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Evaluating Windows XP Service Pack 2 RC2

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the get-your-security-on dept.

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""

3 of 448 comments (clear)

  1. Download it now! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    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.

    Why wait till September? Looks like an update that makes your computer more secure is already available here.

  2. XP SP2 question by julesh · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I have a program I maintain that memory maps a file (using CreateFileMapping and MapViewOfFile) and executes its contents.

    I'm trying to update this for the Page Execute bit settings in XP SP2, but I'm not sure what will work (I don't have a supported processor to test it on).

    Should I be using PAGE_EXEC in the permissions of CreateFileMapping, or should I make an additional call to VirtualProtect after creating the mapping to enable execution of it?

    I'm currently doing the latter, as the former causes the CreateFileMapping call to fail on Windows NT and 2000 (although not on 98, I suspect because it just ignores the flags), but I'm concerned that it might be necessary to test the OS version and use the former only if XP SP2 or above is detected.

    Has anyone tried doing anything like this?

  3. suckers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    ya'all are still using WIndows? rotflmao