Windows XP SP2

[Suhit Gupta]

I should have posted on this yesterday when I actually did the updates on all my machines but I highly recommend that everyone update their computers (computer running Windows XP) to Service Pack 2. I was one of the lucky ones to be able to get it off of MSDN but it should be rolling onto the Windows Update servers shortly. And while you are at it, do an Office Update as well since Service Pack 1 for Office 2003 is out as well. The upgrade to XP SP2 is long (took 15 minutes, can take up to 2 hours) but is smooth.

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/xpsp2.jpg

I have updated all my machines and the biggest change for me is that I have finally gone back to using Avantbrowser (IE wrapper) from Firefox (Mozilla). The new security features and popup blocker in IE are great. Of course, the biggest difference in this security minded service pack, is the upgrade to the built in firewall in XP. It is fantastic, giving the user fine grained granularity in how they want to configure incoming/outgoing connections.

Windows Media Player has also been updated though I have not had time to play with it. Apparently there were supposed to be big changes to Tablet PC Edition (I haven't noticed many) and the Media Center Edition (don't have it installed anymore). Finally, Windows Messenger gets reinstalled again thus messing with the MSN Messenger install, I really wish they would fix that and merge the two products already; it is so frustrating to deal with the two different messenger products.

[brianchris]

I want it as I've been waiting for the integrated Bluetooth forever. But I'm not MSDN, so I guess I'll have to wait a little longer.

[Suhit Gupta]

I want it as I've been waiting for the integrated Bluetooth forever. But I'm not MSDN, so I guess I'll have to wait a little longer.
The integrated Bluetooth is cool, but I had to unfortunately uninstall it since the Socket CF card that I use with my laptop needs only the Socket bluetooth drivers and gets confused with any others installed. :(

Suhit

[Philip Colmer]

Interesting ... MS's Bluetooth software hasn't kicked in on my laptop. I'm still seeing Dell's Widcomm software. A bit of a relief, really, as I use BT to synchronise my Axim to my laptop and the first version of SP2 severely broke BT.

--Philip

[Zack Mahdavi]

I'm waiting for the download to become available to me in Windows Update. I can't believe that I'm excited to install a security update!

[brianchris]

I want it as I've been waiting for the integrated Bluetooth forever. But I'm not MSDN, so I guess I'll have to wait a little longer.
The integrated Bluetooth is cool, but I had to unfortunately uninstall it since the Socket CF card that I use with my laptop needs only the Socket bluetooth drivers and gets confused with any others installed. :(

I use the same card on my laptop......so I'll have to uninstall MS's Bluetooth, huh? Socket should hurry up and get a Win XP SP2 compatible driver out so we can use SP2's BT UI, although Socket's newest BlueSoeil software is pretty impressive in its own right.

On my desktop, I have the Microsoft Bluetooth mouse and keyboard and I have to admit, that's what I'm really excitied about.....seeing how SP2's Bluetooth transforms the MS BT Transciever into a fully functional one (finally Activesync over BT via the MS transciever.....or so I'm told). Anyone else out there already try it with that keyboard?

[Suhit Gupta]

I use the same card on my laptop......so I'll have to uninstall MS's Bluetooth, huh? Socket should hurry up and get a Win XP SP2 compatible driver out so we can use SP2's BT UI, although Socket's newest BlueSoeil software is pretty impressive in its own right.
Well, I am not sure about whether the SP2 drivers will work well. I had the built in Toshiba bluetooth adapter (I have the Toshiba Portege M200) and had to uninstall those to get the card to work. So I just played it safe and stuck with those adapters on my machine after the SP2 upgrade.

Suhit

[brianchris]

I use the same card on my laptop......so I'll have to uninstall MS's Bluetooth, huh? Socket should hurry up and get a Win XP SP2 compatible driver out so we can use SP2's BT UI, although Socket's newest BlueSoeil software is pretty impressive in its own right.
Well, I am not sure about whether the SP2 drivers will work well. I had the built in Toshiba bluetooth adapter (I have the Toshiba Portege M200) and had to uninstall those to get the card to work. So I just played it safe and stuck with those adapters on my machine after the SP2 upgrade.

This is a great opportunity to clear up some confusion on my part:

Windows XP SP2 has two main improvements in regards to wireless 1) Bluetooth is incorperated into the OS (yes, but what does that really mean?), and 2) Even more robust support for WiFi (802.11g, WPA, etc.).

In regards to Bluetooth, its my understanding that, if the Bluetooth adapter is on the MS Hardware Compatability List (HCL), XP SP2 will not only provide drivers but the UI too. Same with WiFi. Is this correct?

If the wireless card (Bluetooth or WiFi) is NOT on the HCL, I'm not exactly sure what happens.

Any good resources someone could point me too?

Sincerely,

the Wireless Wierdo. :wink:

[Suhit Gupta]

This is a great opportunity to clear up some confusion on my part:

Windows XP SP2 has two main improvements in regards to wireless 1) Bluetooth is incorperated into the OS (yes, but what does that really mean?), and 2) Even more robust support for WiFi (802.11g, WPA, etc.).

