XP Pro and SP1a 1

[dunkinmoon]

Have a virgin laptop with XP Pro and don't want to update with SP1 because I've heard it really slows things down. Is SP1a any better?
Thanks for advice

 

[linney]

Probably not, I think the only difference is that SP1 has Microsoft's Java VM and SP1a doesn't have any Java Machine due to on going legal battles with Sun.

813926 - Differences Between Windows XP SP1 and Windows XP SP1a

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;813926&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Personally, I'd install the service pack. You can always uninstall them if they were to cause problems.

 

[Jontmke]

It wasn't the Service pack that was the problem, it was another patch from Windows update. Go ahead and install it.

Jon

There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge. (Bertrand Russell)

 

[craigey]

I thought the dodgy patch was included in SP1. Saying that I'm using SP1 without any problems. But you may want to wait for SP2, which should be due soonish.

 

[Lucifudge]

sp1 is no longer available for download from MS if I am not mistaken, use a

 

[craigey]

Microsoft admit XP SP1 causes slowdown..

http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/xp-sp1-bug.html

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Admits is a little strong..It states that in a very particular and unusual situation, the updated large heap allocation algorithm may cause a problem..BUT, unless you are running a very unusual and non-typical windows program written to exploit this error, it is not likely to affect you and you should not ( according to the KB article ) apply this fix..


There was, however, an update that did cause massive slowdowns when applied to a SP1 updated XP system.
It was Update #811493 - the most recent version of this update has supposedly eliminated the problem but, I
would still be wary of it..