Windows SP 2 any good?

[Galaril]

I was going to download the sp2 windows home edition.Has anyone got it yet is it ok?

[gstelmack]

I had the beta and the final and it's been pretty solid. Only issue I've had so far is that Firebird hangs trying to transfer IE settings. Given Firebird's in beta, I blame Firebird.

[Blackadar]

I've heard it creates some problems with some games.

hxxp://www.gonegold.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007986

[hukarez]

Hmm. I checked last night, and didn't see anything new show up in my windowsupdate yet...guess it'll be awihle longer for me.

[hoosierdude]

My DSL hoster sent out an email to wait for downloading SP2 since they are still trying to work out fixes for problems that SP2 created, when upgrading.

So if my DSL hoster says wait.. and Windows gurus like Scot Finnie and Fred Langa say wait.. I wait.

[Mac Howard]

I believe the improved firewall is the major cause of problems but then firewalls always are. You can disable it but then you're removing much of the advantage in security that is its justification. :rolleyes:

[gstelmack]

Yup, Microsoft was pretty big about warning software developers that this SP might break some things, and was very big on making sure they had copies of the SP well in advance to test their software against in case patches were needed.

In other words, stuff it's breaking on release is far more likely to be the developer's fault than Microsoft's at this point.

[Franklinnoble]

Here's the list of affected programs, from Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> One other thing to note... if you use RDP to remote connect to your PC, it may fail after SP2... not sure if the firewall settings need to be tweaked or what...
</o:p>

[scooter]

I've been debating if I should install this as well. I came across a news item on Gamespot:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/08/16/news_6104980.html

A lot of those games are not on the list on Microsoft's site, so I'm not sure if Gamespot did some of their own testing or what. I do know that a number of those games have been out for quite some time, so to blame the developers for their not functioning properly is not fair.

[MizzouRah]

When I got home from Chicago last night, windows update told me SP2 was available for d/l, I clicked to d/l and nothing has happened since.


Todd

[scooter]

Maybe SP2 is like those sugar pills doctors give out to make you think you're being cured. Maybe this thing isn't real, but is just to make everyone think that the security problems with XP are fixed? :)

[GrantDawg]

A friend burned me copy from his work, but I'm hesitant to load it. I remember the myriad of problems SP1 caused. I don't want to go through that again.

[Ryan S]

I have been using SP 2 for over a month (a release candidate) and not had any problems with any software. I disabled the firewall as I have a hardware firewall and I run zonealarm on my PC just in case anything gets through.

I would upgrade ASAP.

[sterlingice]

Man, the more and more I look at all the stuff that SP2 has in it, the more and more it looks like it was horribly rushed and thrown together. There are a ton of hugely popular applications that don't work with it and some that just look like Microsoft put in code just to screw competitors over (again, ala Front Page). Practically every firewall crashes with it, Word Perfect Office can't update, and Yahoo Messenger has problems. What a piece of crap.

Yet, as consumers, we're in trouble because we have to bide our time and figure out when to download XP SP2. Basically, I keep asking myself: "how long can I hold out before the virii writers reverse engineer the patch?" holding out hope that maybe Microsoft can fix some of the problems.

Yup, Microsoft was pretty big about warning software developers that this SP might break some things, and was very big on making sure they had copies of the SP well in advance to test their software against in case patches were needed.

In other words, stuff it's breaking on release is far more likely to be the developer's fault than Microsoft's at this point.
That's such a fallacy. You can't tell me that it's all these developer's fault that MS can't get their shit together. It's not like this is a list of programs that includes 5 year old games and productivity software created by 3 year old startups. These are some of the biggest and most popular programs out there. When you go and rewrite the OS and aren't telling everyone explicitly what you're changing, there are going to be a ton of problems and that falls on the OS maker not the application makers.

SI

[gstelmack]

That's such a fallacy. You can't tell me that it's all these developer's fault that MS can't get their shit together. It's not like this is a list of programs that includes 5 year old games and productivity software created by 3 year old startups. These are some of the biggest and most popular programs out there. When you go and rewrite the OS and aren't telling everyone explicitly what you're changing, there are going to be a ton of problems and that falls on the OS maker not the application makers.
Fine, don't believe me. I'm just telling you that these software makers have had MONTHS to look into any incompatibility issues, and the betas have been out for months as well. Microsoft clearly documented what they were changing it, what things that might break, and what the recommended changes were to fix issues. But hey, Microsoft makes a strong attempt to fix security problems, and all the people bashing them for security loopholes will now find some new way to bash them for trying to close them.

As I said earlier, the only program I'm having issues with is a beta OpenSource browser. Everything else (Rise Of Nations, Warcraft, Rainbow Six, Rogue Spear, Eudora, FOF, a Sesame Street game, McAfee VirusScan, etc) are running just beautifully. And no more stinkin' popups.

[Galaril]

Now that this has been out for 3 months are people having problems.I think finally I will download it.

[Schmidty]

I consider it to be a virus.

[McSweeny]

installed on the new computer i just built and everything seems to be running fine

[MizzouRah]

Been running it since it came out.. no problems here.


Todd

[Fidatelo]

Works fine for me at home, caused MASSIVE issues for my 2 co-workers that decided to install is at work. Both of them ended up having to either roll-back to before the install, or in one guys case reload the entire OS altogether (he had restore points off). They said the big issues revolved around IIS and SQL Server, if that matters to anyone thinking of installing it.

A couple friends of mine had trouble FTP'ing via IE after installing SP2, but there was an easy fix found via google for that issue.

[Dutch]

I just upgraded my primary PC to XP Pro with SP2 already built into the installation and it's been running rock solid for a month now.

But I only currently have 4 games on the machine right now: FOF2k4, TCY, Rome:TW, and Icewind Dale II.

[gstelmack]

I just upgraded my primary PC to XP Pro with SP2 already built into the installation and it's been running rock solid for a month now.

But I only currently have 4 games on the machine right now: FOF2k4, TCY, Rome:TW, and Icewind Dale II.
Half-Life 2 and Star Wars: Battlefront are running well here on it.

[GrantDawg]

Works fine for me at home, caused MASSIVE issues for my 2 co-workers that decided to install is at work. Both of them ended up having to either roll-back to before the install, or in one guys case reload the entire OS altogether (he had restore points off). They said the big issues revolved around IIS and SQL Server, if that matters to anyone thinking of installing it.

A couple friends of mine had trouble FTP'ing via IE after installing SP2, but there was an easy fix found via google for that issue.
I had to completely re-install after loading SP2. Haven't had a problem with it on the new install, though.

[sterlingice]

Hm... I'll be building a new computer after Christmas. Maybe it'll be time to try it then, finally, on the fresh install.

SI

[Galaril]

After doing a little research I think I will wait. I am finishing up my Masters degree in Information Security ,ironically and don't see a pressing need to patch my home computera and risk screwing it up irreparably. I will be buying a new PC and getting rid og the one I got now so i am not overly concerned with this. The risk of screwing up the computer is not worth the vulnerabilities that are "supposedly" patched with SP2. The resources on my home pc are not much in the way of risks. I guess if you have files on your pc at home such as work that you take home patching could be a good idea. If you got a good firewall/IDS/Antivirus solution combo most peoepl should be ok.Business' should patch there systems.Thanks to everyone, though, for there opinions and feedback it was appreciated. :p