Has anyone got SP2 yet?

[dog]

Hi All, ;)

Of course you all know I'm glutten for punishment ... ;) ... I wish M$ would hurry up this release.

I know right now, you can only get SP2 with auto-update, and against my better judgement I've turn it back on (a week ago now) ... and I still don't have it >:( ... I know it's about 250mb ... but can we hurry this along? I know it's available here and there on the web ... but I want it straight from mother goose!

Has anyone got SP2 yet- with auto-update?

dog - *puppy*

[bigc73542]

on auto update it should only be 90mb to 120mb

[dog]

Have you got it yet? - bigC

[bigc73542]

I have xp pro and it is not available for it till the end of the month. Only available for networks 250mb or for xp home auto updates.

[dog]

OK, thanks ... I'm gonna get a freebie upgrade to pro from a friends business with a few extra licences ... ~sweet freebies~ ;) ... I am holding my breath though ;) :) ....can't count the chickens ..................

[nick s]

You can get it here: Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en).

Nick

[bigc73542]

Thanks but I believe I will wait for the smaller update or better yet the sp2cd.

[Brent]

I got it.

Slipstreamed it.

Love it!

[Robyn]

I downloaded the network install one and installed it yesterday. I was worried about installing but it was a lot quicker than I thought and so far everything is running OK for me. I will install it on my laptop over the weekend as it really does only install the things you need. I would have had to wait until 25th to get it for XP Pro so in the end I decided just to do the big download.

Must admit all the security centre things are certainly all the alerts we would take care of ourselves anyway as I always check for updates myself. At least when you look at Belarc now there isn't a long list of patches! I will maintain my own updates and visits to the update site but advantageous to those who still are not aware of their security ::)

[maddawgz]

so that above link? for it proffesionals and networks? is ok to use on home xp?? is that what ur saying?..do i just d/l it to c drive and install it?I have sp1 only..but im using home xp !! i did enable it in auto updates so im not sure if anything is running in background already installing..... cheers maddawgz!! ::)

[nick s]

-{ Quote: "so that above link? for it proffesionals and networks? is ok to use on home xp?? is that what ur saying?..do i just d/l it to c drive and install it?I have sp1 only..but im using home xp !! i did enable it in auto updates so im not sure if anything is running in background already installing..... cheers maddawgz!! ::)" }-
Installed it on my XP Pro PCs and on XP Home PCs for others. I think it's best to install it in Safe Mode. You can install it from your HD or from a CD.

Nick

[thanks]

NEver done start up safe mode b4..do u do it from bios?..is that necessary? if things go wrong i can always restore right?..not that it prob will..cheers maddawgz

[honorable1nut]

I have SP2 installed on all 4 of my XP boxes, 3 Pro's and 1 Home Edition. A significant performance gain is very noticeable on all 4. Also, as some others have suggested, the gain is from DX9c, but that can't be as I have a real old box that only supports up to DX8. No problems at all on any of the puters. I have disabled the security center, firewall, popup blocker, and auto updates also. 266MB's is rather large just for a performance gain, but I'll take it!! ;D

[nick s]

-{ Quote: "NEver done start up safe mode b4..do u do it from bios?..is that necessary? if things go wrong i can always restore right?..not that it prob will..cheers maddawgz" }-
To get into Safe Mode, start tapping the F8 key before you see the XP boot screen. SP2 sets a restore point as part of the install. You can also uninstall it from Add/Remove Programs.

Nick

[nadirah]

I have automatic updates on for weeks already, and i still haven't received SP2! >:(
Are the guys at microsoft sleeping on the job?

