Originally Posted by Electrolyte

If any one here has an SiS card and is thinking of updating to SP2, don't bother is all I say, it will lead you to problems.

Originally Posted by greencreeper

God what a depressing thread. There must be subliminal messages embedded in XP. It's like Night of the Living Dead. You're all supposed to hate MS, and everything it produces is meant be expensive bug ridden rubbish that has to be tolerated because of MS's dominance of the market.

:p:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

I'm under control of mr gates - mr gates...... oh yes..... mr gates......:D

Originally Posted by greencreeper

They'll be opening a shrine next :erm:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

What do you mean OPENING....

I already have one - but I don't charge to sit on it ;):D

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

My fileserver has an SiS gfx card in it and it just fine.

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

Yeh but that isn't used for games.

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

I updated my drivers from Windows Update, then SP2, then found out the Microsoft drivers for my card didn't support stuff that my card did (so = lack of performance) so I put it back to the ones I got from the SiS website (which support everything for my card) then every time I restart my PC I got the BSOD. Only safemode would work, had to go back to the MICROSOFT drivers, and behold, it worked. I thought stuff it, removed SP2, went back to other drivers, and it WORKED. Ironic, don't you think?

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

<Snip>
I . . . removed SP2 . . .

Originally Posted by Theodoric

Is SP2 readily and fully removable in all cases? To be honest, I'd feel happier installing SP2 if I knew that I could turn the clock back if it all went pear shaped. On past experience of Windows updates, I've got a strong suspicion that my Roxio Easy CD Creator 5 will play up under SP2. There are also acknowledged problems with Adobe products (the Help system according to the Adobe site) and as I have Photoshop Elements 2.0 . . .

Originally Posted by Paul

I installed a BETA release of SP2 and then clean installed the release version of it afterwards, not had a problem with it yet. The second PC here had it installed on a 18 month(ish) old Windows XP install that had patches and tweaks and skinning software in use and that one is running well too. Not had any problems with the Adobe software that I'm running here :confused:

Originally Posted by Tricky

Add, remove programs - Selected SP2 clicked remove and away it went
Rebooted and all is A OK - Machine running like a dream once again!
Cannot promise this would happen for everyone but it worked for me...
Going to install on a development box now and do some testing!

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

If any one here has an SiS card and is thinking of updating to SP2, don't bother is all I say, it will lead you to problems.

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Thank you for telling me.As if I didn't have problems enough thus far. :D I'll wait until you can tell me it's safe to use. ;)

Incog. :)

Originally Posted by yesman

I decided to re-format my PC last night, having had sp2 installed previously, I went to download it again but got this message................


So I have got to wait now it seems :mad:

Originally Posted by Theodoric

2) I understand that the SP2 firewall is on by default. If I intend to continue using my present Sygate firewall, should I switch off the SP2 firewall as soon as SP2 is installed (and how is this done)?

Originally Posted by Theodoric

There are also acknowledged problems with Adobe products (the Help system according to the Adobe site) and as I have Photoshop Elements 2.0 . . .

Originally Posted by Frank

Hmm, I can do better than that - I have a DLL error on Photoshop launch, yet it still loads after clicking cancel.

But yes, SP2 is better, but it required a rebuild to work properly.

Originally Posted by Theodoric

I understand that the new SP2 firewall is much superior to the rather primitive present XP firewall. So, two questions.

1) Should users of, say, Zone Alarm and Sygate abandon them and move to the SP2 firewall?

2) I understand that the SP2 firewall is on by default. If I intend to continue using my present Sygate firewall, should I switch off the SP2 firewall as soon as SP2 is installed (and how is this done)?

Originally Posted by Ramrod

On the subject of windows update.....I checked on the xp updates page and had to click on a security certificate and then got a page that said: "Get the latest Windows Update software.


We've made improvements to our website. To download the new version of the software and begin using Windows Update, please click Install Now. "
Anyone know exactly what happens if I click 'install'? :disturbd:

Originally Posted by Paul

Have you got V5 of Windows Update running? If not then that is the update it is installing. They have been beta testing WAU V5 for a while prior to the release of SP2
Easy way to see if you are going to the new site is to see if Windows Update is taking you to
http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...ult.aspx?ln=en
If not then that is probably the update you are being told to install :)

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Ta m8. Whatever happens, I don't want to install SP2 yet :erm:

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

With the problems found in it? I don't blame you.

