Here is the MS Knowledge base article listing 50 programs that have a conflict with XP Service Pack 2. There is also some info for configuring the XP SP2 Firewall.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242

is microsoft so screwed up that SP2 even screws up their own software such as Office XP? I didn't install SP1 and I don't think I will install SP2 either

If you install any firewall, it will need to be configured. This is where many of the problems are in SP2.

If you do not even have SP1, your pc can be compromised whether you run an AV program or not. Yes Windows XP had many major security flaws. SP1 and SP2 are needed to fix them.

There will soon be patches available for all the software affected by SP2. Properly configured XP pc's will be much safer with SP2. Not installing updates only helps to perpetuate the viruses.

People might want to wait to upgrade, but they should never NOT install security patches.

That list only contains known conflicts thus far. It is not a complete list and will be added onto, I'm sure. This also doesn't include other software. I just found the Haxorcist anticheat patch for games like my beloved Soldier Of Fortune that came out not too long ago will also not work with SP2, so that list is far from perfect.

So far most seam to be port issues. Which in truth means that in many ways the windows firewall is doing it's job by blocking them till you tell it to allow access.

I've also heard it may not support the .NET framework, which may be why certain applications (like the Haxorcist anticheat patch) may not work if SP2 is installed.

I installed SP2, but had to use Systems Restore, darn, and it look like it was working, except I couldn't get on the Internet, and even after I used the System Restore, I still couldn't connect ...When I called Comcast, The Tech. had me unplug the modem, and router, than after a min. put the plug back in the modem, than about 30 sec. put the plug back in the Router, than shut the computer off, than back on, than I was back up and running again. I also heard it was the Firewall that caused it.

I'll install it again, but I'll wait for a month or so, until most of the bugs are fixed.

Wednesday August 25th. SP2 was finally available for everyone to install, so I
went to 'Windows Update'. and clicked on 'Scan for Updates'.
XP SP2 was available for D/L and installing.
I double checked that all my secruity/spyware etc., was up to date first,
then I created a 'System Restore Point'.
I followed everything by the book, such as programs to turn off etc.,
When it had completed installing and reached 100%, up popped
a message that said the installation had 'failed.'
I installed it again, once again by the book.
This time it said the installation was 'successful'.
Everything looked great and went really smooth, or so I thought.
I rebooted my machine.
I couldn't get back online with my DSL line.
It also messed up my OE completely.
All my e-mails and all the address's in my Address book had disappeared,
and my OE page was not much bigger than a postage stamp.
I tried resetting the modem and IP# and still no luck.
I spent a good hour on the phone with Verizon getting my DSL line
straightened out. I finally had some success there and was able to get back online,
but still no e-mails or addresses. I was able to get OE reset back to the normal size.
Finally not knowing what else to do, I did a 'System Restore' back to SP1 and
luckily it restored my e-mails and address book.
So I'm back to square one again.
Now when I click on 'scan for updates' it tells me SP2 is ready to install again,
but instead of having 75+mb's and 30 mins for installation information,
it now says 0MB's and 0 mins.
Also in 'History' it's telling me that SP2 was successfully installed.
I have no idea what action I should take now and I've been unable to find anyone
else that had this same problem. At the present time I'm waiting for MS to respond to the e-mail I submitted to the "Help-Line" requesting their assistance, but I'm not in any great rush to attempt it again right now.

Well I must admit, this is quite a shock......less than 3 hours after I submitted my request to Microsoft for help I have a reply. I'll post the main body of their response as it may help someone else out.

QUOTE

Thank you for choosing Online Support for your Microsoft Technical Support offering. In your case log, you've indicated that after installing Service Pack 2, the computer doesn't work properly. You lost old email and address and the DSL connection also doesn't work. After rolling back the system to SP1, everything back to normal. However, you find some wrong information when scanning on the Windows Update website. We shall be working on this specific issue through the course of the case. If I have misunderstood your concern, please let me know. First of all, I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. While Microsoft tested SP2 extensively before releasing it, it is possible that some particular packages in SP2 may not be able to be installed or work properly in certain particular system environments. I understand that the current situation can be frustrating; please be assured that I will try my best to help on this issue. Based on my knowledge, after removing Service Pack 2 using the System Restore function, some setup information stored on your computer may have not been changed back correctly. So, when scanning updates on the Windows Update website, it says that Service Pack 2 has been installed successfully. Regarding the download file size and time, these files are still on your computer so we do not need to download them again. This is the reason why downloading time has been changed to Zero. According to your hardware information, I noticed that you are using a branded computer,(HP/Pavilion) which is also known as an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) PC. Since the operating system and applications on your computer are highly customized by the original computer manufacturer, the standard version of the latest service pack may not be fully compatible with the computer system. Usually, they will publish a compatibility patch or installation guide for these service packs. Therefore, I agree with you to uninstall Service Pack 2, and then please contact the original manufacturer of your computer or the hardware device and see if they have any installation guides for Windows XP SP2. If they do not suggest installing SP2 on your computer, please delay the update.

QUOTE

I've also heard it may not support the .NET framework, which may be why certain applications (like the Haxorcist anticheat patch) may not work if SP2 is installed.

