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XP Service Pack 2 - Done and RTM 1

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bcastner

bcastner

IS-IT--Management
Aug 13, 2002
29,271
US
8/6/2004 Release to Manufacturing

So all of those betting on 8/2 or 8/2 or 8/5, your are out of luck. Sorry.

Monday 8/9/2004 will have SP2 full for download. This is the "network" full version, and what I intend to use.

If you have any release candidate of Service Pack 2 installed, the Windows Update service should handle the upgrade beginning August 10, and if your machine is configured for automatic updates. If you have not installed any release candidates of SP2, Windows update will begin showing Service Pack 2 as a "Critical Update" beginning August 16 for those with automatic updates configured or are using the SuS server. For those clients not configured to automaticly download and install updates, the Windows Update site will show Service Pack 2 later in the month.

Several questions I had have been answered:

. If you have a Release Candidate of SP2 installed, do you have to remove and then install SP2 final? No. It will upgrade.

Having said this, my intention is to slipstream Service Pack 2 and do a reinstall. This is absolutely unecessary to do, but it makes me happy. Particularly if I feel the urge to do an sfc /Scannow.

. How big?

266mb. You can order a CD:
And expect to see CDs from other sources as well. Your local computer store should be able to provide you one. MSFT encourages the sharing of a CD version of the software.

. My XP had a tough time with Service Pack 1 getting authorized, can I expect the same for Service Pack 2?

I do not know. My own read was that they wre going to be much tougher. Other analysts argue that it will be less restrictive than Service Pack 1. I do not know what the final decision was.

. Is this XP Reloaded, essentially a new OS?

There is nothing trivial about Service Pack 2. Because the replacement of .EXE and .DLLs is so extensive, to me it is a new OS version. This is not a Hotfix, but an incredible update. But it does not have Avalon or Whidbey (the Longhorn GUI/Shell and filestore enhancements), and other than the some new features you have to look for the new features.

. Service Pack 1 was such a headache, I am reluctant to go through that again with Service Pack 2.

Just do it. I did not have any serious issues with Service Pack 1, although I am aware many did. This Service Pack has had the benefit of more testing, and a broad installed base to report problems back to Microsoft. Just do it. If there is an issue, it is a good idea to have Service Pack 2 bring it to the surface so you and your hardware vendor can deal with it directly. Do it.

, Any other thoughts?

You should find SP2 everywhere by the end of the month. Those with dial-up connections will be pleased to find that they really do not have to download the thing. This should be an easy Service Pack to find on CD, and Microsoft encourages its distribution.
 
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Thank you Microsoft, and forum members Oz, DragonQ0105, and mlichstein.

A just do this service pack upgrade.

I do not want to see a poster in this forum without this service pack installed.

I have yet to see a credible case made for not installing this service pack, including reading all of the IBM documentation, and a lot of issues raised in this and other forums from release candidate installs.

All: install the update.

 
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I know a credible reason...if you have an illegal version that was able to bypass SP1a's Security Check...

:p
 
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I have to say that I am very impressed with this final version of SP2. Microsoft seem to have addressed all of the issues I personally had with RC2. Such as the default IE settings being to restrictive and my Lexmark 4 in 1 Printer not working.

Even people reading this that have a "illegal" copy of windows should try and apply SP2. While I do not agree with the fact that they have an "illegal" copy, them applying SP2 will make the net a more secure place.

Greg Palmer
Free Software for Adminstrators
 
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I have a question (my Installation is about 60% Complete :p):

Can the new Internet Explorer Popup Blocker be turned off, so that 3rd Party Blockers can be installed (I personally have Popup Manager (Freeware) and I think it's great!)? Is the new IE Popup Blocker any good?
 
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Dragon, Greg:
I honestly do not know what the final decision by Microsoft was for Service Pack 2. Originally the V5 of Windows Update, and SP2 would be more aggresive about identifying license issues that previous service pack, hotfix and Windows Update.

My guess, and it is only a guess, was that this policy was rethought for Service Pack 2. A guess only, it treats a license issue more beningly than Service Pack 1.

