Windows XP Service Pack 2

[DM was on fire!]

You CAN get a virus - it's just that nobody writes them for Linux, since not as many people use Linux.

As for SP2 and the security fixes - just buy a router with a built-in firewall. I've had precisely zero problems with my computer in terms of popups and Windows Messenger since I bought my router and installed Mozilla instead of IE.

The reason that a lot of programs don't work with SP2 is because they aren't compatible with a lot of the new security patches that SP2 comes with, and so Windows won't let them load. IIRC, there are ways around that, and almost all of the major software firms are writing patches to old programs and new versions to co-ordinate with Microsoft on this. It's not as if these companies didn't know about the new service pack; MS was sending out bulletins and posting info on its website 9 months ago.

Hate to argue, but Linux doesn't have a registry for viruses to attach too. Well, Linspire, anyway.

You can always tell the youngsters by those who think viruses need registries. Back when I was your age, I had to walk uphill both ways in the snow butt-nekkid just to find a cure for the Michelangelo virus! Ha!

Where's my geritol?

*blink* I don't think I was around for the Michelangelo virus. Or was there even one? *looks at Shapu oddly*

[Runroom]

It's terrible. I'm happy I'm still on SP1. Windows is already horrible and unstable enough.

[werepup]

I have to admit, I'm still on SP1, I've not had the time or the patience to swap over... and I don't like the look of the little thing that pops up every two minutes reminding you that you have no virus scanning software. I'll do it, but probably not before I reformat... by goodness, this computer needs it.

[shapu]

You CAN get a virus - it's just that nobody writes them for Linux, since not as many people use Linux.

As for SP2 and the security fixes - just buy a router with a built-in firewall. I've had precisely zero problems with my computer in terms of popups and Windows Messenger since I bought my router and installed Mozilla instead of IE.

The reason that a lot of programs don't work with SP2 is because they aren't compatible with a lot of the new security patches that SP2 comes with, and so Windows won't let them load. IIRC, there are ways around that, and almost all of the major software firms are writing patches to old programs and new versions to co-ordinate with Microsoft on this. It's not as if these companies didn't know about the new service pack; MS was sending out bulletins and posting info on its website 9 months ago.

Hate to argue, but Linux doesn't have a registry for viruses to attach too. Well, Linspire, anyway.

You can always tell the youngsters by those who think viruses need registries. Back when I was your age, I had to walk uphill both ways in the snow butt-nekkid just to find a cure for the Michelangelo virus! Ha!

Where's my geritol?

*blink* I don't think I was around for the Michelangelo virus. Or was there even one? *looks at Shapu oddly*

Back in the days of DOS, there was. It was basically a critter with a calendar built into it. On Michelangelo's birthday in...1993? 1994? Don't quite remember...it would wipe your hard drive.

I cleaned it off with a pirated version of Norton Anti-Virus. On floppies. Only two of them.

[Cyanna]

Sorry for digging up this topic again as I know it hasn't been touched for months.

*blows off the dust*

But has this impoved/been patched up a bit over time? I've been wanting to download Windows Movie Maker 2.1 for some time now but if SP2 is still getting comments like this, I'm going to continue holding off.

[Ibis]

I've never had any problems with SP2, but I guess that's because I make a new Windows Install CD with SP2 slipstreamed into the installation. I do need to reinstall windows, but I got the backup routine etc already fixed so it isn't a problem to me.

But it might be to much work for most people :/

[Hunter Lupe]

I have to admit, I'm still on SP1, I've not had the time or the patience to swap over... and I don't like the look of the little thing that pops up every two minutes reminding you that you have no virus scanning software.

You can turn that off if you want to. There's a checkbox accessible from the Recommendations button.

Worked nicely for me -- less IE pop-ups (although there's now a new, sneaky "click on page" method to deliver them, but that does require you to click), and no noticible performance slowdown. It hasn't changed much over time -- it's still largely the same SP2.

[Carson]

I downloaded SP2 and I've had no problems at all, although the only reason I upgraded to Sp2 was so I would be able to install the Welsh LIP.

[meowth1982]

My computer actually came installed with SP2, and I have yet to have a problem with it. The popup blocker tends to be a godsend since I don't have to then download other toolbars.

[happysmileyfungirl]

I downloaded it last night and it was a nigtmare. The security settings were so high I couldn't even get into my computer or system restore, when I clicked on them the window came up then disappeared. It also wouldn't let me change/turn off the security settings. I couldn't connect to the internet because it closed that window as well. I eventually managed to get to add/remove programmes to get rid of it and now my computer is fine again.

[everconfused]

I downloaded it last night and it was a nigtmare. The security settings were so high I couldn't even get into my computer or system restore, when I clicked on them the window came up then disappeared. It also wouldn't let me change/turn off the security settings. I couldn't connect to the internet because it closed that window as well. I eventually managed to get to add/remove programmes to get rid of it and now my computer is fine again.

Yep, it's still a mess. I was hoping that sp2 would have been reworked, tweaked, whatever needed to be done so it would be more user and computer friendly. Alas, most people who have gotten sp2 have had many problems - I'm one of them. Made a mess of my a/v (not Norton), my spybot, ad-aware, spywaresweeper and CWshredder. Not to mention shockwave and flash - basically anything that uses Active X. I know that many spywares do use Active X maliciously, but the sp2 just blocks too much. Slowed my computer down to a crawl, suddenly my printer and scanner drivers were crashing my computer, fatal error messages and windows error messages every 5 minutes.

Just to add insult to injury - the firewall that comes with sp2? does nothing - the worst virus ever somehow got onto my computer the day after I d/l and installed sp2. And I am super careful while on the internet!

I uninstalled it too - after that I ended up needing a reformat which was a pain in the neck. I don't know how to do such things, so I was without a computer while everything was fixed. Microsoft REALLY dropped the ball on sp2.