Push Is Coming to Shove for XP SP2 Deployment

[scuzzman]

Affecting all the XP users who have been avoiding or procrastinating about installing the Windows XP Service Pack 2 upgrade, Microsoft is about to make the decision for them.

On April 12, Microsoft Corp. is scheduled to turn on its Automatic Update service, which will deploy the XP Service Pack 2 to all PCs connected to the Internet regardless of whether corporate IT departments or individual PC users have prepared for it.

SP2, developed to fix critical security holes and deploy performance enhancements, was originally released in September 2004. But in response to customer complaints, Microsoft suspended the automatic deployment for eight months to give users time to prepare for the upgrade.

Original story here. Other sources here and here.

[andsome]

I installed it before it was generally available, and have been VERY pleased with the result. However, I think that this is rather a nerve.

[joysness]

Is there any way to stop this?

I am disturbed by their ability to take over my computer like that.

I ordered the cd but have not installed it because I do not want to.

My system is very unstable after any patch I have installed for XP and have had to uninstall all but about 20 of them.

I do not have any way to back up my system and have no intention of installing something that has had so many issues since it was released.

I cannot take the chance that it will crash my computer and I will lose everything on it.

Besides, my computer runs just fine as it is and I really don't do any of the things that create problems for some people with regard to security.

I think this is outragious :angry:

Anyway, rant over...

If it means I won't be able to get on the internet then so be it.

Hope I have time to bid you all farewell before I am forced to leave :flowers:

[deuces wild]

I installed it before it was generally available, and have been VERY pleased with the result.  However, I think that this is rather a nerve.

I agree andsome.

joyness, no need to leave. Big brother has us and nothing we can do about it.

[r4may]

I installed SP2 at the same time as XP Pro, I notice that all MS updates (hotfixes applied by MS auto-update ) since then are noted as SP3 according to Belarc system info

[joysness]

deuces

I have no intention of lying down and rolling over for Big Brother that easily.

I don't use the internet all that much so if not going on line is the only way I can stop Microsoft from putting something on my computer that I don't want then that is what I will do.

I will miss all my friends here but I can live without the internet even if no one at microsoft gets my point.

I realize it probably looks like I'm cutting off my nose to spite my face but every once in awhile you just gotta take a stand. :) :ninja:

Besides, it'll save me $9.95 a month that I can then use to put a gallon of gas in my car :lol:

[Hurdy]

Time for that leap into Linux maybe.

I've been thinking about it for ages now.

[joysness]

I think you're right Hurdy

This may just push many unhappy MS users to Linux.

Which may turn out to be a very good thing :D

I have Ubuntu Linux. Got it Free!

I just haven't got the money to get a seperate hd to put it on.

(Don't feel confident enough in my computer skills to attempt a dual boot with XP :blush: )

[scuzzman]

You can still not install the update -- but you will need to disable automatic updating.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I can understand people not liking being pushed by Microsoft. However, this update is one of the most important in Windows history, and Microsoft has a multitude of reasons to push Windows users to update.

As scuzzman pointed out, there are still ways of refusing SP2, but these users will eventually be left out cold, i.e. WindowsUpdate no longer working.

XP-SP2 is the most stable Windows update I have ever seen, and I think a good number of people refusing this update is simply because it comes from Microsoft. Just wondering, why, then, are they using Windows in the first place...?

B.t.w. yes, I have personally witnessed big problems after SP2 updates; each time it was caused by malware that was not cleaned up before the update. It has been pointed out time and again that it is essential to start the SP2 update with a clean system.

[-pops-]

I don't understand some of the emotions being demonstrated here and, in my view, a lot of fuss is being generated about very little.

I have installed SP2 in a number of machines now and it has proceeded smoothly in every case. I was asked to look at one machine that was giving problems and discovered that it was riddled with undesirables and after being cleaned out the install proceeded without a hitch. I would suggest that anyone having problems installing SP2 or, indeed, any Windows update, should carefully examine their computer system to make sure that everything is working as it should do and was designed to do.

As to being under the control of Big Brother, remember that it was you that chose to have Windows XP installed and I don't believe Bill Gates has other motives than to make your operating system work to its best. Remember there is no charge for SP2 or for updates so profit isn't the motive for them being issued. I accept that it would have been better that XP as a system was not issued before the problems corrected by SP2 and all the updates were discovered and solved but, that's how it is and that's been the same with every version of Windows.

I think it perfectly reasonable that Microsoft are insisting that SP2 and patches/updates are installed to enable Windows XP to be kept running smoothly and to its best. Allowing it to do otherwise does no good to us, the users, or to Microsoft itself.

Let it not be forgotten, as well, that if you find Microsoft at all objectionable in their practices, there is no obligation to use their operating systems. Linux has already been mentioned in this thread but don't forget the efforts of Steve Jobs and his Mac computers and systems.

[deuces wild]

Pops, I have no problem with Windows or SP2. I installed SP2 the day it was released.

