Before you post a new Win XP SP2 Thread please read!

[earthling30]

Originally posted by: spyordie007
I?ve seen the same handful of questions get repeated over and over again about SP2, to help answer these questions and keep new threads about old questions to a minimum I?ve written up this thread in FAQ style and will continue to update it if there are any new questions.

If you have any suggested additions please post them or PM me and I will update my original post.

Q. Where can I download SP2 now?
A. The Network Install of SP2 is available for download off Microsoft's Website The download size is 266 MB (278,927,592 bytes).

Q. What is the ?build number??
A. The final build number of SP2 is 2180.

Q. Why does my build number say ?2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158? when I go to winver?
A. ?SP2_RTM? means it is the RTM release of SP2. ?040803-2158? is not the build number; it is the date and time of the build (Aug 3,2004 9:58pm).

Take a look at start, programs, accessories, system tools, system information. The HAL version should be 5.1.2600.2180

(Thanks Stash)

Q. What is the ?Network Install??
A. The network install is a collection of all the SP2 components. The idea is that an IT Professional can use the network install to update any XP client to SP2 without the need for running Windows Update on every machine.

Q. Why is the Network Install so big?
A. As was stated the network install contains all the SP2 components for all versions of XP (Professional, Home, Tablet PC, Embedded, MCE, etc.). Between the different versions of XP there is a lot of code that needs updating. The Windows Update install will be much less (probably around 100MB).

Q. When will it be available on Windows Update?
A. It should be available on Windows Update later this month (August 16th is the date I?ve heard).

Q. Why did SP2 Change my splash (startup) screen?
A. In this release Microsoft removed the version specific information from the splash screen. Rather than saying the specific version of Windows XP (Professional, Home, Tablet, Embedded, MCE, etc.) it now simply says ?Windows XP.? I haven?t seen any official statement from Microsoft as to why they have done this.

Q. How do I prevent the automatic update client from installing SP2?
A. See MS article regarding temporarily preventing the install of this update

I would like to add some suggestions to do before you begin the installation process.

1. Clean up your Hard Drive
a. Remove the Adware/Spyware by using Adaware, Spybot Search and destroy, etc.
b. Scan you complete system for viruses with an up-2-date virus scanner. If you don't have one you can always use, Housecall online scanner, .AVG Free Edition, etc.
b. Run Disk Clean Up
c. Defrag your hard drive

2. Turn off your Screen Saver

3. Disable your power options

4. Disable or Shutdown everything in the taskbar and yes even the virus scanner

5. Somehow disconnect your Internet from the PC you're installing it on

6. Start the installation

7. Let it run through its cycle

8. Restart the PC (note: this first restart will take a while)

9. Go through the wizard for the Windows update after the restart

10. A health status will pop up after you login, once for each account

11. Re-enable everything that was disabled: screen saver, power options, virus scanner, etc.

The idea here is to try to prevent your PC from doing any extra work while installing SP2. Also if you've been doing any heavy gaming, video editing, or anything else that will use alot of CPU and/or memory cycles you may want to restart you PC and start fresh before installing SP2. These are based on installing the SP2 from the full download. So far I'm 3 for 3 successful installs on 3 out of 4 of my pcs. The forth PC will be done later.

 

[UCJefe]

Originally posted by: substance12

Originally posted by: Mareg
Interesting note for P2P users :

One of the security features in SP2 is intended to help slow down the spread of Sasser type malicious programs, and SP2's stack apparently only allows 10 simultaneous connections per port, compared to the previously unlimited connections

P2P = RIP.

1) is there a way to disable that feature?

Sure is. There is a hacked tcpip.sys which will lift this limitation. The thread regarding it can be found here and the actual file is here. There is also a guide detailing the hex edits if you don't want to trust the downloadable file.

Originally posted by: Mareg
2) is there a way to disable that security manager or whatever it's called that tells you your firewall is on/off and if you have programs that are out of date?

Yup. If you go to the security center and click on the little link on the right "Change the way Security Center alerts me" you can turn off the things it will bug you about.

 

[oldman420]

Originally posted by: Budman

Originally posted by: spyordie007

Originally posted by: Budman
Q. How do slipstream SP2 into a bootable cdr?

A. First you need service pack 2.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

then you need to download autostreamer. http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337&st=0&#entry2453585

direct link to program here ---> http://mhtools.knoware.nl/raptor/autostreamer/AutoStreamer.zip

it's pretty easy,use auto streamer & it will make a nice ISO with sp2 for you to burn . couldnt be easier.

