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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I dropped Microsoft like a hot potato in 1999 and have been amazed at the progress in the last 5 years and watching poor Windows users struggle with the mysterious goings on..
I just got DSL and had no problems setting it up, but when I booted to Windows so I could tell my son how to set it, I had to call tech support..
After about three hours downloading on a 45k dialup line it had only downloaded about a quarter of the whole thing, so I gave up. As I already have Norton Internet Security, I’m wondering if I shouldn’t just give it a miss altogether. Any thoughts?
My exact question. I have Zonealarm and Norton Antivirus. I now use Firefox and Thunderbird. I never use Instant Messaging programs. Can I not bother to download the thingy?
I may have figured out how to turn off the antivirus bugger as well, as I have some friends that ignore me and run Microsoft Windows XP.
You can turn it off by opening the “Security Center” in the ControlPanel. Click the “Recommendations” button in the “Virus Protection” box and click the “I have an Anti-virus Program that I’ll monitor myself”.
I disabled the Microsoft firewall and installed ZoneAlarm and I think I got it to working properly for them.
