WindowsXP SP2 Microsoft start the Ball, rolling...

Glad I'm still waiting before I install this Pandora box...

Well... "problem". What's happening here is that the firewall is enabled by default and thus just about anything accessing the web gets blocked. This is not faulty behaviour, just something to be aware of.

Every computer is different I guess cause I havent got any problems so far.

I don't see the problem with it.

I have just disabled the WinXP Firewall because i use Zonealarm. So, no problems what so ever. Everything is working just fine!

Article Summary After you install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), some programs may seem not to work. By default, Windows Firewall is enabled and blocks unsolicited connections to your computer. This article discusses how to make an exception and enable a program to run by adding it to the list of exceptions. This procedure permits the program to work as it did before the service pack was installed.

Ah, that make sense. If the program is going to work, it has to be accepted manually. That could be more secure than just letting it go through.

I use Norton Personal Firewall so I turned off the Windows Firewall...So the security center says the firewall is OK...Also, When I first installed Norton Personal Firewall it too blocked just about everything. After a week or so of accepting etc connections it and XP SP2 work great here.

I think I should get Norton. I like it better. I have McAfee now and its cool but... I guess I am more in the linking of yellow and greens these days. mcAffe is blue and silver...

I see. Not an issue then. I would disable the firewall anyway. Don't want a software firewall, my Network is already stealth.

Again, I just went and read all the new features with SP2, and I still can't find one single reason why I should bother:

1. Help protect your PC from harmful attachments.

By alerting you to potentially unsafe attachments, SP2 helps guard your computer from viruses that can spread through Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, and Windows Messenger.

(No thank you, I'll decide what's harmfull or not. If I want to send or receive an EXE by email, I like to be able to. I already have disabled this "feature" in Outlook.)

2. Improve your privacy when you’re on the Web.

SP2 helps protect your private information by applying the security settings that guard your PC to the files and content downloaded using Internet Explorer.

(Not sure what that means but it sounds scary. Again, I don't want Windows or IE to decide for me what I should download or not. Windows should quit being so intrusive, let me have the control.)
 
3. Avoid potentially unsafe downloads.

Internet Explorer download monitoring and the Internet Explorer Information Bar warn you about potentially harmful downloads and give you the option to block files that could be malicious.

(Again, see #2)
 
4. Reduce annoying pop-ups.

Internet Explorer Pop-Up Blocker makes browsing the Internet more enjoyable by helping you reduce the unwanted ads and content that pop up when you’re browsing the Web.
 
(OK, cool, but I already have Google bar. Does a fine job.)

5. Get firewall protection from startup to shutdown.

The powerful, built-in Windows Firewall is now turned on by default. This helps protect Windows XP against viruses and worms that can spread over the Internet.

(No thank you. Don't want a software firewall.)
 
6. Take control of your security settings.

The new Windows Security Center allows you to easily view your security status and manage key security settings in one convenient place.

(Not sure what that means, I can change the anti-virus options in Norton. I doubt this Security Center will be able to change my router settings.)
 
7. Get the latest updates easily.

Enhancements to Windows XP’s Automatic Updates feature make it even easier to access Windows updates. Plus, new technology has been added to help dial-up customers download updates more efficiently.

(How can it be easier? I go to Windows Update site and it tells me what I need. I don't want more than that. I have the automatic updadtes already diabled because I like to go myself manually. Again, I hate when things are done automatically behind my back. I like to have to keep the control of my PC.)
 
8. Help protect your e-mail address.

Improvements to Outlook Express help reduce unwanted e-mail by limiting the possibility of your e-mail address being validated by potential spammers.

(Not sure what this is. Sounds like a cool thing, but unfortunately I don't use Outlook Express, but Outlook.)
 
9. Take action against crashes caused by browser add-ons.

The new Add-On Manager in Internet Explorer lets you easily view and control add-ons to reduce the potential for crashes and enjoy a more trouble-free browsing experience.

(OK, sounds fine. But I read somewhere that you can't uninstall unwanted plugins, only disable it.  I would like to have a real plugin manager where i can remove the plugins and third party toolbars I don't want not just disable them.)
 
10. Go wireless without the hassle.

SP2 improves wireless support and simplifies the process of discovering and connecting to wireless networks in your home or on the road.

(My wireless works fine right now, never have a problem.)

 

Overall I find more reason NOT to install SP2 than reasons to install it.  I guess eventually I'll have no choice as I'm sure there will be software that may require it. I'll see then.

I agree Paxx...everything I've read tells me SP2 is not all it's cracked up to be. I think I'll pass unless I absolutely have to install it.

Jeez how many times have we heard this.......

Let me think................................

Every time MS releases a new anything.......

You will eventually have to install it

No, most of the time, I'm one to upgrade as soon as possible. Heck, I can't wait till Loghorn.  But this one just scares me. It sounds like it will limit me more than help me.

