Windows XP Service Pack 2 – WARNING!

MarcusR · Post by **MarcusR** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:02 am

I just installed SP2 for WinXP last week, something I really regret now.
After installation and reboot, the computer was so slow that I was about to give it CPR.
A few reboots later, some tweaking and after shutting down all new cosmetics, background apps and the firewall installed by SP2 my computer came back out of its coma and is now semi-working at half speed or worse. Starting Matlab use be done in a few secs but is now over a 1 minute process. Internet explorer is noticeable slower and having more than a handful processing running is completely out of the question. Some of my previously installed apps, like Norton, Adobe Live motion, Encore Dvd, Zone Alarm, Reason and online gaming (BFV, CS) wont work at all anymore.

How can they call it an Operating System when they can’t even provide a simple bugfix without screwing up things even more?

Thank God for Linux!

/MarcusR

happyturkeyman · Post by **happyturkeyman** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:22 am

MarcusR wrote:I just installed SP2 for WinXP last week, something I really regret now.
After installation and reboot, the computer was so slow that I was about to give it CPR.
A few reboots later, some tweaking and after shutting down all new cosmetics, background apps and the firewall installed by SP2 my computer came back out of its coma and is now semi-working at half speed or worse. Starting Matlab use be done in a few secs but is now over a 1 minute process. Internet explorer is noticeable slower and having more than a handful processing running is completely out of the question. Some of my previously installed apps, like Norton, Adobe Live motion, Encore Dvd, Zone Alarm, Reason and online gaming (BFV, CS) wont work at all anymore.
How can they call it an Operating System when they can’t even provide a simple bugfix without screwing up things even more?

Thank God for Linux!

/MarcusR

I'm on XP sp2 due to Limited HD space. Just installed sp2 tonight, actually. Thankfully I am not having performance issues.

Haven't run any benchmarks but I was still getting my standard 50 FPS in Call of Duty, and I haven't noticed anything slow with IE.

" they can’t even provide a simple bugfix without screwing up things even more"

You just wait til they find out all the new security issues with it and start cranking out a bunch of updates!

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:10 am

I'm waiting a bit before i do the install, but from what i've read, i wonder if you're having problems with the new firewall. Try turning that off and see if the computer boots faster. Then the hard part, to turn it back on and find out which programs need to access network resources that it's blocking.

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 9:15 am

I installed a week or two ago and haven't noticed any changes other than a better network connection taskbar icon and interface. No slowdowns..

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:16 am

avanutria wrote:I installed a week or two ago and haven't noticed any changes other than a better network connection taskbar icon and interface. No slowdowns..

Me too.

Carol

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:09 am

Ditto.

RonKiley · Post by **RonKiley** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:12 pm

No problems either however my internet access is much faster.

Ron

vomitbunny · Post by **vomitbunny** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:30 pm

I just thought about installing it and it wrecked my car.

MarcusR · Post by **MarcusR** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:22 pm

vomitbunny wrote:I just thought about installing it and it wrecked my car.

See, and don't say I didn't warn you.

Things have now improved, took quite some time though. After uninstalling the apps that didn’t work properly and re-installing some of them again the computer is working even though it’s not up to speed. Feels like I have a virus scan or defragging process constantly running in the background. I really can’t say what went wrong but four out of twenty-two computers updated last week got similar symptoms, one died and the rest is fine.
Statistically that might even be quite ok for a Microsoft update.

Checked out some computer sites and discovered that they already found a major security issue in SP2.
Just can’t wait to try SP3

If you haven’t installed it yet I would at least wait until the next build.

/MarcusR

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:51 pm

I installed it last week, had some problems with it, uninstalled it and things are back to almost normal now. It didn't slow mine down I don't believe, but there were definite issues!
I had a similar problem with the AOL spyware download, and got rid of that also.

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:55 pm

MarcusR wrote:Checked out some computer sites and discovered that they already found a major security issue in SP2.

The one i know about is a cute one: if you install a rogue program, it's possible for that program to disable the computer's firewall and make it look like it's still enabled. Not a bug, just really bad design of that feature.

I have XP at home, but i'm not too worried because the computer is behind a hardware firewall appliance and i keep the virus scanner up to date. But i'll do the upgrade eventually.

g

MarcusR · Post by **MarcusR** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 4:15 pm

Here it is Glauber!

XP SP2 über patch already needs fixing!

You'll never know what will happen when you "click" Dales avatar in the future.

/MarcusR

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 4:21 pm

At least 2 different problems, then.

NZ_Chris · Post by **NZ_Chris** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:57 pm

I installed it on my PC and laptop... went fine both times and has caused no problems since.

XP already had the Firewall built in, it was not added by SP2 ... however the SP2 installation does turn the Firewall on if there is not already one running. For example, when I installed to my laptop it turned on the Firewall, but on my PC (which already had ZoneAlarm running) it did not.

Caj · Post by **Caj** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:01 pm

I definitely experienced slowdowns after SP2, in launching applications. During boot-up the lag is especially obvious. No problems with apps not working, tho.

SP2 seems to be more security-centric, with reassuring shield icons, and warnings popping up when my software tries to connect to the Internet. However, much of it seems to be for show, giving an appearance of security. As mentioned before, the firewall is so fake that programs can just turn it off without your knowledge or permission.

Still, it's nice to know that computer companies at least recognize that consumers want security. Back in the 1990s executives snorted at the suggestion and barely spent a dime making things safe.

Caj

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