Does anyone here have SP2? Windows Automatic Update downloaded it, but I don't want to install it since I hear all of these stories about how it will stop programs from working and all of that. So if you have it, what did it do?

It depends what version of XP you have.

 

Make a partition on your hard drive, install your version of winXP on it, and then install the service pack. Then watch the results.

 

 

The thing about it "stopping programs working" was alarmist rubbish that got spread around by the usual idiots (it was actually just default blocking of some ports by the new version of the XP firewall, that's all).

Read the Microsoft pages for a description of what actually happens, why, and how to fix it.

If I turn off the XP firewall, do I even need to have the SP2, since I use a different firewall?

Actually it does stop WordPerfect suite from working at all.

Seeing as SP2 was an "oh god, people want secure systems now!" rush job, I doubt it.

Actually it does stop WordPerfect suite from working at all.

 

what so if you have SP2 you cant use WordPerfect? thats dumb.

 

the whole security thing was rubbish, as said by sayo, i'll expand.

 

SP2 stop illegal versions of windows working

+

it interfers with some programs and cause problems with them

+

it blocks some ports, which you have to manually enable yourself [although they may have fixed that, im not sure ]

 

what good does SP2 do?

 

is there any point in downloading it? what does it fix?

I missed that wordperfect bit before, so I shall reply now:

 

"Good."

so does SP2 stop wordperfect?

 

what does it help? what is it purpose, i hear all the bad stuff, whats the good stuff? what's it meant to fix?

I've spoken with a customer tonight who's computer has been jacked after she installed the SP2.

 

I'll wait a while.

well, if anyone does install SP2, post here, i would like to know from some first hand experience before i install it!

Ugh. Norton firewall is bad enough for me. Last night I had to configure it several times before Firefox could connect to the internet, and now, one day later, it won't let firefox online.

Grrrrr...

why not?

How should I know why?

well, what did you have to change to make it work?

It has a list of stuff to let online. I changed that last night. Today it seems to have forgotten.

oh yeah, program control feature, it shouldnt forget your settings, are you sure you clicked 'ok' and not 'cancel' i dont know, i'll keep a check and see if my firefox does it...

It worked after I set it last night, but now it doesn't work. It forgot.

yes, i got that it forgot, but what i meant is that it shouldnt, try setting it again, and hopefully it is not a recurring problem, as it shouldnt be

It's happened with Internet Explorer and Windows Update.

oh, that sounds like a problem with NIS itself. maybe you should check your out going connection settings, maybe its default set to 'deny access'

No, it's only supposed to block known trojan applications.

well, tell me if it changes back again. coz maybe it was a one off

Funny

SP2 would increase security it makes use of that special bit/flag in amd64 CPU's.

And just that part doesn't work LOL.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=18094

 

Does this mean that MS doesn't have a single AMD64 CPU to test it on before they release it?!!?

 

Well I guess we already know they like to help Intel.

 

There seem to be an resolution though for AMD64 not sure if it works:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;878474

 

Workaround is to uninstall SP2 ??

makes illegal copies of XP not work?? <quickly cancels download> phew, that was a close one.

 

Nathan

from what I heard it will just not install if it doens't find a valid number.

it blocked the 20 most commonly used illegal codes for XP