Service Pack 3

[Gus]

I remember with sp2 there was a lot of problems at first

I just came across this update

Is it ok to download

[bigtoe]

Hi Gus .... Your memory is serving you well in regards to SP2.... When that service pack of accumulated  updates came out... many had problems, and yet many did not.... those that had problems seemed to be those with spyware/adware on their machines, had lots of trash/temp files/go nowhere registry entries/lots of temp internet files, and so forth left on their machines..... those that were concientious about keeping their machines clean and especially keeping Windows Updates current generally did not have any problems....

And so it seems to be a bit similar situation with SP3. although this time the number of folks reporting negative experiences might be down just a touch as many folks learned from the previous experience to keep their Updates current and keep their machines lean and mean. But this time I perceive a bit of uneasiness also, and many people have decided to await further before downloading SP3 since we have not reached the point where it will be mandatory to install to get further assistance with Windows like happened with SP2. It really depends on your level of confidence with your machine, yourself, and with Uncle Bill at Microsoft.

I have installed SP3 on my machines with no problems encountered; but I do keep clean machines, all updates current. and figure if I goof something up it probably will not mean the end of life as I currently know it... . I have seen a good deal of patience expressed by many in waiting to install SP3. But, most of those I read about expressing this idea are the same who also say they don't do Windows Updates and their worlds have not come to a firey end as yet.... .

An opinion mostly expressed is that if you have been diligent in keeping your Windows updates current, that there is not very much else that is included with SP3 and if you don't update yet that is not such a problem... the ol' "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" idea seems to be what they are expressing.

So, IMHO, I thought it OK to do the update in my case,,,, but a "wait and see" attitude would not hurt anything either.... I just believe in keeping my updates current.

As a matter of fact, I'm vacationing and currently in Montreal... and in my best English I asked my waitress, "Whada Y'all think of that there SP3 what just come out on the Net?".... and she just gave me a quizzical look, a shake of the head, and topped off my cup of java..... So that is the opinion of the average person on the street -- in a survey of one so far...... Soooo, heads or tails?..... .... Al

[Gus]

Thank you Big Toe

I think I will wait awhile.  I just got a new computer with Windows XP and am afraid to mess it up.  I didnt want the vista

I have avg free anti virus but last nite decided to do a housecall free scan.  At the end it came up that I needed some microsoft word updates.  I didnt know what that meant because I keep my window updates curent, so I went to windows update and thats where I found the service pack 3.  It didnt say I needed anything else so I dont know what housecall was saying

Anyway thanks again.

[bigtoe]

Hi again Gus .... You can't go wrong with your decision either..... To me, anyways, as long as all your other Windows Updates are current and it appears that they are...... What Housecall may have been referring to was the M$ Office program called MS Word (97, 2000, 2003, XP, and any I missed... ).... Word of course being the Word Processing program available for Windows machines...... I would just have to assume that you might have M$ Word on your XP machine..... Windows also updates their other programs that periodically are found to have vulnerabilities and does that from their Windows Office Update page at this link ... Office Update page .....http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/default.aspx

It is like Windows update, as long as your Office program (Word, Excel, etc) is a legitamite and registered version it will get free updates for you.... Just have to manually go there, rather than auto update...

One thing I failed to mention with the SP3 update.... is it also update your operating system to IE7 from IE6.... If you werent liking IE7 and still using IE6 that is no problem as you can just remove IE7 from Add/Remove and your system will revert to your preferred IE6........ But, if you already are using IE7 and you do the SP3 update, you lose the chance to revert back to IE6 as the SP3 update removes some of those restore factors on your computer.... they make the assumption that since you are using IE7 at the time of the SP3 update that you must prefer it and so they remove old IE6 files to free up hard drive space on your computer........ So, if your preference is still to use IE6, make sure you don't have IE7 on your system before you do the SP3 update...... I use IE7 Pro and love it so doing the SP3 updates was just no problem for me......... That little feature seems to be the one prevalent program that has upset some folks about SP3 because they were going to revert back to IE6 but failed to do so before they uploaded the SP3 update.......

But, sounds like you are up to date with other Windows updates...... so waiting a bit on SP3 can't really seem to hurt you in any way at this point in time........ Again, really just a call for you to make at this point and not mandated by M$.......At least that is my 2 cents on the subject of SP3.....

