Removing SP2?

[deadly7]

So, since my copy of WinXP is "legit" right now, my brother is buying one from his university for <$10.  There's only one catch: it has SP2 pre-installed.  Is there any way I can remove that hunk of shit from Windows or am I stuck with it? :\

[Sidoh]

SP2 isn't really that bad.

[Warrior]

Someone likes purposely making Windows insecure so they can make fun of it later.
</joke>

But really, it adds nothing but bugfixes. Why would you remove it?

Answer: If when you installed SP2 you clicked an option to back up pre-SP2 settings you should see it in Add/Remove Programs

[deadly7]

Someone likes purposely making Windows insecure so they can make fun of it later.
</joke>

But really, it adds nothing but bugfixes. Why would you remove it?

Answer: If when you installed SP2 you clicked an option to back up pre-SP2 settings you should see it in Add/Remove Programs

Nonono, you don't understand what I'm saying.  It's one of the new Windows XP cds that comes with SP2 already installed for you, so you have no choice of making a backup or anything.

And I've seen SP2 cause problems and be annoying with its stupid little pop-up saying you have no virus/whatever when in fact you do.  And I'd much rather not have SP2.  You may like it, that's fine.  I haven't gotten a virus in ages and I'm not stupid when I'm browsing websites.

[iago]

I have to agree with deadly7: I find SP2 annoying.  All the extra stuf they added for more "security" drives me crazy. 

Which reminds me of a question I meant to ask: is there some way to disable warnings for having automatic updates disabled?  I don't like having automatic updates on (since I generally run it virtualized, never seeing the Internet), but it bugs me if they're off. 

[MyndFyre]

I have to agree with deadly7: I find SP2 annoying.  All the extra stuf they added for more "security" drives me crazy. 

That's just because you don't know how to make it go away.  Deadly: give me 20 minutes to remote desktop to your computer and you won't be bothered by the security center.  I'd stick with SP2 though.

Which reminds me of a question I meant to ask: is there some way to disable warnings for having automatic updates disabled?  I don't like having automatic updates on (since I generally run it virtualized, never seeing the Internet), but it bugs me if they're off. 

I.... think so.  I certainly never get bothered for updates (and then I wonder why I have 30 updates when I bother to check).  But it never nags me.

[Ergot]

I've never used Windows XP pre-SP2... so it doesn't really bother me. I don't seen any real big annoyance though.

[Sidoh]

I have to agree with deadly7: I find SP2 annoying.  All the extra stuf they added for more "security" drives me crazy. 

Clicking a button?  I don't see how that could drive anyone 'crazy,' but hey, I'll take your word for it. :/

Which reminds me of a question I meant to ask: is there some way to disable warnings for having automatic updates disabled?  I don't like having automatic updates on (since I generally run it virtualized, never seeing the Internet), but it bugs me if they're off. 

Yep.  In the security center, click on the button/link that says something like "Change the way security center alerts me."

[iago]

Clicking a button?  I don't see how that could drive anyone 'crazy,' but hey, I'll take your word for it. :/

No, clicking a warning that comes up constantly, especially at the worst possible times (during meetings, etc)

Yep.  In the security center, click on the button/link that says something like "Change the way security center alerts me."

I don't remember seeing that option before.  But, I tend to ignore the links at the left, because usually they're shortcuts to other places that I don't really want to go anyways.  This is the first time I've seen an option there that I couldn't change in a more logical place.  Ohwell, that's one less annoyance

[Warrior]

Oh yea, forgot about that option. Well, I don't know then. The best thing to do is remove these "annoyances" you have. Behind the scenes SP2 does a lot more than it shows security wise.

[iago]

Behind the scenes SP2 does a lot more than it shows security wise.

Such as?

[Warrior]

Behind the scenes SP2 does a lot more than it shows security wise.

Such as?

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

Knock yourself out.

[Eric]

Oh yea, forgot about that option. Well, I don't know then. The best thing to do is remove these "annoyances" you have. Behind the scenes SP2 does a lot more than it shows security wise.

Definately — you should have no reason for removing SP2.

[iago]

Behind the scenes SP2 does a lot more than it shows security wise.

Such as?

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

Knock yourself out.

Hah, I knew you wouldn't know.  gg. 

[Warrior]

Behind the scenes SP2 does a lot more than it shows security wise.

Such as?

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

Knock yourself out.

Hah, I knew you wouldn't know.  gg. 

I actually don't know what you do/don't. From what I read there however, they seemed to clean up their act codewise. You can check it out if you're interesting, I was just throwing it out there.

[Sidoh]

No, clicking a warning that comes up constantly, especially at the worst possible times (during meetings, etc)

With some work, I'm pretty sure that can be disabled.  In any case, I don't see the big problem of clicking a button during a meeting.