[bigc73542]

I went ahead and installed the network version of sp2 about an hour age and so far everything works except my nero. But I have record now max that works as well as nero and it works with sp2. It recognized me mcafee av ver. 7.03.6000 and my command av 4.92.0 but not my kerio 2.1.5 which I expected. all the rest of my programs work just fine. ;)

[bigc73542]

I hate to eat my own words but after saying everything worked. I wanted to burn a backup disc but my CD/RW was not found by the computer and no matter what I did it would not work. I finally restored to a time before sp2 and then the CD/RW worked so I put my sp2 cd in the drive and this time I disabled regprot and processguard, it installed and everything does work like it is supposed to this time. ;)

[ronjor]

System restore has helped me many times. It catches a lot of flack but it serves a purpose.

[bigc73542]

My last computer had the restore on a fat 32 partition and it did not work well at all. But this one is on an ntfs partition and it works extremely well. ;)

[nick s]

Ran into a problem with PG and SP2 as well. After the install, but before re-enabling PG, I defragged with O&O Defrag. After rebooting with PG active, I got repeated "mmc.exe" errors when opening Services, Event Viewer, etc. I ran System File Checker with the fix option and everything was back to normal. Next I restored a prior image, repeated the steps, but this time started up O&O Defrag with PG active, and had to give the allow permission to a modified mmc.exe. Services, Event Viewer, etc. ran with no errors after that and since. It turns out O&O uses mmc.exe. Not sure about the how and why, but I probably should have put PG in Learning Mode instead of disabling it.

Nick

[bigc73542]

I didn't have those problems but I did need to defrag and then I cleaned up about 1.5 gigs of dead files. I am sure some were from useing restore and the others had to come from sp2 install? Who knows, all is working very well this time. Reinstalling sp2 a second time was worth it. considerind all of the security changes it makes to xp. I just wish the windows firewall was sufficent for my needs but I guess you can't have everything ;)

[ronjor]

I have to give Microsoft a passing grade on this service pack. I had not one problem other than fragmentation and Perfect Disk took care of that.

The service pack should help many people protect their computer when otherwise, they wouldn't. 8)

[mismis29]

:-\ I've been reading countless posts regarding SP2, and I"m still confused.

First of all, I have WindowsXP Professional on a stand-alone home computer. I am wondering if it is available for this O/S yet, and if it is, why I have not received any notifications? ("Windows Update" is turned on and configured to notify me when updates are available-none for awhile now).

Second, I have seen links to download SP2, but it seems that it is for IT professionals. Should I download this, or should I wait?

Lastly, I have seen many people having problems with SP2 not being compatible with many of their programs. If SP2 causes so many problems, is it even worth the time and space?

Thanx for your time and patience :)


'Ignorance is bliss' - ya right! ;)

[Robyn]

I was very worried about installing SP2 but knew in the end I was going to have to get it doen. I downloaded the IT version and installed it on my main PC (XP Pro) first and then installed it on my laptop (XP Pro) the main PC did not take long at all. One thing I did make sure to do was close down all the icons on my taskbar (just to be safe)

I agree about XP's firewall, I would love it to have managed Outbond traffic as I am using a router and would have just used XP's own Firewall if only it had the extra contol :( You need to make sure and turn ICF off in services as well as in the security console.

I also run O&O and so far it has not given me any issues. I did encounter a blue screen but think this was to do with Outpost (hopefully resolved now) I also had to add Outpost.exe to the DEP permissions as it has to be excluded from the protection list.

I was relieved to get back online and find I had no problems sending and receiving e-mails. I have Nero but haven't actually used it as yet (just opened it so will need to try and burn a disc now I have read this)

I turned off the auto update feature. I was going to allow it to tell me but not download but I really have never used auto updates for XP as I recive e-mails from Microsoft and I check the site for patches so I don't think I really need this on.

It is still early days but so far apart from a blue screen I have my computer running. I cleaned the registry and defragmented after I was sure everything was installed and was releived to see SP2 noted on my System Properties.

I used the network install even though I only share my router connection and not files and printer with my laptop. It only selects the bits you need and at least I will not be waiting like so many HE users are and wondering why SP2 has not downloaded yet. I just had to get it behind me!

[FluxGFX]

-{ Quote: ":-\ I've been reading countless posts regarding SP2, and I"m still confused.


