O.T. Microsoft Upgrade Service Pack 2.

[Yvsa]

Is anyone going to do as Microsoft suggests and set their computer to automatically download updates?

I prefer that they download and then ask me whether to install or not install and that's the way I normally have it set, but after reading the article in todays paper I have set my computer to automatically download the upgrade, but now I'm wondering if that's what I really should do?
The Service Pack 2 is supposed to be a large file, some 80 megabytes for most home users and more for the professional, that's going to take quite some time to download.
The company is arguing that it is the quickest and least disruptive way to get big files like the security update on your computer.
Also consumers will be able to download Service Pack 2 from Microsoft's Web site all in one chunk. (That's gonna take awhile for those on dialup!) And eventually Microsoft will send a free CD copy of the upgrade to people who request it.

A couple of the improvements are a built in Firewall that is set as default to be always on.
And a Popup Stopper!
There will also be a Windows Security Center to help users monitor their various security sentinels - including those from other companies, such as antivirus protections.
The article I read also says that SP 2 also fortifies protections on Internet Explorer browser and offers tougher policing against email borne attacks.
Another paragraph states:
"For regular users, the most noticeable change will be a series of new prompts users will see. The idea is that if users have to actively give permission for programs to interact with their computer's, there is less chance that they will be hit by a virus or inadvertently allow malicious software that can monitor computer activities."
Hopefully the upgrade will be everything it needs to be so as to stop most, if not all, of the problems that plague Inernet Explorer. We can only hope.

So, should I change my computer back to update and then notify me so I can install or should I just leave it be until the SP 2 is downloaded????
I am going to request the CD when it's available!
That way if I ever have to wipe my computer again I will have it ready to install right then and there!

 

[BruiseLeee]

I click on windows update every... once in awhile when I feel like it. Usually once every couple of weeks.

I like to know when and what programs are going in and out of my machine.

Durn Microsoft. :grumpy:

 

[Khukuri Monster]

Hopefully the upgrade will be everything it needs to be so as to stop most, if not all, of the problems that plague Inernet Explorer. We can only hope.

It's doubtful that Internet Explorer will be fixed without a complete overhaul. SP2 definitely isn't going to fix it. Even a department of the U.S. government, the Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) recommends not using Internet Explorer due to its many security issues.

Switching to another browser is not as hard as you might think. I am using Mozilla Firefox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/). The interface is similar to IE so it's easy to get used to, the download system is much easier to use, it supports tabbed browsing, pop-up blocking, and it has fewer security flaws and problems with spyware and adware. Also, there are a number of "extensions" that you can download with extra features, such as banner advertisment blocking. As far as I'm concerned, it's strictly better than IE in all aspects.

 

[yoippari]

Mine is set to download at its own free will, I recently installed a Sun Java upgrade that had been sitting in my system try for over a month.. I am on cable so it does go faster than dialup but it still just trickles in slowly.

 

[Anon Y. Mouse]

Once sp2 is installed you got no choice but to leave auto update on. Manual update no longer works. Tried sp2-rc2, 3 days later, format C: to get MY computer back. Lost safe-mode too, lost secure delete function(sys mecanic 4,incinerator) and new firewall only blocks external apps not ms ones. :barf:

 

[Yvsa]

As far as I'm concerned, it's strictly better than IE in all aspects.

I tried Mozzila twice. Once before my computer crashed and once afterward. Personally I don't like its format. I don't like the tabbed pages and it was slower for me than IE.
Lots of people like it though and I'm happy it works for them. With Norton and AVG antivirus along with ZoneAlarm and PanicWare popup stopper I'm not having any problems right now.
I wish I had of had the AVG antivirus before my computer got infected with whatever killed it. I don't believe it would've got in if I had of had the AVG.
AVG has already caught two viruses for me that Norton didn't even see!

With what Anonymouse is saying I may go back to my manual update though, unless it doesn't matter and SP 2 changes it anyway. That would piss me off even if I couldn't do anything about it.
Might convince me to get a Mac though.

 

[Yvsa]

I went looking for more information on SP 2 than my newspaper had.
I found this great website that told me about everything I wanted to know. Check out the FAQ and the Report on SP 2 at the upper left hand corner of the site.
The report has links to pix of some of the upgrade's new features that I appreciated and they appear not to be too difficult to use.
The information I got there confirms that SP 2 isn't a cure all but should be considerably better than what XP is now. The auto update can be turned off although Microsoft discourages it from being done.
Also looks like some more improvements coming down the pike in a couple of years.
Hopefully along with them there will be more security improvements but we'll see I guess.

With this information I've decided to leave my computer set for auto updates at the present time.

 

[Khukuri Monster]

I wanted to mention that Mozilla Firefox is not the same as regular Mozilla, they are two different browsers. Firefox is newer, I don't know how different the format is from the original though.

 

[servtech]

I use Netscape and Earthlink and have very few problems with either. I have XP and ALWAYS choose my updates...

 

[Daniel Koster]

I have mine set to auto-update, Yvsa. If I end up paying the price for my laziness....then, oh well.

Frankly, I don't really see the problem.

 

[Bri in Chi]

I stay as far away from Microsoft products as I can. :barf:
But then you know – that I think different

 

[Yvsa]

I wanted to mention that Mozilla Firefox is not the same as regular Mozilla, they are two different browsers.

KM I keep forgetting there are two of them with the same name. I had the Firefox, just didn't work for me.

I read on the website I posted here that Microsoft will probably go to the tabbed windows on one of their upgrades one day. If they do I suppose it's something I'll have to get used to.
I don't like the damned things because they're confusing to me. Just a matter of getting used to them I guess.

Dan after I got to studying about the automatic updates I finally noticed that they're only the critical updates that get installed automatically and not all of them.
Of course I want all of the Critical Updates!
It's all those others I want a choice on.

 

[Yvsa]

I stay as far away from Microsoft products as I can. :barf:
But then you know – that I think different

Yea, we know Brian.
Notice what I said at the bottom of my second post....
"Might convince me to get a Mac though."

 

[Bri in Chi]

Feel free to email me questions about switching to Mac, if you're really interested Yvsa. Or any other forumite for that matter. And... NO, I don't work for Apple. I've just been around this stuff for a long time. I bought Windows 95 after watching Bill Gates and Jay Leno introduce it at the initial rollout. I was an MSN Beta tester, and have the T shirt to prove it (anvil falling on cockroach). It took me a while, but I've made up my mind.