I don't remember seeing that option before.  But, I tend to ignore the links at the left, because usually they're shortcuts to other places that I don't really want to go anyways.  This is the first time I've seen an option there that I couldn't change in a more logical place.  Ohwell, that's one less annoyance

I didn't notice it until I did a search on google to find out how to disable those warnings.  I have to search google to find out how to do those sorts of things in Linux too, though.

[MyndFyre]

I didn't notice it until I did a search on google to find out how to disable those warnings.  I have to search google to find out how to do those sorts of things in Linux too, though.

What??  *gasp* 

[iago]

No, clicking a warning that comes up constantly, especially at the worst possible times (during meetings, etc)

With some work, I'm pretty sure that can be disabled.  In any case, I don't see the big problem of clicking a button during a meeting.

Yeah, but it's pretty annoying when you have powerpoint up and you're addressing a bunch of people, when suddenly it pops up, "your computer might not be secure!"

[Warrior]

No, clicking a warning that comes up constantly, especially at the worst possible times (during meetings, etc)

With some work, I'm pretty sure that can be disabled.  In any case, I don't see the big problem of clicking a button during a meeting.

Yeah, but it's pretty annoying when you have powerpoint up and you're addressing a bunch of people, when suddenly it pops up, "your computer might not be secure!"

But it might not be!!!!

(Kidding)

[Sidoh]

Yeah, but it's pretty annoying when you have powerpoint up and you're addressing a bunch of people, when suddenly it pops up, "your computer might not be secure!"

Why is it annoying?  Because it's humilliating?  If people don't understand what the security dialog is, they will probably overlook it, especially since you will almost always dispose of it in a matter of a few seconds.  If they do understand what it is, I doubt they'll care.  They know that it is out of your reasonable control to disable.

[iago]

Yeah, but it's pretty annoying when you have powerpoint up and you're addressing a bunch of people, when suddenly it pops up, "your computer might not be secure!"

Why is it annoying?  Because it's humilliating?  If people don't understand what the security dialog is, they will probably overlook it, especially since you will almost always dispose of it in a matter of a few seconds.  If they do understand what it is, I doubt they'll care.  They know that it is out of your reasonable control to disable.

It's like anything else unexpected that happens during a presentation -- it sort of ruins the flow and such. 

[Sidoh]

It's like anything else unexpected that happens during a presentation -- it sort of ruins the flow and such. 

If you use Windows at all, then you'll expect it.  I gave a presentation with a laptop running Linux and there was a slew of unexpected things (even during boot -- the damn thing decided to do check disk because it was the '30th boot') happened, but it was no problem.  I don't understand how a dialog box would ruin the flow of a presentation.  If it came up in the middle of a presentation, I would understand, but that could show a definite lack of preparation too, which isn't Microsoft's fault.

[iago]

You can (at least on Slackware) kill the 30th-boot diskcheck with control-c.  Just so you know for next time.  If you did a hard reboot, you can't kill it, though, you have to let it verify the disk. 

Maybe the whole problem is the nature of how I am.  I don't like real-time alerts for things.  I am extremely easy to distract, and my train of thought is bumpy, at best.  One little thing changes, and suddenly I completely forget what I was doing. 

The way I have Linux set up, there are never any realtime alerts.  gAIM boxes open on a different desktop, error messages only show up in logs, and so on.  That's a personal preference, of course, I can see more alerts being useful. 

Also, while we're talking about it, I HATE that little "Take a tour of Windows XP!" popup. 

[Sidoh]

You can (at least on Slackware) kill the 30th-boot diskcheck with control-c.  Just so you know for next time.  If you did a hard reboot, you can't kill it, though, you have to let it verify the disk. 

Yeah, I know, but the person I left in charge of booting up the laptop while I was setting up the projector didn't.   

Maybe the whole problem is the nature of how I am.  I don't like real-time alerts for things.  I am extremely easy to distract, and my train of thought is bumpy, at best.  One little thing changes, and suddenly I completely forget what I was doing. 

The way I have Linux set up, there are never any realtime alerts.  gAIM boxes open on a different desktop, error messages only show up in logs, and so on.  That's a personal preference, of course, I can see more alerts being useful. 

I'm pretty sure (with a little effort), you can accomplish the same in Windows.

Also, while we're talking about it, I HATE that little "Take a tour of Windows XP!" popup. 

Download tweakui (it's a microsoft utility) and turn off Toolbar -> Desktop Tips (or something like that).  That'd solve your problem.

[Warrior]

I also see this as a design flaw in Windows, I'm pretty sure I've posted how I felt about anything taking focus away from my current window as well. Windows needs to either implement a "Non intrusive" mode good for presentations and such where no tooltips popup or they popup in a less distracting manner, etc..

[deadly7]

Or, how about an easy-to-find feature that lets you disable all that stuff?