Putting PC on the patch may help it kick bad habits
By DWIGHT SILVERMAN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
In the two months that have passed since the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2, the mega-patch for Microsoft's flagship operating system, the company says it has been downloaded more than 106 million times.
That's a lot of bits flying across the Net, but not everyone sees SP2 as a good thing. Home users wary of upsetting the digital ecosystem of their PCs and corporate information technology departments have been the biggest holdouts.
Consumers fall into three categories when it comes to installing upgrades like SP2. There are the early adopters who slap it into place the second it's available; the more cautious users who wait to see how it affects friends' computers; and the downright paranoid, who'll still be saying, "I'll wait till they work the bugs out" when the next full version of Windows is released sometime in 2006.
Since its release in late August, I've gotten numerous e-mails from users in the last two categories who want to know what to do. Here are some of the most common questions and the answers I've been giving those who ask:
Q: I already have firewall software on my computer. If I install SP2, which has a built-in firewall, which should I use?
A: Keep in mind that the firewall in SP2 actually isn't new — it is in the original version of XP, but hard to find and turned off by default.
The firewall you should use depends on your needs. The one in Windows XP is rudimentary. Add-on firewall software, such as Symantec's Norton Internet Security or ZoneLabs' ZoneAlarm, add more features. For example, both of the latter programs will alert you when some piece of software is trying to access the Internet on your computer and give you the option of saying "no."
The simple firewall in XP only keeps intruders out.
XP also provides no protection against viruses or spyware, which is a point of confusion for many users. If you install SP2, you'll still need programs to deal with malicious code.
Q: Several of my friends installed SP2 and had big problems. It hung up during the installation or their computers would not reboot afterward. Is SP2 a lemon?
A: As I wrote in an online guide to Windows XP SP2 (see www.chron.com/xpsp2), upgrading an operating system is never trivial. That's why it's important to back up your system beforehand, then make sure it's in good condition — both hardware and software — before you install.
Most of the problems associated with installing SP2 stem from pre-existing issues, most notably spyware. Shortly after SP2 was released, Microsoft issued an alert about spyware conflicts with SP2, and given that some surveys estimate up to 90 percent of home machines are infected, it's an important warning to heed.
To deal with lurking spyware before installing Service Pack 2, download Spybot Search & Destroy and/or AdAware to scan for spyware, then remove it (see www.chron.com/spyware for links and spyware removal tips) Other issues, ranging from defective memory to power-supply problems to a misconfigured BIOS, can also play havoc with any Service Pack.
Q: I have a notebook computer, and they are notoriously more finicky than desktops. What's the benefit to portables with SP2?
A: Obviously, notebook PCs also benefit from the security improvements. But if your portable has a WiFi network adapter, you'll definitely want SP2.
Microsoft has tweaked the interface for connecting to the Internet wirelessly. It's now much easier to see what networks are available, and the connection and configuration process has been streamlined. There's also a wizard that walks you through the process of setting up a wireless network.
SP2 also has built-in support for a more powerful form of encryption called WiFi Protected Access, or WPA. This can be used instead of the weaker Wired Equivalent Privacy, or WEP. Not all networks you'd connect to support WPA, but if they do, it's preferred. And if you set up a home network using WiFi, you should definitely use WPA if all your devices support it.
Finally, SP2 also has better support for Bluetooth, another wireless system used primarily for connections between devices, such as cell phones, mice and printers.
Q: OK, what's the bottom line here? Should I upgrade or wait a little longer?
A: My colleague Jay Lee, the Help Line columnist, is of the school of thought that says, "If your operating system is working just fine, leave it alone." And he is right — so long as the system is indeed working well.
The problem is, Windows XP in its native state has lots of flaws, many of them structural. And in terms of security, XP without SP2 does not work well.
And here's a dramatic illustration: Since SP2 came out, there have been many critical updates for the original XP and Service Pack 1. Users who have not installed SP2 continue to be faced with a parade of fixes.
But those who've installed SP2 so far have only had to install one additional patch. Most of the fixes needed for the original XP don't apply to SP2.
For those concerned about security — and every Windows user should be — that fact alone should answer the question.
