OT Windows XP SP2

[Hechler Family]

Boy are you SP2 downloaders in for a surprise. Really - stop and think 
what has to happen - MS - has - to know exactly what is installed on 
your PC - be it legal or pirated - in order to download and install the 
Service Pack. Based on the emails, after the download is an install 
step. Talk about security - do you really want MS to know exactly what 
is on your PC - PC configuration: how much memory; disk space usage, 
what is installed - legally or pirated, all peripherals - doesn't that 
equal invasion of privacy ! YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT MS HAS HIDDEN - 
POSSIBLE SPYWARE - IN THE SERVICE PACK -- ORDER THE CD TO BE A LITTLE 
SAFER !!!

Case in Point: In 1998, Blue Mountain Greeting Cards came out with 
Internet Greeting Cards but MS decided to come out with a new version of 
Internet Explorer - now you should be able to guess what happened - MS 
put in a hook to not only block but to delete Blue Mountain Greeting 
Cards before the recipient ever knew they received one. Blue Mountain 
sued and WON - MS admitted they put the block in because MS was going to 
come out with greeting cards of their own.

http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/law/st_org/iptf/headlines/content/1999031702.html

Bottomline: BEWARE,
Duaine

Cy Shuster wrote:

> I've just installed XP SP2. Its focus is on improving security, and it 
> has some nice features. However, it's a huge update (around 50 Meg to 
> download), and overall takes a couple of hours to install (downloading 
> is just the beginning!). Pick a time when you don't need the computer 
> for anything urgent, as there's a chance that you may have to fiddle 
> with it to get some particular program working again (TuneLab Pro's fine).
>
> If you only have dialup access, you will definitely want to order the 
> CD from Microsoft, rather than attempt downloading. If you have 
> Automatic Updates turned on, you might want to turn them off this 
> month, so Microsoft doesn't download them for you (it's on Control Panel).
>
> Here's an overview of the new features:
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx
>
> Before installing SP2, check your hardware vendor's site for any 
> SP2-specific updates which you may need to apply first:
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/oemlinks.mspx
> If your PC isn't on this list, go to Control Panel | System and click 
> the "Support Information" button.
>
> Also before installing, check this list of software for programs which 
> may be affected (notably old versions of ZoneAlarm). Update them first:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];xpsp2swhw
>
> Lastly, make sure you have lots of free disk space, and check your 
> file system for errors first (click Start, Help, and search for 
> "repairing disk errors"). After installing SP2, run the error check 
> again, and then defragment your C: drive (because of all the updates).
>
> Good luck!
>
> --Cy--
>  


-- 
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Organ, Pump Organ
Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
Associate Member of the Piano Technicians Guild
Reed Organ Society Member
St. Louis, MO 63034
(314) 838-5587
dahechler@charter.net