Resistance Is Futile (Microsoft To Force SP2 Upgrade)

[Shannon]

April 12th is the very last day. That’s when the clock runs, and the deadline looms.

And here you thought it was April 15th. Nope, it’s the twelfth. Because we’re not talking about the day your taxes are due. On no. We’re talking about the day that your Windows XP or Windows XP SP1 computer will be automatically updated to XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) whether you want it to or not. Period.

Up until now users who did not want to accept the SP2 update had the option of temporarily blocking the update from being downloaded to their machines through the Automatic or Windows Update mechanisms, however that option expires on April 12th.

According to Microsoft’s latest alert on the issue, “The intent of this alert is to provide you with a reminder about the upcoming deadline around the date on which Automatic Update (AU) and Windows Update (WU) will deliver Windows XP SP2 regardless of the presence of the blocking mechanism.”

- Source: Neowin

Hmm... are Microsoft even allowed to do this? Oh well, I guess you could just not run Windows Update.

 

[Solid Fro]

This is a bad thing?

SP2 actually fixes problems in Windows XP. Would it be the best not to run the latest Windows revision?

If you're not running SP2, you're most likely opening yourself up to more problems than with SP2.

 

[Flerbizky]

April 12th is the very last day. That’s when the clock runs, and the deadline looms.

And here you thought it was April 15th. Nope, it’s the twelfth. Because we’re not talking about the day your taxes are due. On no. We’re talking about the day that your Windows XP or Windows XP SP1 computer will be automatically updated to XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) whether you want it to or not. Period.

Up until now users who did not want to accept the SP2 update had the option of temporarily blocking the update from being downloaded to their machines through the Automatic or Windows Update mechanisms, however that option expires on April 12th.

According to Microsoft’s latest alert on the issue, “The intent of this alert is to provide you with a reminder about the upcoming deadline around the date on which Automatic Update (AU) and Windows Update (WU) will deliver Windows XP SP2 regardless of the presence of the blocking mechanism.”

- Source: Neowin

Hmm... are Microsoft even allowed to do this? Oh well, I guess you could just not run Windows Update.

uh oh... This is seriously gonna suck HARD for some users.. I'm glad I have to approve all updates that gets released here at wrrk since were running our own update server.. Glad I spend the time making that one....

 

[Shannon]

This is a bad thing?

SP2 actually fixes problems in Windows XP. Would it be the best not to run the latest Windows revision?

If you're not running SP2, you're most likely opening yourself up to more problems than with SP2.

I have nothing against SP2 myself. In fact, I agree with you that it fixes a slew of problems and plugs up a bunch of security loopholes. Some people seem to have something against it though...

 

[Acid X]

Probably just the fact that not everyone can download a large update like that in good time.

 

[Der Alta]

How about the countless hours I've spent fixing my laptop after that download? Honestly, this is Microsoft admitting they botched their OS.

It took me 3 months to get it installed on my laptop, each time with various problems. Sorting through the mess and changes that it made. First, I don't run windows firewall, because I don't happen to trust it. (We'll reference Microsofts security track record). I don't use Alot of the features in SP2, simply because I already have a proven and ttrusted third party firewall and Anti-virus system. Sure there are other security risks without SP2, that's why I finally spent the days and lost productivity to get it installed, and fixed.

It's just frustrating that SP2 had more bugs and conflicts in it than SP1.

Running MS should be a choice. Due to some of the software I use it's not a choice. So I'm forced to suck wind on a consistently "coming up short" software package.

That's my biggest frustration.

AO

 

[VIPFREAK]

great... I've had to classmates lose their computers updating (both on Sonys). One fried the other lost the HD. I really really don't want to update if it's gonna kill my computer, I have the SP2 update disk though...

 

[donbenni]

What if you don't have the internet, are they going to bust into your house and forcefully insert the CD into your PC?

Already have SP2, but wouldn't be overally pleased if it kept trying to download. Almost as annoying as the "Help us make Office better" yellow pop up that keeps occuring.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

great... I've had to classmates lose their computers updating (both on Sonys). One fried the other lost the HD. I really really don't want to update if it's gonna kill my computer, I have the SP2 update disk though...

