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Windows XP Pro vs vanilla xp

...moving
...on

So does anyone still not patch? I know there were a few of you that wouldn't for whatever reason, if so, have you come across any problems, extra viruses or spyware? Are you behind a firewall or just using ZA or something similar? I'm not saying you should if you don't want to, but how do you know you have no spyware if you don't use spyware scanner or virus scanner? Do you judge it by the fact that your PC is still stable and as speedy as ever?

I never really realized how spyware could bring a machine to a literal crawl until I tried fixing my bro-in-laws PC. If I could have, I would have taken a sceencap of the adaware log, it was ridiculous. I was there for 3 hours and left because it was still scanning and I was tired. I finally just had to reinstall, it wasn't worth my time to clean it up.
 
Getting back on topic....

I don't know about my fellow H'ers, but I'd prefer if Microsoft destroyed all old copies of XP prior to release a service pack. If not that, at the very least they should immediately begin producing a slipstreamed version of the OS as soon as it goes gold. I know people who buy an OS several months after MS has already released a service pack. Sure, that copy of XP may have been sitting on the shelf, but that just reiterates my first point: MS should recall those old versions and submit new, slipstreamed ones. I believe that such a move would reduce the havoc of break out viruses like MyDoom and the like for users that don't know what a security patch is, let alone Windows Update. I know plently of people who fail to set auto updates. Everytime they see it comes on, it's straight to the red X. If MS inforced a stricted policy on their software and getting proper updates out, I believe it would benefit computer and their overall stability a lot more than we might think.
 
odoe said:
I never really realized how spyware could bring a machine to a literal crawl until I tried fixing my bro-in-laws PC. If I could have, I would have taken a sceencap of the adaware log, it was ridiculous. I was there for 3 hours and left because it was still scanning and I was tired. I finally just had to reinstall, it wasn't worth my time to clean it up.
Click to expand...
I know exactly what you mean. My dad's computer 1-2 years ago was soooo slow and so f'ed up that I had to use Knoppix to get all the files he wanted off that system. Unfortunately, MS has little to no control over spyware. If they started helping the community out, there would be those who'd start complaining saying MS is uses too much of their own software in their OS. Ironically, those are the same people who complain that MS isn't doing enough to stop spyware. Birds of a feather...:rolleyes:
 
Pixeleet said:
Getting back on topic....

I don't know about my fellow H'ers, but I'd prefer if Microsoft destroyed all old copies of XP prior to release a service pack. If not that, at the very least they should immediately begin producing a slipstreamed version of the OS as soon as it goes gold. I know people who buy an OS several months after MS has already released a service pack. Sure, that copy of XP may have been sitting on the shelf, but that just reiterates my first point: MS should recall those old versions and submit new, slipstreamed ones. I believe that such a move would reduce the havoc of break out viruses like MyDoom and the like for users that don't know what a security patch is, let alone Windows Update. I know plently of people who fail to set auto updates. Everytime they see it comes on, it's straight to the red X. If MS inforced a stricted policy on their software and getting proper updates out, I believe it would benefit computer and their overall stability a lot more than we might think.
Click to expand...
i think it would be better to more along the lines of include a sp2 disc with the windows xp thats out of date.
 
Still, I know people that would regard the SP2 disk as something with bonus features on it and would use it as a coaster.
 
Pixeleet said:
Still, I know people that would regard the SP2 disk as something with bonus features on it and would use it as a coaster.
Click to expand...
and we shouldnt slipstream just because they dont want to follow instructions when the instructions say INSTALL SP2 DISC
 
Pixeleet said:
...If MS inforced a stricted policy on their software and getting proper updates out, I believe it would benefit computer and their overall stability a lot more than we might think.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, we'd be besieged with even more Soviet Redmond whines. Look at all the issues people have with dirty systems and SP2 upgrades. It seems we're stuck with trying to determine the least evil method of proceeding.

On a lighter note, the recent threads in this forum have done a wonderful job of rounding out my ignore list and things have become much easier (and faster!) to read. Thanks to all the participants for improving my forum experience.
 
Others have answered the basic question, but;

The change that SP2 implements in port connections can be reversed back to the original state.

"SP2 port fix" + Google = teh win.
 
lomn75 said:
Unfortunately, we'd be besieged with even more Soviet Redmond whines. Look at all the issues people have with dirty systems and SP2 upgrades. It seems we're stuck with trying to determine the least evil method of proceeding.

On a lighter note, the recent threads in this forum have done a wonderful job of rounding out my ignore list and things have become much easier (and faster!) to read. Thanks to all the participants for improving my forum experience.
Click to expand...
I totally agree. But I wish that we could find some sort of middle ground beteween a Facist Gates and an uncaring software company. Neglegence on the part of the end-user is a serious problem these days and it's why viruses spread as rapdly as they do.
 
I noticed nobody mentioned the fact that unless you buy XP Pro, you wont be able to upgrade to XP pro x64(64 bit version). If you have XP home, you will have to upgrade to Pro first. If you have an OEM install of home (ie: dell, compaq, etc), you have to go through them, so really you are borked too.
IMO: An internet surfer, who only has basic needs like copying and printing photos, light gaming, etc should save and use XP home.
 
