XP SP2 available on Microsoft site
 

SP2 :)

Windows XP sp2 express Install - English :)

XP sp2 express Install - English

I think I will wait a few weeks :D

I'd suppose the Single comp update will be out soon. I'll wait for that one. Nice find though!

Hell no, I'm not going to touch it. You touch it. :lol:

I ordered the CD. *shrugs* I'm in no rush and I don't even have my new computer built yet, but I don't know if I want to defile my brandy new comp with it...=p ( kidding, I'll prollay throw some form of windows on it when it's done, cause I do need it for some things.)

Been touching it since early beta.....:D

/MrSoftie beta tester

You can use this file to up-date a Single comp :)

SP2 Is running great on all of my PCs.

You can use this file to slipstream SP2 Into your copy of XP. :D

Is that the final version? I'm using SP2 RC2.

Yes, this Is the final version. :D

Wewt, downloading at 400 kb/s !

I'm hovering around 150kb/s with my humble DSL connection.

Ha! I'm geting it at 1.33 MB/sec... or roughly 1331 kb/s

[edit] I just realized I'm a nerd... I was bragging about my bandwidth :(

When I sent SP 2 from my computer to my brother's in the next room through AOL Instant Messenger, it was going at 2,500kb /s, so I beat you. Well, not really, since it was over a LAN. But still...

I installed it just fine.

*shrug*

Dunno why people get so worried.

I'll wait a while. Soon I will want to reinstall anyway, so if SP2 goes bad, I will just reinstall.

i have a burned copy of office xp for trial and educational purposes. does anyone know if sp2 will affect it in anyway?

Downloaded it off the net at 2.5MB/sec from MSFT's website (mmm, SONET) - and proceeded to have it fail to install on my workstation. However, it worked fine on all of my home machines. So now it's time to kick around the office and find out what security setting I broke.

Xepidemic: it shouldn't affect it. As far as I know, OS Service Packs don't check validity of software (even MSFT software).

much like SP1, not going on my system anytime soon

Not much use to me, but for those so inclined, there's a torrent here.

Are you serious? SP1 was programmed to kill installations of XP with blacklisted serials

Only keys starting with FCKGW. SP2 blocks other well known keys, but most go through.

I just installed it, no probs here. Except for the stupid firewall it installs (even though I told it not to), it seems to be running fine.

I also notice a speed boost as well. Nice. :)

A little birdie told me that if the key is indeed on the block list, SP2 will install fine, but Windows Update will be disabled. However, if the key is randomly generated by a certain program starting with a "k" and ending with a "eygen", Windows Update will continue working after installing SP2.

ok, so why are some of you not wanting sp2, or even worse sp1.

whats wrong with them, you do realise that if you run a pre sp1 xp you are open to a number of vulnerabilities and unstabilities .

let alone the speed increase. if you have a game, do you not patch it. this is surely the same thing, if not more important

What's the best place to keep an eye on how XP/SP2 installations are going? I know where to track Mac stuff well, but not general information Windows sites.

Have dome the SP2 upgrade on my box. Not much to say really. Doom3 still works, which I guess is the main thing :)

The firewall is a bit crappy so I'm still using Kerio which is better IMO. However, SP2 doesn't recognise it so keep asking me if I want to "correct the problem" and turn on the XP SP2 firewall. On the bright side SP2 does recognise AVG Anti-virus so doesn't warn me about having no virus protection.

Not looked at the IE changes as I use Firefox so they've not very intersting to me.

Neowin. Lots of info in the forums.

I installed SP2 last night, and I think it's a good upgrade. I think the firewall does a fine job; better than nothing.

However, the security center didn't recognize my antivirus software (AVK) and kept bugging me, so I just disabled it.

There's no excuse for not running SP1, but SP2 has had a number of well documented compatibility problems--crashing machines, corrupting data on hard drives... A whole lot of things a lot of people dont want to deal with, myself included. Once its been out for a couple of weeks and we know it works pretty well, then Ill upgrade.

Microsoft is well know for causing compatibility issues with their service packs. We (my companies IT dept) usually hold off on installing SPs for our users for a little while. Especially, until we have tested the SP sufficently.

It turns out that the issue installing SP2 on my work machine was a corrupted local security database (C:\windows\security\database\secedit.sdb). Fun times indeed :-/

The only other instance of anyone ever having that problem on the entire internet was a guy who decided to just reformat the machine. However, I finally managed to uncorrupt the database - and then SP2 installed with no problems at all.

