Windows XP SP-3

[txbanditrydr]

General question here..... I have the updates for XP SP-3 sitting on my computer but not yet installed.  It's a HUGE download and the only update I've had with XP that said to back-up your data and click to accept the consequences of the update screwing things up.  Now my questions....

Has anyone installed this yet and how did everything work out???

TIA.....

[Red01]

I took a big risk and installed it a couple of days ago without backing anything up... so far, so good.

[PitterB4]

I took a big risk and installed it a couple of days ago without backing anything up... so far, so good.

+1

[Slider]

I took a big risk and installed it a couple of days ago without backing anything up... so far, so good.

Git yerself to a big comp store and get an external hard drive, Red One -cheap and fast. I'm still using XP and even Widows 98 on a separate computer for old games.

My point is that well fermented pre owned food happens. I've lost my computer four times and none of the events were the operating system.

One motherboard that lost it's marbles and corrupted all data.

One flood which totaled everthing. The comp didn't even get wet. Just 99% humidity from a few inches of water in the basement -which corroded everthing.

One lighning surge which took out 3 internal hard drives, the motherboard and floppies.

One trojan horse that got thru and @#$%^&*)+ ed everthing.

I had a Syjet which wrote to hard drives cassettes in those days and most data was backed up. Now, I have three external drives which are only turned on for backups.

Of couse there is always those pesky meterorites. 

[stormi]

I guess what I'd want to know before I said yes or no is.... what kind of computer is it?

For instance, some HPs have some issues with it.  It will bork it but good,... maybe.

One of the yutzes at work did it on his Dell while it was in pre-release, and ended up formatting and reinstalling.  One of the smarter guys there applied it last week, and hasn't had any trouble.

None of the XP machines in this house has had it applied yet.  Mostly because I don't have time to deal with the fall out if something does happen.

I agree with everyone though, back up first.  If for no other reason than that usually ensures nothing will happen.   It's usually when we can't afford to lose stuff that it craps out spectacularly.

That said,... I might have picked up 2 free laptops tonight that I could loan ya til you get back up and running.  If you're willing to learn Linux.   

[ippo]

I build computer parts and never had proplems with update.I installed sp-3 four weeks ago.All ok.

Parts:AMD Athlon 64 4400+    Asus M3A   Club3D GF8500GT 512 silent.

        AMD Phenom x3 8450     MSI K9A2 CF  XFX  GF 9600 GSO.

[stormi]

http://www.google.ca/search?q=hp+sp3&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

It's probably not specific to HP, but it will affect may AMD processors. (i.e. Sempron, Turion, Athlon, etc)
That's why our machines here haven't been upgraded.  Out of the 4, and possibly about to become 5 XP machines, 2 -3 of them are AMDs

That said, this 5th machine here is a good guinea pig.  I don't care if it craps windows out.  I'll just put Linux on it and make it a DVD player for the trailer anyway. So If I can get it running, I'll see if I can break it.   

[bngboyd]

I have had about a 98% success rate with SP3. Stormi is correct regarding the AMD issues and I have avoided updating those systems but have done a few with no issues as of yet. On the Pentium systems I have done several hundred systems with only issues on a couple systems. 

[ippo]

How much it costs to construct (from separate parts) an average pc in the US? I paid approx. 700$. I have one original windows xp home cd and I have updated my computer twice already (all parts) and no problems with registration or activation via internet????
I burn my linux installation discs myself.

[stormi]

It Totally depends on the components that you use and whether it includes a monitor or not.  I can build an "average"  PC ( in Canada) for anywhere between $350 and $1000. Nowadays, one that I would spec out for myself ( if I didn't already have 9 of the damn things in the house) would come in around the $1200 mark, including a nice 19" LCD.