Pixeleet said:
I totally agree. But I wish that we could find some sort of middle ground beteween a Facist Gates and an uncaring software company. Neglegence on the part of the end-user is a serious problem these days and it's why viruses spread as rapdly as they do.
Click to expand...

dunno if it's so much "negligence" as it is "ignorance"... and or "fear of screwed up installs"...

a) "ignorance" - a lot (i.e. the VAST majority) of end-users would begin to go glassy eyed and start to drool if reading this thread (even IF they eliminated the flaming :p )... they have zero clue about all this various stuff... i've been trying to teach my old man a FEW things about computers since before many [h] members were born... ain't working... and that's someone who has someone (i.e. me) to make him aware of stuff... gotta remember, not a lot of end-users have the knowledge base (or the inclination to devote a large portion of their life to acquiring that knowledge base) to make sense of a lot of this stuff, or to make wise decisions surrounding a lot of this stuff (and... fwiw... i've seen several posts from people who have been [h] members for a long time who have done something that "wasn't too smart" and fouled up their pc :p )...

b) "fear of screwed up installs" - this is two-fold. #1) they've screwed up installs before (all of us have), and it has cost them money and/or time and/or suffering to recover from it, and (i KNOW this will be hard for [h] members to believe), not everyone really likes sitting there farting around with their computer trying to get it to work. #2) they've listened to some fool who told them "oh, don't install that, i 'heard' it will do bad things to your computer"...

re: home vs. pro. on one pc at home i use home and i use mce on the other. i use pro for my machines at the office. both setups do their intended job. just like anything else in computer land (or life, for that matter), you need to define your needs up front and then get the appropriate tool to do the job (i REALLY liked the analogy of the tow-winches that someone posted)....
 
SP2 was just about the most painful service pack release since SP5 for Windows NT...

It actually did significantly contribute to having to rebuild a workstation of mine, which I REALLY hate doing after probably tens of thousands of installs in my life. That aside, a slipstreamed installation seems to be far less problematic.

Now if I could only figure out why the game Black and White crashes randomly on my Athlon64 box... it's really annoying... :eek:
 
mattjw916 said:
SP2 was just about the most painful service pack release since SP5 for Windows NT...

It actually did significantly contribute to having to rebuild a workstation of mine, which I REALLY hate doing after probably tens of thousands of installs in my life. That aside, a slipstreamed installation seems to be far less problematic.
Click to expand...
I'd have to agree. XPSP2 is VERY painfull in some cases, to the point of having to rebuild the box. However, as you found out it's not SP2 that borked the box, it was the less than clean system it was install on.

I have yet to see someone report SP2 errors on a clean box, reality is, only new/relativly new installs are clean...

 
SP5 for NT was fine. SP4 for NT was another story altogether. Hard to keep track of these things, I know....
 
I was told that you should only use XPpro on a laptop. I plan to buy one soon and will only be using it for games, surfing and watching movies, nothing too exciting. Is there a reason to pay $50 more for the OS for someone like me?
 
Summoner said:
I was told that you should only use XPpro on a laptop. I plan to buy one soon and will only be using it for games, surfing and watching movies, nothing too exciting. Is there a reason to pay $50 more for the OS for someone like me?
Click to expand...
Whoever told you that was an idiot. Click the links on the first page comparing Pro and Home and make the decision. Only you know all of your planned usages, so once you compare, you'll be able to make a decision.
 
mattjw916 said:
I'm going to have to disagree with you on that... SP4 was the stable one, SP5 was released then quickly superceeded by SP6 and then SP6a. SP5 was a train-wreck.

link to article: http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/7793/7793.html
Click to expand...

We never used Windows NT remote access features. I'll stand by my statement with no link. If they ever find a cure for Alzheimer's I'll sponsor your first treatment (actually, you'll forget about this promise by that time, so I'll be off the hook)
 
Monkey34 said:
I noticed nobody mentioned the fact that unless you buy XP Pro, you wont be able to upgrade to XP pro x64(64 bit version). If you have XP home, you will have to upgrade to Pro first. If you have an OEM install of home (ie: dell, compaq, etc), you have to go through them, so really you are borked too.
IMO: An internet surfer, who only has basic needs like copying and printing photos, light gaming, etc should save and use XP home.
Click to expand...
Good point, but look at who's selling pre-built A64 systems right not for home users. Last I checked, no one. The people who have a64 systems are the same people running xp pro already, so I don't really see the conflict between those two groups.
 
What of the security enhancements that are available in Pro? Do they justify the expense involved in obtaining a copy? I am particularly referring to the following feature:

Keep Your Laptop More Secure
=======================
The Encrypting File System, only in Windows XP Professional, provides an additional level of file protection from hackers and data theft by transparently encrypting files with a randomly generated key. If your laptop gets stolen or lost, unauthorized users should not be able to read or view your confidential files.
Click to expand...

Is the encryption only useful if someone has actual physical possesion of your computer? Or can it potentially keep hackers at bay from finding and exploiting sensitive information?

As well, as mentioned earlier, with Pro you can turn of file sharing -- is this also not a worthwhile security enhancement?

Having been recently hit with a particularly nasty virus that wiped my .dll files, I'm becoming increasingly interested in computer security. I had AVG, spybot, and zonealarm, and sp2 all running, but that was still not enough to keep intruders out. I found out I still had some loopholes, so I'm trying to cover all the bases with this time around. And now I wonder if I should upgrade to Pro or not...
 
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