SP2 WIthin 2 weeks

[ErnieK]

Possible release of SP2 over the next 2-3 weeks. See article below.
http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?id=22113&category=main

Standbye for multple troubles :rolleyes:

[Mark Miller]

I hope they have good instructions with it.
Like what to do with your firewall that's on already.
My biggest fear is what's going to happen to my wireless network. I have read that lots of companies that have been using the beta have had problems with their network.
I have also read that it has from time to time broken aol [My wife uses it]
I also think this time I am going to wait for a disc and not try and download it.
I just have a feeling that it will be safer to use off line than being connected.
We shall see
Mark

[ErnieK]

I have read that it is supposed to check to see if you have a firewall and AV installed and activated. If you have, then the MS firewall is SUPPOSED to disable its-self. I have read that there are a lot of AV and firwall products that it does not recognise. (AVG and ZA are supposed to be amongst these)

As for networking I have read about lots of problems with them, in particular when going from Xp to other windows versions and other OS's. Though they say these problems will be fixed prior to fianl release.

As I said lots of problems in the immidiate aftermath.

[PrntRhd]

I am going to patient.A s they say, the first adopters are the first to fall victim.
I will wait a week or three for the fixes to this.
:)

[Mark Miller]

I have to laugh, I like MS but every time there is a major update there is fear and trepidation.
My system is working as well as it ever has. XP has not crashed in over a year and a half [programs do, but not XP] and now I know that sp2 is going to screw me:eek:
This is not what surfing is supposed to be. Oh well
Mark

[ErnieK]

As far as I understand if SP2 is not installed you will not be able to install the majority of the security patches released afterwards. So if we want to keepas secure as possible we have no choice but to install it.

[malcore]

Part of updating to SP2 is updating the Windows Update client from v4 to v5 and updating the Background Intelligence Transfer service. So Ernie is probably correct that after SP2 to update Windows you will require Windows Update client v5.

I have been using SP2 RC2 from June on one test system. It's quite good actually, very stable. Of course it requires some tweaking and adjusting and it nags A LOT!

The problem will be with people not liking the change or the need to adjust, not so much with it being unstable. It's very much like having a new OS, not just an update. I like it.:)

You hear that Mark and jabar, I like it!!:D

[ErnieK]

Malcore
Exactly what nags does it popup with? The reading I have did on it does not say exactly what the nags are? Only vague hints as to what they are.

[jabarnutcase]

You hear that Mark and jabar, I like it!!:D ;)

You're a good man malcore! :D
Actually, your information is good to hear. I've hesitated to try the RC2 release...thought I would just kick back and listen to other peoples experience with it for a while.

Just about everyone that has reviewed it has had some very good things to say, so I'm actually looking forward to it.

And Ernie- Sorry. Not quite sure what the "nags" are all about either so I can't be of any help with your question. Hopefully, malcore will be back to clue us in. :)

[ErnieK]

jabar
Like you, the reports I have been reading are on the positive side for SP2 and I am looking forward to having a wee muck about with it. The downside is about the nags and the inabillity to "find" certain installed firewalls, as well as some security related software (nearly all freeware stuff) and AV software. As I previously said these include (unless this has been fixed in the last Beta version - latest build as far as I know is 2161) AVG and ZA (free versions at least) There are others as well.

As MS is now venturing into the world of AV software and is trying to push thier own firewall I wonder if this is intentional or just one of those hick-ups. I do know that I will not be installing it onto anyones computer unless I have and image of the existing OS.

[ErnieK]

Fred langa (langa.com) has just published an article on the new windows update that will be included with SP2. It is totally different from the existing windows update so worth a read. He points out its plusses and minuses.
Here is the link for it.
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=22104207

[shanmuga]

I have been using SP2 since the public beta was released. It's quite stable. Most noticeable are the improvements done to IE and the much talked about security center.

The nags are there by default, keeping in mind the nature of majority IE users, but they can be configured so that there are no nags at all. Some screenshots of nags and others.

This pops up at startup
<img src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v83/shanmuga/sp2.jpg">

When clicked on the baloon,it opens the security centre. Notice Zonealarm and Avast AV are recognized. The status of ZA is not known :confused:, should be fixed in the final release.
<img src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v83/shanmuga/sp2001.jpg">

This controls the firewall nag,
<img src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v83/shanmuga/sp2004.jpg">

This is the popup blocker settings, where you can set options per site or for all.
<img src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v83/shanmuga/sp2002.jpg">

This is where you can control the add-ons or dpfs which show in HJT as 016 items.
<img src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v83/shanmuga/sp2003.jpg">

The following article in InformationWeek explains various updates made to XP in SP2. It's different from the one Ernie posted.

Evaluating Windows XP Service Pack 2 RC2 (http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=WQ3NN00EWMAZQQSNDBCSK HQ?articleID=22103525)

The punchline, rather the punch paragraph from the article for those who doesn't want to read the 5 page article.
Real-World Recommendations
The fact of the matter is this: No matter how annoying or substantively lacking in any real advantage other than increased security, there should be no debate in business or home circles about whether this one should be installed. Just do it. We have enough computer security problems without people getting stubborn about whether this upgrade takes away some of their computer liberties. It really doesn't. There are some mostly minor adjustments required. And, for some of us, those changes may be nearly transparent. Corporate IT managers and users may have a bit more to wade through at first. But all in all, this shouldn't be heavy lifting. We're all in this security mess together, and this service pack strikes a blow for the good guys. It should be a no-brainer.

[shanmuga]

SP2 has moved a step further from SP1 in dealing with pirated copies.Some keys are outright rejected, hence will not activate and some keys will activate but fail at Automatic Updates. Is this for real this time or is it a matter of time?

<img src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v83/shanmuga/sp2005.jpg">

[ErnieK]

Shan
I am in the middle of reading the article link you put up (was reading it before) and as you say it seems to be more thourgh than my link. Thanks for the images, they give a wee bit more understanding that reading text. One thing to be carefull of though, is that MS firewall is turned back on (by default at the moment - Hopefully this will be ammended in final release) after doing intermediate updates.

[Mark Miller]

Malcore you are indeed a good man, I am proud of you:D
I am sure the service pack will be fine but as you said anything new.... well
Especially for us old folks:D

[malcore]

Hey, thanks jabar and Mark. Can I quote you on that to my wife?

Looks like it will be a little longer than a couple of weeks for SP2 to be released (http://news.com.com/Windows+update+will+be+late%2C+Microsoft+says/2100-1016_3-5265378.html?tag=nefd.top) . August, and that's for the RTM, or release to manufacturers. The RTW, or when it will be available for download will be a little later.

Shanmuga pretty much covered the nagging aspect. Xp in it's original form also nagged a fair bit. Tweaking and adjusting will be required again. Nothing too serious though.

From a security standpoint, it's a decent update. Once the initial adjustments are made, most network admins will quite like it, as will end users. Some web developers may find the adjustment a bit more difficult. Lots of changes in scripting permissions.

It's all good though.;)

[Mark Miller]

Same thing as Malcore reported but from different source.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116850,tk,dn071204X,00.asp
Mark