While the KISS principle has value in many contexts, I argue that this
isn't one of them.

  Several major worm/virus outbreaks of the last four years would have been
a whole lot less severe if more people had installed updates that were
already available -- in some cases, had been for eight months.  Too many PC
users take this attitude, apparently believing that a pound of cure, and a
colossal headache for everyone else on the Internet, is far more fun than an
ounce of prevention.
  The fact that so many computer problems are pretty much invisible until
someone finds a way to abuse them should lead us to realize that users are
rarely in a position to correctly judge whether "everything works fine".  In
my work environment, I frequently encounter users whose new program/device
"works fine" -- except that it's disrupting service to hundreds or sometimes
thousands of their colleagues and neighbors.  They don't know others are
having problems, and can't tell that they're the cause.

  As to Mary's specific issue, many Yahoo games require Java applets to be
permitted.  So my hunch would be that installing SP2 tightened up the
default security level in her browser, and that loosening that one area just
a little will be better in the long run than uninstalling the whole Service
Pack.

David Gillett


On 3 Sep 2004 at 23:47, John Dent wrote:

> Mary,
>
> It may be tempting to install SP 2 but I recommend that you don't.  I use
> the Kiss principle (Keep it simple stupid!) when installing software and
> updates. If everything works fine then why upgrade? This applies to all
> software upgrades.
>
> J. Dent
>
> At 06:57 AM 9/3/2004, you wrote:
> >We play Yahoo and MSN games frequently.  We downloaded the XP Service Pak
> >2 the other day.  After doing so, we were not able to get into any of the
> >Yahoo games.   I contacted Yahoo Help, followed the instructions they have
> >to no avail.
> >
> >Finally, my son uninstalled the Service Pak and everything is working fine
> >now.  I know the Service Pak is important but we do like the option of games.
> >
> >Has anyone else had this problem.  If not, does anyone have any suggestions.
> >
> >Thanks.
> >
> >Mary Baker
> >[log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >
> >---------------------------------
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> >Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now.
> >
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>
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