Are you seriously suggesting that hardware damage (physical) was caused by the upgrade? Or just that the machines didn't start post-upgrade?

Anyone who complains about their machines dying didn't do a proper backup prior to installing the service pack. It's there in black and white on the upgrade screen! They tell you that you should back up prior to installing it. Did these users even create a System Restore Point?

Seriously folks, it's about time you started taking responsibility for your own actions.

 

[Event]

Shouldn't we have freedom of choice withour OS's? Isn't this America? I don't want to go with SP2. I'm fine with SP1. Those Windows goons better not upgrade me in the freaking night.

 

[Der Alta]

What if you don't have the internet, are they going to bust into your house and forcefully insert the CD into your PC?

Already have SP2, but wouldn't be overally pleased if it kept trying to download. Almost as annoying as the "Help us make Office better" yellow pop up that keeps occuring.

Actually, if you go to Start > Run > type "services.msc" without the quotes, you can turn that pop-up off by disabling the "Error Reporting Service"

If you don't have the internet, I don't think you should be worried about catching a virus or getting hacked.

AO

 

[Duke]

This is a bad thing?

SP2 actually fixes problems in Windows XP. Would it be the best not to run the latest Windows revision?

If you're not running SP2, you're most likely opening yourself up to more problems than with SP2.

Hell, yes, it's a bad thing. Even if SP2 was perfect (which it isn't), there is absolutlely positively zero excuse for MS forcing the update to happen automatically. None whatsoever.

They can feel free to withdraw tech support for machines not running SP2, they can strongly urge you to upgrade, they can do a lot of other things... but to make it automatically happen like that is utterly unacceptable.

 

[donbenni]

Actually, if you go to Start > Run > type "services.msc" without the quotes, you can turn that pop-up off by disabling the "Error Reporting Service"

If you don't have the internet, I don't think you should be worried about catching a virus or getting hacked.

AO

Ha ha, smart arse

Cheers for the services thing, i'll change that now.

 

[Flerbizky]

Ha ha, smart arse

Cheers for the services thing, i'll change that now.

I think AO is slightly off here What "Error Reporting" does is :

Allows error reporting for services and applictions running in non-standard environments.

What you want to turn off is the service called "Automatic Updates"

Enables the download and installation of Windows updates. If this service is disabled, this computer will not be able to use the Automatic Updates feature or the Windows Update Web site.

 

[Race Idiot]

You know i'd go back to 2K, but my raid drivers don't work with 2K.

I've had problems with a few people upgrading to SP2 and it has degraded the systems performance considerably. On a clean install i'd reccomend it, hell at the moment my XP SP2 slipstream disk (with the crap cut out of windows) works great.

I just hope they don't stop the support for 2K, although I can't see them doing that becuase it's still widely used in business.

 

[VT]

I had a huge problem with SP2 not recognizing something, I can't remember what it was as I upgraded to it about 4 months ago, and it took me a good week to figure out what was going on. Not to mention SP2 completely changes around how you do some of the network setup things (or atleast it made them different) namely how you apply a WEP key.

Anyways - wouldn't it just be possible to completely circumvent the process just by not powering up your computer (if its connected to the internet) on the 12th? Seems that M$ wouldn't want to waste all that extra money on continuously sending messages to peoples' computers to see if they were running XPSP2 every day.

Also - couldn't disabling Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent Transfer, and Error Reporting via services.msc circumvent this as well?

This is bad practice. Forcibly updating and manipulating private computers is wrong. What do you think would happen to us if we got caught hacking into Bill Gates' computer? Because thats exactly what they're doing in a sense.

Hacking - Unauthorized use, or attempts to circumvent or bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network.

 

[sUn]

First time I installed SP2, I updated and installed it myself I went through tons and tons of problems. Then, I waited for the Windows Update release, which had zero problems. I guess the best way to Update is to let Microsoft Update, update your computer.