I wonder if M$ will bring out SP5 for 2000 :D

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

Well M$ do try there best, we all know they do otherwise they wouldn't bring out all these SP's (like 2000 SP4, basically makes the OS rock solid).

They will fix Sp2, and probably bring out Sp3 in the near time future :)

Originally Posted by Richard M

Just installed SP2 due to it being available on Win Update now.
Everything runs fine, the system came back up and is running the same speed as usual.
Got some pics of the "virus protection", the no-execute instructions on my AMD64.

Originally Posted by Richard M

I have a router. :)

Originally Posted by Paul

Outbound protection? I have a router here but I don't trust some software companies to stop trying to hide things in the background of their apps ;)

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Now I admit I havent been playing with it long but am I correct in thinking that you have to open up each port in the SP2 firewall individually? I have a range of about 50 ports I need to open up to use BitTorrent correctly and I will kill someone if I have to do them all one at a time :mad:

Originally Posted by Mauldor

Been Running SP2 for a while, im not 100% sure, is it officially done and dusted or is this still some mad beta that MS have dished out? Not had any problems at all so far, CD/DVD Writing works fine (never worked properly on the other Beta), MacAfee is happy and running well and generally ok but.....

I feel my computers runs slower than it used to, odd that others have said it seems to run faster, wierd...

Originally Posted by Mal

I downloaded sp2 last night. Touch wood, I've not had any problems upto now. My computer even seems to boot up faster, but that might just be my imagination.

Originally Posted by Paul

I think I remember a post somewhere saying you can adjust the .inf file for the firewall to accomodate setting multiple ports in one hit.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
and
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
may help

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Thanks paul, I'll look into those though the sp2 firewall and security center annoyed me too much last night so I disabled them :)

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Why am I reminded of the Shell Optimax adverts with Quentin (eastend) Wilson "Now I've installed SP2, the birdsong is sweeter, the air smells fresher, the stereo sounds better, my house looks cleaner and I've lost 10lbs"

Originally Posted by Incognitas

OK should I bother?

Frankly I'm too traumatised after installing XP last week. :D

Originally Posted by mrm1

Dont know if this has been posted before but you can order your XPSP2 CD free from Microsoft Here with free postage as well.

Saves a large download. :tu:

Originally Posted by welwynrose

don't know if this has already been mention but apparently in the sp2 licence agreement there is a line that states that you agree to microsoft monitoring your computer and informing homeland security of any illegal activity they might find

Originally Posted by welwynrose

don't know if this has already been mention but apparently in the sp2 licence agreement there is a line that states that you agree to microsoft monitoring your computer and informing homeland security of any illegal activity they might find

Originally Posted by peacedude2k4

Hope so i mean they carry on like this im going apple :D :Yikes: shock horror

Originally Posted by welwynrose

don't know if this has already been mention but apparently in the sp2 licence agreement there is a line that states that you agree to microsoft monitoring your computer and informing homeland security of any illegal activity they might find

Originally Posted by Paul

Really? Anyone want to look through it and see if they can find it? I don't have time to do it at the mo :(

Originally Posted by searchsecurity.techtarget.com

Microsoft decries recent reports of flaws in Windows XP Service Pack 2 as "misguided" and "not accurate" and said it wants to clear the air so users can separate fact from fiction.

The software giant responded Wednesday to the past week's wave of media attention over researchers who claimed to find flaws while testing SP2, Microsoft's much anticipated security overhaul of Windows XP. The most notable report focused on a "highly critical" drag-and-drop flaw discovered by a researcher known as "http-equiv."

The vulnerability, affecting Internet Explorer, is caused by "insufficient validation of drag-and-drop events issued from the 'Internet' zone to local resources," Copenhagen, Denmark-based security firm Secunia said in an advisory. "This can be exploited by a malicious Web site to plant an arbitrary executable file in a user's startup folder, which will get executed the next time Windows starts up." Secunia has given http-equiv's claim high billing on its daily vulnerability list and said the flaw has been confirmed on a fully patched system with Internet Explorer 6.0 and Windows XP SP1 and SP2.

