Windows XP Service Pack 2

[Satch]

Is released Wednesday. Hope you have all considered turning your "auto update " function switched OFF.

OK it is a good thing overall, but I for one shall be leaving it for a few weeks (!) to see what joys emerge.

 

[scotth_uk]

It's actually been out for over a week and a half, however they haven't put it on the windows update site. It was released via some of the Microsoft websites to subscribers, with a recommendation to wait for the express version for home users.

SP2 has been fine on a few machines for me so far. Only gripe is that the new Security Centre functionality doesn't alway speak with your antivirus software the way it should for status awareness.

I've built a new install disk with SP2 slipstreamed into it, which also works a treat for new installs. No issues found using that method of installation. Added bonus was that the slipstreamed disk also allows windows to see more than 137GB during a clean install.

 

[Sp!ke]

We are mid way through testing it in our corporate environment.

So far we have found so many issues with it that we will not be able to release it to our users in its current form. Microsoft list only about 50 bugs so far on their knowledge base - we've found more than that number ourselves!!

Personally, I would heed what Satch is saying and hold back until most of the bugs have been sorted.

 

[GregE240]

Loaded on both my machines (1 desktop, 1 laptop)

No issues so far, aside with the Security Centre not recognising Norton AV 2002.

Other than that, 100% fine.

Big old download though, the 250Mb network install. 250Mb! Thank God for broadband.

 

[Satch]

No issues so far, aside with the Security Centre not recognising Norton AV 2002.

.

Did you resolve that?

 

[GregE240]

Yeah, you can manually config it. To a point!

 

[scotth_uk]

Mine won't talk to Norton 2004! Every now and then it happily talks to it, and other times nothing.....

Interesting to note that they were a "launch partner" for the service pack, and it still doesn't work..... ;-)

Spike - care to elaborate on any of the major problems? I am aware of some of the application compatibility issues, but haven't heard much else. Just keen to learn more about it, as I don't want to recommend this to people if I know it will cause them a problem.

For home users I don't think it's going to cause much grief.

 

[scotth_uk]

Here's some info that might help.....

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242

 

[Steve_Perry]

Well my auto update has been bugging me to make a date with SP2 Something I'm not really willing to commit to until I have some more info...

Does anyone know the score of how XP SP2 sits with Symantec's NIS/NAV 2003? I saw you had some info there Scott but that seemed to be regarding 2004 products.

What's really confusing is that if you believe the M$ support site there is a problem explicitly mentioned:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=884130&product=windowsxpsp2

Whereas if you read the Symantec support site there is no problem at all and they claim that NIS/NAV products work fine, just that the new XP security centre doesn't know that they are fine.

http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/sp2/faq.html
http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/enterprise/sp2/faq.html

So, anyone know the true picture? Or any other major software titles that go AWOL when SP2 is invited to stay?

TIA peeps,

S.

 

[Sp!ke]

We have found that many users have struggled with personal firewalls. SP2 does ask if you want it to monitor your personal firewalls on installation - the correct answer appears to be 'YES', although I'd be much happier to have control of this myself rather than Windows take control of my firewall.

We have also experienced major problems with VPN solutions and quite a number of other (not so common) applications we use.

 

[scotth_uk]

Windows doesn't do anything than ask the firewall for a status.

Steve,

I simply told windows not to monitor the software. Still works fine.

 

[uumode]

I was a bit anxious with the install. A bit major...
takes a month of Sundays too, backs up your files, registry, then installs.

Wasn't sure whether to use their software firewall as most people use a NAT on their router anyway like me. Currently seems happy.

I don't have automatic update enabled either.

It seems to think my AVG antivirus is not up to date for some reason.

 

[Deleted member 2227]

Both my computer and my fathers computer hated service pack 2. My computer wouldnt go online, print or basically work. I've uninstalled it and it wont be going back on for a long while!

 

[Brian WH]

On this evidence I'll wait a while too before installing it.

I have Norton 2003 Virus and Firewall, don't want to loose those thankyou.

 

[rizal2510]

Both my computer and my fathers computer hated service pack 2. My computer wouldnt go online, print or basically work. I've uninstalled it and it wont be going back on for a long while!

My notebook also hates it. Tried to install and it hung up midway, computer restarted and got message to remove the partially installed SP2. Tried to remove it but the computer crashed everytime, hence not able to do anything about it , basically it still has the partially installed SP2 on it but at least it's working.

Would try it again next weekend, as has loads of data/work to be presented next week... if no improvement, probably have to shelf the idea.....

 

[uumode]

well for me it transpires AVG antivirus is updated (I just needed to reboot)
Just put it onto my son's PC and that works fine too.

Though if you use Explorer for browsing, you do tend to get a lot of alerts... are you sure you want to download this, are you definetly sure you want to run it, are you really really sure you want to

But as a consequence it makes my PC feel much safer if my son uses it, as no spyware or trojan horse should be able to install itself without asking.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnwxp/html/xpsp2web.asp

 

[Benzowner]

Installed it on PC, and after telling it that I would monitor the antivirus myself via Norton, works fine, with so far no problems at all.

 

[Benzowner]

I have now installled the SP2 on my home computer and both the works PC's, and there appears to be no difference in both performance or accessibility on any of them. Works computer running XP Pro home running XP Home. I have heard though, that maybe up to 10% of PC's can be affected with some sort of annomolies which can be sorted out via window settings

 

[uumode]

after using it for a while, just found out that my Ati TV tuner card no longer works

my 5 button programmable mouse and Nero burning software didn't work either, but was easily solved by downloading the latest updates from the manufacturers website.

Ati's latest driver was dated 2001

Looks like I'll have to buy a new TV tuner card.

/EDIT I had to completely deinstall the TV tuner card and reinstall it again, and the TV card works again Must have been some corrupted preferences or something when SP2 installed.

 

[scotth_uk]

Look out for the Nebula card - locally produced in the UK and Digital capable. Excellent driver support and constant feature imrpovements.