Windows XP SP2: A few questions...

[DragonQ0105]

Just installed SP2 on both my PCs. One has a Legal version of Windows, one has an illegal version.

1. It seems Microsoft has not really improved anti-piracy because SP2 installed on my Illegal copy perfectly. Can anyone confirm/check this (not implying that it be used on an illegal copy unless for testing purposes, obviously )

2. I wonder if the Windows Firewall is good enough to use it instead of Zone Alarm? Anyone else got experience with RC2, or the final version and its firewall?

 

[jfp23]

the Microsoft firewall is not a replacement for ZoneAlarm or any other personal firewall software. The MS firewall only blocks inbound not outbound which is just as important. If you have ZoneAlarm stick with it and install the new update for it that makes it work with wmi so that the new MS security console will recoginize that zonealarm is running.

 

[bcastner]

Microsoft decided, at least for now, to be very, very nice about illegal copies of XP and permit the Service Pack 2 upgrade.

It will be fully functional if the install completes.

The SP2 firewall is quite good. Where third-party products offer additional features to what Microsoft offers is in how much control you have on outgoing requests by a process to the internet. Microsoft's product does a very good job of monitoring and controlling incomming requests. Now the issue becomes how good a "Net Citizen" you will be by using a third-party tool to prevent outgoing connections.

 

[linney]

I suspect that the Security Center is there more for less experienced users to make their machines more secure and keep them updated.

If you have a good firewall and regularly do your updates and security patches I suspect that the services for firewall, Windows Updates and Security Center will soon be switched off.

I believe Microsoft intentionally did not block SP2 from loading on illegal versions perhaps as a way of preventing less secure (illegal versions) machines from causing damage to legal versions on the Internet.

 

[DragonQ0105]

Another point:

The IE Popup Blocker is great! Whereas with most third-party Popup Blockers (especially free ones), the popup will flash and then disappear, the IE one stops them appearing completely! Definately use it.

 

[bcastner]

I believe Microsoft intentionally did not block SP2 from loading on illegal versions perhaps as a way of preventing less secure (illegal versions) machines from causing damage to legal versions on the Internet.

That was exactly my read on what they deciced to do. How long they will be nice about it is another issue. Service Pack 2 they want out there; later security Hotfixes, other patches, and IE/OE 7 are completely different questions. You should plan on them not being nice about this at all for illegal XPs.

 

[Wishdiak]

Now that SP2 is available for single-machine download, has anyone had any issues with upgrading XP machines to SP2?

From what I've heard, people with illegal copies are getting shut down, and their computers will no longer boot.

Today I'm glad that I don't support end-users anymore.

Wishdiak

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[bcastner]

There are cases where SP2 will prevent a boot: notably those with Intel Prescott processors and non-compliant BIOS sets.

But Microsoft will not shut down an illegal copy machine with Service Pack 2, or anything else for that matter.

 

[wantstolearncfm]

People with legal versions experience difficulty you should definately back up your system before attempting an install.
I had one problem with it, but it ended up being a "fake" version the end user found on P2P, i managed 2 remove it and installed the real thing, however users on some DELL Pc's have experienced issues with booting etc..
It is paramount your motherboard bios is up to date, and make sure that your harddrive is defragged and you have your CD ready.
Good luck

 

[adeangelis]

Also, the Windows Firewall does in fact block outgoing traffic. It will prompt you when an unknown program tries to access the internet (ie. mIRC). For most MS or MS partner products (IE, Office, Norton Anti-virus), the firewall is preconfigured to allow these (hence Security Center being able to identify Anti-virus software). However, even though it blocks outbound access to an extent, it is no replacement for ZoneAlarm, Norton Internet Security, etc. I have found however that using the Windows Firewall in combination with a properly configured cable/dsl router gives the best protection without using the resources that ZoneAlarm/Norton would use.

 

[linney]

I don't trust the inbuilt SP2 firewall too much after a failure in setting it to block internet traffic but to allow LAN traffic.

On a check with

http://www.GRC.com

it was showing open ports 139 and 445, and returning ICMP pings, despite not allowing any Internet contact. The only way to close the ports was to remove all the ticks in the LAN settings, and even then the main ICMP setting for ping was lightly ticked and could not be removed. This despite nothing ticked elsewhere for pinging in the LAN or Internet ICMP settings.

OK this was SP2 RC2, but it has made me wary.