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.

Comments

SP2 incompatible

[bunburyist]

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.

Re:News Flash: Firewall Blocks Inbound Traffic

[halowolf]

Yes it was exactly my response. They had games listed that require internet access to play them online like Unreal Tournament.

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".

Mac OSX manages this just fine

[goombah99]

On mac OSX the sharing-related services GUI and the Firewall GUI are coupled. Turn on Apache and it unblocks port 80 automatically. Turn on SSH and it unblocks 22 automatically. and so on for FTP, AFP. turn off he services and the ports get bliocked automatically.

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?