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Ready or Not, Here comes Windows XP SP2

Posted by timothy on from the peek-a-boo dept.

TheViffer writes "Beginning April 12, 2005 Microsoft will remove all temporary blocking of Windows XP SP2 by automatic update and Windows update which it has granted to those organizations that requested it. So unless you run Software Update Service (SUS), chances are you will get a mix of SP1 and SP2 running at the same time. Let's just hope you have these programs that are known to experience a loss of functionality when they run on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer and these programs that seem to stop working after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 patched, upgraded, or removed. Might be a good time for help desk personal to pencil in a week (or two) of vacation."

4 of 580 comments (clear)

  1. SP2 is actually a good thing. by bigtallmofo · · Score: 5, Informative

    I know that it breaks some programs and has caused some people problems, but the alternative of ridiculously insecure Windows boxes running rampant is worse.

    I've been running Windows XP SP2 on all of my computers (which admittedly is a small population of 3) with no problems. The built-in popup blocker is more rigorous than anything else I've seen and itself breaks many things (most amusingly Outlook Access for Web), but for the most part is plays fairly nice.

    --
    I'm a big tall mofo.
  2. At least this time by 2names · · Score: 5, Informative

    we have a list we can refer to. So many times in the past it was just a "try it and see" situation.

    --
    "I'm just here to regulate funkiness."
  3. The Real Story by mslinux · · Score: 5, Informative

    SP2 will not automatically be installed. It will download automatically, but someone still has to accept the license agreement and manually install the service pack. There is nothing automatic about the install. Please stop spreading FUD about SP2!

  4. Re:Scientific software is disproportionally affect by LurkerXXX · · Score: 5, Informative

    If SP2 is breaking stuff, 99% of the time is because it's trying to use some network port that is now blocked with the firewall. Just sniff the traffic going in/out of one of the SP1 boxes, see what ports the apps seems to require, then open those ports after installing SP2 (or turning on the firwall in SP1)