I do have a problem with forcing a patch or upgrade on someone, especially when it is done in stealth and without consent.

[-pops-]

I do have a problem with forcing a patch or upgrade on someone, especially when it is done in stealth and without consent.

The last paragraph in my post applies then. :)

[deuces wild]

Why should one be forced to change OS's?

[-pops-]

One is not forced to change one's O/S.

Windows has been around long enough now for most people to know or at least soon find out that, even from its early days, it is prone to have numerous patches, updates, service packs and second editions. The whole idea of these is to keep your Windows installation working to the optimum. If you disapprove of this for any reason, any reason at all, there are alternatives - some may be an improvement over Windows in that they are substantially lower in cost - some even free of charge and may even be better than Windows in other respects.

To reiterate a couple of points from my first contribution here:

remember that it was you that chose to have Windows XP installed and I don't believe Bill Gates has other motives than to make your operating system work to its best.

and:

in my view, a lot of fuss is being generated about very little.

[joysness]

You can still not install the update -- but you will need to disable automatic updating.

Thanks scuzzman

I found that out yesterday :D

I thought there must be a way to stop it and was poking around and found in the Admin Tools "Services" a place where you can disable automatic updates all together.

I had turned off auto update but didn't realize you could disable it too.

I feel better now :P

Decided to add a bit..

My computer came with XP installed and if I had the money I would switch to Windows 2000 or some other OS because I do not like XP. In all fairness, it may just be my computer, but I have had nothing but problems with XP and am very disheartened every time I try to use their updates and patches and find I cannot.

I use Windows because I am not that computer saavy and it will take me a long time to figure out how to use Linux if I do choose to do that.

My system is completely clean of all nasties and I keep it that way.

The part about Big Brother is simply that I feel that here in the U.S our privacy and other rights are being violated enough through things like the Patriot Act etc. and I just don't feel that anyone has the right to deposit something on my computer that I don't want.

I am an adult and quite capable of making my own decisions and I accept the consequences of those decisions.

I just think it might be more acceptable for them to suggest it is advisable to install the update and if I choose not to then that should be the end of it.

And if they are so concerned about my security then do something to stop the problem by finding and supporting ways to stop the spammers, trojan, virus and worm makers.

I'm not the one causing the problems so why am I the one to pay the price for them by having my computer messed up to "keep" me secure.

Sorry, I've had a rough couple of days and this just set me off :flowers:

[-pops-]

joysness, I am convinced that there is something amiss with your Windows installation for it to cause so much of a problem for you.

OK, it may not be malware but it could be something not quite right with the installation itself. I most certainly shouldn't be the case that you have to miss out on all the "improvements" that Bill Gates puts our way.

Everyone with a properly functioning XP machine should be able to install SP2 plus each and every update and patch with no problem. If you are not all that computer savvy, could you get someone to have a look at it for you - even get your supplier to do that? There is no reason why you should have to suffer in this way. :)

[Scarecrow Man]

Not to mention all the security holes that are left open without the updates..

[andsome]

I have always been completely happy with XP, which is more than I could say with 98SE. Every patch and update is installed.

[r4may]

I never was a fan of Windows and never used it for years, then I duel booted with linux win98SE (mainly because many of my clients used it) and found it quite useful as well as reasonably trouble free.

I did not change again until this year as I saw the problems experienced by so many other users on the newer MS offering including XP.

Then late last year I added WinXp SP2 to make my system triple boot, XP is on Auto update and I have not yet had any problems with any of them.

It seems prudent to wait for a new issue of any software, including O/S's, to stabalise with several fixes/patches or to load onto a standby system for full testing before commiting to the new software.

[deuces wild]

I have always been completely happy with XP, which is more than I could say with 98SE.  Every patch and update is installed.

But it was your decision to install the patches and update.

That is the point.

[kismetk]

So the advice is to clean up one's system (using what?) and then go ahead with the SP2 installation? I haven't had the nerve to try it before.

[deuces wild]

So the advice is to clean up one's system (using what?)  and then go ahead with the SP2 installation? I haven't had the nerve to try it before.

First of all, welcome. We are glad to have you here. :D

You should download, update and run Adaware Personal and Spybot Search and Destroy, with access links HERE.

That should remove any spyware on your computer.

Then run a full virus scan while in safe mode.

Reboot and you should be clean.

Good luck and we hope you stick around.

[joysness]

pops

It could very well be my machine, it is an eMachine, which I have heard others compain about.

It was not very expensive (which is how I could afford to purchase it) so I'm sure it doesn't have very good quality things in it. Also, it did not come with any cd's except one restore cd and no manuals or anything.

I have contacted them (emachines) several times and sometimes they are helpful and sometimes not so much.

It's just frustrating because it will suddenly change settings, and locks up sometimes.

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone that knows any more about computers than I do.

So I muddle through as best I can. I'm sure it will all work out in the end.