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According to an icon that comes up on my computer at start up, Microsoft are stopping updates for service Pack 1 from the 10th October 2006.

Obviously this is there way at trying to get everybody to upgrade to Service Pack 2 which I have so far decided not to do due to the various horror stories floating around the internet about downloading SP2.

So for security isuuses/updates then is it essential to now have to download SP2 to keep my computer protected? I assume it is.

Any tips and advice on any pitfalls and perils of SP2? I do have it on my laptop and I have no problems with it there but it had SP2 on it when I bought it.

Anyway any advice and information on this would be a help.

I'll be honest SP2 was never a problem for me. I heard the horror stoies and expected problems, but got nothing.

One tip I would reccomend is to enable DEP (Data Execution Prevention). Alot of Malware uses the expolit.

Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System* > Advanced tab

In the Performance group, click on Settings
On the Performance Option, click on the Data Execution Prevention tab
Click on Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select
Click OK
Click OK again
Reboot


*Might be labelled 'see basic information about your computer' if not in classic view

Thanks to both of you for replying.

I have installed SP2 on many PCs & laptops and never had a problem.

My main suggestion would be AFTER the install, when you have rebooted, leave the PC alone for 10 minutes.

Windows can only do some updates after the reboot so if you leave it alone it can get on with it.

Also note that if you DONT install SP2 (and the follow on fixes) you are leaving yourself open to loads of attacks.

Should point out - if you do this make sure you do it logged in a an Administator.

Yeah and isn't SP2 for security so the Average Joe need not worry so much?