SP2 – trouble on the way
p2pnet.net News:- Microsoft’s release of SP XP2 continues to dominate world headlines as if it was the Second Coming. And it’s only just started.
As one story headline says, Partners Brace For Challenging SP2 Deployment.
Or put another way, Bill and the Boyz are getting ready for an avalanche of calls from angy punters who’ve downloaded the upgrade and are now trying to get fixes for the fix.
“If you know a little about security now (have a router/firewall and know not to open unknown e-mail attachments etc.) you will be just fine without SP2 and should wait for SP3 (Longhorn) in 2006,” says a p2pnet reader in a write here.
Well, actually Microsft hasn’t released it – not fully, anyway – which is why a p2pnet reader yesterday posted the url of a Microsoft download site, and he wasn’t the only one: we had several emails, presumably from developers or people who worked for them or people who know people who worked for them, or ….
That’s what you get following months of virus and worm attacks inspired by broken Windows. There’s something out there that’ll plug the security holes? Go for it !
But, Use with Extreme Caution says the Reader’s Write referring to the url post (because it’s the Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers and, “duh,” is twice the size of the consumer version that’s on the way) and Downhill Battle’s sp2 BitTorrent action.
“MS doesn’t need help disseminating it, they have bugs in it that f*ck-up some 3rd party applications that have to be worked out. So, go ahead – download it and suffer with the problems.”
Anyway, the Reader’s Write goes on, SP2 really isn’t much to start with – “just more MS security hype (actually simply changes many default security settings to high), and oh, IE gets a pop-up blocker – ohhh, ahhh (and a few more useless things like security center).
“SP2 is designed for the average user, defined by Microsoft as someone who does not change default settings or applications (why is IE #1?); 80% of the computing public.
“Bring on the update MS, tech. support people are gearing up for the flood of calls over f*cked up systems. The user experience is going to be compromised with this update – wait and see. MS really couldn’t fix XP – so they created SP2 to lock down the system – you’ll get a pop-up windows to confirm most choices for instance while browsing.
“You should wait for MS to release the consumer version, so most of the bugs are worked out.”
August 11th, 2004 at 4:36 pm
The “consumer” version(s) are just versions tailored to each of the different XP flavors – Pro, Home, Tablet, and Media Center. The reason Microsoft doesn’t want you to download the one available now – it’s a 250MB patch with all the versions rolled in one. Think about it a bit: Microsoft has released the software – are they really going to release different versions of SP2 at different times? It’d be a versioning nightmare. The rollout is purely a matter of logistics, not a matter of putting in late fixes for the average user. Seriously, why the hell would Microsoft release a “buggy” version to it’s MSDN subscribers – people who pay Microsoft money for the privelege – before releasing it to the general public? It doesn’t make any sense. SP2 has been signed off – if you install SP2, it will be the same SP2 as anyone else installs.
When Microsoft finds bugs, they will issue patches. Install SP2 now or wait for Microsoft to announce patches. But don’t listen to people saying you should wait for “consumer” versions to avoid bugs. Avoid downloading an extra 100+ MB sure – but bugs? Pfft.
August 11th, 2004 at 6:48 pm
As with any new release of this caliber there are going to be issues. But you kinda gotta wonder if Microsoft is touting this as a significant update, not to mention they have been harping for months to be testing with the betas and release candidates, who is going to apply this blindly in a production environment and then cry foul to Microsoft. The reason that a majority of the third party apps are broken under sp2 is because they are violating a security hole that existed before. Apply with caution but use some common sense.
August 11th, 2004 at 9:27 pm
better yet – use Linux : )
August 12th, 2004 at 1:07 am
You are so right, the guy who wrote this artcel is clueless. It is amazing how people will put thier ignorance in print.
August 12th, 2004 at 4:20 pm
some of the reports I have seen have nothing to do with 3rd party applications. Try having 3 of 5 hard drives re-indexed after installing sp2 – or how about re-installing outlook express and messenger after you’ve deleted them? Or how about changing settings you’ve made to the OS?
ONLY things I want out of that service pack are the IPv6 updates, the possible improvement to windows updates and a few other tidbits. I wish microcrap would STOP forcing crap on me that I DONT want!
August 13th, 2004 at 9:01 pm
I would be interested in what hardware was used as well as system configuration on these systems that required a hard drive re-index and reinstallation of outlook express/messenger. We have tested and run this on 5 different machine configuration here of varying patch levels with very little problems. Later you will be upset when a worm is released and your machine is toast because you didn’t have a patch installed. As with the usual ending to these discussions, if you use an os with a footprint as big as Microsoft Windows OS you must face that fact that you are a big target and must patch more than other os’s, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
August 13th, 2004 at 9:05 pm
If you take the Bull in a China Shop approach you deserve what you get. An hour of research would have shown you that V5 of Windows update was out BEFORE XPSP2 as were the IPV6 updates. Ladies and gentleman I think we just met another individual that desperately needs a MAC!!!!!
August 13th, 2004 at 10:23 pm
ok..my buddy calls me and says sp2 is out and its solid, so i go to MS and install it. Well now I cant boot. It goes thru the bios and decides its going to reboot so it never actualy makes it to the desktop and no mater how much I try to set default bios, I get nothing….I just have to say thanks buddy…Thanks MS…you guys are doing a great job…keep up the good work…@sShOlEs!!
August 13th, 2004 at 11:44 pm
Don’t blame microsoft, blame companies for screwing with DLL’s when they shouldn’t be. Anyway, try rebooting into safe mode. I have installed XP SP2 on around ~30 computers without incident. Oh and blame yourself if you weren’t smart enough to back up regularly, especially before any major system upgrade or software install. The buck always stops here (yourself) first.
Or just install linux