INTERACT FORUM
More => Old Versions => Media Center 11 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: ChicoSelfs on August 10, 2004, 02:31:36 am
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Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) provides new proactive security technologies for Windows XP to better defend against viruses, worms, and hackers. In addition to a more robust security infrastructure, SP2 improves the security configuration options of Windows XP and provides better security information to help users faced with security decisions.
A list of updates are available here
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;%5bLN%5d;811113 (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;%5bLN%5d;811113)
Download the full version in english here http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/5/165b076b-aaa9-443d-84f0-73cf11fdcdf8/WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe
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Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) provides new proactive security technologies for Windows XP to better defend against viruses, worms, and hackers. In addition to a more robust security infrastructure, SP2 improves the security configuration options of Windows XP and provides better security information to help users faced with security decisions.
A list of updates are available here
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;%5bLN%5d;811113 (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;%5bLN%5d;811113)
Download the full version in english here http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/5/165b076b-aaa9-443d-84f0-73cf11fdcdf8/WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe
What's the link wit MC?
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I've been running SP2 since release candidate 2 and have had no issues with MC. Actually, I've had no issues with any software yet.
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All the professionals say to wait and see for awhile before installing SP-2.
GOOD ADVICE 8)
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I've been running SP2 since release candidate 2 and have had no issues with MC. Actually, I've had no issues with any software yet.
I also have not had any problems...
Listening to: 'You Can't Kill Rock And Roll' from 'Diary Of A Madman' by 'Ozzy Osbourne' on Media Center 11
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266MB?!? holy cripes... that will take at least 2hrs.
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266MB?!? holy cripes... that will take at least 2hrs.
It took me 9 mins
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11 mins 16 secs.
However it may take some weeks until installation is ready.
(I am not going to do it yet. Keep on reporting, thanks.)
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I live on the bleeding edge! :)
Just installed SP2 final with no issues. ESET has a beta version of NOD32 Anti-virus that is MS Security Center "aware" - installed with no problems. MC 11 Alpha - installed with no problems...
Any other alpha or beta software I can try? :)
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Well I'm gonna install this bad boy...
If you don't here from me soon, it's because I died.
Wish me luck. :P
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If anyone is interested in slipstreaming their original WinXP CD with SP2, there is an excellent guide on how to do it at:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp
For those, like me, who aren't familar with the term "slipstream", it's computer talk for making a new bootable Windows XP CD which integrates all of the SP2 files. It saves you the trouble, on a reinstall of XP, from having to separately download SP2 again after installing XP from your original disk which may not even have SP1a (if it's as old as my copy of XP).
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If anyone is interested in slipstreaming their original WinXP CD with SP2, there is an excellent guide on how to do it at:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp
For those, like me, who aren't familar with the term "slipstream", it's computer talk for making a new bootable Windows XP CD which integrates all of the SP2 files. It saves you the trouble, on a reinstall of XP, from having to separately download SP2 again after installing XP from your original disk which may not even have SP1a (if it's as old as my copy of XP).
So slipstreaming with SP2 removes the need to install SP1?
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Just upgraded to SP2, fast download, slow upgrade but I'm up and running on my laptop at least. :)
-=Tim=-
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well that was fun. it couldn't install because some files were in use (duh).
tried to cancel, was reverting back, then the computer shutdown. so it's partially installed meaning the darn thing won't boot.
now I'll have to take the hard drive out, copy files, reformat, install, move files back, reinstall everything, reconfigure everything...oh the joy!
I know what I'll be doing this weekend. I think I'm gonna upgrade my video card while I'm at since MC has most problems dealing with large lists/displays (at least on my rig)....and I want those pretty icons to work too.
dragyn over and out. psssh
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Hey Dragyn,
you probably left MC running while you tried to install SP2. :o
You forgot that they usually say to close down all running applications before doing any kind of installation :P
I am waiting to install directly from Windows Update!
By the way slipstream is a really good thing. Unfortunately Microsoft does not provide any help on how to make a new bootable XP-SP2 CD. Fortunately there are some good descriptions on the net. Just enter "How to create a Windows XP Boot disk" in Google and you will come up with some gooddescriptions.
