Windows XP SP2 could cause support chaos

29 Jun, 2004 at 1:33pm ET Article published in Tech

SP2 is expected in the third quarter, so it could be out as soon as next month (but don’t hold your breath). The service pack will be downloaded automatically into many PCs through Microsoft’s Windows Update service and could create problems, including breaking current applications, disrupting networking set-ups and prompting nontechnical users to make PC configuration decisions that may be beyond their grasp.

Although Microsoft has deemed Windows XP SP2 a service pack, the update really is more comparable to a Windows upgrade. SP2 contains bug fixes and updates, but it also offers new features and makes significant changes to the Windows software in four main areas: network protection, memory protection, e-mail security and browsing security.

Source: InfoWorld

Comments

29 Jun 2004 ~ 1:39pm tefleming Yeah, the whole auto-enabling of the windows firewall is gonna drive enterprise-IT support people nuts!
29 Jun 2004 ~ 1:44pm Shorty

tefleming wrote:

Yeah, the whole auto-enabling of the windows firewall is gonna drive enterprise-IT support people nuts!

Im hoping they will release an administrative version... I don't want or need that crappy firewall on my corporate desktops thanks very much.
29 Jun 2004 ~ 2:33pm DanG Our corporate tech support is fearing the release of SP2. It's not much for inhouse, but for the people who do some work from home, it's already starting to mess stuff up.
29 Jun 2004 ~ 3:36pm QCH I'm testing out SP2 on a VMWare Machine and seeing what can be changed to disable the firewall... We manage the PC's remotely and that would break with the firewall...
29 Jun 2004 ~ 4:02pm KingFish If they don't have a function to disable the firewall I see big trouble for MS on the horizon. They probably will though.

KF
29 Jun 2004 ~ 4:04pm TheBaron you can disable it, i think they're talking about disabling it by default. i didn't see one of those options
29 Jun 2004 ~ 9:21pm hitokiri damn, i read that as "Windows XP SP2 could support chaos" and thought Microsoft was trying to end the world.

jumped the gun, huh.
29 Jun 2004 ~ 9:24pm LIN

The service pack will be downloaded automatically into many PCs through Microsoft's Windows Update service

i'm not sure i can grasp this; does this mean it will be forced on me whether i want it or not??

LIN
29 Jun 2004 ~ 9:38pm Spinner

LIN wrote:

i'm not sure i can grasp this; does this mean it will be forced on me whether i want it or not??

LIN

No babe, it just means that it will appear as a critical update. The only way I can see it auto installing is if you've got automatic download and install set up for automatic updating.
29 Jun 2004 ~ 9:39pm MediaMan LIN,

Only if you have the AutoUpdate feature enabled and have instructed to download and install updates automatically. You can turn it off.

Everyone else,

Perhaps M$ is "nudging" IT folks towards another OS. If WinXP SP2 is an annoyance then what other OS choices are there for corporate desktops? Or rather...what other OS choices WILL there be?

Just a thought.
29 Jun 2004 ~ 9:45pm profdlp

MediaMan wrote:

...Perhaps M$ is "nudging" IT folks towards another OS. If WinXP SP2 is an annoyance then what other OS choices are there for corporate desktops?...

An intriguing thought, but so soon after XP was trumpeted as being the convergence between home and business OS's?
29 Jun 2004 ~ 10:06pm LIN much obliged, spinner

MediaMan wrote:

LIN,

Only if you have the AutoUpdate feature enabled and have instructed to download and install updates automatically. You can turn it off.

Everyone else,

Perhaps M$ is "nudging" IT folks towards another OS. If WinXP SP2 is an annoyance then what other OS choices are there for corporate desktops? Or rather...what other OS choices WILL there be?

Just a thought.

i do have autoupdate enabled, but am always prompted beforehand on whether i wish to DL and install. i take it i am "safe" then, correct?

omg, for a second i thought i would have to install linux.

LIN
29 Jun 2004 ~ 10:06pm Spinner

profdlp wrote:

An intriguing thought, but so soon after XP was trumpeted as being the convergence between home and business OS's?

I always just saw that marketing as illustrating the convergence of compatibility and stability rather than broad spectrum usability.
29 Jun 2004 ~ 10:08pm Spinner

LIN wrote:

much obliged, spinner

i do have autoupdate enabled, but am always prompted beforehand on whether i wish to DL and install. i take it i am "safe" then, correct?

omg, for a second i thought i would have to install linux.

LIN

Yeah you're safe. There are three levels of autoupdate under SP1.

1) Prompt before download and install (I believe this is the default)
2) Download but prompt before install (I have it like this)
3) Download and automatically install at a designated time without prompts.
29 Jun 2004 ~ 10:16pm LIN *whew* - then i'll retain my settings. if i had to rely on my memory to check for updates and disable it entirely it would be a sorry state of affairs for me.

much obliged again, spinner.

LIN
29 Jun 2004 ~ 10:56pm KingFish Or, turn off autoupdate all together, which is what I choose and recommend for enthusiasts.

KF
30 Jun 2004 ~ 10:52am EyesOnly Na i'll leave it on. Mine's setup like spinner so it downloads but doesn't install. When it comes i'll install it.