I had all the family call me in the last week, questioning the need for the service pack. As we are all behind routers,(I am dual layered there) I told everyone to not worry for awhile, until such time as they buy something that just refuses to operate properly. I have the service pack and a slipstream built install as well. I installed it on a few virtual PC's both in VMWare and MS Vitual PC 2K4, and it was annoying but usable, so far. I am worndering how many Program Turds are sneaking around in the system waiting to be sprung. I guess MS spoilt us by worrying about covering backwards compatibility. I think it all comes down to points like paxx, and others like myself work at, keep ontop of your machine and it will already be a safe environment, to work in. I think the spyware and Popup add are working to MS advantage to add strangleholds on the USERS, they just don't know it yet. I guess I am just getting old. I used to jump on the beta OS'es as quickly as possible... Now I am leery as all get out, even with my machines Imaged and restore is only a few minutes away.

My guess is MS will find a way to 'encourage' people to upgrade to SP2. Something like they did with SP1 and the USB 2.0 drivers.
[Message Edited]

Really, it's just a service pack. Doesn't make it any worse, and from what I've seen, doesn't make it much better. All the little intrusive things that annoyed me after I upgraded, I just turned them off. No big deal.

However, there have been a lot of fixes and some of them might be helpful to some people.




[Message Edited]

I like the service pack mostly because it cuts down on shutdown time with a usb keyboard, much better then before.

The Screensavers said it is much better to get a router with an intergrated firewall then get any Software Firewall.

Well, to keep things interesting and so folks can look under the Hood, here's a blatant article theft from slashdot. well the web page ref anyway. Here's a list of the Bug Fixes as released by MS, itself.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kbEN-US811113
Knowledgebase Article #811113 (warning the list is extensive)

Each Item links back to anothe KB Article. Now from working at MS myself I know, there are a bazillion KB articles, that the average user does not see. These are used as internal refferences for problem solution and they do not get published to the External KB dbase, until they go through an edit, testing and review by several employees. The other neat thing is that it seems alot of those annoying "do you want to send report" messages folks get when something crashes, might actually be doing something.

"The page you were looking for is currently not available. The address may not be correct, or there may be a temporary problem with this site."

That's because the URL got parsed by the WC filter.

The real URL is: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113

[Message Edited]

Hmmm that was weird... Thanks paxx.

Thanks! Very useful information indeed. I have updated to Sp2 and everything seems to function perfectly on my system, though it's a bit early to jump to conclusions. I just wish the ones shouting the loudest, would take time to check out this list... but that's propably too much to ask.

I had problems with msn but most of the time if an app isnt working properly after the upgrade just uninstall and reinstall and then it should work.

Here's the Newest Discovery For XPSP2.
Researchers spot XP SP2 security weakness
"IE drag and drop feature could be exploited by hackers
Iain Thomson, vnunet.com 20 Aug 2004

Security researchers believe they have discovered a weakness in the new security given to Windows XP by the recently unveiled Service Pack 2 (SP2).

Since XP SP2 was released, activists have been searching for weaknesses in the security-focused service pack. Microsoft yesterday dismissed claims by German researchers to already have discovered a flaw.

Now a group has claimed that exploit code could bypass the new security procedures in XP by using the 'drag and drop' features of Internet Explorer."


http://www.vnunet.com/news/1157493
Full Story Link

Hmmm, I've got a NAT enabled router, ZoneAlarm, AdAware SE, AVG, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird, ISP enabled web-mail, Mailwasher...

Is there anything else in SP2 besides security fixes for IE and OE?

Use script to block Windows XP SP2 updates: Microsoft
http://www.itnews.com.au/storycontent.asp?ID=17&Art_ID=21201

"Microsoft has offered yet another way for businesses to block the Automatic Update of Windows XP to the big-deal SP2 upgrade.

The developer posted a copy-and-paste script to its TechNet http://www.microsoft.com/technet/default.mspx
website that lets administrators block or unblock specific PCs from receiving SP2 via Windows Automatic Update or the Windows Update website. "

Windows update harbors AMD conflict
By Matt Hines
CNET News.com
August 27, 2004, 11:43 AM PT

A problem in the Service Pack 2 update for Windows XP may keep owners of AMD-based computers from using the long-awaited security package, according to Microsoft.

In an article posted in the Knowledge Base section of its Web site, Microsoft says that Service Pack 2 may not work with computers running Advanced Micro Devices' 64-bit microprocessors. The Redmond, Wash.-based company says owners of such PCs may want to bypass the update completely.

KBase Article link
http://dw.com.com/redir?destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsupport.microsoft.com%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fscid%3Dkb%3Ben-us%3B878474&siteId=2&oId=2100-1103-5326707&ontId=11&lop=nl_ex