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I would do a full system backup before installing. My C: partition is only about 20 GB (on a 200 GB HD), so it is relatively fast to make dublicates of it. I use PowerQuest's Drive Image and old small HDs with HD racks for that.
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I've successfully upgraded one PC to SP2 at work and am evaluating it at the moment before I install it on other PC's. I'll install it at home too but first I'll use Ghost to back up my existing XP partitions.
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Just completed upgrade on my desktop machine (to add to my earlier laptop upgrade), no problems. :)
-=Tim=-
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If anyone is interested in slipstreaming their original WinXP CD with SP2, there is an excellent guide on how to do it at:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp
So slipstreaming with SP2 removes the need to install SP1?
In a word, Yes. Each new service pack release includes all of the patches and features of all prior service packs.
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Maybe a dumb question. Why should I upgrade to SP2? Is there any reason to do it? Besides the kick?
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Yes, better security :o
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Maybe a dumb question. Why should I upgrade to SP2? Is there any reason to do it? Besides the kick?
Security is better. <shrug> (I think it will be a long while before anyone really believes that, including me. :P) Also, there's more bug fixes than you can shake a stick at.
Windows XP SP2 Review (http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowsxp_sp2.asp)
Read and decide for yourself. :)
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If anyone is interested in slipstreaming their original WinXP CD with SP2, there is an excellent guide on how to do it at:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp
Thank you so much for this tip and link! It's just coincidental good timing, but I'm building myself a new system this weekend, and one of the chores I was literally dreading was the monotonous task of 1.) installing XP (original CD), 2.) updating to SP1, 3.) updating everything past SP1, and finally, 4.) updating to SP2.
This is great!!
Thanks!
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If you used good security practices before SP2 (3rd party firewall, virus scanner, etc.), then it's not much of an improvement. However, for the vast majority of XP users, it will increase security drastically (in my opinion).
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Security is better. <shrug> (I think it will be a long while before anyone really believes that, including me. :P) Also, there's more bug fixes than you can shake a stick at....
Thanks for the link. This IS a good reason. I will do it.
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Security is better. <shrug> (I think it will be a long while before anyone really believes that, including me. :P) Also, there's more bug fixes than you can shake a stick at....
Thanks for the link. This IS a good reason. I will do it.
For the record, it's really Rizlaw you should thank for that particular link. :) I have other links, but I happened to have that page currently open, so it's what I used. :)
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It's like everything else Micro$oft, sooner or later you will run into programs that require SP2 to run similar to the way most current video cards require DirectX 9 to perform all functions.
I have already run into programs that require SP1 before they will run or some funtions will be unavaluable without DiretX 9 or SP1.
Also, there are some new worms out there that the new SP2 firewall will stop.
There are a lot of other reasons but what I am reading in all the magazines is that SP2 is highly recommended (after others have had it a while to find any problems).
It is always a good idea to stay current with all updates & patches. After I patched Windows last summer several nasty worms hit hard but I was protected & had no problems.
It is a false sence for one to say "I don't really need them". YES YOU DO... You just don't know it yet.
Wait for the next bunch of nasties to come around & if you are hit hard, you have no one but yourself to blame.
After you do the initial updates (all patches) it is really pretty easy to keep your system up to date.
The thing is to JUST DO IT then you will feel much better. ;D
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The single MOST important change in SP2 is to turn Windows firewall ON by default and to draw users notice to the need of using an anti-virus (but still NOT providing one)... assuming that almost 100% of Windows security problems this last days came from these two "holes", YES, SP2 is a definite improvement.
All the while, pre-SP2 installation are certainly as secure (from a practical and pragmatical point of view ;) ) considering you: 1. installed an anti-virus and keep it up-to-date; 2. turn the firewall on. I NEVER had any virus, adware, intrusion or anything security-related-alike since I have been using XP (I just took the two basic steps mentionned previously right from the start). I cross my fingers and touch woods as I write this ::)
I think all this fuss about "such an improvement in regards with security" is kind of a cleverly adjusted marketing reaction to the critics directed towards Windows and its "lack" of security over the last months (thanks to "I Love You", "Blaster", "NetSky" and others).
