks

how do you know she has all other updates......

SP1 and SP2 where both listed as updates, if auto update was switched on...

to check, goto control panel, select system, and the first screen of the new window will tell you what level the pc is at

peter_the_piper

ravenlooney wrote:

She has got all other updates, just never taken the service packs. I dont know why. She also has a firewall and antivirus. Im pretty sure the pc is not infected. Would it be ok to do the broadband then download the update or should the update be done first? Thanks

What you should bear in mind is (i believe)that the latest updates are sp2 specific and will not protect her computer until the service pack(s) are installed.

charlieheard

albertross wrote:

Have you enabled the firewall in Control Panel, this will help to protect you.

Tricky! The firewall didn't come in till SP2 UIVMM

albertross_2

charlieheard wrote:

Tricky! The firewall didn't come in till SP2 UIVMM

It's always been there, just not switched on by default

-TangleFoot-

albertross wrote:

It's always been there, just not switched on by default

Indeed; there's a guide on Microsoft's web site that'll tell you all about it. Switch it on, install some anti-virus software and you'll be safe enough online to download the necessary updates.