What makes SP2 such a special update?

Sunday, April 11, 2004 by joetheblow | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk

Anyone opinion on that? Microsoft puts their coders focus on SP2 and out of Longhorn.

Is SP2 that special?
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PixelPirate
Reply #1 Sunday, April 11, 2004 2:59 PM
It should adress security issues that MS have been critisized for since around XP came out, or should I say after all the worms/trojans/vira that came right after? It's just to easy to infect a Windows system, so they needed to do something about it. I don't know all the details but you could probably read alot about it over here: http://www.winsupersite.com
GhoS
Reply #2 Sunday, April 11, 2004 6:41 PM
It includes a popup blocker finally for IE as well. Not that I think that matters since if ppl want that feature they have already employed other solutions. Also the firewall is turned on by default. Although that's a good idea, I think there will be people updating to SP2 who won't realize what the firewall does and how to get programs to work nicely with it.



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Essencay
Reply #3 Sunday, April 11, 2004 9:28 PM
If I'm not mistaken MS's firewall is very weak, meaning that while it does the job of stopping incoming issues, it won't stop programs on a user's computer from accessing the internet without permission and therefore the need for a real firewall still.
rmiles7721
Reply #4 Monday, April 12, 2004 4:28 AM
If I'm not mistaken MS's firewall is very weak, meaning that while it does the job of stopping incoming issues, it won't stop programs on a user's computer from accessing the internet without permission and therefore the need for a real firewall still


SP2 fixes this. XP will prompt you when an app tries to access the net and allow you to block it, or allow it this time, or all of the time. Still not as robust as something like Tiny Firewall, but it is a step in the right direction.
MarkMcQ
Reply #5 Monday, April 12, 2004 7:01 AM
Plus they finally disabled the messenger service by default in this one.
Took them long enough to get round to it.
[Message Edited]
joetheblow
Reply #6 Monday, April 12, 2004 10:06 AM
So its all about security? No new Windows XP feature for the user? Nothing GUI wise?
MarkMcQ
Reply #7 Monday, April 12, 2004 10:32 AM
Well the firewall and pop-up blocker are new XP features.
As for the GUI, that's beyond help 
werewolf
Reply #8 Monday, April 12, 2004 11:15 AM
It's not beyond help, that's what Stardock is for


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[Message Edited]
MarkMcQ
Reply #9 Monday, April 12, 2004 3:17 PM

A turd is a turd, even if you put a nice hat over it and painted a smile on it.

Essencay
Reply #10 Monday, April 12, 2004 3:40 PM
So I guess we still gotta use diapers (firewalls) because it's still going through potty-training
Orion
Reply #11 Monday, April 12, 2004 7:25 PM
#10 by Essencay - 4/12/2004 3:40:22 PM
So I guess we still gotta use diapers (firewalls) because it's still going through potty-training


As if XP is any different in this respect than any other os...it's not.
PoulanZ
Reply #12 Monday, April 12, 2004 10:49 PM
Also to add, you cannot run Office 2003 w/o SP2 installed.
bussie
Reply #13 Tuesday, April 13, 2004 1:26 AM
Also to add, you cannot run Office 2003 w/o SP2 installed.

This isn't true! Unless you mean: you cannot run Office 2003 WITH SP2 installed.......



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^me
Reply #14 Tuesday, April 13, 2004 7:36 AM
yeah ill say, i DO run office 2k3 WITH SP1 ONLY lol
PoulanZ
Reply #15 Tuesday, April 13, 2004 3:35 PM
Hmmm... Thats weird, I installed Office 2003 last year and was unable to run it until I d/l'ed SP2.
Thats what it told me. I am running Win XP Pro. Thats odd you didn't have to install SP2
Orion
Reply #16 Tuesday, April 13, 2004 3:45 PM
You're thinking of SP1. Why would a product (Office 2003) that's been out over a year REQUIRE a product that hasn't even been released yet? ...It's just not possible. BTW, Office 2003 does require SP1.
PoulanZ
Reply #17 Tuesday, April 13, 2004 8:18 PM
My apologies, You are correct Orion. It was SP1 I was thinking.
Sput
Reply #18 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 12:09 PM
If anyone is interested in the Microsoft list of what is new/changed in SP2 then this is worth a look http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

Given how much is being done, I would have to agree that SP2 does seem a very worth while effort they're putting in. It remains to be seen how well they actually deliver on the intentions....
HG_Eliminator
Reply #19 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 11:34 PM
bahh.... still no "automatic pizza delivery" button ......
Orion
Reply #20 Thursday, April 15, 2004 9:44 AM
#18 by Skinner Sput - 4/14/2004 12:09:36 PM
It remains to be seen how well they actually deliver on the intentions....


From what I've seen of RC1 on several systems at work, SP2 is a must have...especially for the non-enterprise user.

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