I you have a secure pre-SP2 installation and are worried about possible compatibility issues and don't have time now to troubleshoot a failed SP2 upgrade tentative (one never knows), just wait and see a couple more time ;)
One says "don't change a working system"... :)
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Waiting awhile certainly makes sense (tho' I didn't do it), however anyone that thinks that they can ignore upgrading to SP2 in the longer-term (and I don't think I've seen anyone here say that) is fooling themselves.
-=Tim=-
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I think all this fuss about "such an improvement in regards with security" is kind of a cleverly adjusted marketing reaction to the critics directed towards Windows and its "lack" of security over the last months (thanks to "I Love You", "Blaster", "NetSky" and others).
How true, how true!
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Win XP with SP1 was more secure then Win XP without SP1 from last summer's nasties.
The same thing will happen with SP2.
I personally run the following for protection...
* SP1 with ALL updates.
* SP2 (as soon as I believe it is safe to do so).
* All indications (so far) are that SP2 is going to be ok.
* Norton System Works with Anti-Virus in Auto-Protect mode.
* A weekly virus scan of my whole hard drive.
* Opera 7.51 browser to stay away from IE's security problems.
* Ad-Aware SE Plus for other nasties.
* Sybot Search & Destroy for some more nasties.
* Ella for SPAM Control (integrated into Outlook) to totally take care of SPAM.
It sometimes seem like we are under constant attack from the bad guys and I guess to a certain extent, we are.
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One says "don't change a working system"... :)
That was Buddha, right? ;D
Anyway, I have been having firewalls and antivirus coming out my posterior for several years (at least 1998, maybe earlier), so I don't think I'll bother. My guess is that SP2 is going to bloat the install even more. So the boot and reboot times will be longer, and all kinds of suspend/resume. On the other hand, if software requires it, I will install. I'm really dreading when all software demands Longhorn, since I won't be using that no matter what. I really don't like the way M$ forces DRM and unnecessary security options down people's throat! Come to think of it, maybe there's another sneaky DRM scheme in SP2?
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Ah...I love a good conspiracy theory. 8)
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No need for theories when you're dealing with Micro$soft's legal team (the programmers aren't the big bad wolfs people think - it's the legal team that has them by the short and curlies, so to speak.
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Sucessfully created bootable WXP-SP2 cd with integrated service pack 2!
Works flawlessly!
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I have it installed and if anything I think my boot time is faster as a result. I had firewall and AV protection before but there is no bad thing in being cautious :)
Adam
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Although it's not hard to restore your system if you encounter real issues, especially using Acronis, I am leary about installing SP2. I have been tweaking my system left & right and I tend to disable a lot of services to the point where I find a nice balance of security & perfomance. Getting USB 2.0 to work with Nforce etc., all kinds of issues that I would rather "disturb".
Call me pessimistic but I do heed that creed "If it ain't broke don't fix it" because to some very real extent this is so true and I am just tired of tweaking...on the other hand, I'll probably come around and see what it does for me when I am ready to tweak some more! LOL
Maybe I'll simply install the Critical Updates but right now I am running physical firewall, software firewall (Agnitum), & Kaspersky AV; I feel pretty safe. I run a scan nightly and run SpySweeper and some of the afrmentioned spyware tools every now and then. I just don't feel the urgent need to do this.
jc
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I just had to rebuild my PC this week because of a power failure caused several Windows system files to become corrupted, and the first thing I did after installing Windows was to install SP2. So far, I like it and I haven't noticed any problems with it.
I, too, run a physical firewall, a software firewall, anti-virus, and several malware detectors. Paranoid? Yes, but we all should be. Protected? We can't be protected enough, so the security updates are welcomed. The way I see it is I lock my door at night when I go to bed. Why should I not lock my PC as best as I can?
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well I actually did get sp2 installed but I'll have to reformat again (4th time now).
Let me tell you a little story...
Started installing SP2 and it crapped out. Like I said before, I was going to cancel and the pc restarted leaving it partially installed. Ok, big problem because I had a few files on the drive I wanted to keep and I couldn't boot up. Yeah, I know I should have moved them first but I live on the edge.
Anyway, I moved the HD to another computer...and that computer could not read the drive. Now I'm thinkin 'oh no!! What am I going to do?'. So I moved it back.
Installing WinXp and thought the 'Repair' function would actually 'Repair' XP. What a load of crap that is. So I had to reinstall again into a new directory. Not a big deal cause I was gonna format anyway.