Adding to the media buzz was a Microsoft list of applications that need tweaking to function properly with SP2. Because of the size and scope of SP2, experts have warned enterprises to study it on test computers and work out the compatibility issues before downloading it onto their networks. A Microsoft spokeswoman sought to calm "undue concern" over SP2 in an e-mailed statement Wednesday.

"Some articles have posted that claim there is a highly critical vulnerability that would allow a malicious user to spoof the Windows Security Center in Windows XP SP2. This claim is not accurate," she said. "To clarify, there is not a vulnerability in the Windows Security Center. In order for an attacker to spoof the Windows Security Center, he or she would have to have local administrator rights on the computer."

She added, "If an attacker were granted access to a user's system, either by being granted them or attaining them by enticing a user to open a malicious attachment, the criminal actions the attacker could pursue include many that are far more interesting than spoofing the Windows Security Center. In Windows XP SP2, we have added functionality to reduce the likelihood of unknown applications from running on the user's system including turning Windows Firewall on by default, data execution prevention and attachment manager in Outlook Express, to name a few."

Despite Microsoft's efforts to calm nerves, the reported SP2 flaw continues to get attention. Secunia updated its advisory on the drag-and-drop vulnerability Wednesday, saying that while the proof of concept showing how the flaw can be exploited depends on the user performing a drag-and-drop event, "it may potentially be rewritten to use a single click as user interaction instead."

Meanwhile, the Bethesda, Md.-based Internet Storm Center said it has been receiving reports that the vulnerability discovered by http-equiv is being actively exploited in the wild. "If you run across this on a fully patched box, please submit the offending URL and any dropped (dragged 'n' dropped in this case) malcode to the ISC," the Internet Storm Center advised.

Originally Posted by bigitup_j

i'm sticking with SP1 for now, until Windows bring out patches for SP2. i have a firewall - zonealarm, so i feel nice and safe! :)

Originally Posted by bigitup_j

i'm sticking with SP1 for now, until Windows bring out patches for SP2. i have a firewall - zonealarm, so i feel nice and safe! :)

Originally Posted by Paul

As long as you are up to date with all the other previous patches and updates then firewall and anti-virus is all you need to worry about if you want to wait.

Originally Posted by mrm1

Just installed XPSP2 RC2 and so far so good. Xp now loads quicker than it did before (or at least it seems to). Only problem I have is the windows "critical stop" sound plays at the end of boot up, but every thing seems to work properly. tempereraly stopped this by switching the sound off until I work out whats happening.

Originally Posted by Fred_Smith

Just to let you know you can stop security centre from nagging you about this by doing the folllowing:-

Control panel --> Security Centre --> Click change the way security center alerts me (note US spelling ... ). Then unclick all the alerts.

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by Richard M

Check in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run but also check in the other root keys like Current_Machine etc.

Originally Posted by denial

I have just installed XP SP2, everything seems fine except every time my computer starts, Outlook Express is launching automatically, obviously checked 'Startup' programs and 'msconfig' nothing is listed there.

Any ideas?

Originally Posted by Paul

Have you got anything loading on startup that may be triggering OE? (Messenger etc) and have you checked for spyware recently?
Does it just open or does it open the window to create a new email, send receive etc ?

Originally Posted by denial

Nope nothing loads on startup, Microsoft Messenger service is disabled, it always sends and receives as soon as it starts.

Done a spyware check, nothing showing up, it just started as soon as i had finished the SP2 upgrade.

Its not a major thing I know just irritating!!!

Originally Posted by Paul

Disabled? You can tell it not to run on startup instead? Some things need the messenger services to run. Have you checked the options in OE to make sure its not set to send receive on startup etc?

Originally Posted by denial

Sorry I mean disabled as in 'Manual' on startup, have checked all the options nothing seems to suggest send and receive on startup, I just cant see how OE, is starting automatically, cant see any reference to it anywhere.

Originally Posted by MetaWraith

You can hide the update and have it never remind you again.