First of all, I have WindowsXP Professional on a stand-alone home computer. I am wondering if it is available for this O/S yet, and if it is, why I have not received any notifications? ("Windows Update" is turned on and configured to notify me when updates are available-none for awhile now).

Second, I have seen links to download SP2, but it seems that it is for IT professionals. Should I download this, or should I wait?

Lastly, I have seen many people having problems with SP2 not being compatible with many of their programs. If SP2 causes so many problems, is it even worth the time and space?

Thanx for your time and patience :)


'Ignorance is bliss' - ya right! ;)" }-
The actual SP2 for Home and Pro XP is not due till the end of the month for users. The version available right now is for Network and workstation deployment. You can still install it but there will be missing components for various subsection.

All this information is available on the m$ website

[Devinco]

-{ Quote: "Should I download this, or should I wait?" }-
Just my opinion, but I would wait at least two weeks after it is released, maybe more. That should be enough time for early adoption issues to start to settle down. Watch the forums that relate to each of your security components and learn what problems they are having and the workarounds or solutions. If there is a major compatibility issue with an important security component, then you may want to wait until that component is upgraded. If you are up to date (patch wise) and have a good layered security set up, you could wait a little and not get burned with incompatibilities.

[luv2bsecure]

I think I replied with this thought in another similar thread, but it's worth saying again, really. This is where drive imaging software comes in real handy. I regularly use a desktop, but still recovering from an extended illness, I am sometimes in bed a lot and use a laptop. I have put SP2 on the laptop and have seen nothing but benefits. But, if anything starts acting strange, I can simply pop my CD in with the image I made immediately prior to the SP2 install and voila! I'm back to things just as they were before the SP2 installation.

Drive imaging lets me play with software, do things I wouldn't normally do to test something, etc. and then turn around and slap the "good" image back on the computer. It's changed the way I do a lot of things actually.

John
Luv2BSecure

.

[ronjor]

Hello John,

What program do you use to image to cd?

[luv2bsecure]

Hi Ronjor!

I use a copy of Drive Image 2002 from Powerquest - and love it. Since the Symantec purchase of PQ, it has been incorporated into the new version of Ghost. I have heard the new Ghost is like a hybrid of the best of Drive Image and old Ghost. Anyone here using Ghost 9 that can tell me how they like that?

[nick s]

-{ Quote: "The actual SP2 for Home and Pro XP is not due till the end of the month for users. The version available right now is for Network and workstation deployment. You can still install it but there will be missing components for various subsection.

All this information is available on the m$ website" }-

From Guide for Installing and Deploying Microsoft® Windows® XP Service Pack 2 (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/spdeploy.mspx):

"The Network installation is a self-extracting package that contains all of the files required to install SP2 on any computer running Windows XP. This installation option downloads all of the SP2 files to your computer from the network you are connected to. This can be an effective option for administrators who want to set up a shared network folder for deploying SP2 on multiple computers. It is also the method to use if you want to integrate the service pack files with Windows XP and deploy this installation to multiple computers."

Nick

[maddawgz]

done it today in safe mode! All ok no glitches at all..kewl !! ..i turned of the windows firewall?...as i have it on pc cillian? i asume i dont need 2?...does that yellow auto update thing in taskbar go away..wonder how the pop up blocker is?...regards maddawgz ::)

[ronjor]

Take some time to configure the security center.

Popup blocker is very good and it blocks more than popups.

Good upgrade from Microsoft.

[Peaches4U]

have not done the download yet - waiting to see what issues there are, here is some recommended reading - http://news.com.com/Microsoft+lists+SP2+conflicts/2100-1016_3-5311280.html

firewall tweaks in SP2 - http://www.zdnet.com.au/insight/security/0,39023764,39156743,00.htm

[Snook]

Been running SP2 RTM for almost a week now. It is very stable and has caused no problems with my applications. I hear it has a shot of Longhorn code in it as well. By the way, I don't use any of the new security features because all of my third party apps do that part.