At the last MVP Summit in May, Steve Balmer was pushed on exactly this issue by a brilliant MVP named Carey. Balmer's first reaction was that Windows Update V5 and SP2 were not going to be available for illegal copies of XP. Carey made the point to Balmer that his legal copies would then be exposed by the enormous attack vector represented by illegal copies out there. Steve Balmer said he would think about the issue.

I suspect some thinking alone these lines was done. They obviously can change the policy at any time, but there is a compelling need to get SP2 out there at the moment. So my guess is that Microsoft is being temporarily lenient. Again, a guess.

As a computer consultant, I will not accept a client without a valid license for all servers and workstations, and all the application software. I have said no thanks at many a site.
 
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Dragon,
In answer to your Popup question, Yes you can turn it off. Tools > Pop-Up Blocker > Turn Off Pop-Up Blocker from IE will do this for you. However from RC2 testing I can say that no other Pop Up blocker software I have used has done a better job, especially for free.

Perhaps give it a go for a week and see how you get on.


Greg Palmer
Free Software for Adminstrators
 
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I want to hold off installing this until we have had time to test its implications across all of our apps. Most of our users get updates from SUS servers, so no problems, I wont approve it until I have tested. Some of our users are mobile, and so get their updates directly from the MS site. I read that Microsoft will give a registry edit that will stop download of SP2 but allow all other update downloads.

Has anyone got the details on this? I couldn't find on the MS site.

Thanks
 
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I'm still hesitant with the "memory execution permissions" functionality being deployed. Seems to be .net based applications are the example being thrown around on the web (with respect to the types of coded apps that are likely to be affected). I may load this on my laptop to play with it, but no way am I putting this into production environments without software manufacturers/vendors coming out and stating that their application is compatible with XP SP2. I suggest other administrators and consultants do the same.

Matt J.

Please always take the time to backup any and all data before performing any actions suggested for ANY problem, regardless of how minor a change it might seem. Also test the backup to make sure it is intact.
 
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Matt J.

This is a processor level support initiative. I only have one machine at the moment that is compliant with the Intel standard. I suspect you will discover that this feature is not in fact enabled on your workstations.
 
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Haven't heard that one, any links with more information?

Matt J.

Please always take the time to backup any and all data before performing any actions suggested for ANY problem, regardless of how minor a change it might seem. Also test the backup to make sure it is intact.
 
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Wasn't suggesting you did, thanks for the link.

Matt J.

Please always take the time to backup any and all data before performing any actions suggested for ANY problem, regardless of how minor a change it might seem. Also test the backup to make sure it is intact.
 
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Matt,

No problem.
It is a very interesting feature.

Best wishes,
Bill Castner
 
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This is a processor level support initiative. I only have one machine at the moment that is compliant with the Intel standard. I suspect you will discover that this feature is not in fact enabled on your workstations."

Hardware DEP, yes. But you can enable software DEP on any processor.
 
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mlicstein,

There essentially is no software DEP.

If you have a link other than the DEP info I provided earlier I would much appreciate it.

. True DEP is a processor-based and hardware supported intitiative;

. Software DEP is, from compliant hardware platforms, what the OS needs to supply to support hardware DEP.

If your notion is that any Intel, AMD or other processor can support DEP under Service Pack 2, I would love a reference.

 
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Software DEP is limited, yes, but I wouldn't say there is eseentially no software DEP. Software DEP provides protection against exploits of exception handling processes in Windows.

From your link above:

"Software-enforced DEP

An additional set of data execution prevention security checks have been added to Windows XP SP2. These checks, known as software-enforced DEP, are designed to mitigate exploits of exception handling mechanisms in Windows. Software-enforced DEP runs on any processor which is capable of running Windows XP SP2. By default, software-enforced DEP only protects limited system binaries, regardless of the hardware-enforced DEP capabilities of the processor."

Also note that you can add applications to be protected by software DEP.

Software DEP protects the same files that are protected by hardware DEP, specifically system user-mode processes like explorer.exe, services.exe, winlogon, etc.
 
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mlichstein,

I do not want to appear hear trying to give you a hard time.
You have raised an important issue.

This statement by Microsoft is just not true: "Software-enforced DEP runs on any processor which is capable of running Windows XP SP2."


 
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