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Ready or Not, Here Comes Service Pack 2

Posted by timothy on from the unless-you-are-using-another-os dept.

I_am_Rambi writes "On Tuesday, April 12, Microsoft will turn off the blocking feature that has made it possible for some enterprises to block Windows XP Service Pack 2 downloads by employees who use Automatic Update. That means in companies that used the blocking tool, SP2 will be downloaded automatically to desktop computers that use Windows' Automatic Update feature." An anonymous reader adds "Microsoft has published a list of known software that will not work with Service Pack 2. Most of the software will either not run or will display a blue screen of death during installation of the software or when you start up your computer." That may be why, as ErichTheWebGuy writes, "In a survey of PCs at 251 businesses in the U.S. and Canada, asset tracking company AssetMetrix of Ottawa found that only 24 percent of the systems running Windows XP had been upgraded to Service Pack 2."

7 of 725 comments (clear)

  1. use SUS by Val314 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Every Enterprise that uses a Windows network should have their own SUS or something more sophisticated to manage the patches that are deployed.
    with this you can control what patches are deployed and when

  2. Re:We have ways of making you do things. by cpuh0g · · Score: 5, Informative
    Photoshop CS runs just fine on my Windows XP SP2 box, I'm not sure exactly which features they are claiming are broken with SP2, but I haven't found any.

    All of the negative noise about SP2 is alot of FUD (howz that for irony). I recommend it to all of my neighbors who are inundated with viruses and [mal|ad]-ware (no way they are switchng to Linux, so don't even go there).

  3. Re:We have ways of making you do things. by CDarklock · · Score: 5, Informative

    > Photoshop CS runs just fine on
    > my Windows XP SP2 box

    Those who actually paid attention to the WHOLE list know that PhotoShop CS only fails to start under XP SP2 on 64-bit processors, and that Virtual PC simply runs XP SP2 virtual machines more *slowly* than XP SP1 virtual machines.

    You know, if you want to do more than knee-jerk over the name in the left hand column.

    --
    Microsoft cheerleader, blue flag waving, you got a problem with that?
  4. I'm sorry, but 3rd party software should work now. by wernst · · Score: 5, Informative
    Look, I don't LOVE Microsoft, but SP2 has been out for, what, 3/4 of a year now? And betas were out even earlier. If you currently sell a product that doesn't work in SP2, then SHAME ON YOU!!!

    Similarly, if you're using an older version of a product that fails to work in SP2, you should be seeking a solution (in the form of a patch or other workaround) from the software vendor, not Microsoft. If it is an internal program your company wrote itself for internal workflow, there should have been a project to make it work under SP2 all this time. Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on Microsoft's part.

    The security benefits of SP2 to the average user are real, and worth having. It isn't Microsoft's fault that 3rd party developers are still dragging their feet after all this time.

    That said, it is unfortunate when otherwsie perfectly good software stops working in SP2 and the poor user is forced to perform a non-free upgrade to a new version. But again, this is not Microsoft's fault.

    And finally, please don't tell my copies of NAV 2003 and Photoshop CS to stop working on my computer because SP2 is installed. They both work fine now, so I guess they didn't get the memo.

    I'm sure I'll be modded down, but keep in mind I'm writing this with Firefox under Ubuntu. ;-)

  5. Re:We have ways of making you do things. by nacturation · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have Windows XP SP2 running Windows XP SP2 in Virtual PC right now. I don't see the problem.

    The "problem" you missed is listed right there in TFA:

    "When you run a Windows XP SP2-based virtual machine, it will perform slowly compared to a Windows XP SP1-based virtual machine."

    --
    Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
  6. FUD by mslinux · · Score: 5, Informative

    Before this gets out of hand, let it be known that SP2 is only downloaded it is not installed.

    In order to install the service pack, the user has to be an admin and aceept the EULA as well as click through several disclaimers before manually installing the service pack.

    THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC INSTALL OF SP2

  7. Re:We have ways of making you do things. by LnxAddct · · Score: 5, Informative

    Corporations have a lot of custom software. I know that even in a small law firm that I used to work for (about 25 people), we couldn't install Service Pack 2 simply because our core software wasn't compatible. MS only lists commercial software (obviously) but I've come across a ton of custom apps and older shareware and stuff that is less popular that breaks in many ways under SP2. It's not FUD, you jsut aren't in a situation to experience it. For home users, there really isn't any excuse not to install it (in most cases) and I highly recommend it, but for businesses its a different story.
    Regards,
    Steve