Why is SP2 so big? It doesn't do much

And the "Severity Center" is pretty much a useless feature, it was the first
thing I disabled. Firewall and Pop-Up blocker also useless to me.

Testy

"NoSpam" wrote in message
...
NoNoBadDog! wrote:

First of all, your statement "It doesn't do much" is totally wrong. SP2
consists of many updates and hotfixes combined into a single package. It
replaces a great number of system files with updated files that correct
security issues, compatibility problems, etc. It incorporates major
elements of SP1, and the hotfixes and critical updates issued since then.
It replaces the Windows firewall with a completely new (but still very
lame) version. It add the new Windows Security Center. It incorporates
a pop-up blocker to Internet explorer. It adds security to Outlook and
Outlook express. If you have an AMD64 processor, it adds Enhanced Virus
Protection that prevents certain types of malicious code gaining control
of the OS after a buffer overrun. SP2 updates approximately 5 million
lines of code. It does so much more than you can "see".

Still a perfectly valid question as far as I can see. The only visible
things are the pop-up blocker, the security centre and the firewall.

When you think you can download pop-up blockers and firewalls in 3 meg
downloads, where's the other 84 meg going? We're there really that many
problems with XP when it shipped? Makes you wonder what you're paying for
exactly.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.754 / Virus Database: 504 - Release Date: 9/6/2004

And most of your stupid reply has nothing to do with size anyway!

Testy

"NoNoBadDog!" mypants_bjsledgeATpixi.com wrote in message
...
Who really cares what you consider useless?

The question was related to the size of the SP2 download. That has
nothing to do with what you think.

Bobby

"Testy" wrote in message
...
And the "Severity Center" is pretty much a useless feature, it was the
first thing I disabled. Firewall and Pop-Up blocker also useless to me.

Testy

"NoSpam" wrote in message
...
NoNoBadDog! wrote:

First of all, your statement "It doesn't do much" is totally wrong.
SP2 consists of many updates and hotfixes combined into a single
package. It replaces a great number of system files with updated files
that correct security issues, compatibility problems, etc. It
incorporates major elements of SP1, and the hotfixes and critical
updates issued since then. It replaces the Windows firewall with a
completely new (but still very lame) version. It add the new Windows
Security Center. It incorporates a pop-up blocker to Internet
explorer. It adds security to Outlook and Outlook express. If you
have an AMD64 processor, it adds Enhanced Virus Protection that
prevents certain types of malicious code gaining control of the OS
after a buffer overrun. SP2 updates approximately 5 million lines of
code. It does so much more than you can "see".

Still a perfectly valid question as far as I can see. The only visible
things are the pop-up blocker, the security centre and the firewall.

When you think you can download pop-up blockers and firewalls in 3 meg
downloads, where's the other 84 meg going? We're there really that many
problems with XP when it shipped? Makes you wonder what you're paying
for exactly.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.754 / Virus Database: 504 - Release Date: 9/6/2004





---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.754 / Virus Database: 504 - Release Date: 9/6/2004

Serious question - why is SP2 so big?

It's about (80 to 100 MB for users fully up to date with XP patches and is
200 plus MB for those who haven't been applying patches.

Let's say it is a average minimum of 90 MB. That is very big. Why is it so
large?

First of all, your statement "It doesn't do much" is totally wrong. SP2
consists of many updates and hotfixes combined into a single package. It
replaces a great number of system files with updated files that correct
security issues, compatibility problems, etc. It incorporates major
elements of SP1, and the hotfixes and critical updates issued since then.
It replaces the Windows firewall with a completely new (but still very lame)
version. It add the new Windows Security Center. It incorporates a pop-up
blocker to Internet explorer. It adds security to Outlook and Outlook
express. If you have an AMD64 processor, it adds Enhanced Virus Protection
that prevents certain types of malicious code gaining control of the OS
after a buffer overrun. SP2 updates approximately 5 million lines of code.
It does so much more than you can "see".

Bobby

"Mixxy" wrote in message
.. .
Serious question - why is SP2 so big?

It's about (80 to 100 MB for users fully up to date with XP patches and is
200 plus MB for those who haven't been applying patches.

Let's say it is a average minimum of 90 MB. That is very big. Why is it
so
large?

List of fixes in SP2

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;811113

New features in SP2

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/features.mspx

None of it is particularly sexy or has Wow appeal for end users but it is
all critical and I'm sure it was a massive engineering exercise.

