Xp SP2 Beta (XP Home Sp1)

**viking33** · 2004-03-31 23:51

Thanks to a tip from another lounger, I learned that MS has released WInXP SP2 beta build 2096.

I downloaded it and installed the huge 220+ MB update and SO FAR it seems to be running OK. Haven't had TOO much chance to into all the nitty gritty details yet, but some changes are fairly obvious, like security features, default firewall settings ( which I disabled ).

I was wondering if any others have installed this beta yet and if so, any problems cropping up?

Let's hear from some of the adventurous Loungers out there? <img src=/S/evilgrin.gif border=0 alt=evilgrin width=15 height=15> <img src=/S/meltdown.gif border=0 alt=meltdown width=15 height=15>

**WyllyWylly** · 2004-04-01 01:10

I've gave up the bleeding edge a long time ago, but I will be interested in hearing about real-world experiences. Service packs are trouble enough without adding a beta to the end of the sentence!

**cowboydawg** · 2004-04-01 02:41

I have been running SP2 for a long time,,I am now running the current 2096 Build and have had no problems what so ever. Nor did I have any problems with Build 2055 except for a slight compatability problem with a third party program,,but fixed that real easy. Other then that,,,I think Microsoft has done an excellent job,,,,,,, so far that is.
And by the way,,,it is SP2 RC1.{ Release Candidate 1>To aid IT professionals in planning and testing for the deployment of Windows XP SP2, Microsoft is making available this preview, based on Release Candidate 1 (RC1) of the SP2. Additionally, we have established 11 newsgroups for sharing information.} Pretty much past the Beta form. And this is about as public as it gets.

**DaveA** · 2004-04-01 14:59

<P ID="edit" class=small>(Edited by DaveA on 01-Apr-04 07:59. I was in error.)</P><big><big><big>Word of caution,</big></big></big> Microsoft has released SP2 to the public, but it is a technical preview, which is unsupported and is intended for testing purposes only. Do not use in production environments.
If one does install this version, it must be removed before the production version can be installed.

**WyllyWylly** · 2004-04-01 15:17

It's all a beta...they just freeze the code and ship it. <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15> Glad to hear that your experiences with it have been good so far. I have been wondering how the firewall activity would be affected; if you have one installed already, does the service pack enable the XP firewall? Does it leave it alone? Will it break my existing firewall? Questions, questions....

The other thing I noted in the reviews was that this service pack could potentially provide a false sense of security. The reason is because of the security center feature, which I suspect will be fixed before the final release.

Good reading on this Service Pack at http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/window...p2_preview2.asp.

**viking33** · 2004-04-01 17:09

Mark,
Still playing around with this but your question:
-------------------------
does the service pack enable the XP firewall? Does it leave it alone? Will it break my existing firewall?
------------------------------------------
The MS firewall installs by default, you have to disable it. I did just that right away, so I don't know how it might have affected my existing FW.

A false sense of security? Sure wouldn't do that for me !!

**WyllyWylly** · 2004-04-01 17:19

Yes yes, but you are savvier than folks like my parents, who turn a computer on and just expect it to work. Those are the people that I fear will be lulled by the "Security Center". Great concept, but if they are going to implement it, it needs to be bullet-proof and show everything - not just some things, some of the time.

**viking33** · 2004-04-01 17:29

I see your point, but it's kind of hard to be all things to all people. Maybe a prominent disclaimer somewhere?

**WyllyWylly** · 2004-04-01 17:38

A disclaimer might help, but then people would wonder why they bothered to include it at all. Here's this new Security Center, but you can't rely on it? The real problem with it is that this is a reaction to all of the flaws that their software has had and the trouble it has caused, so this allows Microsoft on a corporate level to say "Hey, look, we included this Security Center to make it easier for you." It is a move in the right direction, though, bringing disparate pieces together in one location.

As you keenly noted, you cannot be all things to all people, security starts with user responsibility and education. You need a license to drive a car, and insurance (at least in my state you do). If you ignore those two things and drive anyway, you would be asking for a world of problems - and yelling at the automaker would not be the answer. Computers, conversely, do not require anything but a purchase to operate, and user expectations are far different. I would bet that you yourself have heard many times "I installed the antivirus software, what do you mean I need to update it?"

From a personal perspective I am quite looking forward to this release, I think it's long overdue and also believe Microsoft is making a strong effort to ensure its quality. The develops between those who write the code and those who market it, something I see no long term fix for, in ANY company.

**cowboydawg** · 2004-04-02 15:01

I agree to a certain degree and especially if it's being used for a business,,,,but I will say and always say,,,Home Users have no business putting any kind of information on their computers that would put them in any kind of harms way or Financial Distress if that information was stolen by a hacker or destroyed by a Virus,, all because they were hooked up to the information highway. Thats like putting your Life Savings in your car and thinking it's safe because you have an alarm system turned on,, A car is like a computer in a way,,,everything you keep in it,, is right there for the prying eye to see if they start looking hard enough,,and there for the taking if they want it bad enough.
Car Jackers and Internet Hackers,,are all after the same thing,,,YOUR STUFF. Some where down the line people have to use common since,,,this is not and never will be a perfect world and nether will the Software and it's Security. If someone is smart enough to create the Security Feature,,,then someone will be smart enough to Break that Security Feature. A computer is only as smart as the people that use or program it. People that get a false since of Security,, have no business on a Computer,,driving a car,,operating machinery,,and such,,, because they are not living in the real World in the 1st place. NOTHING or NO ONE is secure In the real World,,,watch the news. My Mom knows very little about computers,,but she has read and heard enough to know not to trust them with Vital Information,,although I sometimes think she's a little to Paranoid. <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15> <img src=/S/granny.gif border=0 alt=granny width=20 height=20>
As for Businesses,,well,,,, thats the price you pay for using a <font color=blue>Machine</font color=blue> that has put Millions of people out of work and Millions of Dollars in the Corporations pocket. They call that give and take,,some call it greed,,and some call it Advancing. Who knows,,but thats life.

Thread: Xp SP2 Beta (XP Home Sp1)

Thread Tools