SP2 Annoying?

[Travis King]

Is SP2 annoying? I've heard that you will get messages if you have an
out-of-date antivirus. I have Norton Systemworks 2002 with up-to-date virus
definitions. I can't afford to buy new software every year. I also heard
that it will pop up each time asking if you want to block a certain thing
access to the Internet... right? That sounds just like Zone Alarm, and the
same reason why we don't use it. It won't conflict with hardware
installation like Zone Alarm did will it? ZA always would cause the new
hardware not to be detected until you completely uninstalled ZA. Shutting
it off in the startup would not fix it. Will there be a way to remove those
annoyances if they get on my nerves?
I have Windows XP Home SP1. I have my automatic updates going, but no
SP2 yet. Will I be getting it on the 25th?
Does it come with WMP10 beta or WMP9? I hope WMP9 because WMP10 beta is
full of bugs so far.
I have a popup stopper already. Can you run the Windows popup stopper
and my popup stopper at the same time or can you only use one? Would a
third-party popup stopper usually be better?
I sure hope that it doesn't have lots of 'little' annoyances like I've
heard. It already has too many. 'Keep up-to-date with Windows automatic
updates.' (Though this one is important.) Also, passport, MSN messenger,
the high-speed USB device plugged in the USB 1.1 port, and many more
'little' annoyances. I have balloon popups disabled, but you can still tell
they're there, especially the USB port one. You also still hear the 'pop'
sound. (Although I could disable that sound, and I think I will.)

 

[RJ]

So don't install it... it's your choice. Geez.

And, you can disable the messages about outdated anti-virus, etc.
You can, and should, disable Windows Firewall if you use a 3rd party firewall.
Windows Media Player 9 is included.
You can turn off the Popup Blocker.

 

[Mike Kolitz]

Comments inline.

--
Mike Kolitz MCSE 2000
MS-MVP - Windows Setup / Deployment

Is SP2 annoying? I've heard that you will get messages if you have an
out-of-date antivirus. I have Norton Systemworks 2002 with up-to-date
virus
definitions. I can't afford to buy new software every year.

Microsoft programmers did their best to make SP2's security center work with
existing anti-virus products. Unforunately, not all of them work properly.
Check with your anti-virus vendor to see if any updates are available for
your anti-virus software.

Security Center will *not* pop up messages if your anti-virus software is
out of date, only if your definitions are (assuming that it can communicate
with the anti-virus software). If you feel you must disable the warning
messages, here is how to do so:

http://open-node.net/archive/2004/08/10/545.aspx

I also heard
that it will pop up each time asking if you want to block a certain thing
access to the Internet... right?

Nope. SP2's firewall only monitors inbound traffic. It will only popup a
message if it appears that an unsolicited connection is being attempted to
your computer. Outbound connections are not monitored, so it's not
exactly like Zone Alarm.

That sounds just like Zone Alarm, and the
same reason why we don't use it. It won't conflict with hardware
installation like Zone Alarm did will it? ZA always would cause the new
hardware not to be detected until you completely uninstalled ZA. Shutting
it off in the startup would not fix it. Will there be a way to remove
those
annoyances if they get on my nerves?
I have Windows XP Home SP1. I have my automatic updates going, but no
SP2 yet. Will I be getting it on the 25th?

According to some news pages I've read, either tomorrow or the 25th. I'd
still plan on the 25th.

Does it come with WMP10 beta or WMP9? I hope WMP9 because WMP10 beta
is
full of bugs so far.
WMP9.

I have a popup stopper already. Can you run the Windows popup stopper
and my popup stopper at the same time or can you only use one? Would a
third-party popup stopper usually be better?

You can run both at the same time. I ran the Google toolbar popup stopper
and the SP2 one for a while, but it was pretty useless. The SP2 blocker is
really pretty awesome. That's all I use now.

 

[Mike H]

It is and always was possible to turn off the alerts in Zonealarm.. nobody
is forcing you to use anything that you don't want.. for the record, SP2 is
installed on my machine which is still working well..