Goofy hardware/software

[Kursk]

What's the status of your SP2 upgrades?

I am 5 for 6. Wifes computer (a near clone of mine - barton based AMD board) choked. No right click functions without BSOD. BSOD with accessing 'my computer' or control panel. Went to C: \windows to find the uninstal files and removed that sucker post haste. Other 5 went slick as can be.

[BigDoc]

I am on PC 3 of 4, no problems whatsoever, I'm quite pleased, I love the pop-up blocker, much better than Zone Alarm's.

It is a hefty download though, and Micro$oft is forcing the Windows 2000, NT, & 98 users to upgrade to XP in order to benefit from the security features.

[ozzie]

I have not lost any extremities, nor had issue. Had some funky stuff with Autodesk which is an Autocad program also SP2 does not report the status of the anti virus checker correctly on some older versions.
I have turned off the firewall part..
Also I did a complete spyware av reg hack clean scan prior to installing .

oz

[BigDoc]

I have not lost any extremities, nor had issue. Had some funky stuff with Autodesk which is an Autocad program also SP2 does not report the status of the anti virus checker correctly on some older versions.
I have turned off the firewall part..
Also I did a complete spyware av reg hack clean scan prior to installing .
oz

I do not have a software firewall on one of my PCs, can the SP2 firewall block inbound and outbound traffic?

[ozzie]

you can do this with the nic card
when you can buy a firewall router for $ 50 I dont even bother with an
" local firewall " Why admin 5 machines when you can admin 1 and get the same result. Most software firewalls are more trouble that what their worth between false alarms and constant tweaking
In reality you can do what the firewall does with even windows 98 se if you put your mind to it via policies and tcp /udp nic card port settings.
All that SP2 has really done is put it into a package..

Oz

[BigDoc]

you can do this with the nic card
when you can buy a firewall router for $ 50 I dont even bother with an
" local firewall " Why admin 5 machines when you can admin 1 and get the same result. Most software firewalls are more trouble that what their worth between false alarms and constant tweaking
In reality you can do what the firewall does with even windows 98 se if you put your mind to it via policies and tcp /udp nic card port settings.
All that SP2 has really done is put it into a package..

Oz
I guess I should read the router manual again. :o

[pprescot]

I do not have a software firewall on one of my PCs, can the SP2 firewall block inbound and outbound traffic?

No, does not block outbound per my understanding.

[Scroggie]

I think that was the old windows firewall, the new one is better, heading towards zone alarm (think early IE vs Netscape).

[BigDoc]

I think that was the old windows firewall, the new one is better, heading towards zone alarm (think early IE vs Netscape).
Why the half-***** attempt at a firewall, Micro$oft could have bought out ZA or one of the other decent ones on the market to include with XP:eek:

[ozzie]

You have to think about the market ..
Installing zone alarm is not the greatest solution because it's not tweak proof
MS had to cover the majority , by blocking outbound then that creates all kinds of problems. No updates, not let dell look at you hardware and find the latest drivers. And so on.
So MS came up with a compromise.
Not the perfect solution but the best around so far..
This is home user solution not a biz owner solution, so you need to look at this thru eyes of joe /jane pinhead home user.
Get Grandma to install and tweak Zone Alarm then tell me how bad SP2 is LOL

[pprescot]

The new "Security Center" in SP2 was a nice idea for consolidation, but ...

Security Watch Special: Windows XP SP2 Security Center Spoofing Threat

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1639276,00.asp