[Gus]

To Bigtoe

I went into my add and remove programs and found that I have
Microsoft office powerpoint viewer 2007.  Do you think this is what housecall was telling me I needed updates on.  I went into the web site you wrote about in your previous reply and found where I click on office updates

No where in my add and remove did it mention microsoft word

Plus I mostly use my computer for emails and to play games so I probably dont need the updates for office

Thanks for all the information you have provided

[tbirdnana]

Since I have very slow dialup, I ordered the CD.  MS is charging $3.99 for the CD and $5.99 for shipping.  Seems to me like they are still out for all they can get.  Received the CD yesterday and installed it this morning.  Everything seems to be doing fine.  I remembered to disable my antivirus before installing.

[Gus]

I have an icon on my computer saying that updates are ready for my computer.  It is for service pack 3

I dont want to install this yet even tho it says it is downloaded.

Is this ok plus how do I get rid of the icon

[bigtoe]

Hi again, Gus .....

With the M$ Updates, I have my computers set to notify me when the updates are available and then I decide which ones I will install by using the CUSTOM button choice on the notification page.... If you click open that yellow notification icon, on the update page that opens you will see an install and a custom button... I select the Custom choice, and then I am shown each of the updates available and what they are for.... In the case of the SP3 update, if you are still concerned about it, you can just unclick that choice while selecting the others by clicking their box. That moves them to the top of the page and marked for installation. Now a notice will show up telling you that you have selected NOT to install one of the updates (in this case SP3)... you can just OK that and then install the other updates, but you will periodically get a notification from Windows Update that there is still an update available for you... If you don't want to see this extra notice in the future, just put a check mark in the box telling it not to advise you anymore..... But, what this does is prevent Windows Update from future notices to you that you haven't installed SP3 (or whatever update you didn't want further notice about). Then months down the road, you will have to remember yourself that you did not install a particular update and go to the Windows Update page and get the update yourself.......

I think that you will see that it is not a problem, especially if you have your updates to this point current, and there is not worries. But, again, that is for you to decide.... I know that on other forum sites I have actually seen folks report not doing any or very few of the Windows Updates, and not having problems on their machines, but these are pretty tech savvy folks who could solve problems on their machines if they occurred... I'm just not that adventurous, as I like to have FUN with the 'puter and wouldn't want to fret and fuster over the computer because I hadn't installed a critical update.....

Hope that alleviates concern about SP3, but especially hope that update process helps you with selecting which updates you let get installed on your machine(s).... It's a good feeling to feel like you are in charge of the computer and not it in charge of you.....

[bigtoe]

Well, Gus.... If I confused you with my previous post.. .. not to worry, as far as Service Pack updates are concerned.... M$ has heard worries and concerns from business folks (wow, they actually listened to the customer... ) about SP3 and any effect it might have on them... so M$ has a Tool that you can download that will block the notifications and the auto updating of Service Packs for business.... and it should work just a well for civilians on personal computers.....

http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d7c9a07a-5267-4bd6-87d0-e2a72099edb7&displaylang=en

It is called Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit . You can go to that linked web page and get /install the temporary blocker. Now that is really easy, and amazing that M$ listened to businesses......... Wonder if the use of Open Office products by businesses not wanting to pay $$$ for yearly upgrades to Office Suite programs caught the attention of M$?

[Bernie]

I'd like to subscribe to this discussion but I haven't been able to find the Subscribe option. Do I have to post a message before I can subscribe?

[bigtoe]

Hi Bernie ... I believe that when you are logged in, at the top and the bottom of the expanded thread you will see the notify button..... by clicking on that Notify button and agreeing to the pop-up message that you want an email notification of responses to the thread.........

Sandy might be able to clarify for us... as I have actually never used that feature, I just check for dates of replies to threads to know which have recent or no recent replies.... Hope that is correct... I can't think of any other reason for the Notify button....

[wilbo]

You are correct as usual BT.
I use that option often when I see a thread of interest.

[bigtoe]

Hi Wilbo.... good to hear from you.. .. I got the email notification of your reply because I had checked the NOTIFY button for this thread so I could test my answer........ thanks for the confirmation....... Hope Bernie gives it a try....

[Bernie]

Thanks to all.  I now see the button and I'm sure it has been there the whole time!  I guess I couldn't see the forest for the trees?  Anyway, I have subscribed to several threads in the past but for some reason (senior moment?) I couldn't seem to find it this time. - Bernie

[bigtoe]

Actually, I get to thank you for teaching me something as well Bernie....... for in all this time I never paid attention to that feature so you gave me a chance to learn something as well....... As I used to hear when growing up, "If it had been a snake it would have bitten you!!"..... So I'm fortunate that I didn't get bitten.... ... so, Thank You!!