Windows XP SP2 approaching RTM release.

Windows XP SP2 latest news.

Windows XP SP2 RTM due within 2 weeks Posted by Wiseman - 07-10-04 11:49 - 0 comments
After a message on the Windows Update V5 newsgroups regarding a possible interim build being released, Microsoft have back tracked and denied that there will be another interim release. Mike Brannigan (MSFT) called the posting "Untrue and inaccurate" and stated that the next public release is the RTM.According to reliable sources at Microsoft the scroll build (RTM) is due to be finished as early as next week or within the next 2 weeks. Current builds stand at 2161.

After the RTM date OEMs have 90 days to ship SP2 pre-installed on their XP machines. Within those 90 days they're required to ship the XP SP2 update CD with machines. CDs will be made available at support outlets (PC World Support) and on frontpage magazine covers. Microsoft are aiming to make sure everyone gets this update and will be spending just as much time & money promoting it as developing it.

Once Windows XP SP2 has hit RTM this will provide room for more development on Longhorn. Currently there have been only 8 builds since the WinHEC build in May. 8 builds in 2 months shows how Microsoft is focussing on XP SP2 at the moment. Build 4088 is the latest build internally and as of yet there have not been any reported changes since WinHEC.

Around the October time frame we will see "XP Reloaded" in action. The marketing campaign will kick off with the availability of Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2004, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and Windows Media Player 10. Interestingly Microsoft is changing the way Media Center Edition works. Media Center Edition was always based off the Windows XP Professional version of XP and not the home edition. Current MCE builds lose the ability to add the machine to a domain after setup is complete (you can still add the machine during setup). Microsoft are trying to convert MCE so it's stripped of professional features so it's cheaper for OEMs and for a possible retail on the product. If they could package MCE alongside OEMs and produce a "Media Center Kit" that would combine a TV card/Remote and Media Center Edition software it would sell very, very well.

For now though lets look forward to Service Pack 2 reaching the final stage of development and focus on Windows XP Service Pack 3, lets face it SP2 is SO last week

View: Keep up to date on XP SP2 here at Neowin.net
View: New Build of Windows XP SP2 expected - Neowin.net
News source: Neowin.net

Posted by pershoot on 20 Jul 2004 - 00:58 2 comments

http://www.winbeta.org/images/news/logos/wb-windows.xp.gif "I'm on record as saying that everyone should install Microsoft's forthcoming Windows XP Service Pack 2. The ambitious security-centric upgrade to Windows XP offers a necessary change in the way Windows XP operates, bringing it up to date with the security realities of 2004. Service Pack 2 is, overall, a good thing.

But it might also be described as a necessary evil. Why? Windows XP Service Pack 2 represents the first real evidence that security threats will not only profoundly change the way IT departments operate, but the way 95 percent or so of the world's computer users work with that most fundamental of applications: the Web browser. And the biggest consequences fall on the shoulders of businesses and organizations, whose Web sites, intranets, and Web-based enterprise apps have relied on the freedom and functionality extended by the more lax security of previous versions of Internet Explorer".

 

Re: Windows XP SP2 approaching RTM/Final release.

As the first week of August approaches and RTM (release to manufacturing) deadlines are close the question on every geeks lips is 'what build will final be?'

According to sources close to Microsoft, late last friday builds stood at 2173 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040723-1834). Currently builds are likely to be at 2175. We're expecting the final RTM to sign off at 2180 to RTM in the first week of August. RTW (release to web) will follow RTM by around 10 days. So everyone should be able to get their hands on SP2 final in the second week of August.

Having RTM in the build strings since build 2170 is nothing new. Windows Server 2003 had RTM in the build strings for nearly a month before it was declared final. Even still we're still expecting SP2 final on August 4th providing there are no delays (yet again).

Thanks to Shawn for the 2173 screenshot.

http://www.neowin.net/images/icons/picticon.gif Screenshot: >> Click here <<

 

XP SP2 is RTM now! We are currently awaiting the final release.

Recent updates

On August 6, 2004, Microsoft released Windows XP SP2 to manufacturing. You will be able to download this update starting the week August 9, 2004 here. I also updated this review to correctly identify which processors support the NX buffer-overrun protection feature.

