Windows XP SP2 released

[bn880 5]

I'm on XP Professional SP2 with CPU Idle Pro, and haven't run into any problems.

The reason why I use CPU Idle Pro is that I like the additional information it displays, as compared to Task Manager. I started using it under Windows 95, and it is still part of my normal system setup.

Yeah I think it was jsut the sequence of events which caused me to lose the ability to properly turn off CPU Idle under SP2.

PS: XP does not Idle the CPU like CPU Idle does, and actually I do not think it does at all. You have to read the technical aspect of CPU Idle to understand what I mean.

And there is a good reason for it, it can destabalize your system and slow it down a lot due to the continuous sleep/wakeup cycles, but I use it to cool the CPU when the PC is not in use.

[Mister Frag 0]

Both Windows 2000/XP and CPU Idle use the HLT instruction on systems with ACPI support and the ACPI HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) installed. They use the same mechanism to put the system to sleep, and there is no measurable performance impact.

If I monitor the CPU temperature on my system using the utility that came with the motherboard, I see the CPU reach the same low temperature at idle regardless of whether CPU Idle Pro is running or not. Almost instantaneous temperature changes of a couple of degrees, and changes of as much as 15 to 20 degrees Celsius over half a minute when transitioning from idle to heavy stress and vice versa are not uncommon.

The only difference is that with CPU Idle Pro loaded, Task Manager reports 100% CPU utilization all the time, even at idle, because any unused quanta are given to CPU Idle Pro, which then executes HLT. In Task Manager, if you set it up to display Kernel Times at well, you'd see that all of this time was spent in the kernel instead of user space.

With straight Windows, it would show 0% or 1% CPU utilization.

[bn880 5]

Well I see a large difference in temperature when using CPU Idle, I think it was over 3 degrees celsius. In addition I see major stuttering of the mouse when CPU idle is running, plus I remember reading very clearly that XP no longer uses the HLT instruction. hmm

Edit: Well XP basically does not use the HTL instruction in the same manner as CPu Idle, and this is why it makes a difference when the CPU is used, but not to a full extent.

[Sniper_Kyle 0]

I installed it and realized a few things.

* Startup slowed by a few seconds

* Much more strict firewall (you have to select all the programs that you want to use)

* Annoying security center (lots of little bubbles telling you to pay for more virus scan shit and telling you that your computer sucks

* Pop up blocker still isnt perfect...its about the same as any other pop up blocker out there as how it doesnt block ALL popups still

...So ya...i'm uninstalling

[toadlife 3]

* Startup slowed by a few seconds

So?

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* Much more strict firewall (you have to select all the programs that you want to use)

The windows firewall only blocks incoming traffic, so if your firewall querys you more than two or three times, then you need to look into exactly which programs are asking for server rights and why.

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* Annoying security center (lots of little bubbles telling you to pay for more virus scan shit and telling you that your computer sucks

That can be turned off.

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* Pop up blocker still isnt perfect...its about the same as any other pop up blocker out there as how it doesnt block ALL popups still

Don't use IE. It still is and will allways be an insecure browser.

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...So ya...i'm uninstalling

You are uninstalling a major security update to Windows because of "problems" which can be fixed with a few clicks? What will you do when a critical security update that requires SP2 is released?

[bn880 5]

Well he can install it again then, but later.

[joltan 0]

Ah, I understood SP2 to be a critical security update (no, not the fancy firewall stuff - but most of the small patches also included). This isn't primarly a patch for more features, it's a security update that was long overdue - not installing it is plain stupid (as long as your most important software is still working).

[billybob2002 0]

Here are the games that will have problems under SP2:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/08/16/news_6104980.html

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Age of Empires II: Age of Kings

Chess Advantage III: Lego Chess

Combat Flight Simulator 3

Command & Conquer: Generals

Command & Conquer: Generals Zero Hour

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

Conflict: Desert Storm

Dead Man's Hand

Earth & Beyond

Elite Forces Vietnam: Special Assignment 2

Freedom Force

Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

Medieval Total War

Midnight Outlaw: Illegal Street Drag

MotoRacer

NASCAR Racing 2003

NBA Live 2000

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2

Roller Coaster Factory

Scrabble

Serious Sam: The Second Encounter

SimCity 4

Star Trek StarFleet Command III

Star Wars: Knights: of the Old Republic

StarCraft

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield

Tribes 2

Unreal II

Unreal Tournament 2003

Unreal Tournament Game of the Year Edition

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Collector's Edition

The other programs:

http://support.microsoft.com/default....wsxpsp2

I use some of those programs...      

[hellfish6 7]

SimCity 4 and MTW? No way... I'll pass on this little update.

[billybob2002 0]

Quote[/b] ]SimCity 4 and MTW? No way... I'll pass on this little update.  

Quote[/b] ]Microsoft stated that most of the problems are associated with the new built-in Windows Firewall, where users must approve programs that attempt to make Internet connections. However, some programs use data pages that the firewall automatically blocks, as they are common attack routes for hackers. A workaround is built into the firewall software, as well as the ability for advanced users to simply turn it off.

