The forthcoming Service Pack 2 for Windows XP is actually a significant upgrade for Microsoft’s OS, delivering much-needed security enhancements. ZDNet.co.uk highlights the key changes.
Windows XP Service Pack 2: a first look
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
At the moment, Windows XP with Service Pack 2 is slightly slower than its predecessors. However, this may change when the final version is released.
Not sure about slower, maybe it is just me but my XP machine seems a bit snappier then it was previously.
Many built in things like IE, OE and Messenger were definately faster. It did break quite a few third party apps, but thankfully, most of the ones it did have freely available upgrades.
It’s always fun when both OSs on my play box get borked at the same time.
*sigh*
Just don’t use IE, OE and have some common sense like not opening up viruses.
I installed the SP2 beta and it kills competing media players. If you use the Divx player don’t install this service pack.
I installed the SP2 beta and it kills competing media players. If you use the Divx player don’t install this service pack.
I don’t understand your problem with media players.
I installed SP2 rc1 and everythings fine. Divx works, Media Player Classic works, BSPlayer works. I’m very happy with this service pack. My XP feels a lot slicker.
Even though I’m very big on OS X and Linux, the windows machines that I have to maintain for clients will be much easier to take care of.
I’m downloading the SP2 RC1 as I speak onto a test machine.
From a non-biased standpoint it really is great to see Microsoft take a large security initiative. Even though it is late, better late than never I suppose.
Way to take quotes out of context. It’s doing more, therefore you’d expect it to be slower, neh?
this service pack is for those users that automatically assume microsoft knows best. this does nothing for those users that honestly try to keep their computers safe and sound yet still can’t keep up with the flood of patches and updates that are needed to protect your systems.
this service pack is for those users that automatically assume microsoft knows best. this does nothing for those users that honestly try to keep their computers safe and sound yet still can’t keep up with the flood of patches and updates that are needed to protect your systems.
That was unbelievably dumb.
agreed!
… the 100th look — I see them every other day.
I suddenly have a craving for cigarettes!
*walks mindlessly into a wall*
Hello
I installed the service pack a few days ago, and dispite my theory of testing Os’s or Service Packs. I did it anyway.
I should have known that it would break things, since microsoft has proclaimed this right from the beginning. I did find a few bug or qwirks about the service pack which I thought I would share. I have found the following on my Box.
1: The boot Time for Windows Xp has declined for only a few milliseconds. (Dispite others who report faster booting)
2: For some dumb reason Windows update is broken. I went to the site, downloaded the new ActiveX things, and wham, I’m hit with an error that reads ..
“Windows Update has encountered an error and cannot display the requested page.”
3: They have some nice features to boot, when using Internet explorer. upon my favourite is the Popup blocking and the Manage Add-ons (ie. Browser Extentions.)
4: The Anti-virus software was not part of Rc1, but I doubt in the future, I will prolly not use it anyway. (reason – Most virii will be targetted towards this.)
5: I love how they turn off some of the services that plague system people.
I’m sure this is not the last of the problems or perks, but far most I’m glad to see MS trying to make an effert, dispite all the Anti-MS on the Web..
My 2 Quarters..
Enjoy your day — SMILE
— Canadian, Iam
Egads man! You said virii!!! Evil!
— Begin Quote —
By Kingston
Egads man! You said virii!!! Evil!
— End Quote —
Dispite the fact of the word Virii being used, and the proper wording viruses. I think that the majority of the people will agree that it is a term that should be removed from most vocabulary. However, not many people have the power to change ones social skill, and online chat vocabulary falls into this same catigory. But I am assuming you know (as most know) what I am referring to.
— Sorry for the improper language.
— Iam Canadian