Now the thing boots. Wonderful! Moved my files to the other drive (which I should have done to begin with) and reformatted the drive.
Then I started installing XP. Going good for awhile until I realized I was using the original XP disc. SP1 is able to read large hard drives (where all my files are) and I couldn't read the disk. So I had to reinstall XP yet again so I could get to SP2. I didn't slipstream this but plan on it soon.
Great! now I have XP SP1 installed. Installed SP2. Works fine. However....
As I was moving my drive from the other computer into this one, I fried the motherboard's USB and PS/2 ports....Ooops! So now I need a new motherboard....which is the icing on the cake! What else could go wrong?
I just got fed up with everything and decided to just buy a whole new computer. No more 800MHz for me!
So now I have to reformat yet again and put XP Home on this PC and XP Pro on my new PC coming in a couple days. I just bought the motherboard, cpu, case, fan, psu and ram. I have the other stuff....oh and a new mouse after I threw it against the wall and killled it. Poor thing.
This computer is about 5years old now so it's definately the right time for me to upgrade. I didn't plan to upgrade like this though...
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So now I have to reformat yet again and put XP Home on this PC and XP Pro on my new PC coming in a couple days. I just bought the motherboard, cpu, case, fan, psu and ram. I have the other stuff....oh and a new mouse after I threw it against the wall and killled it. Poor thing.
Dragyn, since you're starting from scratch, here's a suggestion. I have my OS installed on the C: partition of my primary HD, I install apps (except for rude apps that don't let me choose the install directory) to a different partition, data on another, etc. My C partition is around 12GB. I image the C partition regularly to a different networked PC, and just about every time before I install anything that might screw up the system files on C:. I upgraded to XP from Win2k recently, and all I had to do was to image the C partiton to the other PC; in fact I ran into a problem (because I installed by booting from the CD and not by running setup from inside windows, so I did a clean install instead of the uprgrade that I wanted to and so lost all my menus and settings) and all I had to do was to restore the imaged partition and I was back where I started from with good old 2k. The beauty of this scheme is that I didn't have to back up all 60GB I have on the primary HD before screwing with the OS. BTW, I also have a backup program that runs scheduled standalone backups of designated data folders to the 2nd hard drive on the PC, the theory being that it's unlikely that both disks will die at the same time (although I suppose the MB could go psycho and fry everything).
I may go back to Win2k, even with XP set to the classic look I miss the clean spare old windows look, XP is like the OS OD'd on gummie bears. Anyway, good luck as you proceed.
Nolo
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Thanks for the link. This IS a good reason. I will do it.
...next week maybe?
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Well Dragyn,
everyone now and then has those horror experiences one would think it can only occur to others, so I feel very sorry for you and all the time you are spending basically just for nothing, maybe with the excecption of the joy of having a new pc and a clean setup. Coming out of different such stories myself, here some of the lessons learned:
1) a pc is not a car. I your car breaks, you go to your garage, get a spare car for the time your own car is repaired and your life runs on rather smoothly. This is not the case with a pc. That's the reason I have two pc's with a separate data disk which is replicated from pc1 to pc2. If pc1 breaks, I can easily startup pc2 and go on. This only needs replication discipline as your data on pc2 is as old as your last replication.
2) All my data (docs, music, images, video) on a separate disk (120GB for the time being), so it can be used on another pc independent of current configuration.
3) Small partition for XP that is being ghosted on a regular basis (using Drive Image 7).
4) separate partition for programs (also ghosted). My next fresh install will join C: and P: (programs) again, as they are not more than 8-9 GB altoghether and ghosting is quite quick.
5) a separate partition with all software ready to install such as a slipstreamed version of XP-SP2, Office CD's online and all other software I use. When I do a fresh install (which never had to do with XP) I only install basic software I use on a daily basis. All the rest is installed on demand.
6) One step is still missing which I will finally complete next week: Data Backup to an external drive to be stored away in a safe place.
7) With this kind of setup I could allow myself to skip any kind of Raid configuration and could avoid to backup data on DVD's
Oh yes, and one more lesson learned the hard way: Never help a friend that still runs Windows98!
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Jaguu
Nevertheless. Thanks for your tips. Sooner or later I will use them.
