XP SP2 RC1 (beta version) security/rights issue

I loaded the latest RC1 (release canidate so a late Beta version) of SP2 on a fresh OS load. XP-pro then SP1 then hot fixes/security patches, then SP2.

I figured it would be a clean way to try the thing. Not too much fun. It really messed up my security settings. All of a sudden my Administrator account and my personal account (member of the Administrator group) no longer had enough rights to do housekeeping. Disk Manager and Defrag just wouldn't start. No error, no event log entries, just nothing.

I took ownership of the system drive with my personal account. No change.

I finally uninstalled SP2. Some improvement and I can now run defrag and disk mgt. But when I tried to install a new printer today, got a message saying I didn't have enough rights. Same for the admin account.

Bah humbug. I had posted about this issue on the SP2 newsgroup on the 21st hoping for a little advice from a M$ person. I know they don't officially support Beta versions but they are supposed to keep up with significant events. Nothing, nada, zip, zero comments or suggestions.

I guess a weekend project is to reload my OS with a fresh copy. I was a little dumb and failed to test SP2 quickly enough to roll back to a GoBack version that was pre-SP2. My bad. I did play with the new features and liked them but failed to give the system a complete workout.

On the positive side, the new security stuff is impressive. Likewise the security features with Office 2003.

 

LOL - good stuff Christer.

The chances are good that the SP2 load on a clean XP system (no S1 & SP2 slipstreamed even better) would work but since I'm doing this for testing, I sorta figure that SP1 then SP2 is more likely what will be happening with the SP2 release so I want to try it that way.

I haven't gotten into using Ghost or any of the others because I just haven't needed it - usually. This time was sorta my fault for not testing better and getting bit this way was likely a good thing to keep me from getting any more cocky than I already am.

What I will be doing before I try this SP2 RC1 critter a 2nd time is something I've been planning on for a while. I often feel bad on here offering suggestions for fixes where I haven't been able to test them on the OS the user is running. So I got a copy of Virtual PC and as soon as my new memory gets here (running 256Mb now and want 1Gb on the PC) I will be loading XP-home, XP-pro, 2000, and 98SE as virtual operating systems so I can test and play with zero risk.

 

OOOOWWWWEEEEE!!

I wanna come to your house to play!

Johanna

 

Yep, Christer, it would...but it would be FUN!!

Johanna

 

I haven't seen this particular product running but we have a VMWare server that houses 8 development servers and they all appear on the network as normal servers with their own IP and whatever apps they have loaded. SQL or whatever. Start them, shut them down, use them while running but they can't affect the core OS that hosts them.

They will also run Unix or Linux if you want. Pretty much any OS that runs on X86 processors can run under the virtual PC.

I'm hoping the virtual PC will be the same. I'll be sure to let you know.

 

OK not to get SP2?

Isn't SP2 just an accumulation of SP1 plus all the updates after it? I have SP1 and have kept up with updates, so isn't it OK to turn down SP2?

 

Sorry Shadowhawk, it's an upgrade: http://www.unixwiz.net/techtips/xp-sp2.html

Regards - Charles

 

Hmmf, I still won't get it. It'll probably make my machine crash.

 

SP2 is not a released product at this point. Still RC1 (release canidate 1 so a late Beta version) with RC2 due soon.

The only folks who should be loading this are those who have a spare machine they don't mind messing up or who don't object to having to format/reinstall on their PC.

I loaded it to help test it and knew at the time it had bugs. My problem is the lack of response to posted reports of that bug.

Microsoft clearly states that Beta versions ARE NOT supported so they don't have to help but since they are trying to get things fixed and to hopefully release a final version of SP2 within the next few months, I was a little surprised at the lack of feedback on a newsgroup dedicated to SP2 issues and available as a link off the Microsoft web site.

Note to Shadowhawk and any others reading this - SP2 is mainly a security package and has a number of new and excellent features that will probably not be released as single patches. When it is finally finished with testing and released, I'd strongly suggest any XP users wait a couple of weeks to see if there are major issues that get quickly fixed (SP2a or some such) and then install it.

 

Sorry for jumping in and asking a dumb question.
I've heard about the beta release of SP2 and everybody is talking about this release in different forums. I'm running on a Japanese version of winXP pro and have set my system to download and install the latest updates.

Looking in my control panel, there's some updates marking with SP2. (Something like WindowsXp Hotfix (SP2) Q331953)

Does it mean I have the beta service pack 2 installed? Or Does the Japanese version of sp2 has already been released? or this (SP2) is something different with what you are talking about?

 

At this point the only languages the beta version of XP SP2 is available in are English and German.

There is no release version of XP SP2 in any language. SP1a is the latest.

NT4 is up to SP6a and 2000 has SP4 in all the languages they offer so I wonder if it could be something there. Otherwise, please post a link - I'd love to see what is happening.

 

MnInShdw
If you don't mind, will you please list the update numbers that are marked with SP2 on your comp? Thank you very much!
Johanna

 

Johanna, Newt
I'm puzzled. I don't have any links to post it here. I can only show you how my instal/Remove programs looks like.
Here's a screen capture of my Instal/remove programs in Control panel if you want to take a look.


MnInShdw

 

There was a thread here last year about this issue - can't find it.

MS labels some of the post SP1 hotfixes as SP2. I have some and I have not installed the beta SP2.

/ Windows XP / SP2: Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) [See Q323255 for more information]
/ Windows XP / SP2: Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) [See Q329048 for more information]
/ Windows XP / SP2: Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) [See Q329115 for more information]
/ Windows XP / SP2: Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) [See Q329390 for more information]
/ Windows XP / SP2: Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) [See Q329834 for more information]
/ Windows XP / SP2: Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q811493
/ Windows XP / SP2: Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q811630
/ Windows XP / SP2: Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q814033
/ Windows XP / SP2: Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q815411
/ Windows XP / SP2: Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q817287

These are from 2003 -02. These are no longer in the ADD/REMOVE applet because I deleted the $NTUninstall files from \Windows\. This particular list is from SpyBot's System report. Belarc or Aida would show the same.

Regards - Charles

EDIT: The above list is not a full list and all the hotfixes I have are called SP2.

 

Some of mine show as SP2 also. No beta here either.

 

FWIW I have two that show as SP2.
Q327979
Q819696
No beta here either.

 

I only have one that shows as SP2, but none of mine start with "Q ". What's the difference between "KB" and "Q "?

Johanna

 

Hi Johanna,

The only expalnation I've seen was that MS dropped the "Q" in favor of straight numbering sometime last year. The KB = Knowlege Base. Some are and some are not prefixed with KB.

The last Q prefixed patch I have is from 07/03. The earliest non Q patch is from 02/03.

All these patches are post SP1 and I think its about SP1 or the transistion from 9X to NT.

Regards - Charles

EDIT: "Some are and some are not prefixed with KB." Take that back, they all are. It is in Windows update where the patches are referred to with or w/o the KB prefix.