Why Upgrade Windows SPs?

[PamJ]

I got lost in the flow of the conversation fo a while there.
PamJ - Are you all updated?

I haven't done the disc clean and defrag yet.  Don't know if I'll get to it today--swamped with work. But might tonight. I don't know how long disc clean takes, but I know defrag can take a while.  (It's 8:28 a.m. right now here!)

Thanks!

[bob3160]

I got lost in the flow of the conversation fo a while there.
PamJ - Are you all updated?

I haven't done the disc clean and defrag yet.  Don't know if I'll get to it today--swamped with work. But might tonight. I don't know how long disc clean takes, but I know defrag can take a while.  (It's 8:28 a.m. right now here!)

Thanks!

Looks like you need to tweak your forum time to match your actual time. 

[Sawduster]

   Gotta get MY 20 posts first.

[Sawduster]

On mine the clean-up was 45 seconds from first to last click. 
Since you don't know how long it normally takes, I would suggest that yours may take longer.  Even so, not long. It's just an automated process to empty your recycle bin, delete temporary files, temporary internet files, etc.  Certainly less than 5 minutes.
I do mine frequently - at least every few days.

[bob3160]

May I suggest you try using CCleaner. 
You can download the version without the Yahoo toolbar from my server:
http://mysharedfiles.no-ip.org/CCleanerCaution.html

[Sawduster]

CCleaner does have many features and could be considered. 
I was trying to get her to a fast, no-decisions required clean-up to install SP3 on a machine that appears to be as sent from the vendor.  Age unknown, but the specs I show are a P4 from as early as 2003 (quick search, unverified).  I didn't think it would be a good idea to start tweaking the registry and such at this point before doing a little basic maintenance. 
Her call when she gets time to do it.
Good suggestion.

[bob3160]

I didn't think it would be a good idea to start tweaking the registry and such at this point before doing a little basic maintenance. 

CCleaner only cleans the registry if that's what you set it for.
I find it easier to use the the built in function.

[PamJ]

CCleaner does have many features and could be considered. 
I was trying to get her to a fast, no-decisions required clean-up to install SP3 on a machine that appears to be as sent from the vendor.  Age unknown, but the specs I show are a P4 from as early as 2003 (quick search, unverified).  I didn't think it would be a good idea to start tweaking the registry and such at this point before doing a little basic maintenance. 
Her call when she gets time to do it.
Good suggestion.

Hey, sawduster, pretty good!   

Dell Optiplex 260T desktop, purchased new summer 2003 from Dell.  Came with partitioned hard drive, Intel Pentium 4, 2.33 GHz, 640MB ram, Windows XP Pro, SP1. Never have upgraded much that's Windows-related, to be honest.

[bob3160]

Not updating your system leaves you wide open to possible attacks.
Protecting you against these attacks is the reason most of the updates are made available in the first place.

It's your computer and your choice but updating your system is just as important as updating your Security Software. 

[PamJ]

Not updating your system leaves you wide open to possible attacks.
Protecting you against these attacks is the reason most of the updates are made available in the first place.

It's your computer and your choice but updating your system is just as important as updating your Security Software. 

Well, I guess I should have phrased that better. I USED to upgrade Windows stuff (except to SP2 because I heard so many people were having problems with their systems crashing and such), until I had the issue that this thread turned into, about certain things not working right.  That included IE, and Windows Update, which wouldn't work at all. (When you select "Windows Update" it automatically goes to IE, even if you have another browser set as your default. Since my IE wasn't working correctly, Windows Update wouldn't work.)  Never upgraded to SP2 because of the fear factor AT THAT TIME, haven't upgraded any Windows items in the last year and a half because it wouldn't work.

To be honest, back when I could update, I never thought it was that important, and manually did it whenever I thought about it. I figured if everything was working okay, I had a firewall, and AV, did periodic scans--what was the point, especially if it might cause problems I'd have to deal with, and me not having a lot of computer experience to fix things when they mess up.  I've changed my mind on this now, though.  (I don't like having anything on automatic update except for AV resident, unless it let's me know what it's getting ready to update and I can choose whether I want it or not.) 

After I do this disk clean and defrag sawduster suggested, I plan on seeing if update works. 

[ardvark]

Not updating your system leaves you wide open to possible attacks.
Protecting you against these attacks is the reason most of the updates are made available in the first place.

It's your computer and your choice but updating your system is just as important as updating your Security Software. 

Well, I guess I should have phrased that better. I USED to upgrade Windows stuff (except to SP2 because I heard so many people were having problems with their systems crashing and such), until I had the issue that this thread turned into, about certain things not working right.  That included IE, and Windows Update, which wouldn't work at all. (When you select "Windows Update" it automatically goes to IE, even if you have another browser set as your default. Since my IE wasn't working correctly, Windows Update wouldn't work.)  Never upgraded to SP2 because of the fear factor AT THAT TIME, haven't upgraded any Windows items in the last year and a half because it wouldn't work.

To be honest, back when I could update, I never thought it was that important, and manually did it whenever I thought about it. I figured if everything was working okay, I had a firewall, and AV, did periodic scans--what was the point, especially if it might cause problems I'd have to deal with, and me not having a lot of computer experience to fix things when they mess up.  I've changed my mind on this now, though.  (I don't like having anything on automatic update except for AV resident, unless it let's me know what it's getting ready to update and I can choose whether I want it or not.) 

After I do this disk clean and defrag sawduster suggested, I plan on seeing if update works. 

Hi Pam...

I understand how you feel, I used to be pretty leery of windows updates myself. Since receiving my laptop and getting all of the "important" and "recommended" (and a couple "optional") updates (for Vista x64,) I have not had the problems I once feared after reading other folks's accounts. I think the stories they have relayed have happened, I just think they represent the exception, not the rule.

When you turn the automatic update service on, you will probably asked to download and install some (perhaps a lot of) updates prior to being asked about the SP's, especially since you're still using SP1.

Best Regards...

[Sawduster]

In addition, you may see some changes to the page since you last updated manually, and may have to go through a few extra screens.   
You may also have to reboot (repeatedly?) as the updates are added since it expects the machine to be in a certain condition before applying the change.
I'm on auto update and apply.  No problems yet.
Just get it done as soon as you can and let us know how it all went.
 
 
 

[PamJ]

When I had it check my computer to see what updates I needed, after checking, it said to download SP2 first and then come back to check for other items.  It also said to back my system up first.  My data is backed up. Is the "Back Up" and "Files & Storage Transfer Wizard" in Tools what I should use in addition?  What about backing up the registry?  Was thinking I should back that up to something external?   (Been researching that some.)  I do have a new restore point set in case of a problem, but how can you get to that if for some reason Windows won't boot back up?

[PamJ]

I just downloaded WMP10.  I had deleted in again last week just to get it out of the way since it wasn't working anyway. Since the other issues I was having are fixed now, thought I should try to get it back on in case SP2 or some other Windows update might have an update to WPM, and it might cause problems if WPM wasn't installed. WMP now works fine---apparently the last of the problems fixed that have been wrong for 1-1/2 years.

[Tarq57]

Why not just download SP3 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en
as an installer package?
Big download, but includes all updates from SP1 on, up to the point that SP3 was released.
The download can be saved for later re-install if required.