XP SP-2

[Barry Watzman]

The firewall configuration is very simple for almost all programs.

Basically, the first time that you use a program that tries to use a
blocked port, you get a windows with 3 choices:

-Unblock that port for this program [only] -- whenever this program is
run (window won't come up again for that program)

-Unblock that port for this program -- one time only (window will come
up again next time that program is run)

-Don't unblock the port (the program probably won't run correctly, of
course)

In most cases, it's trivial and you don't need to know anything about
what port the program is using, just tell the firewall if it is or is
not "ok" to run that program.

There's a control panel that you can get into where you can manually add
and remove programs, change their status, or diddle with the list
allowed on a program by program basis. It's there, but will rarely be
used by typical users running typical programs.

Actually, I think that they did it very, very well.

 

[John Blaustein]

Barry,

Thank you for your advice and the information.

I download the full 278MB file and have installed it on two of my three PCs
with no problems.

Since I have a hardware firewall (SonicWALL/10), I disabled the Windows
Firewall. It's my understanding that with the SonicWALL, I don't need the
Windows Firewall. Right?

I like the IE popup blocker (which I didn't have before), and also that OE
now refuses to display images. So much of the spam I get has embedded
images. While most get deleted right away, it's still a nice safeguard that
OE now has this feature.

John

 

[Leythos]

I like the IE popup blocker (which I didn't have before), and also that OE
now refuses to display images. So much of the spam I get has embedded
images. While most get deleted right away, it's still a nice safeguard that
OE now has this feature.

If you like the pop-up blocker in IE, try FireFox from Mozilla, it will
also block images not from the root web site, pop-ups, etc.... I've been
running it on customers systems and my own for over a month and have yet
to find a site that doesn't work with it.

 

[Sept1967]

The IE popup blobker is nice, because it is part of IE.

 

[Leythos]

The IE popup blobker is nice, because it is part of IE.

But FireFox is nice because it doesn't expose you to the know and
unknown things that IE does on most users system. Don't get me wrong, I
make a lot of money installing Win based servers and workstations, but
FireFox has become the new standard for our clients - the only catch is
for ones that need active-x controls on custom web apps.

 

[Roger Hamlett]

The IE popup blobker is nice, because it is part of IE.

The blocking features of FireFox, are part of it as well. The big
advantage it has, is that you get rid of IE completely...

Best Wishes

 

[Leythos]

I am using it but it's full of bugs. When I need reliable browsing, I
must go back to Internet explorer.

If you are using 0.9.3 I would like to know "what bugs" you've seen,
I've got it installed on a BUNCH of workstation in offices and have yet
to find a user that even knows about the switch - meaning that
everything is working and they are not complaining.

 

[Guest]

If you like the pop-up blocker in IE, try FireFox from Mozilla,

I am using it but it's full of bugs. When I need reliable browsing, I
must go back to Internet explorer.

 

[kenward]

Anyone get the SP-2 update for XP? "Is it safe yet"?

Rick

It has wrecked the onboard LAN in my A7V8X. I had to put in a PCI LAN
card. Others, not all of them Asus users, have reported similar
problems. In my case, the Broadcom LAN gets given an inappropriate IP
address.

SP2 has also screwed up my Panasonic laser printer. Gives constant
"Paper jam" errors in Micros**t Word. Fine with everything else!

MK





_______________________________________________________________________
Michael Kenward Words for sale

 

[kenward]

What has XP SP2 got to do with this group??

Er, because people who use Asus motherboards use Windows and want to
know if there are any specific issues they should consider? Like why
has SP2 killed on onboard LAN? That is onboard as in a part of the
Asus Motherboard.

I certainly come here first when wanting to troubleshoot problems with
my Asus PCs. You get a better class of nerd here.




_______________________________________________________________________
Michael Kenward Words for sale

 

[Mark Timerding]

Anyone get the SP-2 update for XP? "Is it safe yet"?
Rick

I installed sp2 on 3 computers in my house. One with
a K8V, 1 with a A7N8X rev 1.04, and a Dell (P4 but dont know
what motherboard) and so far, no problems on any of the
three. Been running sp2 on these for about 2 weeks now.