I dont know how I feel about using a 3rd party tool to do something you can do nativly (decompress, update and burning doesnt require 3rd party applications).

i did tat using that tool and it worked slick but i still trust the dos command more

give it a try,it's so easy that any noob can do it.
it's so easy that's why i suggested this program,I can do a slipstream the old way myself but many users just don't have the knowledge or skills to do it,that's why i suggest this program.

 

[MikeRocker]

Well, could you then explain or post a link how to slipstream SP2 into an install CD the 'right' way?

Thanks

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: UCJefe

Originally posted by: substance12

Originally posted by: Mareg
Interesting note for P2P users :

One of the security features in SP2 is intended to help slow down the spread of Sasser type malicious programs, and SP2's stack apparently only allows 10 simultaneous connections per port, compared to the previously unlimited connections

P2P = RIP.

1) is there a way to disable that feature?

Sure is. There is a hacked tcpip.sys which will lift this limitation. The thread regarding it can be found here and the actual file is here. There is also a guide detailing the hex edits if you don't want to trust the downloadable file.

If you don't trust the downloaded file, and can't read x86 machine language, you can't really trust an edit you make .

This reeks of Microsoft trying to force XP Home/Pro users running stuff like Apache to Windows Server 2003 - I know IIS on non-server versions of Windows limits itself to 10 simultaneous users. If it was really a security thing, they would have provided some way to disable the functionality, or allow certain ports (e.g. bittorrent ranges) to use more connections. On a fast net connection, bittorrent can benefit from upwards of 50 open connections, some inbound and some outbound.

edit: I see people saying it's 10 per second. That wouldn't bother me so much.

 

[substance12]

Originally posted by: UCJefe

Originally posted by: substance12

Originally posted by: Mareg
Interesting note for P2P users :

One of the security features in SP2 is intended to help slow down the spread of Sasser type malicious programs, and SP2's stack apparently only allows 10 simultaneous connections per port, compared to the previously unlimited connections

P2P = RIP.

1) is there a way to disable that feature?

Sure is. There is a hacked tcpip.sys which will lift this limitation. The thread regarding it can be found here and the actual file is here. There is also a guide detailing the hex edits if you don't want to trust the downloadable file.

Originally posted by: Mareg
2) is there a way to disable that security manager or whatever it's called that tells you your firewall is on/off and if you have programs that are out of date?

Yup. If you go to the security center and click on the little link on the right "Change the way Security Center alerts me" you can turn off the things it will bug you about.

@UCJefe

have you tested the tcpip.sys mod? I read that thread you posted and i didn't get a solid feeling that it did anything.

 

[mikecel79]

Spyordie you should add another FAQ on how to stop the security center alerts. Seems to be a popular question.

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: mikecel79
Spyordie you should add another FAQ on how to stop the security center alerts. Seems to be a popular question.

updated by popular request

 

[UCJefe]

Originally posted by: substance12

Originally posted by: UCJefe

Originally posted by: substance12

Originally posted by: Mareg
Interesting note for P2P users :

One of the security features in SP2 is intended to help slow down the spread of Sasser type malicious programs, and SP2's stack apparently only allows 10 simultaneous connections per port, compared to the previously unlimited connections

P2P = RIP.

1) is there a way to disable that feature?

Sure is. There is a hacked tcpip.sys which will lift this limitation. The thread regarding it can be found here and the actual file is here. There is also a guide detailing the hex edits if you don't want to trust the downloadable file.

Originally posted by: Mareg
2) is there a way to disable that security manager or whatever it's called that tells you your firewall is on/off and if you have programs that are out of date?

Yup. If you go to the security center and click on the little link on the right "Change the way Security Center alerts me" you can turn off the things it will bug you about.

@UCJefe

have you tested the tcpip.sys mod? I read that thread you posted and i didn't get a solid feeling that it did anything.

Yes I tested and it does work. That thread was actually the start of trying to figure out how to solve the problem so the first half of it were unsuccessful attempts. Sorry for any confusion. The tcpip.sys file posted does work but unless you are actually hitting this limit and noticing it, there isn't much of a reason to install it.

 

[Bryan]

The network install of SP2 cannot be applied to an XPe (XP Embedded) runtime.

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: Bryan
The network install of SP2 cannot be applied to an XPe (XP Embedded) runtime.

Right, but dont/cant the embeded system builders still use it to update their runtime enviroments when creating their builds? I was under the impression that they would still be able to use it to update their codebase.

 

[Megatomic]

Has anyone seen any good SP2 tweak guides that they'd like to share?

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Budman

Originally posted by: spyordie007

Originally posted by: Budman
Q. How do slipstream SP2 into a bootable cdr?