[Blackspear]

-{ Quote: "...Has anyone got SP2 yet- with auto-update?..." }-
Been there, done that, what's next? ? ? ;)

;D ;D ;D

[nadirah]

I've finally got SP2 via automatic updates. Very stable, no problems! ;)

[mismis29]

Well, I finally got the notification for SP2 via automatic update. I'm still not sure if I really want since I have quite a few third-party apps that ensure my security. Does SP2 have any other benefits besides better security? What else would I need it for?

[Brent]

-{ Quote: "Well, I finally got the notification for SP2 via automatic update. I'm still not sure if I really want since I have quite a few third-party apps that ensure my security. Does SP2 have any other benefits besides better security? What else would I need it for?" }-
It provides alot of under the hood security changes. Fixes vulnerbilites that were present in sp1 and prevents most if not all buffer under run errors.

Just intsall the update lol. You can disable the firewall and if your virus scanner doesnt work with the security center just tell it that you are monitoring it yourself.

If you have a current pop up blocker uninstall it and use the one built into IE. It works extremely well.

Microsoft wouldnt be spending this much money if you didnt need it.

[mismis29]

Thanx for the advice Brent :) Just one question though. There is a pop-up blocker that's built in to IE? Where? I do have the Yahoo! toolbar which has one, but I don't use it, I'm currently using AdMuncher.

Thanx a bunch :)

[dog]

-{ Quote: "I've finally got SP2 via automatic updates. Very stable, no problems! ;)" }-

LOL ... I final got it this morning 26th (automatic updates/no install) , while I was already in the process of installing it using the M$ V5 website ... figures eh! LOL , nothing like getting notification of AU half way during the install. ;D

Overall it's a long process, about an hour ... including d/ling it from windows update. Installed smooth except for messing up my NIC & ADSL internal modem ... reinstalling the drivers was a quick fix!

It also unfortunately reinstalls MSN Messenger ... which I will remove again ... & I haven't check to see what services M$ has decided to turn back on, which I had shutdown.

Overall it was long but painless. ;)

dog - *puppy*

[mismis29]

Oh yeah,

In regards to SP2, I followed this link:

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

and I noticed that I have some programs that are listed as "not compatible" with SP2. I like these programs and certainly don't want to get rid of them simply because this new service pack causes them to run incorrectly.

BTW, if I am going to have to re-install things as dog pointed out, I can't because I have no backup software :( I have a feeling SP2 might cause too many problems for me.

[Brent]

-{ Quote: "Oh yeah,

In regards to SP2, I followed this link:

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

and I noticed that I have some programs that are listed as "not compatible" with SP2. I like these programs and certainly don't want to get rid of them simply because this new service pack causes them to run incorrectly.

BTW, if I am going to have to re-install things as dog pointed out, I can't because I have no backup software :( I have a feeling SP2 might cause too many problems for me." }-
I have programs that were listed as not compatibale as well.

They work fine.

Windows XP automatically creates a restore point anyways. So if something does go terribly wrong (which I seriously doubt it will) then you can always go back to right before you installed it.

I installed this on my other computer that was running Norton Internet Security. Everything worked fine. No program compatibility issues what so ever.

Yes IE does have a built in pop up blocker that will work as good if not better as ad muncher. So you can get rid of ad muncher and free of some ram if need to.

[Brent]

What programs are you concerned about not working correctly?

[mismis29]

Hi Brent :)

I have ZoneAlarm 4.5., I might have to go back to NAV ::), Norton System Works 2003 and Yahoo! Instant Messenger. As for the restore point, it has NEVER worked for me("System Restore" is 'On'-I've checked). I wish it did 'cuz I've had many problems with my machine and restoring it would have been extremely helpful.

Anyway, I've ordered the free SP2 cd, so I have some time to think about.