--
Regards

John Waller

To add:

The full size of SP2 is 266MB, not 80-100MB. What the OP is looking at there
is the average size of the express download from Windows Update. It only
contains SP2's specific security updates, and any missing critical updates.
The full package contains all critical updates since WinXP's original
release. Someone who has never or rarely updated will recieve a much larger
express package.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"NoNoBadDog!" mypants_bjsledgeATpixi.com wrote in message
...
First of all, your statement "It doesn't do much" is totally wrong. SP2
consists of many updates and hotfixes combined into a single package. It
replaces a great number of system files with updated files that correct
security issues, compatibility problems, etc. It incorporates major
elements of SP1, and the hotfixes and critical updates issued since then.
It replaces the Windows firewall with a completely new (but still very
lame) version. It add the new Windows Security Center. It incorporates a
pop-up blocker to Internet explorer. It adds security to Outlook and
Outlook express. If you have an AMD64 processor, it adds Enhanced Virus
Protection that prevents certain types of malicious code gaining control
of the OS after a buffer overrun. SP2 updates approximately 5 million
lines of code. It does so much more than you can "see".

Bobby

"Mixxy" wrote in message
.. .
Serious question - why is SP2 so big?

It's about (80 to 100 MB for users fully up to date with XP patches and
is
200 plus MB for those who haven't been applying patches.

Let's say it is a average minimum of 90 MB. That is very big. Why is it
so
large?

So that you only have to click on one file to install, rather than 40 or 50
or so (not counted) critical updates post SP1

Jon


"Mixxy" wrote in message
.. .
Serious question - why is SP2 so big?

It's about (80 to 100 MB for users fully up to date with XP patches and is
200 plus MB for those who haven't been applying patches.

Let's say it is a average minimum of 90 MB. That is very big. Why is it
so
large?

I was expecting to see a large-ish entry in Add/Remove after installing SP2
(express installation). What I do see is "Windows XP Service Pack 2....Size
0.83MB"
Am I misunderstanding something here??

"Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" wrote:

To add:

The full size of SP2 is 266MB, not 80-100MB. What the OP is looking at there
is the average size of the express download from Windows Update. It only
contains SP2's specific security updates, and any missing critical updates.
The full package contains all critical updates since WinXP's original
release. Someone who has never or rarely updated will recieve a much larger
express package.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"NoNoBadDog!" mypants_bjsledgeATpixi.com wrote in message
...
First of all, your statement "It doesn't do much" is totally wrong. SP2
consists of many updates and hotfixes combined into a single package. It
replaces a great number of system files with updated files that correct
security issues, compatibility problems, etc. It incorporates major
elements of SP1, and the hotfixes and critical updates issued since then.
It replaces the Windows firewall with a completely new (but still very
lame) version. It add the new Windows Security Center. It incorporates a
pop-up blocker to Internet explorer. It adds security to Outlook and
Outlook express. If you have an AMD64 processor, it adds Enhanced Virus
Protection that prevents certain types of malicious code gaining control
of the OS after a buffer overrun. SP2 updates approximately 5 million
lines of code. It does so much more than you can "see".

Bobby

"Mixxy" wrote in message
.. .
Serious question - why is SP2 so big?

It's about (80 to 100 MB for users fully up to date with XP patches and
is
200 plus MB for those who haven't been applying patches.

Let's say it is a average minimum of 90 MB. That is very big. Why is it
so
large?

"Mixxy" wrote in message
.. .
Serious question - why is SP2 so big?

It's about (80 to 100 MB for users fully up to date with XP patches and is
200 plus MB for those who haven't been applying patches.

Let's say it is a average minimum of 90 MB. That is very big. Why is it
so
large?




What the hell did you expect it do?

ss.

Don't rely on that size indicator, it's frequently wrong.


"coliboy" wrote in message
...
I was expecting to see a large-ish entry in Add/Remove after installing
SP2
(express installation). What I do see is "Windows XP Service Pack
2....Size
0.83MB"
Am I misunderstanding something here??

"Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" wrote:

To add:

The full size of SP2 is 266MB, not 80-100MB. What the OP is looking at
there
is the average size of the express download from Windows Update. It only
contains SP2's specific security updates, and any missing critical
updates.
The full package contains all critical updates since WinXP's original
release. Someone who has never or rarely updated will recieve a much
larger
express package.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"NoNoBadDog!" mypants_bjsledgeATpixi.com wrote in message
...
First of all, your statement "It doesn't do much" is totally wrong.
SP2
consists of many updates and hotfixes combined into a single package.
It
replaces a great number of system files with updated files that
correct
security issues, compatibility problems, etc. It incorporates major
elements of SP1, and the hotfixes and critical updates issued since
then.
It replaces the Windows firewall with a completely new (but still very
lame) version. It add the new Windows Security Center. It
incorporates a
pop-up blocker to Internet explorer. It adds security to Outlook and
Outlook express. If you have an AMD64 processor, it adds Enhanced
Virus
Protection that prevents certain types of malicious code gaining
control
of the OS after a buffer overrun. SP2 updates approximately 5 million
lines of code. It does so much more than you can "see".

