WinXP SP2

[hyunelan2]

Anyone installed this yet? I just put it on one machine here at work this morning for a test-drive. So far, I haven't noticed much difference, other than the new automatic updating, and the integrated pop-up blocker. That's really nice. If a pop up was going to open with a web-page, it notifies you in a bar on top of the window, then you can choose to open it. I already know to beware of the firewall integrated with it, but haven't had a problem with any networking aspects as of yet.

[jameswing]

We got a message from our ISP not to install it, b/c they had problems with the pre-release.

[Keyan]

My autoupdate alerted me that sp2 was available, and I clicked to download it, but it hasn't fully downloaded...or something. I have no idea when it's gonna be finished.

[punkrocker3_00]

Our IT department at work told us not to install it till they tell us to. Said they want us to wait till more of the bugs are worked out. I haven't installed it yet on my home computer.

[dangahboi]

I can confim there are bugs in SP2.

Microsoft issued a list of some 50 applications it admits will not work properly after XP SP2 is installed, among them several of Microsoft’s own applications, including:

* Visual Studio .Net
* SQL Server
* Systems Management Server 2003
* Microsoft Operations Manager 2000 SP1

According to Microsoft, users must create an exception and add each program to the exceptions list to get the applications to work as they did before SP2 was installed.

[jameswing]

Yeahhh.... Thats why I never go with something whenever it is just released.

[hyunelan2]

Thanks... it'd have take me a while to find all those bugs. That's why I just did a test box and am waiting to do a network deploy to the other 50+ boxes I'm in charge of.

P.S. So far no trouble with MS-Office Apps., ArcView 9.0, and AutoCAD 2000.

[2BIT]

I installed it the other day. So far, I have had no trouble, and I dont even know it's there. Nothing runs different...

[rckozma]

I am on it too, and so far everything is fine.

[Schauf]

I have had SP2 for over a week on all three of my computers and have only notice one problem. It replaced a driver for the touch pad on my laptop with one that cause the touch pad to freeze every other second. After reinstalling the correct driver, everything was back to normal.

Most of the software compatibility issues I have seen are caused by the 'improved' firewall which is now on by default. Disabling it was the first thing I did after installing SP2. It is not a very good firewall to begin with. I was annoyed to see that it installed messenger again (newer version), turned on some services that I had disabled and recreated several links to Internet Explorer (I use Firefox).

I work in I.T. for a university and we have not run into major problems with SP2 on any of our test machines. However, we are aware of a problem regarding home users with SP2 using a VPN connection to campus.

I have had very good luck with SP2. That said, I have also heard of a few XP loads being trashed with the installation of SP2 (no one I actualy know, so I can't sure for sure it was SP2's fault).

It’s never a bad idea to back up anything important first…

[Rixation]

So far on our workstations we've had no problems, but some of the boxes used for CAD and IIS have been extremely latent and hitting errors ever since the update. I've also noticed that several of the NIC drivers that automatically get updated may require you to update the software from the manufacturer, like Netgear MA111's for example.

Long story short, if you just use the computer for checking e-mail and putzing around online, get the update, it helps with security. If you do anything advanced, wait until the second or third release.

[hyunelan2]

I've also now noticed longer boot times for XP. Seems to take a little longer for everything to load off start-up... I'm not going to deploy this until a future release. Thanks for everything guys.

[exsailor]

Just a quote from Fred Langa (www.langalist.com)

1) More On XP's SP2
Microsoft delayed the wider release of XP SP2 just after the last issue of this newsletter went out, but they're scheduled to resume the phased roll-out (some are calling it a "trickle" release, with relatively small groups of users targeted at any one time) around the time you read this.

Some tech writers are recommending that you grab SP2 as soon as it appears, but most--- including me!--- are suggesting that you wait.

For example, the beta cycle of SP2 already turned up many, many tools, utilities and applications that SP2 breaks. See "Programs that are known to experience a loss of functionality when they run on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer" at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=884130 . Undoubtedly, many more will be added to the list as SP2 goes into wider release.

A PC World article also cites a small, anecdotal survey among highly experienced users who reported that SP2 hoses about 15% of PCs it's installed on--- a huge number. ( http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/000167.html )

That's not to say that "SP2 is bad" or any such thing: Rather, it's that it's brand-new and huge, and that means there will be bugs and incompatibilities. First releases of any huge, OS-level code package by any software maker, for any software platform, will have problems like this--- it's inevitable. And, eventually, most of the problems will get fixed; and those that don't get fixed will at least be identified, so you'll know what you're in for.

I'm collecting reader feedback on SP2 from the brave souls who have trodden the early path (drop me a note if you're one, and please put "SP2" in the subject line), and I'll share that info soon. But for now, my advice stands: WAIT! There's no need to rush into SP2. Let it cook a bit more, and try it when at least some of the rougher edges are off.

If you followed the advice here ( http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20011204S0009 ) and turned off automatic updating for your XP PC, SP2 won't end up on your PC without your conscious involvement--- you're OK.

But if your PC is set up to allow automatic updating, then the Windows Update service may load SP2 onto your PC on its own. You can prevent that by turning off automatic updating (see the link above). Ironically, Microsoft is working to make it harder to stay in control of updating because too many users turn off auto-updates and then never run the manual process, leaving their PCs vulnerable to all kinds of trouble. If you're already prevented from changing your auto-update settings, you can use this Microsoft tool ( http://langa.com/u/5t.htm ) to block SP2 for 120 days; or you can manually edit the Registry as shown on that same page.

Just my 02c worth

[2BIT]

It re activated messenger? I just checked, mine is still disabled, what is the new name for messenger in SP2 that it started??

[hyunelan2]

It reinstalled the messenger service version 6.2 when I did the upgrade.

[cclngthr]

I installed it last night and find no apparent problems using it. I find it takes up .63 gig of the hard drive space and a bit more memory, but that is it. I have Windows messenger uninstalled and use MSN messenger, which is a bit better I think. Before installing it, I ran Ad-Ware and antivirus program to find any garbage cluttering up the hard drive and slowing things down.