Posted on 08/06/2004 3:04:17 PM PDT by HAL9000
Microsoft released the long-anticipated Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) to manufacturing mid-day Friday, just two days after unknown delays temporarily stumped its wrap.Although Microsoft's signed off on SP2 -- a major update to Windows XP that devotes considerable effort toward tightening up the operating system against security threats -- it's not yet offering the upgrade to end users.
SP2 will post for downloading next week, said Microsoft, but it's urging users to not flood the Windows Update servers by retrieving the approximately 80MB file on their own. Instead, the Redmond, Wash.-based developer is trying to convince users to let the patch come to them.
Thursday, Microsoft amended its Windows XP Web site to include instructions on enabling Windows' Automatic Update feature, which will then download the new version when capacity's available.
“The timing for customers to receive the Service Pack 2 download through Automatic Updates depends on a number of factors,” said Microsoft in a statement. “[That includes] the customer's Internet usage, location, language, and the level of Internet demand for Service Pack 2.”
For those without big bandwidth, Microsoft will also make SP2 available on CD, free of charge. The company will even pick up the shipping tab.
New machines featuring Windows XP SP2 won't appear until the September-October time frame, said Microsoft, which added that it is working with major manufacturers such as Dell, HP, and IBM to get the new edition on systems as soon as possible.
SP2's most discussed changes include a more rigorous approach to security, including stronger default settings and the new Security Center, an end-user console for monitoring bundled and third-party firewall and anti-virus defenses.
“We encourage Windows XP users to spend five minutes today to turn on Automatic Updates, thus ensuring they'll receive Service Pack 2 as it becomes available,” said Will Poole, who leads Windows client development, in a statement.
Ditto. XP is great.
I guess admitting that doesn't get others' ya-ya's off as much as joining the crowd, ragging MS.
Dan
Then I wouldn't deploy it.
Six boxes at our house, all great.
Dan
What spyware can destroy XP?
We remove adware and spyware all the time, I have never seen it destroy XP.
"..I look forward to this update. Windows XP is already an excellent operating system that has served me very well for going on 3 years now."
Ditto, from a former Mac fan. Since Win NT, I threw in the towel as a Mac man, and haven't looked back since.
-- Joe
Exactly. I have an Aunt who can't help but click on every damned link (i.e. 'Click Here - You've Won [insert crap here]) on the I'net. She has to call tech support every other damned day.
She won't listen to me, though.
He's not doing his homework. The simpliest way to avoid spyware is:
a) Install Spybot scan, repair and immunize then select advanced menus and go to IE tweaks to turn off the ability to change home page or access the options box. That'll thwart 99.99% of the spyware hacks.
b) Never ever download 3rd party shareware CODECS. These are being used as trojans for loading spyware.
c) Use Norton Firewall.
That should do it.
AND clicking on one of those stupid emails that look interesting. My browser was hijacked 2 months ago. I researched and found the 2 files and deleted them. Only buy stuff from well-established places.
Destroy it? No. But Cool Web Search is one of the nastiest. Spybot, Ad-Aware, CWS and many other spyware removal software cannot remove its latest variant.
Not going to. Since it would adversely affect your gasoline prices. =)
We got a nice setup here. Cable modem through a router. Got Zonealarm Pro ($30), AVG Antivirus (free), Spybot and Adaware (free), and Google toolbar (free) for the pop up blocker.
Cheap yet effective...
Do you build you own? I do. Maybe I should upgrade from my 1 GHz CUSL2 MB, but the SCSI320 card handles everything but the memory. Can this handle Doom 3? My ATI video card records TV well in any format.
Minimum: P4 1.5Ghz CPU (or equivalent).
384MB of RAM.
64MB graphics card (see below for chip details).
2GB of free hard drive space.
Lowest supported GPU is a Geforce 4 MX (worse than Geforce 3).
Supported cards:
GF 4 MX.
GF 3.
GF 4.
GF FX (and higher).
Radeon 8500s, 9000s and higher.
L8R
So that's why you haven't had a crash since '98!
Don't let that registry even think about fragmenting. ;-)
LOL - well, actually I only started imaging about 2 years ago.
My All-in-Wonder has the 8500 chip and works well. I guess I'll break down and get a 3GHz MB. I NEED 6 slots with full control per bios like my current ASUS. I have a client computer that needs a new MB anyway. I drilled through it a few years ago putting wheels on the case and repaired the traces, LOL. I have a long umbilical cord attached to it so it can roll around when I do "experiments". I download large files into it (like CDs and proggies) and test them there.
I can think of at least two ways to fix that right off the top of my head.
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