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I just got fed up with everything and decided to just buy a whole new computer. No more 800MHz for me!
This computer is about 5years old now so it's definately the right time for me to upgrade.
I'll say! I don't think I have anything like that still running! But I may have at least five in parts... In fact my kids (7 & 8 years old) have AMD XP 2600's, and I have an AMD 2200 in my car...which I am about to upgrade, but that's because of another problem, not because it's too slow in it self. ;)
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My 2 cents, no problems here :)
Love the new security center and features that novice users need to be informed about....although will a novice user really install this lol
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and I have an AMD 2200 in my car...which I am about to upgrade
I just have a 500MHz in mine and I don't plan on upgrading that anytime soon. It does a great job except I need to work on my little 'power problem'. I'll probably upgrade if MC ever becomes too advanced for it.
4yrs of rough ridin' and bumpin' and it's still working (orig. HD).
For those that don't know of my system, check here:
http://www.gpgtx.com (http://www.gpgtx.com)
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and I have an AMD 2200 in my car...which I am about to upgrade
I just have a 500MHz in mine and I don't plan on upgrading that anytime soon. It does a great job except I need to work on my little 'power problem'. I'll probably upgrade if MC ever becomes too advanced for it.
4yrs of rough ridin' and bumpin' and it's still working (orig. HD).
For those that don't know of my system, check here:
http://www.gpgtx.com (http://www.gpgtx.com)
Man, that is a car... The only thing missing is me in the driver seet... ;D ;D ;D
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I just have a 500MHz in mine and I don't plan on upgrading that anytime soon. It does a great job except I need to work on my little 'power problem'. I'll probably upgrade if MC ever becomes too advanced for it.
My problem is that keeping track of 50K+ tracks and three zones makes the system unresponsive if the computer isn't up to it. It was annoying with the 1200 Duron I had up to almost a year ago, but this system is coping very nicely. I might upgrade the WLAN, though, the current AP I'm using (for NetRemote, of course) is slow. It's one of the first APs for 11 mbit WLAN, and I would guess that the real throughput, even at close range, is less than 1 mbit.
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I installed SP2 a week ago. Running fine - barely notice any difference.
Installed it yesterday on a couple of PC's for PC illiterate family members. Again no issues.
The family members do however notice a difference because of the new security centre and pop-up blocker on IE.
Moral - this SP2 isn't much to get excited about for most users of this forum, but it's great for less savvy PC users.
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Microsoft published a list of applications that have known problems with SP2.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242#appliesto
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NEAT Jim.
THANKS ;D
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Here's the list of fixes in SP2. Yes, they added things, but as with all service packs, many bugs were addressed too.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=811113
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I split the Microsoft posts to a new thread:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=23115
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One thing that they STILL haven't fixed (and it's very annoying) - the tool tip baloons in the system tray sometimes lose the "always on top" behavior and you have to turn it off and back on again in order to see them. One of my pet peaves! :)
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First sighted SP2 vulnerabilities.
http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/20040818-4113.html
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First sighted SP2 vulnerabilities.
http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/20040818-4113.html
::)
I'm neither pro- nor anti-Microsoft, but give me a break. Why stop there? Why not issue SP3 which locks out all users all the time, and only by calling a special toll-free number to explain to Microsoft exactly what you plan on doing will you be given a 1024 digit key to type in to unlock your computer. That way, absolutely positively no one would have to take responsiblity for their own actions.
Criticizing SP2 because a user can still manually and with intent mess up his own system? Geez.
And no offense, but you are just as bad as that article writer for even posting this with that foreboding "first sighted SP2 vulnerabilities" preface. ::)
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There will always be people that knock everything but that comes with the territory of being the big kid on the block.
No matter what Micro$oft does, there will be many who will take them to task even though Micro$oft is trying real hard to provide good, reasonably solid (and FREE) patches and updates.
Case in point...
Last night I got an urgent notice in my e-mail from SBC (my DSL provider) about problems for people using Windows XP with the SP2 update. Upon first reading the notice that started like this...
"Based on our testing, SBC has determined that some users will experience changes after loading Service Pack 2 when using the customized SBC Yahoo! Browser, Parental Controls, SBC Yahoo! Web mail, and Instant Messenger".