On June 15, 2004, Microsoft released Windows XP SP2 Release Candidate 2 (RC2). On June 16, I updated this review to include changes in RC2, added a new section called What's missing in Windows XP SP2, and significantly updated the conclusion.

On May 3, 2004, I added the section Multimedia enhancements, which discusses the inclusion of DirectX 9.0a and Windows Media Player 9 Series in XP SP2; I also made major changes to Problems with Windows XP SP2 and minor corrections throughout the document.

In late April 2004, Microsoft delayed the release of Windows XP SP2 from late June 2004 to "late summer" for compatibility reasons.

This thread has download links for the RTM. https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=43849

 

Let's all get ready for SP2... the future...

 

Hello

With the up and coming release of SP2, I'm a little curious as to how the current
security settings I have now are going to mingle with SP2.

Say for a small example if we have the Panda 7.0 with the built-in firewall.
Does a person have to disable the A/V and F/W before installing SP2.
Or do we just leave things as is and hope the current settings co-exsist.

I understand SP2 installs the Windows Firewall by default, any ideas out there
or predictions as to how well this senario will play out?

http://tinyurl.com/579xj

Not to fond of system crashings, any feedback is appriciated!

Take care

 

I think SP2 may conflict with some firewalls like sygate firewall, but concerning all your current software settings, i think you can leave them as they are. I think microsoft is improving SP2's software compatibility, so perhaps most of your software will work ok under SP2.

 

OK, Thanks for that.....Just a little gun shy on my part.
I think I'll wait and see how things go with the masses before installing SP2.
Still wondering if Windows Firewall will over-ride current set-up.

Take care

 

I don't know if it makes any difference but I installed in safe mode. Interestingly, the security center recognized that I had KAV installed but said nothing of Outpost "windows does not detect all firewalls".

You should run MD5 Checksum Utility first: http://www.shen.myby.co.uk/threel/tech/tools/md5.htm

(july 28 is just the name of my config - in case anyone is wondering)






You can turn off monitoring status - this SS is wih mon. on.:

 

Seems to me like SP2 is not compatible with some software yet...
Hopefully the final release will be perfect. I heard that microsoft still needs to resolve some software/hardware compatibility issues before the final release of XP SP2. Microsoft needs to intensively test SP2 to make sure everything meets high quality standards. Let's hope the final release will be perfect.

 

Hey nadirah,
Do you have a link reguarding the compatibility issues with SP2?
----------------------------------------
@ lynchnknot ... Thanks for that info!
Although I'm a little fuzzy on the MD5Checksum thing.

Take care

 

* Filename = WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe
* File Size = 266 MB (278,927,592 bytes)
* Digital Signature = Microsoft Corporation
* CRC Value = 0x046F12B1
* MD5 Checksum = 59A98F181FE383907E520A391D75B5A7







I modified shell32.dll with current build version. It works in that respect but won't allow for new size. Does anyone know how to how to re-allocate the range for shell32.dll file?

**edit - got it working!

 

News from the microsoft IT professionals website:

Aug 2, 2004: Windows XP SP 2 Release Candidate 2 (RC2) Removed from the Web
This signifies the end of the pre-release distribution program in anticipation of the final release of SP2. Windows XP SP2 remains on schedule for release this month.

We recommend that you not install the RC2 version of SP2 on computers that are running the latest security updates. Instead, install the final version of Windows XP SP2 when it becomes available. Installing the RC2 version of SP2 on computers that already have the latest security updates installed can cause incompatibilities. The FINAL release of SP2 WILL be compatible with all previously installed security updates.

 

Some guys at DSLR have tested SP2 extensively, with screenshots, etc.

You can turn off the FW very easy apparently if running another. It also detects AV's from it's Security Centre.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,10983363~mode=flat

TAS

 

Here's the schedule for the releases:
Windows XP SP2 will be RTM on August 5th, 2004.
Windows XP SP2 will be RTW on August 10th, 2004.
Windows XP SP2 will be WUR on August 25th, 2004.

Those are tentative and I wouldn't put it past MS to postpone any of those release dates.

 

any dates on the free Cd