Windows XP Service Pak 3?

ShirleyM · 06-25-2008, 12:31 PM

I never do Win. updates on my video editing computer b/c I rarely ever use it online. I got this notice that I need Win XP sp3. I went to see about it... decided to download it, but it said before installing, back up my system. That's not gonna happen... too many multiple hr long video projects in the works, 5 hard drives...

So what's the deal with XP sp-3? Need it or not? and why?
I run OS XP Professional. (if MS can ever call itself "Professional")
Thanks!

Doug1 · 06-25-2008, 03:30 PM

Morning Shirley

Long Time , anyway I am not a puter expert nor do I play one on the net.
I was reading the other day the SP3 is a package deal of all the updates they have being dribbling out to fix windoze flaws. If you have a good firewall(not windows) and anti virus for the rare occasions you do go online you are probably ok, but again I am not an expert, if I could speek geek I would run Linux or something else, but thats just me

Phishnoob · 06-25-2008, 04:31 PM

I'll just stick with Mozilla and without Internet Explorer not even worry about all that stuff.

ShirleyM · 06-25-2008, 05:48 PM

I never use IE, and don't use the editing computer for the net... so I am going to pass. Thanks --

Heading to El Paso tomorrow to see Trevor -- before he deploys in the fall... NOT to Iraq.

Good to see you, too!

BoomerD · 06-25-2008, 10:08 PM

I updated to SP3 when it first came out...waidaminite..when it first came out the second time

There were a few "fixes" for unsupported hardware they forgot.

I haven't had any issues or problems since I installed it, but many people have had nothing BUT problems. I don't think that it's so much necessary, just (as already mentioned) a combination of all the previous fixes released since SP2.

Vdituri · 06-25-2008, 10:11 PM

I didn't have any problems when I updated at work or at home.
For what that is worth. The computers are only about 2 yrs old.
That's all I know.

AQTCJAK · 06-25-2008, 10:22 PM

Only issue I saw with it were if you are running AVG Internet Security Easy fixes though

aquawolf · 06-25-2008, 10:47 PM

If your video editing system never goes on the internet or connects to other computers that go on the internet, then there is no need for you to install the service pack.

The main function of this service pack was to fix security related loopholes that known exploitations for have been popping up all over the net. For that reason if your machine is going to be accessing the internet it is always best to install the latest service pack.

Hopefully since this is a video editing system you have all of your actual video files on a separate drive than the actual Operating System. When they talk about backing up your system before installing the service pack they are talking about backing up the OS itself, as it should have no impact on any of the other drives except where the OS in physically installed.

Also, just using Firefox to surf the internet on a Windows box is not necessarily a safe remedy either as their are many flaws that can impact the OS that are not detected or have any impact on the browser itself.

I hope that wasn't too geeky for anyone to understand.

ShirleyM · 06-25-2008, 10:56 PM

It wasn't too geeky for me... and no files are kept on the C drive where the OS resides.. but... I do not like things that say "back up your system"... the computer is custom built - I have all the discs, but still... I don't feel like losing my ability to edit work that has deadlines... and so I am not going to install those updates... Thanks!
I don't even run the AV program while editing... I'm networked to other computers in the house... my router has a firewall --- hopefully nothing comes through that way. Yes, it's shared b/c I need to move things to that computer through the home network....

aquawolf · 06-25-2008, 11:20 PM

In your present situation I would not install it either, as you already stated it is definitely not worth the risk.

Have a good trip to El Paso.

tdwyatt · 07-02-2008, 01:52 AM

I agree with AW, et. al., so long as you're not adding new equipment that needs a driver from Windoz, or you're not adding new software, and you're not using Windowz IE for your system for n'net purposes (email, etc), then the updates will not help you anyway...

...But I would back up your system at your earliest opportunity just because hard drives do die, and if this happens, you stand a good chance of losing everything stored on that particular HD if not your entire system (losing everything is unlikely, but possible).

Get a DVD and a stack of burnable DVD's and just make the effort once a month at least if not once a day. This is cheap insurance, and the backup is part of your XP software package.