Service Pack 2 Now Available

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

The final will be out in under 180 days.

I've heard it will be in August.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

ms should make a program that will disable the services you dont need(like if your a gamer or something)..i would like ms to work on performance,reliablity,safety..anyways my question is when do you think sp2 will be available and when is the next windows coming out?(i think it was called longhorn)

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

When the next version of windows comes out is anyone's guess. M$ isnt letting anything on. Hopefully not too soon, so they don't rush it (AGAIN!). There is no need for M$ to make a program that tweaks the OS, in fact they already have (services manager?) all you need is to know what you want to disable.

M$ have always worked on performance and reliablity, and each version of windows has got better (with the exception of ME, which mostly went backwards). But security (saftey??) has been a bit variable... and as any software designer will tell you security is the compromise for functionality. They need to work out how to make the OS functional without unknowingly build a load of vunrabilities into it.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

Wait before installing SP2, Some softwares might not work, My App. Easy Uninstaller Stopped working on a users comoputer after installing SP2.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

There is some software that will stop working after the install of SP2, thats been a warning for a while.

Don't expect that your app will be working in the final version at this point either.

Data Execution Protection is now built into Windows XP. Hardware DEP is available to AMD64 users (and Intel, but I've not see n a home user using an Itanium CPU), and software DEP is available to everyone else. Poorly, or incorrectly coded apps may crash. Updates from the program vendor will be needed.

You may want to try adding it to the exception list:

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

I loaded SP2 and have been fine...PS Be Carefull if you do too many system restores to differant SP2 modifcations ,,,EATS UP DISK SPACE !!!! please set your capacity for restore info to a managable file size,,,I had to remove almost 10gigs of data by reducing the file size,,,,at first did not know where disk space went to,LOL ,,so be aware,,,In all SP2 is very stable and provides added security,a nice feature for wirless use on laptops in public areas is a new added feature as well , in addition to the features already posted... ...Glenn

But always use caution with IE will always have faults,,,but feel a bit safer since SP2 install !!!

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

Guess I'm gunna find out what does and doesn't work after SP2!

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

Okay, just installed, and it all seems fine! I (begrudgingly) enable automatic updates (cause it bugged me to) then promptly disabled it again (well, I put it on "semi-automatic", in any case, so it tells me there are updates before I install them). I'm a bit irritated by the Security Center thing in the taskbar, but I'm sure I can cope with that.

StyleXP works fine (I did need to re-install it though).

I have had to do a repair install of MSN to get it working again, however.

So far, all is good

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

Just curious to know if anyone has heard if SP2 will be sent out on CD to customers who request it like was done with SP1? Anyone heard on this?

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

I've heard rumors they will, especially considering the size. I'll confirm it for you, when I can.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

Thanks Adrynalyne, considering I'm on dial-up it would take me a week to download it.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

The pop-up blocker is long overdue. Opera has had a good one for years. Opera also offers far better cookie control too. But the thing I really like about Opera is the ability to navigate with mouse gestures.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

Hey Rob, I believe Firefox has that option available in it's extensions also.

I was talking about the "navigate w/mouse gestures" edit

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

Yep, I've found on the M$ site and others that it will be available on CD. I've heard that some magazines may be allowed to include it if SP 2 is the cover story. Or you could download the whole version on a friend's high speed connection and take it home with you.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

yeah thats always a good idea. just to ask a friend to do it for you if you know someone that has a highspeed connection.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

You are slipping

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=39326

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

How long is it going to take MS to send the SP2 stuff out on their automatic update program?

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

Should have already started, but only in limited supply.

From what I've heard, all should be wrapped up by August 25th.

However, I would suspect that you wil see it probably in this or next week.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

Okies, thanks Adryn. Gives me time to hear all the gripes.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

That's an alert which you can enable/disable on the left side of the Security Center window.

 

Re: Service Pack 2 Looms

Its still not live.

 

I installed XP on a new computer last week, while connected to the Internet. I was infected with a virus before I could activate the XP Firewall or install my av software. Took me hours to clean it out.

I installed SP2 yesterday (from the ms it site) and it installed flawlessly. I was back on the net in no time and had no problems. Some of the new prompts will take a while to get used to (ie. blocking downloads until you confirm you want them) but the addtional security is well woth it!

SP2 WAS LONG OVERDUE!

 

has anyone had problems with there firewall since install sp2 firewall from ms

 

I've not had one problem.

But understand, it does not block any outgoing traffic.

 

Well, got SP2 installed tonight w/o a hitch. Funny thing, tho... I disabled just about every readily apparent "enhancement" to the OS. One complete rebuild of a machine and then worrying about installing it again and turns out to be a bunch of disabled services...

Just a note (might have already been mentioned)... anyone who runs a boot screen that is not stock Windows, you'll need to roll that back to the original (particularly ntoskrnl.exe) before installing SP2.

sp/\z

 

Is everyone removing the "/NoExecute=OptIn" from boot.ini? From what I can find, it's not ever applicable if you're using 32-bit processor.

 

I changed this:

[boot loader]
timeout=0
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional (bootscreen)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /KERNEL=kernel1.exe
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

to this:

[boot loader]
timeout=0
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional (bootscreen)" /fastdetect /Execute=OptIn /KERNEL=kernel1.exe


Changing the switch to /execute... disables DEP.

 

O.T. I would just like to ad that if anyone running Service Pack 2 gets an application error please send the error report to them. This may help them release fixes for the programs SP2 does not get along with.

 

Does that apply to both Pro and Home XP users ? Is it that big a deal for home users to remove this .ini file ? What would happen if it were not removed ? Just curious I had planned on loading it as soon as it is out for my system. I have home edition on my pc. So I guess that will today according to what i read here. But I will want to fix my current problem first correct ? Thanks for a reply
carl_tapp_775

 

i do believe that XPSP2 's DEP feature is also supported through software emu. At this time, my personal recommendation is to put any legit application that gives you a data execution error into its' exclusion list. This will keep DEP running and help protect you from one facet of attacks; the infamous buffer overflow exploits.

 

nick on the 'locked' post you suggested that we ensure certain services were automated and started. did you mean for everybody to do this. ? sorry if this is the wrong thread to ask.

 

Hey Carl_tapp_775:
I don't have a "home" machine running at the moment, but as far as I know the boot.ini file should be affected the same and, therefore, edited the same. This is just a switch that enables/disables DEP. Good luck.



sp/\z

 

i do have auto updates. sp2 hasnt appeared yet. i was thinking i should turn it off coz im nervous about this one. i think ill wing it though. i cant always ask you lot if it causes probs that said i made sure the things you suggested were turned on. the one in the middle wasnt, so it is now.

 

BITS....what does that do? why wasnt it on in the first place if its necassary for updates? ever more questions

 

I figured the same but thought I had better ask.... thanks

 

Hey Nick, you posted a link to a v5.windowsupdate? What is it? When I go to Windows Update from Microsoft's site, it takes me to v4.windowsupdate.
EDIT: Lol, I just noticed your sticky post. So why is the Microsoft site not linking to that yet?