A. First you need service pack 2.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

then you need to download autostreamer. http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337&st=0&#entry2453585

direct link to program here ---> http://mhtools.knoware.nl/raptor/autostreamer/AutoStreamer.zip

it's pretty easy,use auto streamer & it will make a nice ISO with sp2 for you to burn . couldnt be easier.

I dont know how I feel about using a 3rd party tool to do something you can do nativly (decompress, update and burning doesnt require 3rd party applications).

give it a try,it's so easy that any noob can do it.
it's so easy that's why i suggested this program,I can do a slipstream the old way myself but many users just don't have the knowledge or skills to do it,that's why i suggest this program.

Thanks very much for the link, Budman.

I'll let you know if it hoses my system though. :beer:

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: MikeRocker
Well, could you then explain or post a link how to slipstream SP2 into an install CD the 'right' way?

Thanks

I agree, I've read it somewhere before but list the link to the how-to. Any other ones know?

 

[Budman]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: Budman

Originally posted by: spyordie007

Originally posted by: Budman
Q. How do slipstream SP2 into a bootable cdr?

A. First you need service pack 2.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

then you need to download autostreamer. http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337&st=0&#entry2453585

direct link to program here ---> http://mhtools.knoware.nl/raptor/autostreamer/AutoStreamer.zip

it's pretty easy,use auto streamer & it will make a nice ISO with sp2 for you to burn . couldnt be easier.

I dont know how I feel about using a 3rd party tool to do something you can do nativly (decompress, update and burning doesnt require 3rd party applications).

give it a try,it's so easy that any noob can do it.
it's so easy that's why i suggested this program,I can do a slipstream the old way myself but many users just don't have the knowledge or skills to do it,that's why i suggest this program.

Thanks very much for the link, Budman.

I'll let you know if it hoses my system though. :beer:

You're very welcome,i used to slipstream the old way but this is so easy to do & worked so well for me I just had to share.at least someone apreciates my efforts/

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: Budman

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: Budman

Originally posted by: spyordie007

Originally posted by: Budman
Q. How do slipstream SP2 into a bootable cdr?

A. First you need service pack 2.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

then you need to download autostreamer. http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337&st=0&#entry2453585

direct link to program here ---> http://mhtools.knoware.nl/raptor/autostreamer/AutoStreamer.zip

it's pretty easy,use auto streamer & it will make a nice ISO with sp2 for you to burn . couldnt be easier.

I dont know how I feel about using a 3rd party tool to do something you can do nativly (decompress, update and burning doesnt require 3rd party applications).

give it a try,it's so easy that any noob can do it.
it's so easy that's why i suggested this program,I can do a slipstream the old way myself but many users just don't have the knowledge or skills to do it,that's why i suggest this program.

Thanks very much for the link, Budman.

I'll let you know if it hoses my system though. :beer:

You're very welcome,i used to slipstream the old way but this is so easy to do & worked so well for me I just had to share.at least someone apreciates my efforts/

Anyone monitoring if this program tries to make outbound connections? I don't want my key being stolen.

 

[Gillbot]

No need to enter a key for it to stream. I just did it with auto streamer and all it asked for was the XP cd and the SP2 file. Done!

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
No need to enter a key for it to stream. I just did it with auto streamer and all it asked for was the XP cd and the SP2 file. Done!

How did you get the ISO to burn? It wouldn't work on mine at all. And it didn't work manually setting up the CD.

 

[simms]

ISO burned fine for me. Slipstreamed without a problem, if you format you need your key though.

Anyways, has anyone tried the TCPIP.sys file? I've got it but didn't get a lot of info from the thread.

 

[Sianath]

The number of outbound connections is limited for incomplete connections... it's assumed that if you try and connect to someone and there is a session established (or a reply received) that it was intentional. Incomplete however (I'm gonna try that guy and that guy and that guy, etc) that don't get replies will hit that limit and be slowed to 10 at a time.

 

[jhites]

Just installed SP2 on one of my rigs and it does not seem to be able to monitor Norton AV 2004.
Anyone else get this?

 

[stash]

http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/sp2/faq.html#9

 

[chuckywang]

Is SP2 out on Auto update yet? I just want to install it on one computer. The SP2 link says it's for IT pros and Developers that want to install it on multiple computers.

 

[jhites]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Is SP2 out on Auto update yet? I just want to install it on one computer. The SP2 link says it's for IT pros and Developers that want to install it on multiple computers.

Not yet.

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: jhites

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Is SP2 out on Auto update yet? I just want to install it on one computer. The SP2 link says it's for IT pros and Developers that want to install it on multiple computers.

Not yet.

Very soon, wait a couple of days at it will be available on the windows update site. The date I heard is Aug. 23rd (today).