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Windows XP SP2 Goes Gold
writertype writes "PC Magazine reports that Microsoft has released Windows XP SP2 to PC OEMs after a two-day delay. A package of stories, complete with an exploration of the new update, is here. The best way for users to get the update, according to Microsoft, is to have Windows Update turned on; a CD version will be made available." Reader Critical_ writes "With all the news of SP2 being delayed, it seems like Microsoft may have pulled a rabbit out of its hat by releasing RTM on its WindowsBeta site. Neowin has a screenshot of the download page and MSFN has the release information. The final build is 2180. For those who can't download it for whatever reason, Microsoft is giving away free CDs here. Happy installing."
http://shit.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/08/06/2 015257&tid=201&tid=128
C:\>
Here's a little more info about the file. Size: 278,927,592 bytes MD5: 59a98f181fe383907e520a391d75b5a7
..then make sure you don't have 'automatic updates' on otherwise all hell will break lose.
We got wind of the decision to push it out via that channel just in time to switch windows update off via a group policy. Which is lucky otherwise we'd be looking at a lot of dead machines on monday morning (putting up a eula is *not* going to stop users installing it... most of them click blindly on anythign they're asked).
276 Seeders, 1300 downloaders
60 seeders, 300 downloaders (Requires fileshack.org account)
6 seeders, 60 downloaders
1 seeder, 10 downloaders
p.s., I still hate the color scheme on it.slashdot.org
No.
As to the famous "3 out of 5" comment, this post explains that problem better than I can. Basically, the guy who published the original article appears to have installed spyware on his system, and then he's blaming MS because his spyware doesn't work.
According to that msfn.org site, Microsoft has now announced that SP2 will install on all but the PCs that were also blocked from SP1.
So, if SP1 will install, so will SP2.
In the interest of preventing other people from getting their computers hacked into to form a botnet and DDOS the planet, check out how to change the CD key and a list of CD keys.
SCO employee? Check out the bounty
The 271 MB Torrents are .rared up into multipart archives while the 266 MB Torrents are the raw exe (maybe with a .nfo or other small file). Links are to a suprnova mirror.
This is my sig. There are many like it but this one is mine.
According to a post on neowin:
Filename: WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe
MD5: 59A98F181FE383907E520A391D75B5A7
The one I'm getting on a torrent has a SHA1 hash of:
GOUP55QNJCXB6LCP52RHCENPLTWKHRHW
-- thalakan
I installed the beta of Windows Update v5 on a computer with a warezed copy of Windows XP, and while it installed fine, it wouldn't let me check for updates because it detected the pirate product key.
Interestingly, I tried to connect just now, and it downloaded the final version of Windows Update v5 and let me download an critical IE security patch. It looks like they've softened their stance again (throughout SP2's long and storied development cycle, they've been back and forth over whether they'd allow pirated copies to grab the update).
This is the MD5 sum from WinBeta. (Found at neowin.net)
WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe 59A98F181FE383907E520A391D75B5A7
As per the Windows XP SP2 RTM press release this is how they are going to do it -
The timing for customers to receive the Service Pack 2 download through Automatic Updates depends on a number of factors, including the customer's Internet usage, location, language and the level of Internet demand for Service Pack 2. Automatic Updates uses spare Internet capacity to progressively download updates without interfering with daily PC use. Microsoft expects to distribute Service Pack 2 to approximately 100 million PCs through Automatic Updates over the next two months.
The progresive download feature being talked about refers to the "Background Intelligent Transfer Service" BITS. BITS transfers files using leftover bandwidth. For example, if you are currently using 60 percent of your bandwidth, BITS will only use the remaining 40 percent. BITS also maintains file transfers when a network disconnection occurs, or a computer needs to be restarted: When the network connection is re-established, BITS will continue where it left off.
It isn't a missing or currpted Windows file, it is a report of a missing file named 'winserv.exe'. That file isn't a part of Windows but rather spyware with a (surprise) deceptive name. It shouldn't be on the system at all.