RSSCustomers to Preview Windows XP SP2 Beta
By David Worthington | Published March 17, 2004, 9:30 PM
To encourage broad consumer testing and forestall incidents of "broken" applications due to the bevy of changes integrated in the update, Microsoft is launching a Windows XP Service Pack 2 technical preview program.
Under the preview, Windows XP SP2 Release Candidate 1 will be made available to customers through a new TechNet portal beginning Friday, March 19.
In response to widespread criticism of what some have alleged is a lax security model, the release candidate implements far reaching changes to lock down the three-year-old operating system.
To this end, Microsoft has prepped a new version of Internet Explorer, complete with a pop-up blocker and download manager; revamped memory protection to prevent buffer overruns; e-mail safeguards in Outlook Express; and network protections including a more robust firewall implementation.
Networking is further secured by reduced privileges in system services such as Remote Procedure Call (RPC). Microsoft has also produced a more secure infrastructure for the Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) with added granular COM permissions. In addition, the Windows Messenger service is turned off by default, and Windows Media Player 9 has a new set of security settings.
Direct X 9.0b components include fixes to address network firewall issues.
Other updates that are making the cut into the second service pack are a unified wireless local area network (LAN) client, Software Update Services 2.0, and an update to Bluetooth support.
Control over security features is now centralized in the new Windows Security Center. Security Center manages Direct X Controls, checks for the presence of third-party antivirus protection, manages automatic updates, and enables the Windows Firewall. Security Center is based upon feedback Microsoft gained during the PC Satisfaction trial.
The most recent beta release of Windows XP Service Pack 2 has bundled support for the forthcoming "Lonestar" Tablet PC upgrade, and Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition.
Other than a damned long time to download - installed well, works well, lot of nice features. No problems so far. Wondering if some of the commenters are getting the autorized file in here or pulling it off other less reliable sites? No McAfee problems either by the way.
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|I am waiting for Rc2
after installing RC 1, I try to do windows update, it still downloading many updates, and it is considered as big enough (more than 14 MB).
so Microsoft need to consider releasing Rc2 soon which contain as many update as available, so it will become real service pack. instead of like now, after installing service pack we still need to do windows update (just one days after the service pack released) it is not good.
It also did not contain AMD K7 driver. which we need to get by windows update.
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|You did notice that this mornings "Updates" were fake beta tests? just to test the installer system. if you click advanced and look at the descriptiongs for the different updates each tests a different update senario, from automatic to needing to click a eula, etc.
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|It's out now fella's and ladies.........
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|read it yourself..
http://www.informationwe...html?articleID=18400905
hehehe,.. guess what guys.
Windows Update Services falls behind schedule as resources get s***ed to Windows XP Service Pack 2.
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|Ok whats the deal, are they or are they not?? Links dead and doesnt look like its going live
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|I just clicked on the link at 1:43pm CDT and I am now downloading the network version of the Service Pack. So it's working now. Give it a try! Good Luck!
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|I'm pissed. Maybe Microsoft decided to pull RC 1 before more of the public got it or they are designing a new page for it? Whatever it is, its delaying testing of SP2 by consumers.
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|don't worry. even after a thorough "test" by the consumers you will get your hearty dose of security exploits ;)
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|I've been betaing all 3 builds (2055,2082,2096)
and to be frank am hugely disappointed.
Ironically I had the least problems with beta 1(2055).
But all 3 of them have had major problems, particularly with McAfee 7.1 VirusScan (this breaks anti virus updates, hardly conducive to Microsoft urging you to keep your scanner up to date).
I've never used a more flakey beta, both from Microsoft and other 3rd party products. Build 2096 hung my system after installation and when I recovered it via a hard power cycle, Remove Win XP SP2 did NOT appear in the add/remove programs entry (I had to recover via system restore). This is WORSE than 2055 or 2082. 2082 didn't recognise and couldn't activate it's own firewall!!!
I could go on....
On a lesser note, the installs take a long time (45 mins on my PC, plus 20 while I wait for 2096 to see if it would "unhang") and the user is not given enough feedback during it at times to be sure that the installer hasn't just got stuck.
Really not impressed. I won't be rushing to SP2 unless the final build is MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the betas.
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|The link seems to be live as at 7:30pm GMT - if the link specified in the article isn't redirecting correctly, try http://www.microsoft.com...inxppro/sp2preview.mspx - that's where the link in the article redirects to at the moment. I'm downloading the Release Candidate now, and it seems to be fine. The Network install for the English language comes in at 273.3MB - 286,484,200 bytes, for anyone looking for the file elsewhere.
Hope that helps,
Rolphus
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|Yep, McAfee (NAI) VirusScan 7.1 shot craps as soon as I installed the SP2 ... Same error as everyone else.
Is there a fix? A workaround ? Anything ?
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|To get McAfee auto update working (found on google).
1) Launch DCOM Config (dcomcnfg)
2) Select Component Services, This Computer
3) Select Framework Services, Properties
4) Change Launch Permissions from Custom to Default
5) Close dcomcnfg
6) Should fix it!
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|is it me or does the link above to ms's site not work?
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|In my opinion this RC release is not enough. why ?
1. It still contain many old software instead of the latest versions. it is not total reloaded.
example: windows movie maker still ver 1. messenger still old.
2. The Firewall is to basic. it need many improvements.
3. The protections in outlook express is not enough, and also sometimes make people confuse if they receive attachements which outlook express blocked. I know how to handle it, but many people will confuse.
4. MS must release another 2 more RC before final, instead of only one more RC. it is not enough test.
5. The download is very slow. resources in microsoft look like cannot handle it with good. it will be worst when the final service pack.
6. The core still old. it need to include the platform SDK update in the win xp reloaded.
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|If you think this is old software, then I think you may have been using an earlier, leaked version of SP2. The RC1 release is very feature complete, with Security Center and Windows Firewall having been completely rebuilt since the last release.
Firewall is not a simple app. It contains a lot of features, in a very user-friendly interface. You can block / allow specific ports, specific applications and specific network connections. The wireless LAN interfaces and functionality is also greatly improved.
Wait for MS to officially release this to the public - it will be worth the 275Mb download for the full package! (and before anyone flames me, I do know, I am an official beta tester)
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|All I can say, Stu, is you've had better luck than me. I'm also an official tester, but see my comments above!
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|hi stuclark,
I have the new Rc1,
I am wrong in the windows movie maker, they already give the new ver 2.1. but still many of them still old. windows messenger still 4.7 instead of version 5.x.
and also the remote assistance still active as default, it is wrong. there will be many atack in future using this.
Yes, I am not a Microsoft beta tester, but It is no different now, as the sp is available in public.
I got the older from other source, but now there is no different between official beta tester and other people.
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|Utomo, I think you have some things wrong about how the overall system works. Remote Assistance doesn't accept connections unless you have sent out a request. And then, depending on how those requests are sent out, you have a small window of time where they are active.
From a help perspective, if I was a novice or begining user, and I needed to get help, do you think I'd know how to turn on Remote Assistance? Honestly, the feature is about as secure as you could expect from anything, and does not have the surface exposeure to attacks that other services have had in the past.
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|I will grab it as a download, Looks like some needed additions. These are things that should have been implemented in the first place.
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|its about time someone had a light bulb go on.
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