Posted on 09/02/2004 8:58:56 AM PDT by Stoat
One in 10 corporate PC users will encounter difficulties in upgrading to Windows XP Service Pack 2, according to AssetMetrix. Smaller firms will be hit hardest by compatibility problems between their applications and the much anticipated update of Microsoft's flagship operating system, the Canadian asset management firm says.
Microsoft has issued a list of applications that require modification in order to work properly with XP SP2. The list has been in a state of flux since XP SP2 was released. But based on the current list of approximately 60 applications with SP2 compatibility problems, AssetMetrix reckons that an average company using Windows XP will encounter problems with SP2 on 10.3 per cent of its Windows XP-based PCs.
Win XP SP2 made its debut as a beta in March. It bundles major security revisions and a new Windows update procedure, and additions include: Windows Security Centre; automatically turning on Windows Firewall; and browsing enhancements to Internet Explorer (providing far more control of ActiveX controls, for example).
Problem application require "unblocking" (or manual reconfiguration) because XP SP2 sets Windows Firewall on by default. Other applications suffer a loss of functionality after SP2 is installed. Both types of problems were considered in AssetMetrix's study.
The analysis reviewed the installation of specific software - identified by Microsoft as having various compatibility and functionality issues with SP2 - on more than 44,000 Windows XP-based PCs from over 340 companies. AssetMetrix study showed that companies with less than 100 XP installations had an average impact of around 12 per cent, while larger companies tended to have closer to six per cent of their Windows XP PCs affected.
Norton(any Norton), various instant messaging programs, and all sorts of add-on search and utility bars really destroy the speed and efficiency of computers. While they will run in the background with most applications, an operating system upgrade changes and restarts way too many processes to survive them.
It is almost universal that when I get a computer dropped off in my office because it won't run right, the system tray has fifteen or more running processes. Gator is a major offender.
No matter how many times you tell them, users just can't keep themselves from clicking "yes" when a web site or email offers to give them something for free.
At our August faculty meeting, I got a whole lot of grief for refusing to open attachments sent by our Director (or anybody else for that matter). "They're safe. They went through the exchange server."
Last month, I had the distinct pleasure of reformatting the Director's hard disk and reinstalling the operating system. We found 3 worms, 2 trojans and a bunch of virus, plus over a thousand adware/malware/spyware programs. One of the trojans was bad enough that we couldn't remove it.
Nobody is laughing anymore.
Having a clue about security and operating system installation is something that should be kept to onesself. Every Tom, Dick and Harry who has a problem thinks he can drop his computer in your lap and get help. I actually put a sign on my door that says "Steve does not fix computers." It didn't help.
In any case, every computer in my building has had the service pack 2 installed without any problems.
I had a geek upgrade my XP Home and all is running fine.
Pleased that you are up and running with XP-SP/2. But many aren't, as yet. As late as yesterday, threads appear here stating many problems still exist with download of SP/2. Still about 10% of people experiencing problems. The "re-starting" problem still gets mention-although not honorable mention....
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