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Evaluating Windows XP Service Pack 2 RC2
dncsky1530 writes "Information Week has a good evaluation of Windows XP SP2, excerpt: "The code for release candidate 2 finally looks like a real release candidate. And sure enough, it will help you big-time with security. But what sorts of headaches will the eventual final version mean for IT shops? We'll take it piece by piece... Remember when Microsoft said service packs wouldn't deliver any new functionality? That lasted for about six months back in 1997. Windows XP Service Pack 2 is jammed-packed with both invisible and visible improvements to Windows XP. The biggest boon is that the free update, which will probably ship some time in September, does in fact make Windows XP far more secure""
Unfortunately, it doesn't really do a lot to protect against spyware. It's mostly a pretty front end to remind you to a) install a virus checker, b) install a firewall (or enable the default Windows firewall - and given the Microsoft security track record, who in their right mind would rely on that?!) and c) reboot your machine after you've installed an update. This last reminder is particularly annoying as it pops up from the system tray approximately every 10 minutes, with the default dialog option set to reboot. In the middle of typing something? Just hit enter right at the moment that the reboot reminder box pops up? Tough - you're rebooting whether you relike it or not! Poor poor POOR UI design there, Bill...
Sunday you're Thinking Different, Monday you're a huge tool, paying too much and waiting to think like everyone else.
Three things strike me about the release:
1. The firewall's on by default. This is a huge shift for Microsoft and I am glad to see it happen. This alone will stop a ton of worm infections.
2. Browser security. From what I can tell, these enhancements are going to go a long way toward stopping the problems that CERT and everyone have been complaining about.
3. Email security. OE is getting hardened in a way similar to IE, and this also is a very much welcomed move.
Between worm propogation and the two most common ways for a user to infect themselves, if they were to even modestly improve in all three of these areas it would make a significant impact on the security posture of people running the update.
I applaud them in advance for even trying.
dmiessler.com -- grep understanding knowledge
If you paid $300 retail or even the $40 or so from an oem, you should be entitled to a free update CD with no shipping cost.
Hmm, like this free CD available directly from Microsoft? You don't even need to show a proof of purchase.
In addition to the issues already raised by other posters, there is another problem that the article does allude to but doesn't explain: The firewall keeps turning itself on!
I have run SP2 since the first release candidate. I don't use the windows firewall since I already have hardware + software firewalls. XP SP2 detects the software firewall correctly (mcafee). But at least once every other day Windows turns on the damn XP SP2 firewall. It's a pain in the ass and the real problem is that you don't know it's on. You only realize it's turned itself back on when it announces that it has blocked a connection.
Ummm, if TweakUI can change the setting, it means there MUST be a registry setting for it.
In this case it's:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\desktop\ForegroundLockTimeout
The value, in milliseconds, is the amount of time after any user input which programs will not be allowed to steal focus for.
In fact with Windows 2000 and later it's set to 20000, which means that programs cannot steal the focus while you are using the computer.
XP SP2 is still annoying. The reboot reminders don't actually pop up in front, so hitting enter at the wrong time won't cause you to accidentally reboot. However since they keep popping up in the background, sooner or later you will see the message and click the default button before even realising that it's "reboot" and not "bugger off".
I decided to try out SP2 RC2 on my computer, boy... was that a mistake
Here's the hardware i have to give u a heads up... AMD 3200+, DFI NFII Ultra Infinity Motherboard (nForce 2 chipset) nVidia FX 5700, 1GB RAM, DVD+-RW, and 2 hard drives....
Here's what happened...
After removing SP2 RC2... everything works fine....
DarkMantle I been bored, so I started a blog.