[Brent]

-{ Quote: "Hi Brent :)

I have ZoneAlarm 4.5., I might have to go back to NAV ::), Norton System Works 2003 and Yahoo! Instant Messenger. As for the restore point, it has NEVER worked for me("System Restore" is 'On'-I've checked). I wish it did 'cuz I've had many problems with my machine and restoring it would have been extremely helpful.

Anyway, I've ordered the free SP2 cd, so I have some time to think about." }-
System Restore has always worked fine for me.

Can you:

Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Click Create a Restore Point

Type your description in (ex. Right before SP2 install)

Then click Create and then when its done close

You should be set then

[Devinco]

mismis29,

That isn't Norton System Works 2003 Professional, is it?
If it is, then you already have Ghost (an imaging backup program).
It would be a good idea to make a backup image before upgrading to SP2, just in case.

[zcv]

-{ Quote: "Anyway, I've ordered the free SP2 cd, so I have some time to think about." }-
Staples is handing out XP SP2 discs for free. Don't know of any other office supply stores doing that.


-{ Quote: " As for the restore point, it has NEVER worked for me("System Restore" is 'On'-I've checked)." }-
You probably have a corrupt restore point somewhere in the chain of Restore Points, the integrity of each restore point is dependent on the previous one.

Shut SR off: My Computer > Properties > System Retore tab > Check "Turn off System Restore on all drives" - below, if multiple drives - have the option to differentiate.

Reboot.

Go back and re-enable SR - will create an initial restore point.

After re-establishing SR, a way to test the Restore function:


Take any executable file ( extention .exe) , and burn it out and/or move it to the My Documents folder and delete it from it's original location. SR does not monitor files in My Documents folder regardless of file type.

Then restore to the initial restore point created by the system; the deleted executable should be back in it's original location. Afterwards, you can delete the copy in My Documents.

Regards - Charles

[jon_fl]

Has everyone backed up their files before installing SP-2? I guess sort of a yes or no poll question. Has anyone lost any files by installing SP-2? Anybody try the XP backup utility? ???

[Jack D. Browser]

It was sennt via Auto-Update to me about a week ago, I decided not to install, but instead, waited to install it from the disc that I ordered from Microsoft, which arrived a day or two later. These are offered free of charge, MS even pays the postage! Also, they sent me an extra one and encouraged me to pass it along to a friend. A word of warning, however, which I only found out at the last minute, is that before you install SP2, check with your PC maker for any new driver's or other prefixes that you may need to install on your PC PRIOR to installing SP2. One big deal I found with my HP PC with XP Pro MCE installed, was the fact that if a System Restore patch is not installed prior to the installation of SP2, you will lose any ability to access a system restore point prior to it's installation, so if it does mess up, then, you can't even restore your PC to ANY point in time prior tyo your installation of SP2. I'm glad I got that, because my first system sweep with Spybot S & D removed the new Wild Tangent drivers (Yeah, yeah, I forgot to check them off on the ignore list first.), however, when I tried recovering them--I think it was 4 separate ones--it messed up 2 of them, the games didn't work, along with a couple of other Media Center items that should have been unrelated. Since these Wild Tangent driver;s were also prefixes, that meant I had to uninstall SP2, so I could reinstall the driver's. The system restore prefix worked great, also creating a restore point at the time of SP2's installation, so I did everything over again, but this time I set Spybot S&D to ignore Wild Tangent, and now everything works fine. The point is, had I not installed those prefixes (I needed about 8 separate ones!), not only would I not have many things working right after installing SP2, but I would not have been able to do a system restore, except...well, you know, and what a HASSLE that would have been. Anyway, I'd just oder the CD from MS and install from that, as any large downloads like SP2 give me the creeps, as one little nick along the line and bang, the entire thing could be screwed-up! Actually, Microsoft had said they were going to be sending it as an update in three separate parts, with the third part activating the installation, since it is such a large file. However, I received mine all at once, and promptly deleted it! ;>)
Sorry, for dragging this out, but if it saves one person from having to do a full system restoration, then, it will have been worth this expanded typing & reading effort.
Regards, Jack D. Browser