If you do not use the firewall, you are probably safe.

[Billabong81 0]

AHH!!! I play Raven Shield all the time! Is it possible to play at all now, or is basically I can't play that game anymore because of this update ?

[Guest]

I'm afraid BillyBob has exaggerated the situation:

Quote[/b] ]

The programs that are listed in this article may experience issues after you upgrade to Windows XP SP2. You may not notice some of these issues. Additionally, software vendors may have resolved some of these issues.

Quote[/b] ]The following table lists programs that may behave differently after you install Windows XP SP2

*bold is mine

Quote[/b] ]Many of these issues are related to the introduction of the Windows Firewall feature.

......which I am sure you can probably turn off.

[Billabong81 0]

Oh thank god . Thanks for clearing that up Leone .

[toadlife 3]

For heavens sake, do not turn of your firewall just to get a game working.

If the firewall is not letting these games work, then it is because the games are trying to open up a port and listen for incoming connections. If you have problems with a particular game, simply insert an exception in your firewall for the game in question. It will allow the game to do it's thing.

[sanctuary 19]

I don't have XP, but why will you use the new XP built-in firewall instead of the other very good and professional firewall installed since a lot of time and well configured ?

If you can disable the built-in firewall to get back your specific game working why not ?

As long you have the other very good and well configured other one of course.

[toadlife 3]

Yeah, I should have said if you don't have any other sort of firewall, don't just disable the XP firewall to get a game working.

I have the XP firewall turned off, but it's because have a BSD machine that acts as my DSL router/Firewall.

If you have another software firewall already, or have a hardware based firewall, then by all means disable it.

[GabKa73 0]

I can just say: don't ever use IE or XP Firewall, there is better software available that is independent from M$. Use Mozilla and Norton Personal Firewall for example.

[4 IN 1 0]

for crying out loud the built-in XP firewall simply doesnt work at all, as someone standed b4: you may well be more safe not to use this firewall, as it just worser then "simply have nothing" :P(ie. me :D)

[Nemesis6 0]

Well, it doesn't work with invalid cd-keys, that's for sure.

[Sniper_Kyle 0]

The main reason I uninstalled this pack was because I like to play Americas Army, and though it doesnt say that AA is affected (i couldnt find it), AA would always quit out after I joined an MP game. So...I uninstalled and now that still happens?? Anyone know why? I reinstalled it and STILL!

[toadlife 3]

for crying out loud the built-in XP firewall simply doesnt work at all, as someone standed b4: you may well be more safe not to use this firewall, as it just worser then "simply have nothing" :P(ie. me )

What do you mean it doesn't work at all? It does exactly what it is supposed to do - blocks unsolicited incoming traffic. If you are referring to outbound blocking, that is feature which is overblown anyway, and for the average user would only be a hinderance.

[toadlife 3]

The main reason I uninstalled this pack was because I like to play Americas Army, and though it doesnt say that AA is affected (i couldnt find it), AA would always quit out after I joined an MP game. So...I uninstalled and now that still happens?? Anyone know why? I reinstalled it and STILL!

AA uses punkbuster, which I'm pretty sure acts as a server and listens for incoming requests. I would visit the AA forums and find out what you have to do to allow AA to work with SP2.

[Billabong81 0]

I need some help guys, I have automatic updates turned on and have Windows XP.  The problem is, 3/4 of the time they don't install!  It says something like "This update did not pass the Windows XP compatibility test" or something similar to that.  Is there a way to fix this so these updates are installed on my computer?  Thanks for your help .

EDIT: I'm on my updates history page and over the past week 1/10 updates has successfully install.  The rest say Failed.  That just shows you how bad my situation is .

EDIT 2: I just tried manually downloading and installing a security fix that I know hasn't been installed yet. I got an error saying it couldn't read update.inf and something called cryptograph wasn't running on my computer. Any suggestions?

[toadlife 3]

It sounds like you have som services disabled that the update process relies upon.

Click on start>settings>control panel>administrative tools>services

Turn on the "Crytographic Services" and make sure it's set to "automatic".

If it won't turn on then you've got problems with your system.

The owners/authors of those XP websites that tell you to shut down all kinds of services to save memory should be bent over and spanked. Blindly shutting down services on your WindowsXP box can make your system faster, but can also make important things from working.

[bn880 5]

The main reason I uninstalled this pack was because I like to play Americas Army, and though it doesnt say that AA is affected (i couldnt find it), AA would always quit out after I joined an MP game. So...I uninstalled and now that still happens?? Anyone know why? I reinstalled it and STILL!

AA uses punkbuster, which I'm pretty sure acts as a server and listens for incoming requests. I would visit the AA forums and find out what you have to do to allow AA to work with SP2.

Yeah, but you know some people don't want to spend time tinkering with firewalls for most of their life.