Isn't this going to be hard for the people who use pirated copies of Windows XP?

 

[Flerbizky]

Isn't this going to be hard for the people who use pirated copies of Windows XP?

Nope... The pirated versions will still work. The forecast says that pirated versions of XP will banned from Windowsupdate.com sometime in the future. They will still be able to use automagic updates though...

 

[VT]

Nope... The pirated versions will still work. The forecast says that pirated versions of XP will banned from Windowsupdate.com sometime in the future. They will still be able to use automagic updates though...

Wow .. thats funny. That made me laugh. Doesn't matter to me though as I have an educational lisence copy (READ: free, no cd key).

 

[Smoke_U_24/7]

Are you seriously suggesting that hardware damage (physical) was caused by the upgrade? Or just that the machines didn't start post-upgrade?

Anyone who complains about their machines dying didn't do a proper backup prior to installing the service pack. It's there in black and white on the upgrade screen! They tell you that you should back up prior to installing it. Did these users even create a System Restore Point?

Seriously folks, it's about time you started taking responsibility for your own actions.

I agree totally. The users that have pc problems after installing sp2 is self-inflicted; it isn't microsoft's problem. Some even have viruses and/or spyware interfere with the installation and not even know it. I've upgraded two different computer's to sp2 WITH NO PROBLEMS. One was a Celeron based pc (1000 mhz.) with only 192mb. of pc133 RAM, and the other was a Dell Dimension 2400 pc with an Intel Pentium 4 (2.66ghz.) Processor with 256mb. of DDR RAM. After the upgrade, I experienceed no problems whatsoever with BOTH pc's, but prior to the upgrade, I fully updated Windows xp with all of the critical updates (on both pc's). On the celeron pc, sp2 even fixed a problem I had when booting up xp; It was an "Unmountable Boot Volume" Stop error message. IMHO, sp2 is a great xp update.

 

[toyomatt84]

I disabled Microsoft's Updates from the registry, so breaching that would be a violation of my privacy.

 

[cjrciadt]

Could not resist the second you install Windows you are at their mercy.

 

[RX-7_FC_DrIfteR]

I don't wanna go mommy!

I've had to crashed with thiw cxomputer after installing SP2. I wonder how long its going to take to haev another one.

If i reformat my comp again and its after SP2, how can we get it again?

 

[tait]

Wow, this ****ing sucks. I have no problem with my sp1, and due to all the problems with sp2 i've been hearing; i'm panicking. Sp1 worked great for me, the only problems it had were security holes; which was easily resolved by downloading a security batch of patches. I'll probably reformat and then download it, since I hear that sp2 causes most problems when there's alot of software installed. Either way, boourns to Microsoft.

 

[Burnout]

Format before installing SP2.

Never had a single problem on the countless computers I've done it to.

• Format
• First thing you install right after booting into windows is SP2
• Drivers and stuff
• programs

 

[Smoke_U_24/7]

Formatting seems a bit harsh! There's no need to wipe out the HDD just to install sp2.
Just scan your pc for viruses or spyware, because as mentioned in my previous post, they can interfere with installation.
Oh, btw, PLEASE don't download sp2 from the net. Please obtain the free cd and install from there. 👍

 

[cardude2004]

Wow, this ****ing sucks. I have no problem with my sp1, and due to all the problems with sp2 i've been hearing; i'm panicking. Sp1 worked great for me, the only problems it had were security holes; which was easily resolved by downloading a security batch of patches. I'll probably reformat and then download it, since I hear that sp2 causes most problems when there's alot of software installed. Either way, boourns to Microsoft.

Install the update. It shouldn't mess up your PC if you don't have any viruses. Create a restore point and backup the files you want to a CD or something before installing the update, if you are that worried. Update your PC from the automatic update, as that will install the files your computer needs, not every file, like the standalone SP2 update. I have installed SP2 on three computers and they all worked fine. I like the SP2 update.

2 of the PC's I put the update on were Sony's and the other was a custom built PC.