Windows XP SP2 In Release

mr_tommy writes "Service Pack 2 for Windows XP has been released to manufacturers (RTM), is available to MSDN customers, and will soon be available to all via Windows Update and Microsoft sites. At ~ 250 megs, the download is big, and Microsoft will be offering the option of getting it on CDs. The much awaited Service Pack comes with many security updates (new NX and DEP protection), extra features (firewall, security center), and improvements for Windows. New versions of IE and OE come with the release, as well as improvements in the wireless networking field. So far, the service pack seems to be very stable (no known major issues) and does seem to speed up most systems. A review of SP2 Final with some limited download links is available at Neowin.net. I'd urge all users (pirate users too) to deploy the service pack and benefit from the genuine effort Microsoft have made with regards to security in this release." We did cover this recently but since this is a major deal, we figured people would want to know more.

Comments

250MB!?!?

[afidel]

Holly cow, that's bigger than ALL of windows 98! I know there are a TON of improvements in SP2 but the size is kind of crazy, I guess SUS would have been a good idea even at small clients =)

Re:250MB!?!?

[x0n]

This is a common misconception. SP2 is not big because "of all the fixes", but rather because XP's core has been recompiled with VC 2005 compilers to provide the latest optimizations (as well as a software equivalent of NX) among other things, hence you're downloading pretty much ALL of XP's core, with fixes/changes to only some of it. SP1 and previous were compiled with VC6 I believe.

- Oisin

Big Push with the Automatic Updates

[electricmba]

Every time they update a Microsoft O/S, the "Automatic Updates" feature is more in your face. Also, didn't I hear a while back that the "Scanning for Updates" plug-in captures and sends all sorts of extra info, like # of HD's in your comp, available space, hardware installed, etc.? Wonder what this new and improved plugin grabs.

Re:Big Push with the Automatic Updates

[osu-neko]

Unfortunately, not in your face enough -- Windows users have gotten too used to closing any window that opens unrequested without even reading what it says. I finally went around and set Windows Update to just automatically install the updates for people, as they would never do it themselves no matter how many times I urged them to stay on top of their updates.

Quick question about system restore

[Typingsux]

Any excerpts from any links telling if I run a system restore point before SP2 will I be able to go back?

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE MD5, SIZE, SIG

[holy_smoke]

Just a friendly warning for the non-geekier readers out there: there are a LOT of bogus copies of this out on the net and P2P. Some are trojaned, some are pre-RTM. If its not the right size, md5 hash, or not digitally signed by MS and dated 8-4-04 don't install it. Have to give MS kudos on this one. The security center is a good addition, if a little annoying at first until you customize it to fit your situation. It even recognized AntiVir as my anti-virus program. System is running fine, no problems during or afer install except for a "cannot back up atapi.sys" warning (no big).

Does it work on pirated workstations ?

[mvballegooijen]

I was under the impression that Microsoft had withdrawn the report, that SP2 would work on pirated workstations ? Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3774567.stm I for one would be glad if it DID work on pirated workstations for the obvious reasons (worms).

Re:sitting

[wintermind]

While I see your point, I almost feel for Microsoft on this: no matter what they do, people are going to complain. I use Linux on my boxes, but I also have to feed and care for my wife's XP Home edition system. I will install the Service Pack and I will no doubt curse at it for a bit, but I am glad that MS is taking such a hard-nosed approach to security now. Better that than the alternative.

It fixes the holes, but does it break the fixes?

[Jonah Hex]

Ok, I've read up on the new features, think it's about damn time and all that. However I'm really wondering how this thing is going to effect all the programs my little computer repair biz have been installing since, well, always. ;) Firefox, Thunderbird, Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, SpywareBlaster, SpywareGuard, GoogleToolbar, AntiVir, Protowall, Blocklist Manager, a Firewall, etc. And the biz's which usually use a mix of Symantec/Norton alongside something even more esoteric if your unlucky.

I'm really not looking forward to dealing with this major of a Windows architecture switch, if only for the fact that most Windoze users love to find a brick wall and slam into it, even if that means insisting on using VirusScan OuttaDate straight off their Restore Disks labeled "Year 2000 Compliant!" Thanks Microsoft, long overdue fixes for Windows and job security all in one.

Jonah Hex

Re:SP2

[iabervon]

I'd hope it's signed with a key you already have from Microsoft, and has an MD5 sum that Microsoft has published on their site. If so, you can be pretty certain that you're getting the same thing that they put out. Considering that your connection to microsoft.com is going over a similarly untrusted network, you should be using similarly paranoid checks on that.

Oddness

[jb.hl.com]

As an aside, one odd change I've noticed is that instead of saying Windows XP Professional, the boot screen now says only Windows XP...

Not that I'm complaining, SP2 kicks ass, but a usable IE is a long way away :)

Re:SP2

[gosand]

I infer from this that you'd trust any other download from BT? Why?

I don't agree with the original tinfoil-hatter's reasons, but consider this: If I host a BT link to the patch, I can put a dummy 250MB file in its place. If someone tries to download it, I know that they have an unpatched version of XP. And now I have their IP address, and I know it will take them a while to get the official patch.

Granted, it isn't like you are giving them Admin password or anything, but it is information.