David French wrote: Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 is out... does anyone care? Should anyone care?

For your Internet PC, yes it's worth having the extra security that SP2 provides. For an DAW only PC, I wouldn't worry about it as it's not really needed.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=884130&product=windowsxpsp2

That's pretty much what I figured. Thanks Blade.

I'm still waiting for a few more weeks for my Internet PC. There are so many hardware/software combinations out there, it makes it impossible for Microsoft to test them all. Let the bugs get worked out by the "Guinea Pigs", and update in a few more weeks.

I have created a "Slipstreamed" XP-SP2 install CD (with the current SP2, I'll create an updated version later), and that is how I plan on updating (with a fresh OS install/SP-2 update intergrated into 1 process). This minimizes any issues with existing software, and a fresh install every so often is not a bad thing. I will also update my OS drive image once done to have a "ready to go" backup image of my system drive :) Recording software, plugs-ins, drivers, XP updates, and all...

Enjoy :cool:

it looks like sp2 has some issues ... especially with their handling of Firewire 800. Microsoft has, in effect, reduced the throughput to 100 Mb/s rather than the 800 Mb/s it should provide.

Firewire 800 devices will become much more prevalent in the future but the only current interface working on Firewire 800 is the RME Fireface 800 (and RME has resolved this issue for the Fireface, but other fw800 peripherals will struggle with sp2, further information can be found at the tech info pages on http://www.rme-audio.com

EDITORS note: In the interest of balance, it should be noted that damienthorn works for Synthax, a retail outlet for RME products.
6 out of 7 posts (so far) from damienthorn are in regard to the Fireface800.... so take that into consideration when reading his posts.

An additional comment,
I have just had a few exchanges with Damian and he seems to be totally above board ... He has agreed to amend his profile and add a sig line so everyone knows who he is and who he represents. The reviews he refers to all all from reputable sources ... It's close to a SPAM but not quite ... :lol: I welcome Damians input to RO content.

Ive applied SP2a to my machine and not noticed any problems with cubase or any vsti so far..

As said, im sure you dont need it if you never connect to the internet as the benifits are nearly all security related.

I updated my laptop to SP2 and use USB Audio on it as well and
have to say it's fine...

I like the built in pop up feature it's got as well.
It's a bit annoying on the security warning feature until you figure out how to tell it to bugger off completely!

I do agree with the notion that if you have a dedicated machine just for audio, there should be no need to even have it on the internet. Even if it is on a network and if you do use internet it's only for updates.

My audio machine is on my firewire network here and I use it only to get files from the storage drive on another machine!

Opus

XP and DAW

I recently upgraded to XP in order to use Sonar 3, I'm using a Tascam US122 USB soundcard/linterface. Lots of issues, with XP it seems. US122 worked great with ME and Cakewalk Creator, But took me a while to work out "Blue Screens" w XP....tried new USB pci card instead of "onboard"etc....also, disabled-unplugged any other USB stuff....finally diabled "bios cache shadowing" in my bios, in addition to much other tweaking found at XPMUSIC.COM (I think) PC is smoking and so is SONAR3......incidently, I run ATHLON TBIRD1.2, w 2 hds, ~200Gig combined, and 512M ram....the Tascam rocks pretty good with XLR ins,preamps, headphone amp and all, just limited by inputs......did try SP2 but not convinced that had any affect on pc performance, and almost forgot, originally seemed to crash w multimedia, so swapped Win9 player for Real... 8)