XP SP2 arrives

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-08-07 02:14am

EDIT:For those of you who want to be ahead of the curve, XP SP2 is now officially released. Only the complete network install is available in its 266MB glory; if you want the express "grab only what you need" install then you'll have to wait. You can grab it here.

OLD: XP SP2 has been finalized and released to manufacturers and on-target for a 10 August release. There are sites around the 'net that claim to have it, but I would not download it from anyone but Microsoft.

That said, I'm running XP SP2 (final) and yes, I did get it from a MS download server. Everything seems fine right now. For a brief overview of some improvements made, check this article on Ars.

The complete download is 265MB or so, but most people will probably do an "express" install which only grabs what it needs and will almost certainly be much smaller.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-08-07 02:27am

I got it from Bit Torrent (relax, it's legal) and it seems to work fine.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-08-07 11:35am

The Kernel wrote:I got it from Bit Torrent (relax, it's legal) and it seems to work fine.

Nothing illegal about that, only that I wouldn't trust any download unless it was straight from MS.

GoldenFalcon · Post by **GoldenFalcon** » 2004-08-07 11:42am

Is the SP2 firewall good enough to get rid of ZA Free?

GoldenFalcon · Post by **GoldenFalcon** » 2004-08-07 11:44am

Crap, I just realized...this is probably going to cause havoc with my IBM's connection software. Oh joy...

Datana · Post by **Datana** » 2004-08-08 01:53am

GoldenFalcon -- the ICF still only protects from inbound connections. ZoneAlarm is still useful for keeping trojans or spyware from connecting out.

A question of my own for those with SP2 already -- I've been using Kerio Personal Firewall up to this point. Will the new Security Console complain that my firewall isn't up to snuff, or will there be a conflict with ICF? I've heard that firewalls not explicitly listed by Microsoft as supporting SP2 cause problems (Kerio isn't one of the listed ones). If not, is there another free or reasonably inexpensive firewall with the same flexibility in setting rules (port, protocol, and application-level access)? I feel like I'm wearing bulky gloves whenever I deal with ZoneAlarm -- no precision in rulesetting at all.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-08-08 02:05am

Datana wrote:GoldenFalcon -- the ICF still only protects from inbound connections. ZoneAlarm is still useful for keeping trojans or spyware from connecting out.

XP SP2's firewall works both ways now but is not as flexible as things like Kerio.

A question of my own for those with SP2 already -- I've been using Kerio Personal Firewall up to this point. Will the new Security Console complain that my firewall isn't up to snuff, or will there be a conflict with ICF? I've heard that firewalls not explicitly listed by Microsoft as supporting SP2 cause problems (Kerio isn't one of the listed ones). If not, is there another free or reasonably inexpensive firewall with the same flexibility in setting rules (port, protocol, and application-level access)? I feel like I'm wearing bulky gloves whenever I deal with ZoneAlarm -- no precision in rulesetting at all.

You'll probably have to wait until a patch is ready.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-08-08 04:32pm

Hmn, if I have a 6 months outdated ZA (pro), should I actully activate the SP2 firewall? for the same thing, is the onboard pop-up blocker better?

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-08-08 04:33pm

Ace Pace wrote:Hmn, if I have a 6 months outdated ZA (pro), should I actully activate the SP2 firewall? for the same thing, is the onboard pop-up blocker better?

I'm hearing good things about the built-in popup blocker and the XP SP2 firewall may well be a competent replacement for ZA Pro.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-08-08 04:50pm

phongn wrote:
Ace Pace wrote:Hmn, if I have a 6 months outdated ZA (pro), should I actully activate the SP2 firewall? for the same thing, is the onboard pop-up blocker better?
I'm hearing good things about the built-in popup blocker and the XP SP2 firewall may well be a competent replacement for ZA Pro.

Maybe for the pop-up, but as far as I know, the SP2 firewall does not have outbound protection, untill then, I'm keeping the ZA.

GoldenFalcon · Post by **GoldenFalcon** » 2004-08-08 04:56pm

Ace Pace wrote:
phongn wrote:
Ace Pace wrote:Hmn, if I have a 6 months outdated ZA (pro), should I actully activate the SP2 firewall? for the same thing, is the onboard pop-up blocker better?
I'm hearing good things about the built-in popup blocker and the XP SP2 firewall may well be a competent replacement for ZA Pro.

Maybe for the pop-up, but as far as I know, the SP2 firewall does not have outbound protection, untill then, I'm keeping the ZA.

It does have outbound protection, as the link phong gave shows. Pops up windows like Zonealarm would.

But is the SP2 firewall good enough to warrant uninstallation of TrueVector? Since now it prevents outbound connections...

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2004-08-08 05:27pm

Personally, I'm sticking to Kerio. I can atleast trust it to do its job without being riddled with security holes or exploits via Internet Exploder...

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-08-09 02:54pm

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2004-08-11 03:58pm

Thanks alot Microsoft....

After installing SP2, the theme service is b0rked. Any attempt to change the theme results in rundll crashing.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-08-11 04:01pm

You haven't been playing with StyleXP or the hacked uxtheme.dll, have you?

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2004-08-11 04:52pm

I have the hacked uxtheme.dll, which worked prior to SP2 without incident.

EDIT: Nevermind...

http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?cate ... e&id=23207