I wonder if that has anything to do with the new "Data execution prevention (DEP)" feature implemented in SP2. I first came across mention of it while searching for a solution to the ever-increasing "right-click doesn't work since installing SP2" problem, and found How do I use DivX software on Windows XP SP2?. Most articles that I then found regarding DEP centred around 64-bit processors, which apparently have hardware DEP.......however, SP2 implements software DEP:
Detailed description of the data execution prevention feature in Windows XP SP2
Scroll down to the bottom of the page, beneath the heading"If no update is available for your application, follow these steps to access and to configure the DEP configuration settings:" for a possible workaround for applications that are hindered by DEP.

Apparently there is a compatability conflict with some, not all, of the HP model computers and XP-SP2. HP are working on a patch but it's not ready for release yet, and they have no idea how long it will take.
Since there's no telling how long it will take the only avenue I have open is to do a formatt and reinstall of my XP O/S and stay with SP1 until they produce the patch......Whoopee!
This is the first time I've upgraded the minute it was released, and it's also the last.

If anyone has a problem with the SP2 upgrade, do not hesitate to contact a Windows Support Professional. It was my first experience dealing directly with Microsoft and I expected the worst from all the negative stories I'd heard, but to my amazement the person who was assigned my case was a gentleman, kind, courteous and gave the impression that he really cared and wanted to help. He understood my frustration and did his best to put me at my ease. He also went out of his way and contacted HP to obtain information and then explain it to me in a language (not geek) that I could understand.
for Microsoft.

Pat

Thanks for that great, detailed write-up, Pat. You, too, Lorraine. Every time I figure it's time to stop being a "girly man" and install SP2, I read accounts like yours and, like the groundhog who sees its shadow, run back into my hole. Still, Pat, it's nice to learn there's some humanity behind the Microsoft monolith.

Thanks Baz,

I'm trying to put in as much detail as possible, hoping it will help someone from going

down the wrong road as I did. When I realized I had the problem, I searched and

searched and was not able to find anyone else that had encountered anything that

resembled it, but after spending the last three days working with both Microsoft and the

technicians at HP to straighten it out, I now find there are others with HP computers that

have had the same problem after installing SP2.

Those with HP machines should go to the HP Homepage first, before attempting to D/L

Sp2, and if your model requires the HP Image Plus (SP26330.exe) update, to D/L it first

and place it on your desktop ready to install immediately after SP2 has been installed. It

will prevent you from having the same troubles I had. I wish someone had told me

beforehand, but now look on the whole episode as a good learning experience, and it's

thanks to the wonderful Technical Support at Microsoft and HP that enabled me to

land back on my feet with a computer operating the way I like it......perfectly!

OK guys, I'm ready for you......bring on SP3 and I'll see what I can do to mess that up.

I'm not surprised by this notice but I certainly didn't expect them to extend the deadline quite this soon.



XP SP2 Deadline Extended
By Ryan Naraine
September 8, 2004


Microsoft has pushed back the deadline for the complete delivery of its Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) to April 2005.

The software giant had originally planned to automatically install the service pack to all Windows XP and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems by mid-December, but this schedule has been modified to give businesses more time to prepare.

A note posted on the Microsoft TechNet site said the mechanism to temporarily disable the delivery of SP2 will now be available for 240 days (8 months) from August 16.

"At the end of this period, Windows XP SP2 will be delivered to all Windows XP and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems," the company said.

Microsoft is allowing businesses to use a new registry key for the sole purpose of disabling and re-enabling the delivery of SP2. "Windows Update and Automatic Update will search for the presence of this registry entry to determine whether or not to download Windows XP SP2. At the end of the 240-day time period, WU and AU will ignore the presence of this registry entry and download Windows XP SP2," the company noted.

Enterprise customers with a large base of PCs also have access to a range of resources from Microsoft to help manage SP2 delivery.

The latest report from a survey of 44,000 machine updates at:

http://www.assetmetrix.com/news/pressRelea...s2004-08-31.asp

It seem that about 10% are going to have a problem......not good

I think the biggest majority of problems are self induced as mine was by not going to the

HP website first and following their instructions and D/L the patch to my desktop ready for

installation immediately after installing SP2. By not doing this first I gave myself a

nightmare that MS and HP had to help me solve.

We've since installed SP2 on two other computers, the right way, and had no problems

what-so-ever. One more to go but procastinating on that one because it's dial-up.....Ugh!

Maybe get around to it this weekend and use the disk this time.

Pat:

VERY interesting and helpful thread!

I recently had a similar experience with a PC with a new HD, post catastrophic failure. I installed the OEM copy of Win XP Home that came with the box; everything worked fine through multiple Windows Critical Updates until SP2. Then it suddenly lost all access to the LAN as well as the Internet (via ethernet hub/DSL). Nothing I did in configuring the dang Microsoft Firewall would fix the problem, including turning it completely off.

Final step -- System Restore back to SP-1; turn off Windows Update; install ZoneAlarm and SystemSuite.

Silly me. I thought that this clean system with almost no apps installed would be a breeze to update.

Maybe we should call this OEM-SP2 Conflict Syndrome.

Hi AlbusD,

Really all the trouble I got into was no-ones fault but my own. I'm well aware

that HP has different ways of doing many things and I should have known better than just

jump the gun. It taught me a good lesson though and next time I'll check first, you'd

better believe I will, and more than likely double check, and perhaps even a third check. I

thought this computer I'm using would never see the Internet again. It was a hairy

experience and I was trying my best to stop others from going through the same thing.

Haven't I heard somewhere that SP3 is lurking just around the corner or did I just dream

that?

BTW: Welcome to SAF. Hope you'll come back and visit often and join in the fun.

Pat