Service Pack 2 - opinion thread - post your complaints here.

[the hunter]

This is a direct quote from my tip of the day from KimKommandos mail.

Of course, you can leave the XP firewall running and disable the third-
party program. To disable ZoneAlarm, double-click its icon in the
notification area (in the bottom right area of the desktop). In the
ZoneAlarm window, click the Preferences tab. Clear the boxes next to
"Load ZoneAlarm at startup" and "Protect the ZoneAlarm Client."

I don't recommend that, though. Third-party firewalls block
malicious programs that land on your hard drive from connecting
with the Internet. The XP firewall does not include that protection.
Microsoft believes anti-virus software should wipe out such programs.
I agree, but I like the firewall protection, too. So I'm sticking
with ZoneAlarm.

End quote. What Im wondering is if she is mistaken, and that with SP2 it was changed to block outgoing as well as incoming?

PS this info came in my mail today, so its very recent.

[gbread49]

Personnally I think that SP2 is a piss poor excuse for a "major" system upgrade as MS states.

It may have fixed a few old problems, but it also created a whole new bunch of complicated problems that users will have to deal with.

[the hunter]

gbread49, I humbly think you are actually putting it very mildly. What I have been telling my friends, including those with legal versions is to avoid this, and to just install a real firewall, as from what I have seen, and heard it breaks a hell of a lot more than it fixes.

[igalan]

To be sure about the Firewall blocking outgoing connections I'll do some tests today. What I saw was the firewall blocked AVG from contacting our server (AVG checks for updates on our server) and a Windows popped-up asking for an action to take (block or allow).

As I said before, the firewall is not the main reason to install SP2. The most important changes are behind the curtains.

[igalan]

Well I've done some more tests and in fact the firewall does not block out going connections. So it's just another useless piece of code.

The SP2 also includes Windows Media Player 9 (if you didn't want to upgrade, now you will) and Movie Maker 2.1. It includes all patches and a welcome improve on Internet Explorer. Everything else seems the same (which I guess it's good, because everything seems to be working well for me).

[LO There!]

Windows Media Player 9 ?

you sure it's not 10. been using 9 for some time now.(98se this pc) will pass on sp2 for now, untill there another fix/program as for sp1

[igalan]

Yep, Windows XP SP1a had Windows Media Player 8. WMP9 was available as an optional update. Now WM10 is the optional update.

[igalan]

The worst thing that I have found is that if you keep the Windows Update service running, it will connecto to a dozen different subnetworks to check for updates. If you want to restrict in your firewall the specific networks, it's a lot of work. It sometimes connects to Hotmail addresses, Akmai (?), microsoft.com...

I have done some bechmarks with 3D Mark 2003 and Aquamark 3. I get a 10% more in Aquamark, but that may be because I recently udated the driver (61.77). In 3D Mark 2003 I get approximately the same score.

And there's something better. In the past, sometimes just after I selected the user and the desktop was started, it would immediately reboot (it happened like once every 50 times). For a lot of time I've been trying to find the reason (drivers, USB device, some program that loads at start up, Windows registry...) With no luck. I thought that the problem was because of Asus Probe, so I started using MBM 5 (it's all I use now), but same thing. There was no trace on the system logs either. Well, now that seems to be gone .

[Kungfucious]

hi fellas,

ive just taken the plunge and installed XPSP2 and i was wondering about the firewall that comes with it.

Is it ok to turn this off? I have a built in firewall thats been good at preventing any intrusion till this point and i see no reason to have a software solution aswell.. will XP firewall interfere with my hardware one? and i dont like the idea of it banning, and restricting access to application that previously would have had legitimate reasons to be accessing the net.. AVG was blocked for some reason or other while trying to update...

input appreciated


regards

KF

[igalan]

If you have another firewall, even a hardware firewall in your DLS/Cable router, then the Windows XP-SP2 FW won't offer better protection. You can safely disable it. However it is advisable to get a better software firewall, one that also blocks outgoing connections (I don't like programs "calling home" at will).

AVG is blocked because it wants to act as a server, probably because of the remote administration component (which only makes sense on networked environments with centralized administration -which we use at work-).

[Kungfucious]

so i guess ill be disabling it then.. i HATE it... oh, any way of getting rid of the stupid read shield once XP firewall is disabled?

kf

[FrYGuY]

Control Panel->Security Center

Then select what is basically "I have my own firewall which I will monitor".

Or you could goto start->run-> services.msc

and disable the "Security Center" service. Either one should work, I'd suggest doing both, in the order I listed

[Kungfucious]

thanks fryguy!
that sucker is GONE!

much appreciated

KF

[FrYGuY]

Originally posted by Kungfucious
thanks fryguy!
that sucker is GONE!

much appreciated

KF

What can I say, I aim to please

[chrisnoskill]

A while back I couldnt even install sp2, even with the disk. I notified Microsoft and asked them if this update was needed and they told me no. I was happy as I have read all the comments about other peoples problems and decided that it was best if I just stick to sp1. Then I decided to to formatt my computer and re-install windows which turned out great until it decided to install all the recent updates including sp2. I first thought that I would have to do another re-install just to get rid of it because of all the problems everyone is having, especially with that red shield. But after trying sp2 I have found it to be great (prob the only 1), The pop-up blocker works great and I have never seen a red shield in my taskbar (fingers crossed) I wasnt sure if I was running a firewall before but now I am (not sure how good it works mind). I use Panda Antivirus Titanium Edition and now my computer seems as safe as ever. Overiding the pop-ups is simple too! Just hold ctrl and hey presto. I therefore like SP2 and recommend it. It also stops your kids downloading rubbish too!