is installing the windows service pack2 going to delete everthing and restore the whole caomputer??

Question

im jus updating my computer and dont knw if i should make backup of my files ? thinking installing service pack 2 might restore my whole computer..

Answer 1

Are you installing a CD called Windows XP with Service Pack 2? If so, yes.

Or are you downloading updates via internet explorer from Windows Update or Microsoft update? If so, no, it's just a security and functionality update (don't worry, you'll have plenty of downloading to do for security and functionality even once you get SP2; more fun for you! Hope you've got broadband, since SP2 is like 90MB and takes several hours on dial-up).

From windows update it'll just download the files, install the updates, tell you to reboot, and then walk you through like 4-5 basic setup steps and give you the option to enable windows firewall, maybe automatic updates, etc. That should be the extent of it. It adds better support of wireless networking, theoretially a bunch of cummulative patches for security and a few other various plugged holes in the operating system, and user interface tweaks. I've generally found SP2 quite stable and better at handling wireless connections than before SP2.

Anything prior to SP2 will shortly or has already stopped being supported. So anyone who wants support for their copy of Windows from M$ needs to downlaod and install SP2 to get it, since it fixes a lot of people's issues and is a general baseline for usability/functionality/security/stability of XP (IE it's a fiarly stable with a good deal or most of the bugs worked out, versus the initial release and SP1).

Answer 2

SP2 wont delete any thing. It just fixes some bugs in Windows. You dont have to take a backup. But in case you want to un-install SP2, you should select the option of backup files during installation of SP2.

Answer 3

if something goes wrong when updating your computer by installing service pack 2 it is always best to make a back up of all the saved work / files . what you can do is click on start/all programs/ accessories/system tools/restore
and click on create a restore point then when you install sp2 pack if something goes wrong on the update you can go back to
start/all programs/ accessories/system tools/restore
and click on restore my computer to an earlier time then click on the system restore that you create and you back to step 1 befor you installed sp2 update

Answer 4

Don't worry, go ahead. It will just upgrade your PC. Or, it is better to take all the backups to your another drive diffrent to yr. current active drive. and after installing sp2 you can do it back as it was.

Answer 5

No, your files will be intact.