So far I've got SP2 installed onto 8 different computers, 6 different hardware platforms. No problems on any platform. Some with the firewall turned on, some with turned off.

I don't see any reason to hold back on upgrading to it, unless you've got some exotic hardware configuration. Time to work on rolling it out to the users.

installed sp2 last night, worked on my machine all day today. I havent noticed any performance increase at all.

a key easy enough to fix with the proper tools.

Question. My HP didn't come with an xp cd, so I'm currently making an sp2 slipstream from a cd from a different computer. Will it work if I give it the key from my HP even though it's not the HP cd?

It may work, If both CD's are a OEM version, or a retail version.

If your CD was a OEM CD, and the other CD Is a retail CD, you can edit the "setupp.ini" file on the new CD to accept your key.

I have sent you a PM :)

Both were OEM, but I managed to make it into a retail. This way, I can repair windows without a reformat, right? Either way, thanks.

Not us. We just copied IBM and sent a directive to not install this patch to all our users. So far we have a workstation running DB2 that has issues with the patch. Plus, we run quite a few propietary apps and have about as hetrogeneous of an environment as is possible.

I think our directive came out before IBM, but we all have the same stance "don't use it until we can test it".

Anyways, Microsoft does have a history of releasing patches that still have holes in them... It'll be interesting to see when they release the next critical security update.

Our company has had this policy since a horrible experience with what I believe was an NT SP. I think it was the original SP 6. It broke so many apps and servers that they had to uninstall it. Thus, the paranoia.

i am waiting. SP2 apparently causes major headaches for development in .net, which I do a lot of....I don't need anymore headaches than I already have.

especially for a developer. :)
Y'all already have a tough enough job.

well, here goes nothing.

Worked just fine for me. But I wouldn't install it unless you are totally prepared to reinstall XP Pro. It's a huge SP and all sorts of things can go wrong.

Windows XP sp2 express Install - English
 

Windows XP sp2 express Install - English :)

XP sp2 express Install - English

i personally wouldn't touch it with a barge pole! u;d have to be crazy!!! IBM have told all its customers they will not support any of them if they install it apparantly

I've got it running on a test machine right now. It hasn't broken anything (yet).

The firewall is a joke...it doesn't block outgoing traffic at all, and it can be turned off by third party programs. The next wave of trojans will probably just shut the thing down, reconfigure it, then bring it back up again. The rest of us will still have to suffer from zombie machines launching spam and trying to run exploits because of the lax control over outgoing traffic.

The XP firewall has never blocked outgoing traffic. The only thing different is that it's enabled by default now.

IBM has not told their customers that - they're just giving it time to evaluate it before installing it on computers when they ship them out. Which is a perfectly fair decision, given that they ship tons of computers to mostly computer-illiterate users. They'd lose a lot of business if it had issues. However, they are adopting it - just not this second.

Well I wanted to test SP2 out, so I installed it on my parents computer a few days ago and I have mixed reviews. It does seem faster, user switching happens like *THAT*, but then there is problems. That firewall pisses the shit out of me! It overrid my Norton Internet Security and took me 15 minutes to disable and get rid of that icon! And suprise suprise, SP2 was incompatable with Microsofts own Broadband Networking Software. So I had to download an update for that! And now my Mom tells me that she can't access her email, so now I have to go home this weekend and fix that! They have 5 things installed on their computer and it has had that many problems!!! One thing is foresure I AM WAITING!

If you already know where the firewall option is located (right-click on network adapter), then it won't take anybody 15 minutes to disable. Unless you're saying they changed it?

And if your software had an update, then what's the fuss? That's like getting mad at video drivers for not being compatible with the next DirectX...

anyone got any links to some slip streaming FAQ/guide?
would like to do this since it would save a hell lot of effort on my behalf when fixing my comps/friends comps
thanx :)

Neowin guide

SlipStreaming tools
AutoStreamer

Flexbeta Slipstreamer

wow.... talk about a comprehensive guide....
thanx :)

hahaha SP6.. I remember that nightmare too.. what a pain that was.

I look at SP2 the same way that I look at stuff like opensource releases (even though SP2 has probably been better tested.. there are still holes):

Once it goes public, is released into the wild... give it some time (like 6 months for PHP5.. a month for XPSP2) for all the new bugs and stuff to be worked out.. then think about installing it.