The alarmist in me first thought "Great, just great; that's all I need is some more problems".
But, upon reading the whole e-mail SBC went on to say...
"SBC and Yahoo! have prepared an update for these software components that you should load to ensure compatibility with Service Pack 2."
So, if I was an alarmist, only the fist part of the message would stick in my head. As I am not much of an alarmist, the whole message is what I see and; as I know that Micro$oft is trying very hard to resolve problems and that sometimes I may be required to update some of my software to stay compatible (so what else I new).
I think the bottom line is this... so far SP2 seems to be pretty stable, and reliable and that we all sooner or later will need to install it.
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I'm not knocking Microsoft, just trying to share some info with others that might be concerned. And I do happen to think SP2 is great. I have yet to have a problem with it.
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Nicely put, thanks ;D
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Just installed the final official release of SP2 from the Microsoft Update site.
Here is what I discovered...
* Size of download... 75mb, not as large as before.
* Download time (on DSL)... 9 ½ minutes.
* Install Time... About 50 minutes.
* Total time from download to final boot up... about 1 hour (or a little less).
* Problem... none at first.
* Problem... I did have a problem with my Pivot Pro software (used for rotating the monitor from landscape to portrait; it kept saying that something had changed and Pivot Pro had to be reinstalled.
* Problem... after reinstalling Pivot Pro the computer would not boot, I also could not get out of SAFE mode. I finally reset the computer and ran 'Last known good boot up'. The computer did boot (while holding my breath; AGAIN). I reinstalled Pivot Pro a second time and all was finally well, good boot up and everything.
* Problem... An unwanted icon showed up in my Task Tray for Local Area Connect 5 (my DSL). Seems that SP2 security turned off some of the things that are considered normal for communications but my DSL is working just fine anyway. The thing I don't like about this is that it is an unwelcome icon (true it is only notifying me that there may be a minor problem with Local Area Connect 5). This is something that I still need to look at.
* Problem... SBC e-mailed me a few days ago about installing their patch for Yahoo and some other SBC components to be compatible with SP2. I downloaded the patch and tried to install it but kept getting 'No updates installed'. The only thing that I can think of is that just maybe the patch got into SP2 at the last minute and is not needed. This is something that I have to look at. Weird.
* Problem... SP2's new Security Center recognizes that I have Norton Anti Virus installed but it does not recognize that it is activated so it always shows a warning. Luckily, Security Center has a way to let me manually monitor items that I know are working. It is still strange as not recognizing Norton Anti Virus monitoring was a problem with some of the earlier Beta's of SP2 and Microsoft said that it would be fixed by the final release of SP2.
Soooo... other then that, everything seems to be running well once more with SP2 installed.
I guess this was the normal little things that makes Windows so d**m irritating at times.
I wish we did not have so many crooks, hackers and other idiots in the world so all this security would not be needed and we could just get on with living our lives without the feeling that we are constantly under attack.
I'm beginning to know what the Israelis must fell like. :P
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* Problem... SP2's new Security Center recognizes that I have Norton Anti Virus installed but it does not recognize that it is activated so it always shows a warning. Luckily, Security Center has a way to let me manually monitor items that I know are working. It is still strange as not recognizing Norton Anti Virus monitoring was a problem with some of the earlier Beta's of SP2 and Microsoft said that it would be fixed by the final release of SP2.
Symantec has already released a patch which allows MS to penetrate Norton AV's "tamper proof" technology. You should do the "live update" thing (and be prepared to reboot and RE-update a couple of times, too). :P
I don't actually have a problem with that new Security Center service in and of itself, but it finally just got too annoying. I kept setting it NOT to alert me about my firewall status (since I use a hardware firewall and don't need MS's silly S/W firewall--if I wanted that, I'd use ZoneAlarm anyway). But every single time I rebooted, I kept getting that annoying popup even though the settings not to alert me and not to monitor it "because I have my own solution" were still intact. ::)
So I just disabled the pesky service altogether. ;D
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75MB is a bit much for dial up so I just ordered SP2 on CD from M$. I was impressed at how quick and easy it was to order and that they will ship it to me within 28 days free of charge.
