Reviews for Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ Service Pack 2

The current king of the Windows hill

Strengths: Universality

Weakness: Price; popularity makes it the hackers' target.

Great for fresh installs since it already includes SP2. This is the current standard in widely-available OSs. Has some security features not available in Home Edition. Careful if activating before completing your install, though; repeat activations in less than 120 days require phone calls to Microsoft.

93% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ Service Pack 2

Strengths: Has included SP2 updates for improved security and networking. Includes new driver support for updated hardware.

Weakness: SP2 still has issues that can interfere with some current software.

Installs easily just as the original MS Windows XP Professional did without the need for extended updating from the MS Windows site.

Really of no great advantage over previous versions except for the SP2 update, but remember the update is available free. The time saved for an Internet update download or Microsoft's free disk upgrade to SP2 is all that is saved.

The firewall and added security included in SP2 is of benefit to those not using antivirus or firewall programs. Happily, It shuts down easily in favor of purchased programs for this, to prevent conflicts.

The networking improvements are of great benefit to those using wireless cards as they allow for WEP and WPA security to eliminate the need for added applications, sometimes actually speeding up these connection rates using the Windows Configuration program for this.

This is still the best OS for home or small business 32 bit PC applications. Even with the security breaches of the past, it remains above others and its current security is effective.

Remember 64 bit Windows XP Professional is soon to be released in other than the free Beta for new 64 bit systems.

93% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ Service Pack 2

Strengths: Very stable, does not crash.

Weakness: Runs slower than Windows XP without the SP2 upgrade.

The upgrade went fairly smoothly, for a Microsoft product. Midway through the installation, the OS could not find my internet connection, causing some anxiety, but I just continued the process. At the very end, having congratulated me on completing the installation, the entire system hung up and could not be rebooted. Ultimately, I unplugged the computer, then plugged it back in and restarted it. After checking my hard drive because I had not closed Windows properly, it rebooted with all of the upgrade and all of my old files intact. Having installed the upgrade, I am satisfied with its daily operation.

82% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Windows XP Pro w/SP2 is a mature product

Strengths: installation, peer-to-peer network support, very complete

Weakness: none, just know that you buy 1 license for 1 computer, if you install on more than 1, you will have to buy extra licenses (activation is online, so there's no way around in case you wonder)

I installed Windows XP Pro on two computers - one with a Pentium IV 3.0 HT and one with an Amd XP 2900+
I started from OEM hard drives (unformatted). The installation process is completely automatic, it's just stunning! No expertise necessary, just let Windows do the driving! (I've installed OS for more than 20 years, I've seen it getting better and easier all the time).
Once I had installed the wireless USB adapters and entered the workgroup name, both computers were online (LAN and internet) - Windows XP Pro w/SP2 is mature - This is an awefully good operating system.

81% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Windows XP Professional w/SP2

Strengths: Excellent operating system. Microsoft is finally working to develop an operating system that is robust but user friendly while at the same time more secure.

Weakness: None that I am aware of.

I have been very pleased with the easy of installation and maintenance of XP Pro and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a change in their operating system.

80% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Great for office use

Strengths: Security features

Weakness: I don't know

You usually don't take notice of your operating system. The computer's components will play a bigger role in the PC's total utility. XP Pro seems to be the standard for all office computers nowadays, and there aren't many other options. I found this online for half of the retail price and am using it for my business PC. It hasn't malfunctioned on me yet. If you're looking for a home PC, simply get XP Home and save a few dollars. Or wait until the new Windows comes out.

79% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ Service Pack 2

It was very easy to do a full/new install. Update installation option also available. To have SP2 included is nice. Make sure to have more than 128MB of memory, otherwise the OS will run pretty slow. So far it is pretty stable for me. But then again, I used to battle with Windows ME.

78% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ Service Pack 2

Strengths: A great operating system

Weakness: Some older types of hardware and software is not compatible

Microsoft Windows XP Professional is a wonderful operating system to work with. I have been using it for several years and I am very pleased. It is well worth the price. I would highly recommend!

75% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

WIN XP PRO

Strengths: Installation was relatively easy.

Weakness: None

Directions for installation were good, no trouble installing. Was used to 98SE and just have to get used to the differences, I really like it and easy to use and navigate around in. Was a little apprehensive at first, but would recommend to anyone considering changing to a newer version.

72% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Windows XP SP2

Strengths: Product was reasonably priced and was delivered quickly.

Weakness: Once installed Microsoft said this "was NOT" a genuine copy which is what I paid for.

Suggest better quality control on Windows XP SP2 to insure it is truly a genuine copy. I have been very pleased with all other purchases from PriceGrabber.com and will continues to make purchases through them.

67% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

I HOPE VISTA WILL BE A WIN 2000 UPGRADE

Strengths: Neglible improvement from the initial release. Increased Bill Gates' net worth by 8 billion dollars from last year.

Weakness: Can't handle CPU intensive and RAM hungry applications like Autodesk 3ds MAX8 in developing games. The OS becomes extremely unstable and regularly crashes 3ds, even with 4 Gbs of RAM!

An operating system based on C++ is far less stable than that based on UNIX (Mac OS X, Linux, etc.). I had to revert back to Win 2000 (SP4 with Rollup 1) and now things run a lot better. Overall, XP is adequate for everyday stuff, boys who play the latest games my company puts out and the self-proclaimed, techno-guru geniuses (I pity you) who rank XP right up there with Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

For the rest of the disillusioned, I strongly advise that you get Win 2000 and download SP4 with Rollup 1 for now and then wait for Windows Vista SP2 to arrive. Let's make Bill earn his billions!

63% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/SP2

Strengths: latest windows drivers and technology

Weakness: for me i did not like the goofy XP look, so i changed it.

When i first Built my PC it had a AMD 64 Bit Atholn 3500 CPU, a 120 GB hard drive. i tried to use windows 98 SE in this computer because i like the way it looked, but after i had every thing working it would take 5 minute for windows 98 SE to boot the PC up. I sadly bout a copy of Window XP-Pro installed it, and it booted up in 34 second a lot faster because it had the newest technology that worked with my 64 Bit CPU better, but i did not like the XP look, so i started doing a lot of changes to make me happy, here is what i did.

1. Turned on classic looks
2. Turned on classic folder layout
3. Turn Off restore point and speed the computer up
4. Turn Off Indexing
5. Disable send Error Reporting
6. Turn Off Remote Assistance
7. Don't Hibernate
8. Switch To Classic Start Menu
9. Disable desktop cleanup wizard every 60 days
10. Turn video setting to best performance
11. Using PowerToys TweakUI
12. Then Extracted all of my windows 98 SE desk top icons, and put them in my new computer with XP-RPO
13. turned off AutoComplete
14. turned on Use Classic Explorer
15. now i go to windows updates on the internet and get all of the updates
16. install ALL other drivers i need.

Last Thing now i use the Back up software, i bout called Acronis True image 9 and make a Full back copy of my hard drive to a DVD, so i do not have to ever do all of the stuff above ever again.

I am now very happy with windows XP-PRO, it looks liked windows 98 SE now after i am don, but it is really XP-PRO and has all of the latest drivers, updates, and technology.

63% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Windows XP Professional w/SP2 (Full Product)

Strengths: Features SP2 to improve functionality and security Was practically plug and play on a new system. New security features includes built-in firewall Microsoft Security Center Fully customizeable

Weakness: As usual Microsoft Software always has bugs and you must rely on Microsoft to post updates until the next wave of attacks on this highly popular software. Doesn't even come with MS Word. Crashes.

