SP2 seems to have no effect on performance on my machine, I installed it in last year. The only frustrating problem I encountered was the inability to use the installer, thus I could not install anything that used the msi. What a nightmare. 2 days of searching the net and trying 70 different things, it turns out on occassion sp2 will reset all the user security levels, even admins.I had to go through the registy and locate all the....well, I digress, needless to say I'm still not sure which solution fixed it, I think it was the settings for msi itself in the registry or changing the admin rights in the administrative settings, but problem eventually solved. Ian.

I can see some mission critical environments, when you don't patch an OS without extensive testing, but for more mainstream installs SP2 is the current, supported configuration. I wonder how much testing hardware and software vendors do with SP1 or less these days? Probably not that much.scott s..

If anyone cares, of the many MANY computers that I admin, I have installed SP2 on all of them with no problems.As to my gaming rig, it has SP2 on it and I have seen no problems at all.

Thank you, I will disable those services.Regards, Carlos

>Hi, Neil.>It is obvious that you are not honest, with yourself and>others, or don't know any better. I have a couple questions>for you.> What firewall protection are you using? And Why?> As far as problems and Security issues are concerned, you>must live in the La La land if you think SP2 offers you 100%>protection. And there quite a number of Drivers and some older>utilities, and apps that many people / businesses are using,>that have all sorts of problems with SP2. You must be using>your system to play games and in that case you will never know>and or understand reality. This OS is used in more than just>games. Question to you, Who is paying for the time and effort>that the customers are forced to go through? TV>>>Most of what you're using as reasons not to load important>>security and bug fixes are conjecture and rumor. I have>been>>using SP2 for 2 years and have never seen any issues at>>all...period. >First of all, don't personally insult me by calling me dishonest. Second of all, nowhere did I say that SP2 is all you need or provides "100% protection". I do, however think that by not installing it you are adding risk and reducing your protection. As for what firewall I use, I use defense in depth, which is the only sensible approach to IT security. I use the Windows firewall along with a robust anti-virus and anti-malware product on my system, and I also have a hardware firewall using NAT and other security protection. As for living in LaLa land and only playing games, I highly doubt that, but I won't go into details here. PM me if you want details.

You still haven't answered what is so bad about SP2. I have never had any issues with it and it hasn't slowed my games down any.

>Hi.>If that indeed remains the case, they are shooting themselves>in the foot, because most of the Pilots I know, that use FS,>do not want to get close to SP2 and nor will I.Did you miss the statement from Brian that certain features of SP2 are required by FSX?

>>Hi.>>If that indeed remains the case, they are shooting>themselves>>in the foot, because most of the Pilots I know, that use FS,>>do not want to get close to SP2 and nor will I.>>Did you miss the statement from Brian that certain features of>SP2 are required by FSX?I doubt he cares one way or another, if he even read it.Like all people refusing to install SP2 he's an irresponsible brat, probably just another little anti-Microsoft zealot because that's KEWL MAN!.

>I doubt he cares one way or another, if he even read it.I have to wonder though if some of the folks around here really give a rat's patootie one way or another what their personal choices are?Yes, I'll grant you everyone has the unalienable right to hold and even express their opinions. Lord knows, I do so myself often enough! :+ The real question though is why they feel it's so important to "inform the world?" :-lol

Hey venting?>Like all people refusing to install SP2 he's an irresponsible brat, >probably just another little anti-Microsoft zealot because that's >KEWL MAN!.What Mental asylum were you released from? You cannot possibly be normal going around insulting everybody. While I read the posts I am sure that f they wanted to write code without using SP2 they would have done it. But that probably is beyond your comprehension because your IQ may be the only one that has a negative number? TV

I just KNEW that this thread was going to head south -- as soon as I saw the first posting! :) In fact , the only thing that I am surprised about is that it hasn't gone further south (yet). Barry

if you really think a hardware firewall can magically protect you, then you probably should not be anywhere near a network!

SP2 does nothing, but nothing damaging at all. In certain systems it will even improve performace as a few drivers work better with SP2 installed.Your idea of not installing SP2 is like not wanting to upgrade your drivers just because the ones you have work just fine, or keep on using Windows 2000, even if you have the chance of getting XP for free.I have 4 computers. All of them have SP2, none had any problem after SP2, none lost any performance after SP2. I format every 6 months to keep things clean, and the first thing I installed after Windows is SP2.If there's someone whose computer got "screwed" after SP2, he had a faulty XP installation.I hope you don't use IE without SP2, as there's no harware firewall that can stop anyone to hack your PC with the big window you open with it.I agree it is stupid FSX asks SP2 to be installed as it doesn't need it, but stop thinking that SP2 will cause any problem. MS is not perfect, but I still like it (well, after disabling WGA that keeps annoying me until I activate Windows at every format I do).Leo

Per Microsoft...Guys, they don't make these vulnerabilities up, I do not see any reason in the world someone would not install SP2. It did not change or break anything architectually, just plugged holes...I would seriously reconsider if I were you...Paul************Official warning on Windows bugs************Windows XP on laptop, GettyThe bug allows attackers to take over Windows machinesThe US Department of Homeland Security has urged Windows users to install the latest patches from Microsoft as quickly as possible.In particular it warned about one bug fixed in the latest batch of security updates that, if exploited, could put a PC under the control of an attacker.Microsoft's recent update fixed 23 flaws found in Windows software.Many of these bugs are known to malicious hackers and some are already actively exploited on the net.Fast fixMicrosoft typically issues security updates for Windows and its associated programs on the second Tuesday of every month. In the August update, seven of the fixes were rated as "critical" - the highest rating.The DHS was most concerned about the flaw identified in the MS06-040 security report. This identified a problem with the Windows server service that allows attackers to take over machines without users doing anything to help.A worm written to exploit this bug "could enable an attacker to remotely take control of an affected system and install programs, view, change, or delete data, and create new accounts with full user rights," said the DHS in a statement. As well as overseeing efforts to combat terrorism the DHS also has a role in cybersecurity.It said it expected the bug to be exploited within 24 hours of its existence becoming known.Microsoft reported via its security blog that it had already seen a "limited" attack using this bug. It also said that there had been more than 100 million downloads of the MS06-040 fix since it was made available.The server service bug is found in Windows 2000, XP and Windows Server 2003.The vulnerabilities fixed by other patches are found in a variety of Windows programs including the Office software suite and the Internet Explorer browser.One bug being patched is found in Microsoft's PowerPoint presentation software and an exploit code is known to be circulating online. Security experts said 11 other flaws were known to malicious hacking groups.Users can get hold of the fixes via the Windows Update site or by using the update tool on Windows.

Hi KenThe point I guess some of us try to make is not about having problem with SP2. It's just that it significantly adds to XP footprint in live memory. On my rig, with "only" (!) 1 Gb of memory, FS9 works OK but on the edge with all the meshes, sceneries, fancy textures/hi poly count aircraft I now have. hmmm, I may've to make another try to see whether I can opt out on some features... with SP1+XP patches+AVG my computer works great and securely AFAIC.