XP - Service Pack 2 suggestions?

[Jagmandave]

I have an older computer that still works really well that I've decided to give to the grandkids to use as their gaming computer. I legally upgraded it from ME to XP a while back, but it hasn't been used now for over three years. When I went to Microsoft Update and tried to download SP2 it just would not work. Any suggestions?

 

[Timber]

I have an older HP with XP over ME on it. I maxed the memory on it and it took the service pac a long time ago. My wife uses it just for Internet and all my camera programs and my all in one printer is on it. I don't think it will be a good gaming computer. It will not have enough memory for gaming. What you have really is just a web capable computer now or a base port to run your printers and peripherals through

 

[hudr]

Instead of getting SP2 from Windows Update, try downloading the actual file (hope you have broadband, its well over 100MB) to the computer and then installing it locally.
Depending on the age of the grandkids, it could work really well (Reader Rabbit type stuff and games in the $9.99 section at Office Depot) but it probably won't have the horsepower to run many late model games.

 

[MrJimi]

Use the PC on line and microsoft will see that you to get an update and it will find you, really, it works great
Jim

 

[RoyJackson]

I have an older computer that still works really well that I've decided to give to the grandkids to use as their gaming computer. I legally upgraded it from ME to XP a while back, but it hasn't been used now for over three years. When I went to Microsoft Update and tried to download SP2 it just would not work. Any suggestions?

Are you sure it doesn't already have SP2 installed? To find out, go to control panel and click on system. Then click on general (if it's not already displayed). If service pack 2 is installed, you'll see it listed there.

If it's not installed, what error code did you get when you tried to install it?

As Timber wrote, this PC probably won't do too well with newer high graphics games. Simple games for small kids should do fine though.

 

[jwstewar]

As Timber wrote, this PC probably won't do too well with newer high graphics games. Simple games for small kids should do fine though.

Don't even know about that any more. Our kids are 5 & 7. I had a Compaq AMD Athlon 500 that ran XP like a champ with 384 MB of RAM. A lot of their games now won't even run on it. A lot of them now are wanting a P3 gig or better. So the poor old Compaq finally got retired. It is now sitting out in the garage until I decide to do something with it.

 

[tawilson]

Last I knew, Microsoft will send you a cd of sp2 if you request it. I have a couple after forgetting about ordering the first one.

 

[KubotaSteve]

I agree as far as the gaming computer. If you are talking about the various online games that look very close to real life, you are wasting your time. Even if the computer will run the game, it will be so slow they won't stand a chance. My brother is a big gamer, and his video card has its own fan, plus he is running a duo core processor as well as several gigs of RAM. He isn't into it as much as he used to be because of expense of constantly upgrading.As everyone else said, it will be fine for web browsing or simple games (solitaire, hearts, or some of the kids games).

 

[Jagmandave]

Thanks for all the replies, guys!I think I got it tho. When I booted up today there was a popup window that said there were security patches waiting to be installed - 59 of them in fact! - after running those, I went back to Windows update and SP2 downloaded normally, so I guess I had to have those in first.As to the adequecy of this computer for gaming, they have some older car chase type games that run just fine on their current computer but their video card is going out I think, that's why I offered this computer.As to system info, this computer has an Athlon running at 1.0, with 512 mb ram. I know that's way better than what they're using now! It's also the fastest computer I've ever owned as far as boot up time, seems like it only takes a few seconds. This computer has the biggest case and the loudest fan of any I've ever owned too! I bought a 2.6 P4 Media Center to replace it about 3 years ago, which has been trouble free as well.As to IE 7, I've been running it on all three of my other computers (home desktop, laptrop and work PC) with aboslutely no problems. I was running Firefox before, but when IE 7 came out with the tabbed browsing feature, I went back.Appreciate all the help and comments!