The future will bring rise to an old but secure OS called Linux. Until then all my games and other software will cater to the majority which is Microsoft software. Linux is gaining some momentum in other parts of the world such as China due to it's security flaws. HP has begun selling desktops with Linux on them. What next dual Operating System software? Windows XP crashes from time to time with few ill effects. I may have to buy Windows XP but I don't have to like it all. It's better than the other versions of Windows but I am skeptical on their new 64-bit software. Encourage your favorite software companies to write Linux programs as well. Competition is good for everyone. You would still have a Pentium 3 if it weren't for AMD putting pressure on Intel.

59% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ Service Pack 2

Strengths: Windows XP is the most common operating system in the world, i.e., it is an international standard.

Weakness: It is a bug ridden inefficient sophmoric piece of trash.

Please note I knew exactly what I was buying when I bought it. Poor as it is, it is the standard for desktops and laptops.

52% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

windows XP anything else is stupid

Strengths: geat stable works with everything in the world, unlike linix and unix and mac.

Weakness: none, if there is a weakness they make a patch for it.

Im tired of hearing all the linix, unix, mac fanboys say its horrable. What they dont get is when you running more then 8 programs in the back ground it takes a bit more power to run, and these people slaping windows xp in there down right horrable unupgraded systems saying its horrable, upgrade every 5 years you shouldent have a porblem. Next windows can run every comeputer applacation out there including games, can Linix, or Mac? oh that cant that sux, maybe you should get a operating system that can like windows, also windows has slight bugs mybe that because its 650 mb's of code unlike mac witch is close to 100 mb's, witch allows windows to run all the programs.

If you update your computer ocasionaly, and drivers and update windows, it will run flawless from day 1 to next time you upgrade it. Ive used windows xp from 2001 till now there is no other operating system that comes close, thats why bill gates is payed 8 billion dollars a year.

If you use a home system and did not build a custom pc JUST USE THE SYSTEM DISKS OR BACKUP PROGRAM, of course is guna have problems putting a fresh copy of XP on your home system cuz that windows is espicaly set of for that computer, dont put a fresh copy xp on your home system unless you absolutly have to, its is for fresh systems and companys. not systems with pre existing windows.

40% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL WITH SP2

Strengths: A GOOD PRODUCT

Weakness: IT WAS A LITTLE HARD TO ADD A SECOND LANGUATE FOR THE KEYBOARD. BUT THIS IS NOT TOO IMPORTANT.

I HAVE USED IT FOR OVER TWO WEEKS AND IS PERFORMING GREAT. THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN FROM IT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND IT AND USED IT CORRECTLY. OK.

0% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Microsoft Windows XP professional full version

Strengths: Very nice operating system

Weakness: Not a genuine copy of Windows XP pro

The product that I received looked great and appeared new and unopened. However, when installed, I was immediately informed by "Microsoft" that it was not a genuine copy of Windows and the product key had been used multiple times before. I was not happy with the continual reminders that this was not a genuine copy of Windows. I Was able to get Microsoft genuine advantage kit legal license directly from Microsoft for $199.

Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Win Xp Pro

Strengths: Bogus Software

Weakness: Bogus Software

I had been using this system since a May 2007 purchase.
Now the system will not pass validation. MicroSoft says
a KEYGEN program was used for this. It was a Volume License
from another country. So I am out the $92 I paid for it
and will have to spend $149 ( to MicroSoft ) to get a valid License to use the XP Pro. Be advised this JoMart Sales is selling bogus software.

Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?

Windows Xp Professional with Sp2 -exactly what I...

Strengths: I needed a new, unused, unregistered copy of Wndows Xp Professional, because Office 2007 runs and displays BEST on Xp Pro. The softwear was exactly as specified in the sellers ad.

Weakness: NONE!!

The product was double-boxed, Microsoft seals intact, Windows Xp Professional. It was exactly as stated in the ad. According to the box, it was released in 2005, and it has service pack 2 included. It was just what I wanted. It was very fairly priced...it cost $100.00 less than the same product ordered from a large online "bookseller". It saved me money versus purchasing it in a store or from another online seller, and it was shipped in a timely fashion. I was very satisfied with my purchase.

Did you find it helpful or unhelpful?