Bobby

"Mixxy" wrote in message
.. .
Serious question - why is SP2 so big?

It's about (80 to 100 MB for users fully up to date with XP patches
and
is
200 plus MB for those who haven't been applying patches.

Let's say it is a average minimum of 90 MB. That is very big. Why
is it
so
large?

NoNoBadDog! wrote:

First of all, your statement "It doesn't do much" is totally wrong. SP2
consists of many updates and hotfixes combined into a single package. It
replaces a great number of system files with updated files that correct
security issues, compatibility problems, etc. It incorporates major
elements of SP1, and the hotfixes and critical updates issued since then.
It replaces the Windows firewall with a completely new (but still very lame)
version. It add the new Windows Security Center. It incorporates a pop-up
blocker to Internet explorer. It adds security to Outlook and Outlook
express. If you have an AMD64 processor, it adds Enhanced Virus Protection
that prevents certain types of malicious code gaining control of the OS
after a buffer overrun. SP2 updates approximately 5 million lines of code.
It does so much more than you can "see".

Still a perfectly valid question as far as I can see. The only visible
things are the pop-up blocker, the security centre and the firewall.

When you think you can download pop-up blockers and firewalls in 3 meg
downloads, where's the other 84 meg going? We're there really that many
problems with XP when it shipped? Makes you wonder what you're paying
for exactly.

"NoSpam" wrote in message
...

Still a perfectly valid question as far as I can see. The only visible
things are the pop-up blocker, the security centre and the firewall.

When you think you can download pop-up blockers and firewalls in 3 meg
downloads, where's the other 84 meg going?


We're there really that many problems with XP when it shipped?

Yes, and there will still be problems no doubt.

Makes you wonder what you're paying for exactly.

Yes

--
Apollo

NoSpam writes:
Still a perfectly valid question as far as I can see. The only visible
things are the pop-up blocker, the security centre and the firewall.

When you think you can download pop-up blockers and firewalls in 3 meg
downloads, where's the other 84 meg going? We're there really that many
problems with XP when it shipped? Makes you wonder what you're paying
for exactly.

It might be something similar to Norton Antivirus. Every couple
of days they often download a substantial fraction of a megabyte
for an update.

I don't think any company could hire enough competent people to
churn out a good part of a megabyte of new software every few days.
But there is an alternative. Suppose they had written a hundred
different programs to make this work. SUppose they only needed to
change a single line in each one. The old promise that dll's were
going to mean that windows programs were going to be smaller than
pre-windows programs never happened. When they recompile all 100
of those programs they then have to send you the complete 100
programs all over again.

So, there might be 100 massive screwups in XP that are supposed to
be fixed with SP2, actually there were estimates that there were
many thousands of massive screwups when XP was first shipped, but
be generous here, one per program, Microsoft changes a line or
two in every one, more in some of them, recompiles all of them
and now has to send you 100 different megabyte or multimegabyte
programs for the update, even though often only a half dozen bytes
really got changed in any one of them.

Make me a nice cuppa in the morning. Is that too much to ask?

What the hell did you expect it do?

Did you even bother to read what I posted? Are you that dense?

Bobby


"NoSpam" wrote in message
...
NoNoBadDog! wrote:

First of all, your statement "It doesn't do much" is totally wrong. SP2
consists of many updates and hotfixes combined into a single package. It
replaces a great number of system files with updated files that correct
security issues, compatibility problems, etc. It incorporates major
elements of SP1, and the hotfixes and critical updates issued since then.
It replaces the Windows firewall with a completely new (but still very
lame) version. It add the new Windows Security Center. It incorporates
a pop-up blocker to Internet explorer. It adds security to Outlook and
Outlook express. If you have an AMD64 processor, it adds Enhanced Virus
Protection that prevents certain types of malicious code gaining control
of the OS after a buffer overrun. SP2 updates approximately 5 million
lines of code. It does so much more than you can "see".

Still a perfectly valid question as far as I can see. The only visible
things are the pop-up blocker, the security centre and the firewall.

When you think you can download pop-up blockers and firewalls in 3 meg
downloads, where's the other 84 meg going? We're there really that many
problems with XP when it shipped? Makes you wonder what you're paying for
exactly.