HoustonChronicle.com - Computing
By DWIGHT SILVERMAN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
In the two months that have passed since the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2, the mega-patch for Microsoft's flagship operating system, the company says it has been downloaded more than 106 million times.
That's a lot of bits flying across the Net, but not everyone sees SP2 as a good thing. Home users wary of upsetting the digital ecosystem of their PCs and corporate information technology departments have been the biggest holdouts.
Consumers fall into three categories when it comes to installing upgrades like SP2. There are the early adopters who slap it into place the second it's available; the more cautious users who wait to see how it affects friends' computers; and the downright paranoid, who'll still be saying, "I'll wait till they work the bugs out" when the next full version of Windows is released sometime in 2006.
Since its release in late August, I've gotten numerous e-mails from users in the last two categories who want to know what to do. Here are some of the most common questions and the answers I've been giving those who ask:
Q: I already have firewall software on my computer. If I install SP2, which has a built-in firewall, which should I use?
A: Keep in mind that the firewall in SP2 actually isn't new — it is in the original version of XP, but hard to find and turned off by default.
The firewall you should use depends on your needs. The one in Windows XP is rudimentary. Add-on firewall software, such as Symantec's Norton Internet Security or ZoneLabs' ZoneAlarm, add more features. For example, both of the latter programs will alert you when some piece of software is trying to access the Internet on your computer and give you the option of saying "no."
The simple firewall in XP only keeps intruders out.
XP also provides no protection against viruses or spyware, which is a point of confusion for many users. If you install SP2, you'll still need programs to deal with malicious code.
Q: Several of my friends installed SP2 and had big problems. It hung up during the installation or their computers would not reboot afterward. Is SP2 a lemon?
A: As I wrote in an online guide to Windows XP SP2 (see www.chron.com/xpsp2), upgrading an operating system is never trivial. That's why it's important to back up your system beforehand, then make sure it's in good condition — both hardware and software — before you install.
Most of the problems associated with installing SP2 stem from pre-existing issues, most notably spyware. Shortly after SP2 was released, Microsoft issued an alert about spyware conflicts with SP2, and given that some surveys estimate up to 90 percent of home machines are infected, it's an important warning to heed.
To deal with lurking spyware before installing Service Pack 2, download Spybot Search & Destroy and/or AdAware to scan for spyware, then remove it (see www.chron.com/spyware for links and spyware removal tips) Other issues, ranging from defective memory to power-supply problems to a misconfigured BIOS, can also play havoc with any Service Pack.
Q: I have a notebook computer, and they are notoriously more finicky than desktops. What's the benefit to portables with SP2?
A: Obviously, notebook PCs also benefit from the security improvements. But if your portable has a WiFi network adapter, you'll definitely want SP2.
Microsoft has tweaked the interface for connecting to the Internet wirelessly. It's now much easier to see what networks are available, and the connection and configuration process has been streamlined. There's also a wizard that walks you through the process of setting up a wireless network.
SP2 also has built-in support for a more powerful form of encryption called WiFi Protected Access, or WPA. This can be used instead of the weaker Wired Equivalent Privacy, or WEP. Not all networks you'd connect to support WPA, but if they do, it's preferred. And if you set up a home network using WiFi, you should definitely use WPA if all your devices support it.
Finally, SP2 also has better support for Bluetooth, another wireless system used primarily for connections between devices, such as cell phones, mice and printers.
Q: OK, what's the bottom line here? Should I upgrade or wait a little longer?
A: My colleague Jay Lee, the Help Line columnist, is of the school of thought that says, "If your operating system is working just fine, leave it alone." And he is right — so long as the system is indeed working well.
The problem is, Windows XP in its native state has lots of flaws, many of them structural. And in terms of security, XP without SP2 does not work well.
And here's a dramatic illustration: Since SP2 came out, there have been many critical updates for the original XP and Service Pack 1. Users who have not installed SP2 continue to be faced with a parade of fixes.
But those who've installed SP2 so far have only had to install one additional patch. Most of the fixes needed for the original XP don't apply to SP2.
For those concerned about security — and every Windows user should be — that fact alone should answer the question.
HoustonChronicle.com - Computing
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