The have an extra firewall icon on the task bar, I could shut it off easily, but it took forever to find the button that got rid of the icon. It doesn't say "don't show firewall icon." I just wished Microsoft had an option to not install the firewall, because it really serves no purpose.

I hear that. I'll hold off until this thing is really, really tested. Or until my school forces it down my throat by not allowing me internet access until I've got it installed.

The programs that are listed in this article may experience issues after you upgrade to Windows XP SP2.


Age of Empires II: Age of Kings

Comabt Flight Simulator 3

Command & Conquer Red Alert 2

Command & Conquer Generäle

Command & Conquer Generäle Zero Hour

Conflict: Desert Storm

Dead Man's Hand

Earth & Beyond

Elite Forces Vietnam: Special Assignment 2 ver 1

Freedom Force

Halo Combat Evolved (Trial)

Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

Midnight Outlaw: Illegal Street Drag

Medieval Total War

MotoRacer 3

NASCAR Racing 2003 Season v2003

NBA Live 2000

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2

Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield

Roller Coaster Factory

Scrabble

Serious Sam: The Second Encounter

SimCity 4

Star Trek StarFleet Command III

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic

StarCraft

StarCraft Brood War

Tribes 2

Unreal II

Unreal Tournament 2003 (USK16)

UT Game of the Year Edition

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Collectors Edition


Nice one Microsoft. rofl

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/skurken/sp2.jpg
I think i win, speedwise ;)
Going to install it in a couple of days...

works 100% for me - no problems and I have DEP turned on with my AMD64.

alsofileplanet has a download of SP2 aswell. may be faster for you htere if you are a registered user.

What's the deal with this thing? (SP2)

Is it out, or not? The only system I updated was my work machine, but my home machines have yet to see it on the Windows Update site.

What are they waiting for?

SP2 doesn't let me sync my iPod--and I've discovered I'm not alone in this. Moreover, SP2 also doesn't let me uninstall or reinstall iTunes. It's not a USB issue, because I'm syncing through FireWire and have other devices plugged into USB ports, like the wireless adapter I'm using to connect to the Internet right now :)

DO NOT INSTALL SP2
 

Wait for at least a month or so and let it play out. Microsoft has built an infamous reputation for releasing unstable alpha Service Packs. I always wait at least 90 days if I don't absolutely require it. :o

Well, after installing SP2, my mouse cursor now moves all by itself - and I'm not the only one with that problem. Gah.

They have (according to their schedule) released SP2 to Windows Update for XP Home machines, to work on patching up all of the Home users. However, they are delaying the release of SP2 for XP Pro until the 25th of August to give corporations more time to get ready for it.

Honestly, the last really bad Service Pack of Microsoft's I remember was from the NT 4 days - I think SP4? I've deployed SP2 onto five home computers, and several dozen at work. We haven't had any problems whatsoever.

What users need to be aware of (and what they surprisingly aren't aware of, despite all of the media attention) is that lots of applications will need to be re-configured to work properly with the new security settings. As long as you're on top of that issue, there's no reason not to install it.

My experiences thus far installed it on two machines at the shop I work at. Only problem I have seen thus far is that in both cases, it failed to recognize that my Antivirus defs were up to date. It sees I have Antivirus installed, Norton AV 2003 and Symantec Corp 9.0. I have done all the live updates for each machine. While its not a big deal to me, I am sure many of the customers I deal with will be confused and think their norton is not working.

I too am holding off on the primary machines I use it on until a SP2a or equivalent is released. I just had to try it out and see what to expect =)

I believe that Norton AV requires an update to make it properly work with SP2 - you may be able to get that from Symantec's website.

I was under the impression the Norton WMI update that you get via liveupdate was that fix, but ill go check out symantec's site regardless )

:edit: took a peek over at symantecs site and found this.
"Norton AntiVirus
Installing Service Pack 2 will not affect Norton AntiVirus. The Windows Security Center will be aware that you have Norton AntiVirus installed, but it will not be able to determine its working status due to Symantec's tamper-protection technology."

If thats the case, then why have SP2 state that fact!? I'm sure symantec and MS had discussions before hand about this.

My dad installed this on his computer and it screwed up his entire broadband connection. So there's no fucking way I'm downloading it unless they ... "defuckupatize" it.

