Microsoft is delaying distribution of Windows XP Service Pack 2 via its Automatic Update service by at least nine days in order to give corporate customers more time to temporarily block automatic downloading of SP2 by their employees.
Microsoft delays SP2 auto update
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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IMHO,
I think MS should release a toolkit to test client PC for SP2 compatibility before downloading the SP2. This can avoid alots of regrets.
Thanks
Neo
There will be far less compatibility problems and it will be far easier to just move to Linux.
I did so nearly 3 years ago and I have never looked back.
I never use Windows myself, I made the switch totally after trying Mandrake 10. I used Linux since 1993 but always as a dual boot set up.
XP pissed me off by crashing constantly and blue screening all the time with something about X-stream etc.
So I scrapped it and only use Linux now
BUT – this is a topic about XP SP2 not a slagging match about which os is better.
STOP ramming Linux down peoples throats, if they are going to switch they will do it when they are ready to…
To all Windows users out there. I apologise for Chris, he is not the typical type of person from the Linux community
I never use Windows myself, I made the switch totally after trying Mandrake 10. I used Linux since 1993 but always as a dual boot set up.
XP pissed me off by crashing constantly and blue screening all the time with something about X-stream etc.
So I scrapped it and only use Linux now
BUT – this is a topic about XP SP2 not a slagging match about which os is better.
STOP ramming Linux down peoples throats, if they are going to switch they will do it when they are ready to…
To all Windows users out there. I apologise for Chris, he is not the typical type of person from the Linux community
Of course I am not the typical type of person. Please note I was in a playful mood when I wrote that even though I didn’t say as much. I give people crap (in a friendly way) about using Windows all the time because well it’s fun and I enjoy it. I fix Windows machines for a living and I know how much trouble they have.
never noticed, sorry….
but you see what I mean though ? every time there is a mention of windows here linux guys come out and slag it off, and when a linux article goes up, the windows lads come out slagging.
leave the windows boys to it, they will continue to have crashes, virus, spyware, etc etc, but eventually they will come over to the darkside hahahaha
…this is a windows topic, so lets not start another stupid os-war. i am tired of these kid-like comments. and no, i am not a ms-user, but a linux user, but i get really annoyed with those messiah-like “use [enter os of your choice here], it is better than yours” messages.
so, now back to topic.
“I think MS should release a toolkit to test client PC for SP2 compatibility before downloading the SP2. This can avoid alots of regrets.”
agreed. would have been a good idea… but it wasn`t there… : (
It does make it easier after a clean reinstall of XP (not an uncommon thing) to get the machine running SP2 and not have to worry about getting all the other patches with their dial-up connection.
I think what will happen is there will be a Sp2a like there was a NT Sp6a.
Well, I don’t know what MS ment when they said that some applications would act strange, but I didn’t encounter any strangeness with MS Office 2003 SP1, Sim City 4 and Nero (Pre SP2-Patch).
I think, MS as usual found those things using weired configurations. Most bugs anyway seldem appear at regular use.
“…give corporate customers more time to temporarily block automatic downloading of SP2 by their employees.”
What a rediculous excuse. The simple fact is they’ve already found a couple of vulnerabilities in it.
Not really, they give their corporate users the possibility that the firm can roll out some costumized version of the SP2.
Yet somehow, with SUS it still downloaded the SP2 release via auto-sync. However, until “aproved” will not be distributed to clients. None the less it still did get out to some people/auto update methods.
I’m not sure why Microsoft is delaying the auto-update of service pack 2! They’re delaying it because they want to give corporations time?
Any real network or system administrator wouldn’t even have auto-update configured within the corporate network! You would deny people access to Windows Update site, and point all updates to your SUS server or turn it off completely.
Sounds a little like a scape goat to me – they gotta be doing something, because I just don’t buy this “give corporate administrators time” gimmick.
Auto-update shouldn’t even be a flicker in a corporates eye. Get service pack 2 out to the masses and worry about the corporate users later! We’ve gotta start our count down until the first virus or worm to hit Windows XP service pack 2 computers, LOL!
Vegas should take bets, on how long it will take for a hacker or a virus writer to find some whole within SP2.
Yes, our SUS server already pulled down SP2. So I assume MS pulled it from the public update site?
I had already rolled out quite a few SP2’s via GPO; no problems so far.
Anyone have a preferred rollout? GPO or SUS, or scripted?
Let i cool for a while, at least until the end of the year and maybe SP2 will be really good.My XP box is running for about 3 years now without any update
. Is true though that I have to re install it every 3-6 months , but is fun,besides the only program I have in there is IL2 Sturmovik 
“We’ve gotta start our count down until the first virus or worm to hit Windows XP service pack 2 computers..”
That’s my concern as well. If the malware writers are the first ones to get this patch, then we have what a week or so before new worms start appearing? Meanwhile those of us waiting to get in on CD are just going to have to hope…