XP SP2 - what's in it for me ?

[Guest]

h

I have read quite abit about this - seems to be mainly aimed at security updates

2 questions

1. Are they any other (non-security) new features in SP2

2. How will all these security features affect my non-MS security stuff e.g. Zone Alarm Pro, PCcillin etc.

I would have thought that ZAP is a better firewall than anything MS will put into SP2. So presumably I won't benefit from this (e.g. I'll have it disabled like I do at the moment)

cheer

dave p

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Dave,

Details of what is in SP2 are covered at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/winxpsp2.mspx
As well as a large number of operating system fixes and patches.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

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hi

I have read quite abit about this - seems to be mainly aimed at security updates.

2 questions:

1. Are they any other (non-security) new features in SP2 ?

2. How will all these security features affect my non-MS security stuff

e.g. Zone Alarm Pro, PCcillin etc. ?

I would have thought that ZAP is a better firewall than anything MS will

put into SP2. So presumably I won't benefit from this (e.g. I'll have it
disabled like I do at the moment).

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

thanks Mike

But that doesn't answer my 2nd question......will any of these security

updates interfere with non-MS Firewalls (e.g Zone Alarm Pro) and anti-virus
software ?

They (the security features in SP2) may not.
In fact SP2 actually picks up a large number of Anti Virus and Firewall
vendors products and add them tot he Security Center. It will then notify
you if they are turned off and provides an interface to turn them back on
again.

HOWEVER

When a new Service Pack is released you should seek guidance from any third
party vendors as to their support for the Service Pack and testing is key
(ensure you can roll back in the event of a blocking issue occurring)

Please note: a major service packs contains updated versions of large
numbers of system files. We have been running a beta program for this SP
for some time now and I would hope that the major software vendors etc have
tested their products against the SP. Obviously we cannot guarantee that
every third party product will function without issues after a service pack
is applied. You must ensure you are ready to roll back.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

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thanks Mike

But that doesn't answer my 2nd question......will any of these security

updates interfere with non-MS Firewalls (e.g Zone Alarm Pro) and anti-virus
software ?

 

[Lem]

And will SP2 provide a simple, reliable, roll back mechanism (perhaps through
Add/Remove Software or XP System Restore)? Or will manual backup/restore be
required?

 

[Guest]

How do I get the XP SP2 Beta?

 

[One too many]

In response to the question, I've put SP2 on my computer today.

Zone alarm is running as expected - I've done some port scans from another
computer and its behaving as required. I've switched off the MS own
firewall, as running both will undoubtable cause problems.
Norton AV is also running fine, but I've not given myself a virus to test it
against (no, this is not an invitiation!).

I don't have either ZA or NAV appearing in my security center, but then this
is only a Beta version (and I don't think Microsoft really meant me to get
my mits onto it!).

I've yet to test the wireless connection, but it looks a big improvement on
before. It might actually work like a real network connection this time (I'm
using XP Pro, and under SP1, I can't log onto a domain using wireless).

The other big plus is configuration in Outlook Express not to download
external images. This stops spammers from telling that you have opened the
email, and therefore have a valid address. I hope that MS come up with a
patch to put this into OutlookXP, as my own version that I coded seems to
work only half the time.

The big downside is if you windows update, you'll get pestered and pestered
to restart your computer once its finished. You've got a "pester me later"
(5 mins later), but no "Stop bugging me" button.

 

[One too many]

I found it at:
http://www.softpedia.com/public/cat/13/9/13-9-177.shtml

It doesn't have an icon on the file, so I was suspicious that it might be
something else pretending to be SP2. So a ran it with a packet capture
program in the background, and it did to go a microsoft site - that's not to
say that there isn't an evil trojan bundled inside. SP2 seems to be runnning
happily now, and ZoneAlarm hasn't complained about strange programs emailing
out cheap viagra messages.

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

And will SP2 provide a simple, reliable, roll back mechanism (perhaps through
Add/Remove Software or XP System Restore)? Or will manual backup/restore be
required?

SP2 is currently (in the present builds) completely removable using
Add/Remove Programs - assuming you ticked the option to backup the old files
as part of the install.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

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[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

How do I get the XP SP2 Beta?

The SP2 beta is made available to those participants in the Technical Beta
Program, and is also available but with no support to subscribers to MSDN
and TechNet Plus.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

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[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Which build are you using ?
The AV software is usually detected by support center - I may be incorrect
about firewall product detection

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

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[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Either subscribe to MSDN or TechNet, or apply here:

How to Become a Beta Tester
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;33814


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



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having both at once. -- RAH

 

[One too many]

Running build 2082 (which was released a fortnight ago) plus all the
updates.

As you say, it would be great if these third party products integrated into
the security center. Although I'd rather windows did not detect them, but
they registered themselves.

btw, the versions that I'm using are:
NAV2003
ZAP4.5

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Running build 2082 (which was released a fortnight ago) plus all the
updates.

As you say, it would be great if these third party products integrated into
the security center. Although I'd rather windows did not detect them, but
they registered themselves.

btw, the versions that I'm using are:
NAV2003
ZAP4.5

Hmm,

We have moved on a bit from 2082 - but 2082, 2080, and 2077 all correctly
worked with my AV software (CA eTrust).
I cannot comment on the firewall as I use an ISA 2004 server for that
function, but do still also run the built in one (correctly integrates with
Security Center) on all my PCs and use IPSEC for all traffic on my home
network.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
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[Guest]

Thanks people..

Mike - what exactly is the situation between 3rd party firewalls and SP2

Should they integrate seemlessly or is one gonna have to be disabled

dave p