How did it "screw up his entire broadband connection" ? If you mean it enabled a firewall, you can turn that off.

I mean, he wasn't able to connect to the internet. His internet stopped working right after he installed it. He tried disabling the firewall and that didn't work and tried a lot of other stuff too.

His connection is working fine now because he did a system recovery and got rid of it.

I read a survey today that stated almost half of the polled people that installed SP2 had a problem, either minor or sever (rebuild) But if you think about it...sooooo many different hardware combinations out there, how would a company possible test all of them!?

:edit: the survey source.

http://isc.sans.org/xpsp2.php?ratingsearch=1

I highly doubt that anywhere near as many as half of the people who installed SP2 have issues. I've installed it on over 20 computers and have had no problems whatsoever.

I think that the people with problems are the much more vocal individuals - there isn't much incentive to go "Yea, I installed it, no problems, and I want to start posting all over the place about it", except to offset the complaints.

Mr. Spacemonkey, I'd still blame the lack of internet on a driver that needed to be updated for SP2 or a configuration that needed to be changed - not SP2 "being broken." He's going to have to upgrade to SP2 eventually, so it behooves him to figure out what needs to be fixed.

Not upgrading to SP2 at all is (a) dumb and (b) going to put your computer at risk to a lot of security flaws once MSFT finishes rolling out SP2 and only puts out critical updates for SP2.

The biggest problem that bugs me after SP2 install is that (while you're never explicitly told this unless you check your system logs) you are now limited to 10 concurrent TCP connections. This is one of the things you can't "turn off" without modifying the tcpip.sys (I'm pretty sure that's the file name) in safe mode. <a href="http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=200828"> This</a> thread on Neowin has a patch.

Edit: Just read a post that said the maximum connections patch is in fact a "maximum attempted (but incomplete) patch", so there shouldn't be too much of a problem with it if this post is true. Anyone have any confirmed information about this?

Microsoft have placed a very interesting list up on their site, detailing the products that they admit don't work after installing SP2. The number of them that have "Vendor: Microsoft" is hilarious! Oh, and I notice Symantec and McAfee feature too... :(

Here it is: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242

Who said SP2 was "broken" to begin with?

But anyway, I don't really know why it fucked with his connection but the fact is that before he downloaded it everything worked fine, right after he installed it, the connection was gone, and after he got rid of it, everything worked fine again. It probably has something to do with the type of dsl he has, because he called tech support and they said they had been having all sorts of problems with the service pack.

Alright, I have read every thread on here and still don't know what SP2 is. Can someone explain it?

I usually just let Windows Update do all my updating for XP.

What's up w/ the express install? It keeps saying it's unable to contact a download server.

This is during the install, to be exact, it says: A connection w/ the server couldn't be established.

This is during the setup's attempt to download the files from whatever server they're on.

Maybe the servers are being flooded by too many people anxious to get SP2?

I downloaded the one for IT/Developers instead (seeing as how that's what I am :P)

I must say, at first glance, my laptop runs MUCH better! There wasn't much different on my work desktop, but wow, this laptop is acting like it was just formatted, haha.

Good thing, too, because I haven't formatted since March and I was about to today... guess I don't need to worry now ;)

I just installed SP2 and I was running zonealarm but now I can't get to the internet with it running. Anybody else having third party firewall issues after an SP2 install?

Flyguy:

Don't have both of the firewalls loaded. I've heard that ZoneAlarm is notoriously unstable anyhow. I would use Kerio myself, but you should invest < $100 and purchase a hardware firewall/router.

Go to http://support.microsoft.com/default...S;windowsxpsp2 if you're having issues.

When in doubt, turn everything off. Start turning things back on and you'll soon find the culprit.

Honestly, as much as I'm a fan of isolating the firewall from the system being protected, hardware firewalls don't give you any big "extra" measure of security. Hardware firewalls are still vulnerable to exploit - flaws in the way they analyze packets, etc.

If you have the money to spend, and especially if you're protecting more than one computer, it's nice - but it's not a necessity if you only have a single computer.

Pragma: That's true, but it does take the load of processing traffic from Windows. My FreeBSD machine took a beating trying to analyze traffic due to MyDoom, Nimda, etc to the point I couldn't use it (It is a P2-233 with 32 MB RAM but thats beside everything).

Yes, there exploits out there for hardware routers, but I haven't seen nearly as many exploits for them as I do Windows.