 

[Philip Callan]

I am using it but it's full of bugs. When I need reliable browsing, I
must go back to Internet explorer.

Your backwards.

I am using /IE/ but it's full of bugs, When I need reliable browsing, I
must go back to FireFox.

Unless you consider running a buggy, insecure POS that will help hackers
0wn your machine 'reliable'

Windows is reliable! It auto-updates with the latest virus in 20 minutes
or less (when unpatched) !

 

[Leythos]

It has wrecked the onboard LAN in my A7V8X. I had to put in a PCI LAN
card. Others, not all of them Asus users, have reported similar
problems. In my case, the Broadcom LAN gets given an inappropriate IP
address.

SP2 has also screwed up my Panasonic laser printer. Gives constant
"Paper jam" errors in Micros**t Word. Fine with everything else!

What you describe is completely impossible - a driver can not hard the
hardware of your network card or cause your printer to JAM.

 

[John]

What you describe is completely impossible - a driver can not hard the
hardware of your network card or cause your printer to JAM.

While it is possible that the drivers for the network card might need to
be reinstalled after sp2 the paper jam is comical. Did the weather
change after you installed SP2? Is it raining now and it wasn't raining
before? Blame that on Microsoft too.

 

[Sept1967]

Ditto.
Downloaded the full SP2 (266mb),
Installed on P4P800-VM , and a P4R800-VM , about 2 weeks now, no problems.

 

[FredP]

Here's a good site for info on SP2 written by Jim Fisher MS-MVP, who has
put this together following the end of the beta test ... it's still a
'work in progress' but it should answer a lot of your questions.
http://jmfmvps.mvps.org/SP2.htm

 

[Barry Watzman]

I've installed it about a dozen machines, with no problems.

I believe that your experience is unusual in the extreme.

I think it's a wonderful update, nearly bug free. Relatively few
programs have problems with it, and in my view the problem is in those
programs, not SP2. Port adjustments to the firewall, when required, are
generally "single-click" permissions to unblock (you don't even have to
know the port numbers).

 

[kenward]

While it is possible that the drivers for the network card might need to
be reinstalled after sp2 the paper jam is comical. Did the weather
change after you installed SP2? Is it raining now and it wasn't raining
before? Blame that on Microsoft too.

One suggestion is that the new USB drivers installed by SP2 have
screwed up more than one bit of hardware.

Before you dismiss such suggestions, you might care to do a bit of
research. Were you, for example, the owner of a Psion Wavefinder, you
would certainly know that SP2 can screw up hardware. As to my printer,
I can only say that between not having problems and having them the
only change I made was to apply SP2.



_______________________________________________________________________
Michael Kenward Words for sale

 

[Charlie King]

What you describe is completely impossible - a driver can not hard the
hardware of your network card or cause your printer to JAM.

Since I installed SP2, TWO planes have crashed in Russia - surely that
can't be coincidence?

 

[Charlie King]

Before you dismiss such suggestions, you might care to do a bit of
research. Were you, for example, the owner of a Psion Wavefinder, you
would certainly know that SP2 can screw up hardware. As to my printer,
I can only say that between not having problems and having them the
only change I made was to apply SP2.

A bit of research has suggested to me that the Psion Wavefinder's
problems predate SP2

http://www.spidersweb.freeserve.co....erecommndedsolutionstoknownWaveFinderproblems
http://mobileopera.com/wavefinder
http://www.wavefinder.co.uk/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000186.html

Wheras googling for

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q=psion+wavefinder+XP+SP2+problem
or
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ps...ck+2+problem&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

Returns no actual reports specific to psion wavefinder Windows XP
Service pack 2 problems. Where can I find information about SP2
screwing up hardware?

As for your printer, have you tried rolling back (de-installing SP2)
to see if that cures the paper jams? Or have you tried the printer on
another non-SP2 machine?

If neither of those are possible, or conclusive, try turning the
computer off altogether, or unplugging the connection between the
computer and the printer, and using the printer's self-test function.
That will enable you to rule out any problems with the paper path that
may have occured.

HTH