Windows XP SP2 could break existing applications

[Force Flow]

When Microsoft releases Service Pack 2 for Windows XP later this year, some software developers may find their applications no longer work on updated Windows machines. Microsoft has made something of a trade-off with the update, focusing on security improvements at the expense of backward compatibility.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/03/04/HNwindowsxpsp2_1.html

[Mac Medic]

Wow, what are the odds?

[patrickt]

I am running build 2082, I think, and the only problem I've had is with some web-based virus checkers and that problem disappeared this week. Everything else seems to run fine.

[pam123]

I don't think I'm going to be an early adopter of SP2.
I'll wait and see where the problems are.

[Force Flow]

Originally posted by pam123
I don't think I'm going to be an early adopter of SP2.
I'll wait and see where the problems are.
Dittio. Who *really* wants to beta test this stuff? :p

[Blue_Gundam2002]

My main computer has SP2 beta and I have seen no problems, so far.

[pam123]

Originally posted by Blue_Gundam2002
My main computer has SP2 beta and I have seen no problems, so far.

Are you limited to the XP firewall or can you run another one ?
Also, I use Linux apps on my XP install has there been any trouble with them?
And, while I've got you here, can I pick and choose which parts of SP2 to install or am I going to be stuck with the whole package?
For instance, Automatic Update lets me know when new stuff is ready and I go through the list carefully before deciding what to install and what to skip. Is that still possible with SP2 ?

[Blue_Gundam2002]

Originally posted by pam123
Are you limited to the XP firewall or can you run another one ?
Also, I use Linux apps on my XP install has there been any trouble with them?
And, while I've got you here, can I pick and choose which parts of SP2 to install or am I going to be stuck with the whole package?
For instance, Automatic Update lets me know when new stuff is ready and I go through the list carefully before deciding what to install and what to skip. Is that still possible with SP2 ?
I turned the XP firewall off and havn't had any problems.
How can you use linux apps on XP?
Automatic update is seperate from SP2. I downloaded SP2 after a fresh install so I'm not sure if it was one big file or alot of smaller ones.

[pam123]

Originally posted by Blue_Gundam2002

How can you use linux apps on XP?


All of my office Apps are Open Office, it's compatible with XP, and the difference between free, to download, and $400 for MS Office makes me very happy. In fact I haven't used a M$ office app. in 4 years.
I also have several basic design apps., also free.
Haven't you ever tried Mozilla or Firebird ( now Firefox ) ?

[Blue_Gundam2002]

Originally posted by pam123
All of my office Apps are Open Office, it's compatible with XP, and the difference between free, to download, and $400 for MS Office makes me very happy. In fact I haven't used a M$ office app. in 4 years.
I also have several basic design apps., also free.
Haven't you ever tried Mozilla or Firebird ( now Firefox ) ?
Ok, you mean open source applications. I have opne office on my computer along with office 2000 because my school uses it, I haven't noticed any problems. Mozilla and mozilla firefox work fine.

[pam123]

Thanks for the info.
If you think this means I don't trust them even though I use them you're right.
Now to see what happens when they release SP2 on the world.

[Blue_Gundam2002]

I forgot to mention that sp2 integrates a popup blocker into IE.

[RJ]

Dittio. Who *really* wants to beta test this stuff? :p

I do :)

I downloaded WinXP SP2 RC1 today (build 2096) and installed it over my WinXP SP1.
Since my WinXP SP2 is now just half an hour old it's maybe a bit too early to say something definitive about it, but the installation process went flawlessly, and all my application and games still work.
The only annoying thing is the security center in systray, but there sure is a possibility to turn it off.

I disabled the firewall and can still use ZoneAlarm, and I haven't tried the popup blocker yet.

All I can say for now is: So far, so good, SP2 RC1 didn't give my any problems and it didn't render applications useless.
Since it's already RC1 I don't think there'll be a major change for the finished SP2.

RJ

[Blue_Gundam2002]

The popup blocker has worked very well so far, but I'm still sticking with mozilla for my web browser.

[ghost2003]

They better not make us pay for it though caus if they think they can make me pay for something thats gonna make other programs I spent money on stop working they got an other thing commin.

[Blue_Gundam2002]

Originally posted by ghost2003
They better not make us pay for it though caus if they think they can make me pay for something thats gonna make other programs I spent money on stop working they got an other thing commin.
When hase microsoft ever made us pay for updates? They will even send you updates for free on a cd, you don't even pay shipping.

[ghost2003]

read somewhere on the forum that they made ppl pay for the win98 ones...whatever, the point is that if I spent $ on apps. they better not make em stop working

[GhostRecon]

I'm also running Windows XP Pro SP2 Beta. Lots of new addition features. Most of the addition features aren't even noticable, I don't even know they exist. But the built-ini Pop-up stopper in IE is one of the greatest tools ever.

[patrickt]

This is available from MS now. I downloaded it last night and it's been running fine. My only problem is I don't know how to allow the on-line virus scanners through the firewall.

[glc]

They only make you pay for updates if you want them to mail you a CD, and sometimes this is even free, like the current offer. The only Win98 update I ever saw that wasn't free was the FE to SE upgrade, and that was only $9.95.

[Doobie]

Has anyone tried SP2 on a non English version?

[RJ]

Yep. I have the German version of Windows XP, so I downloaded the German SP2 RC1.

Had no problems with it so far, I was using the PC today for internet, watching a DVD and playing games.

RJ

[Doobie]

Sorry what I meant was installing English verison of SP2 on a none english version of windows :)

Just curious but do you think there are more German users of Windows then Spanish? I dont see why they wouldnt offer a spanish version for testing too.

[Blue_Gundam2002]

If I remember correctly the service packs are the same, they just use the default language file on your computer.

[RJ]

Dunno why MS just released the SP RC1 in 3 languages. I'm glad German is one :) because the english SP2 won't work with the German WinXP.
So I believe both XP and Service Pack have to have matching language. A friend of mine once downloaded WinXP SP2 english version (an earlier version, over a year ago) and it didn't work. Now I don't remember if it messed up his system or just gave him an error message that it won't work, all I know is that it didn't work.

RJ

[Blue_Gundam2002]

I have SP2 beta 2055 and I can't find the updates for 2096 that RJ has. Anyone know why?

[RJ]

Dunno. I got it from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2predl.mspx

RJ

[Blue_Gundam2002]

Originally posted by RJ
Dunno. I got it from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2predl.mspx

RJ
I originaly got mine at the windows update site. Were did everyone else get theres?

[yamahaSHO]

Anyone know when SP2 is coming out?? I know later this year, but does anyone know an approximate month?

thanks,

[RJ]

The last release dates I've seen were June/July.

RJ

[rcx21000]

I'm imaging my drive right now :D (Acronis Drive Image = Cool, I can Image when I'm still in Windows :)) Then I'll install SP2 :)

[morriswindgate]

The one thing that I fear from SP2 is wheather it will include a security update that I got with my last Windows Update (since I took them all I am not sure which one it was) that after when I opened a MS Word or Excel document I was getting a Firewall warning that the computer was trying to connect to Verisign.
At first I though it might be a virus or trojan, but I ran all the AV, spyware, keylogger, and trojan software and nothing came up. I reloaded a previous backup to get rid of it.

[rcx21000]

It's very nice.... It integrates with PC Cillin, and knows when A/V protection & firewall is on or off :) It doesn't try to turn on Windows firewall if Pc Cillin is running :D