I only paid £93 for my OEM version of XP Pro so I'm really impressed that I've now had 2 service packs offered to me on a CD by post for free. There will always be people who will find a way of critizising them but I actually think this is really good service.
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Hi Omni;
Yes, I know... that was AFTER a Live Update.
I'm running Norton System Works 2002 for XP. I'm thinking that Microsoft will only see the activation on newer version of Norton AV... bummer. :P
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Well; SP2 did a number on me.
After some small teething problems were resolved I though all was ok with SP2; that was until I rebooted my computer a couple of times.
Seems that if I rebooted fairly soon after a boot up, Win XP would load ok; but, if I used Windows for awhile and tried to reboot Windows would never load, a black screen would come up then it would spontaneously reboot.
I could boot using the Last time Windows booted ok command but the spontaneously rebooting would come back next time I tried to start Win XP.
I tried closing down start up programs but nothing helped.
I finally used the System Restore to get back to where I was before this nightmare started.
Chock up another one for Bill Gates and his wonderful (dis)operating system.
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If you have a broadband connection, I recommend downloading the network install of SP2 (full version - about 260MB).
I have seen a couple newsletters from the experts that predicted problems with the "Update Install" versus full network install versions.
Another reason to download the network install is so that you can make a slipstream disk as described in this thread.
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Another reason to download the network install is so that you can make a slipstream disk as described in this thread.
*nods emphatically*
I can offer a genuine, personal testimonial for the above slipstream link and method. It worked out great for me. I installed Windows using my self-created Windows XP SP2 (OEM) CD without a hitch.
One tip, though. If you are using Roxio to create the boot disk, you need to manually change the offset to 4--it defaults to 1 (or maybe it was 0). I won't waste time explaining that, but it will make sense to anyone using the above link as a guide. (He only guides you through the processing using Nero, not Roxio.)
P.S. For my new system, I have switched back to Nero, so no Roxio flames please. :P
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One tip, though. If you are using Roxio to create the boot disk, you need to manually change the offset to 4--it defaults to 1 (or maybe it was 0).
If you use Nero you have to do the same :)
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One tip, though. If you are using Roxio to create the boot disk, you need to manually change the offset to 4--it defaults to 1 (or maybe it was 0).
If you use Nero you have to do the same :)
Really? Shucks... and I thought Nero was supposed to be such a "leet" burning tool compared to Roxio. 8) :P
I just went back to the site, and it seems he has now updated it to included Roxio screenshots, so, um, never mind my tip everyone. It's not needed anymore. ;D (Also, for the record, I made a mistake and really meant "sector count," not "sector offset.")
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You're forgiven 8)
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MS Auto Update installed SP2 on my computer.
That was two days ago; so far, everything looks ok.
The file size was the same 75 Mb as the one I had problems with before but something must of changed as it is running without a hitch this time ;D
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Of course, I ignored the experts who said wait!
Downloaded a Developers/Administrators version for use on multiple computers (I've got all of 2, duh) on August 4th. It worked like a charm ... for about 3 hours. Then I tried to delete a couple of .html files I'd just made (old work product I didn't want confusing my wee little mind.) Explorer.exe refused and proceeded to start a debugger, a DrWatson which locked the system up quite nicely.
Finding that TaskManager was the only way to kill it, I tried a few variations of deleting to no avail. (Except by hiding the files in folder, I could drag the folder into the Trash. Not a work around I was prepared to live with for the long term.)
Several (4) hours wandering through the MSKB left me feeling truly ignorant (as it so often does.) But I found a special Support for SP2 page and a phone number which I tried. The short 45 minute wait lead to a friendly foreign-sounding Tech who labored with me for 3 hours to try making simple text files deleteable.
The Official Resolution: Uninstall SP2 and wait and see if when it automatically downloads it might be better. Ya gots to love the cross your fingers and hope solution. ::)
Needless to say, I turned Automic Updates off till I again have 7-8 hours to fiddle. I've been watching with interest to see if anyone else lists 'explorer.exe' among the software that has a problem with SP2. That I keep my programs and data on external Drive and nowhere near Windows (with backups of C: in a separate partition.) gives me a false sense of being secure and above the fray.
(I'm ever so sorely tempted to reformat away the NotThereFileSystem partitions and reinstall my Moron Edition with a dual boot Linux on the side.)