Service Pack 2 (Groan... not again!)

[Jake]

I have installed Service Pack 2 on a Windows Xp installation in Virtual Pc.
I had a look at what is actually different. All that seems to be different
on the surface is that there is a "security center" and that the firewall is
more configurable. Is this all that service pack 2 has? There seems no
reason for it. If you have a third party fire wall installed and a good
anti virus program is there any need for Sp2? Is there any changes to the
actual functioning of xp?


Jake

 

[Dick Kistler]

I have installed Service Pack 2 on a Windows Xp installation in
Virtual Pc. I had a look at what is actually different. All that
seems to be different on the surface is that there is a "security
center" and that the firewall is more configurable. Is this all that
service pack 2 has? There seems no reason for it. If you have a
third party fire wall installed and a good anti virus program is
there any need for Sp2? Is there any changes to the actual
functioning of xp?


Jake

Where have you been the last 6 1/2 weeks? Look at this:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

There is a lot more in SP2 than just the Security Center and a more
configurable firewall. If you have a third party firewall and a good
antivirus program you still need SP2. There are many bugfixes and many
security improvements in SP2, but there is little that is obvious to the
eye. Why didn't you google "Microsoft XP SP2" and read Microsoft's
website(s) about SP2 before you posted this?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

SP2 is a solid, secure release. It is a major "Critical Update"
for Windows XP and updates over 5 million lines of code,
enabling much stronger security, stability, and affords a tad better
performance benefit. SP2 was extensively tested on hundreds of
thousands of various computer configurations over a period of
many, many months.

You may wish to view the following:

Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspx

List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=windowsxpsp2

Learn About Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/preinstall.mspx

Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx

What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have installed Service Pack 2 on a Windows Xp installation in Virtual Pc.
| I had a look at what is actually different. All that seems to be different
| on the surface is that there is a "security center" and that the firewall is
| more configurable. Is this all that service pack 2 has? There seems no
| reason for it. If you have a third party fire wall installed and a good
| anti virus program is there any need for Sp2? Is there any changes to the
| actual functioning of xp?
|
| Jake

 

[R. McCarty]

The one overlooked and seldom mentioned change is that a good
portion of XP's code has been recompiled. They (MS) added a
switch so the OS can detect and prevent Buffer Overflows. This
is one of the avenues that hacker's use. This is done along with the
Data Execution Prevention (DEP) available for programs & services
that run on XP.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

I have installed Service Pack 2 on a Windows Xp installation in Virtual Pc.
I had a look at what is actually different. All that seems to be different
on the surface is that there is a "security center" and that the firewall is
more configurable. Is this all that service pack 2 has? There seems no
reason for it. If you have a third party fire wall installed and a good
anti virus program is there any need for Sp2? Is there any changes to the
actual functioning of xp?

Hi

Most of the changes are under the hood.

Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/topten.mspx

In addition to the list above:

More builtin wireless support (a lot of GUI changes there as
well), better Bluetooth support.


List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811113

Learn About Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/preinstall.mspx

 

[Danny Sanders]

See:
List of Remote Desktop fixes in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;838202&Product=winxp


List of multimedia fixes in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;838200&Product=winxp


List of the management and administration issues that are addressed in
Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;838210&Product=winxp


List of shell fixes in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;838203&Product=winxp


List of Remote Procedure Call (RPC) fixes in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;838191&Product=winxp


List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811113&Product=winxp


List of base operating system fixes in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;838213&Product=winxp

hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE