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Microsoft Lists SP2 Incompatibilities
thejuggler writes "ZDNET has a story about how the new XP SP2 causes conflicts with over 50 applications and causes problems with others including some of Microsoft's own products. The 'glitch' as they are calling it seems to be that the Windows firewall system is turned on by default and blocks unsolicited connections to your computer. You have to unblock certain ports as your applications require to make the apps work again. They are calling this a glitch, but I thought we wanted everything blocked by default so we would have to choose what was unblocked?" The BBC has a story as well.
I've not seen it mentioned anywhere, so maybe it's just a drive incompatibility issue, but when I installed SP2 RC1, I could no longer play DVDs - I would receive an error telling me that the TV OUT on my card must be disabled first. I rolled back to SP1 and bingo, everything would play fine again.
What I think is the "real" issue here is that customers that have installed SP2 simply don't have a clue about what a firewall is, what it does, and how to use it. The problem is also no doubt being exacerbated by programs that needlessly try to access the network.
But I always take the time to say "shame on you" to programs that needlessly try to access the network when their primary function has absolutely nothing to do with networking, ESPECIALLY when their networking options are turned "off".
I'm sorry, but I'd almost have to call your post a "troll" - even though you're not necessarily wrong about everything you said....
Realistically, how is a Linux distro like Gentoo a real "alternative" at all, for the average PC user wanting a "workstation OS" that runs all of their purchased "off the shelf" software packages??
Just as one little example, a good friend of mine recently wiped Windows XP off his Dell Latitude laptop and replaced it with the latest Gentoo Linux distro. He could only stand it for about 3 days before deciding it just made his laptop *less functional* than it was worth, and went back to XP.
It's not that he dislikes Linux! He thinks it's great! (So do I, for that matter.) It's just that Linux is based on a *server-centric* OS (Unix), and all the attempts to reconstruct it as a desktop workstation OS with user-friendly GUI are less than fully realized.
I'm all for competition, but as much as some people want it to be, I don't think Linux is really the direct competition for Windows XP right now. If anything, it's poised more as a sensible alternative for something like Windows 2000 or 2003 Server.....
If you want a Unix type OS done right as a workstation, I think Apple already pulled it off better than anyone else -- but that's getting into a whole new hardware AND software investment.
Turning on the firewall by default is a design for newbies, and rightly so.
My mother doesn't know what a firewall is, nevermind how to switch it on.
Those who know what it is, and how to configure it, will be able to open the required ports or allow the required programs access to those ports.
The clueless might not be able to use some programs, but if that means viruses and worms will not spread as much as before then it's something I think we all can live with.
At present if you want other ports to open, other than these default services, you have to open the ports manually. however I would imagine this coupled action is handled by some .plist xml configuration file. So its probably possible for an application to add its own services to the sharing menu and have them coupled to the firewall if you turn the service on.
On my mac I do manually block the incoming and outgoing license manager ports for MS Office. If you dont and want to share the app on your laptop and desktop then you will lose any open edited docuements if you inadvertently plug them into the same network. I wonder if this lic manager is the reason why MS gave the firewall the ability for apps to open ports in the firewall and to have outbound connections?
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
On the other hand, the list of "programs that behave differently" includes Excel, Office 2003, Office XP, Outlook, Visual Basic, Visual C++ and Visual Studio. I can see various personal firewalls and p2p apps like Kazaa being broken by port issues, and maybe the Office suite because of email & calendaring, &c, but why on earth would VB & VC++ be affected??
For example, everyone should know: what the Internet is; that not everyone on it is trustworthy, and most importantly to READ BEFORE YOU CLICK.
My 7 year old daughter knows to do this - I have taught her that if any box appears on the computer to read the message, and if she doesn't understand it or know why the message appears, to ask me. As an example, a while ago she was trying to play a game (probably from the BBC web-site). After a few minutes she came and told me the game wouldn't work - it turned out everytime she clicked on it, she got the standard IE "do you want to run this, blah blah, may cause damage to your computer", so she clicked Cancel (not wanting the computer to be damaged...). After 4 or 5 goes round this she decided it was time to ask for help.
Why is this so difficult to get into other peoples heads?
The fact is that the majority of Joe Public is far too stupid & lazy to want to bother understanding how a computer works so Microsoft has had to force their hand into making their systems more secure.
Whilst I consider Microsoft "it's own worst enemy" by portraying its OSes as error free and requiring minimal management in advertising, they have taken the right action here because hopefully this starts to make it more difficult for viruses and worms to propagate meaning that we all benefit.
If there's one big advantage we have in the Linux world over the Windows world is that our proportion of idiot users is virtually zero - I for one hope it stays that way also.
Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.