Win XP SP2 - Read!

[Archangelus]

XP Service Pack 2 to conflict with games

New built-in firewall software to automatically block access of some popular games to the internet.
The impending release of Service Pack 2 for Windows XP has prompted Microsoft to reveal a list of programs that may experience problems with the massive update. Included on the rather extensive list are a quite a few games, including such popular titles as Warcraft III and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

Microsoft stated that most of the problems are associated with the new built-in Windows Firewall, where users must approve programs that attempt to make Internet connections. However, some programs use data pages that the firewall automatically blocks, as they are common attack routes for hackers. A workaround is built into the firewall software, as well as the ability for advanced users to simply turn it off.

The games affected by Service Pack 2 are as follows:


Age of Empires II: Age of Kings
Chess Advantage III: Lego Chess
Combat Flight Simulator 3
Command & Conquer: Generals
Command & Conquer: Generals Zero Hour
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
Conflict: Desert Storm
Dead Man's Hand
Earth & Beyond
Elite Forces Vietnam: Special Assignment 2
Freedom Force
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Medieval Total War
Midnight Outlaw: Illegal Street Drag
MotoRacer
NASCAR Racing 2003
NBA Live 2000
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2
Roller Coaster Factory
Scrabble
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter
SimCity 4
Star Trek StarFleet Command III
Star Wars: Knights: of the Old Republic
StarCraft
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield
Tribes 2
Unreal II
Unreal Tournament 2003
Unreal Tournament Game of the Year Edition
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Collector's Edition

A full list of programs, and the versions affected, is available at Microsoft's Web site. Service Pack 2 will be officially released to XP users via automatic update later this month.

By Benjamin Golze -- GameSpot

[XoR]

Yeah, I'm on NTbugtraq so my inbox is flooded with people's stories. I've read alot of them and the general consensus is to avoid it for now.

Basically it does nothing for me, therefore I'll pass.

[midnightservice]

Same here Xor

[1nst1nct]

well what if u dont have none of those games? i mean it sounds like its a bad thing and i thought all the stuff u dl from there were things that help u not mess up or pc. i let my pc autodl updates. Now i guess i should do it manually but im glad u guys pointed that out

[Imperil]

XP SP2 could easily be called XP2 if they wanted to market it as that and sell it in a box. The amount of security enhancements and changes is simply unreal. Sure end-users really don't see a ton of new features, which is why they couldn't sell it as a standalone version, but some of the security models and some of the kernel is completely re-written.

XP SP2 is pretty much the best advancement I've seen in a Microsoft OS in a long time.

For a long time Microsoft sacrificed security for backwards compatibility with legacy applications, and they got yelled at for not being secure. Now they have finally locked down the OS and obviously people are still going to complain about it.

FYI developers and ISVs have had specs and could have issued patches for close to TWO YEARS, so if something you have doesn't work, blame the third party developer =]


FYI: Anyone that knows how to use a computer will have no problems with any of the games listed above. Only your true end-users that have no idea what they are doing will have a problem. I mean if you're behind a router you might as well just turn the firewall off anyways because you have a hardware firewall in front of you.

[Undead_Mercenary]

Hmm I was told SP2 contains some Spyware....

[BadAsh]

been running sp2 for over a week now. no problems with any newer games...and the new popup blocker in ie rawks.

[Archangelus]

Yeah, the one built into Firefox is da bomb....werd!

[Imperil]

Hmm I was told SP2 contains some Spyware....

LOL! In actuality XP SP2 gets rid of most of the spyware problems, by not allowing automatic ActiveX installs, and by warning the user about ActiveX installs and blocking unwarranted popups.

We will definately see a nice decrease in the amount of systems infected with spyware due to this release.

[Archangelus]

Yep, I agree with your earlier post that this is a nice piece of irony that MS will get blamed for "incompatibility issues" and needs for "workarounds" that are due to an effort to improve the security on the OS (which they currently get blamed for) and the inability for the average user to comprehend what default settings to change to not negate the new security while allowing their current programs required access. MS can't blame the user, but it would be funny if they did.....



-Arch

[DragonReborn]

LMAO....................................

[BadAsh]

Yep, I agree with your earlier post that this is a nice piece of irony that MS will get blamed for "incompatibility issues" and needs for "workarounds" that are due to an effort to improve the security on the OS (which they currently get blamed for) and the inability for the average user to comprehend what default settings to change to not negate the new security while allowing their current programs required access. MS can't blame the user, but it would be funny if they did.....


-Arch

*tear* that was beautiful man

[Imperil]

LOL Arch that was just amazing, brought a tear to my eye!

[Archangelus]

Yeah, saw the thread and went out and grabbed the appropriate KB article, photoshopped it and channeled Ayyyla's creative writing skills.

Good for a chuckle.....

[Undead_Mercenary]

Got it last night. Damn long installation!