In regards to Bluetooth, its my understanding that, if the Bluetooth adapter is on the MS Hardware Compatability List (HCL), XP SP2 will not only provide drivers but the UI too. Same with WiFi. Is this correct?
You are right here AFAIK. In fact, just for kicks, I tried the Socket card with the XP SP2 drivers just now (i.e. uninstalled Socket's drivers, and it all appears to work fine. Think of the time when MSFT had improved the WiFi compatibility in the OS and then you did not have to install proprietary drivers for your WaveLAN card (or whichever other one you may have owned).
If the wireless card (Bluetooth or WiFi) is NOT on the HCL, I'm not exactly sure what happens.
Well, like any other driver not found, you will have to go to the manufacturer's site and get their Windows XP compatible drivers.

Suhit

[brianchris]

You are right here AFAIK. In fact, just for kicks, I tried the Socket card with the XP SP2 drivers just now (i.e. uninstalled Socket's drivers, and it all appears to work fine. Think of the time when MSFT had improved the WiFi compatibility in the OS and then you did not have to install proprietary drivers for your WaveLAN card (or whichever other one you may have owned).

Great, so that means the Socket Bluetooth card is (or should be) listed on Microsoft's HCL, right? That's great news.

Thanks for all your help. I didn't intend to hijack this thread and turn it into a Bluetooth thread. There are MANY more features to WinXP SP2 than just integrated Bluetooth.

[cmchavez]

I have updated all my machines and the biggest change for me is that I have finally gone back to using Avantbrowser (IE wrapper) from Firefox (Mozilla).

You left Avantbrowser for Firefox? :(

Call me the silent minority, but through all the security problems and the drum thumping for Firefox, I still never liked it. Tried it out for 3 days, then dumped it.

Personally, I think Firefox has security holes just like every other piece of software out there. But if not enough people use it, then why hack it? (That's the only reason Macs are more secure) :wink:

[rzanology]

Apparently there were supposed to be big changes to Tablet PC Edition (I haven't noticed many)


Naaah....i loaded it up last night and they really did add a few big things. For one, the writing is much better, it seems to be picking up words better and fast. They also added a little icon that pops up when ever you select a text box to enter text or anything of the sort, this then opens the writing tool....nice. The voice stuff is also a little better than before. Now i dont have to speak like i work on wall st.

[rzanology]

But if not enough people use it, then why hack it? (That's the only reason Macs are more secure) :wink:


shhhhhhhhhhh....dont say that. We dont want to start a war. :roll:

[Suhit Gupta]

You left Avantbrowser for Firefox? :(

Call me the silent minority, but through all the security problems and the drum thumping for Firefox, I still never liked it. Tried it out for 3 days, then dumped it.

Personally, I think Firefox has security holes just like every other piece of software out there. But if not enough people use it, then why hack it? (That's the only reason Macs are more secure) :wink:
I had to because of the damned security issues and I tend to hit a lot of sites during my daily surfing so I just wanted to be sure. So for the last month I have been dealing with Firefox. It is quite buggy IMHO and I could not wait to get back.

Suhit

[Suhit Gupta]

Apparently there were supposed to be big changes to Tablet PC Edition (I haven't noticed many)
Naaah....i loaded it up last night and they really did add a few big things. For one, the writing is much better, it seems to be picking up words better and fast. They also added a little icon that pops up when ever you select a text box to enter text or anything of the sort, this then opens the writing tool....nice. The voice stuff is also a little better than before. Now i dont have to speak like i work on wall st.
Cool, I am noticing things as I use the tablet more and more. Have you btw tried the Tablet PC Powertoys that are available on the MSFT site?

Suhit

[rzanology]

no. i read about them. I'll try to get them tonight. links?

[Suhit Gupta]

This is the link I am talking about - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/tabletpc.mspx however the annoying part is that one has to download all of the powertoys one-by-one instead of a single download.

Suhit

[marcerickson]

Of course, the biggest difference in this security minded service pack, is the upgrade to the built in firewall in XP. It is fantastic, giving the user fine grained granularity in how they want to configure incoming/outgoing connections.

Fred Felman, vice president of marketing for San Francisco-based security firm Zone Labs Inc., is quoted here (http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid14_gci998875,00.html) as saying. "The firewall in SP2 won't be all you need," Felman said. "You'll still need your other firewall so that trouble is blocked from both sides." In other words, outgoing connections are not monitored by the SP2 firewall. Is he incorrect? I haven't seen SP2 yet - I'm waiting for the early adopters to find the troubles... ;-)

[Philip Colmer]

Fred Felman, vice president of marketing for San Francisco-based security firm Zone Labs Inc., is quoted here (http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid14_gci998875,00.html) as saying. "The firewall in SP2 won't be all you need," Felman said. "You'll still need your other firewall so that trouble is blocked from both sides." In other words, outgoing connections are not monitored by the SP2 firewall. Is he incorrect? I haven't seen SP2 yet - I'm waiting for the early adopters to find the troubles... ;-)
No, he is not incorrect. Windows Firewall only monitors and blocks inbound traffic. It does nothing to outbound traffic.

That said, it is still an improvement over the original firewall for one important reason - it alerts you to any software that is listening for inbound traffic. Mostly this will be for harmless software like ActiveSync or Messenger but sometimes it will be that a virus or malware has crept onto your PC and is awaiting instructions or something like that, and you didn't know about it. Having been alerted by the firewall, you can now seek and destroy.

--Philip

[Suhit Gupta]

There was, btw, an article in the Inquirer about WinXP SP2 apparently turning Firewire 800 into Firewire 100. Here is a link to the article - http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=17794 , which includes a way to fix it (i.e. reinstall previous drivers).

Suhit