I installed SP2 yesterday on my IBM Thinkpad T40. Although it appeared to install without issues, after giving my system a once over I've noticed the following issues:

1) System initially was missing the start menu and taskbar at the bottom of the screen, this rectified itself after rebooting the system twice.

2) System takes significantly longer to boot up then it used to, not unreasonble times (I understand that SP2 causes your system to take a little longer to boot after the initial installation), but it's at least double to triple the time previously.

3) Windows Update no longer works properly. I've tried using Windows Update, the site opens, I receive a blank web page - done.

4) ActiveX driven webpages no longer work in IE. I don't even get a warning prompt to click-through. This makes it difficult to see if there are any additional updates (drivers, etc) on IBM's support website for my system that may help with some of the SP2 compatibility issues.

5) Printers have disappeared. When I try to add a printer I receive the following message: "Operation could not be completed. The print spooler service is not running."

6) Windows Messenger no longer works. I try to start the application, nothing happens.

7) Network connections no longer seems to work properly. The icons normally present in the lower right hand part of the task bar are gone. I cannot add any new network connections, however my computer is recognizing my wireless router.

The good news, all my other reasonably important apps to accomplish any work (Outlook, Outlook Express, Excel, Word, PPT) seems to be working without issue.

Luckily Firefox without issues (kind of ironic I think). Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for your time.

--Dan

In addition the issues I posted I am UNABLE to uninstall SP2 using Add/Remove programs in the Control Panel. Windows accepts the request, works for about 5 min, then tells me that it's unable to find the necessary program. I have not tried this yet in safe mode. Thanks again for any help.

--Dan

Originally posted by johnnyutah97:

"I installed SP2 yesterday on my IBM Thinkpad T40. Although it appeared to install without issues, after giving my system a once over I've noticed the following issues:"

My nephew told me about his "displeasure" with SP #2 for XP recently also & I witnessed the hassles with some apps... I know of ONE OTHER, that Microsoft REALLY needs to address:

Compressed Executeables with non-std. Win32 PE format loader headers on AMD CPU's - Yes, AMD has their opcode for stalling "buffer-overflow" attacks right, but how MS is using it? This IS in question, hell, more than that... it is wrong!

E.G.=> I use an .exe compressor to help give my work native in-built antivirus rudimentary protection (by checking .exe size & checksum + CRC on disk after loading into memory) & also to stop guys that use Disassembler tools (which things like DLLInjection & SoftIce/Windows Debugger are) & resource hacking tools (reshack etc.) from stealing OR corrupting my work!

ALOT of coders do this!

So... what is problem? Well, Microsoft's implementation of the 'buffer-overflow' stack smashing stuff is not checking to see first if a LEGIT tool (like ASPack 2.12) is being used, & to allow it to take place!

Yes, MS has built in (just found this out) an "exceptions list" to this in the security center iirc, & also allows you to use BOOT.INI switches to turn this buffer overflow AMD CPU opcode protect completely off... but, that latter method also opens you to viral attacks. The former exceptions list is better!

Anyhow, onto your questions:

Originally posted by johnnyutah97:

"
1) System initially was missing the start menu and taskbar at the bottom of the screen, this rectified itself after rebooting the system twice."

This is a KNOWN issue, & I see you got past it... many folks here as this released, panicked.

Originally posted by johnnyutah97:

"2) System takes significantly longer to boot up then it used to, not unreasonble times (I understand that SP2 causes your system to take a little longer to boot after the initial installation), but it's at least double to triple the time previously."

This is normal... more code == more weight & less speed.

Originally posted by johnnyutah97:

"3) Windows Update no longer works properly. I've tried using Windows Update, the site opens, I receive a blank web page - done."

You mention the cause next - Windows Updater functions HEAVILY on ActiveX/OLEServer/DCOM use... the little dialog box you see when you FIRST use 'Windows Update' asking you to "Always trust Microsoft" etc.? That's insert/loadtime of the DLL's needed for the Remote DCOM stuff!

Originally posted by johnnyutah97:

"4) ActiveX driven webpages no longer work in IE. I don't even get a warning prompt to click-through. This makes it difficult to see if there are any additional updates (drivers, etc) on IBM's support website for my system that may help with some of the SP2 compatibility issues."

You have to use IE's settings here afaik... you can set this to "warn" or use ActiveScripting/java script /Java/ActiveX controls, but I think MS has finally "locked this down" by default in IE to aid in protecting folks... a GOOD move on their end in the interim prior to rebuilding IE... IF this ever goes down that is!

Originally posted by johnnyutah97:

"5) Printers have disappeared. When I try to add a printer I receive the following message: "Operation could not be completed. The print spooler service is not running.""

That you can turn on 2 ways:

A.) services.msc

or

B.) Recovery Console & the commands in it of ENABLE (enable /? will let you see the commandline to use once you know the name of the service)

Try those...

Originally posted by johnnyutah97:

"6) Windows Messenger no longer works. I try to start the application, nothing happens."

This I have NO absolutely working fix idea on, just theory!

However, it's probably more ActiveX stuff!

NOW, there is an update to WM... 5.1 iirc! Snag it, see how it works! Was on this site's front-page news a couple days back...

Originally posted by johnnyutah97:

"7) Network connections no longer seems to work properly. The icons normally present in the lower right hand part of the task bar are gone. I cannot add any new network connections, however my computer is recognizing my wireless router."

This... I have NO idea on, sorry! The "mega network engineers" types here are of more use to you anyways!

Originally posted by johnnyutah97:

"The good news, all my other reasonably important apps to accomplish any work (Outlook, Outlook Express, Excel, Word, PPT) seems to be working without issue."

Sure, lol... makes sense - They're MS own stuff!

Originally posted by johnnyutah97:

"Luckily Firefox without issues (kind of ironic I think). Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for your time.

--Dan

"

You're welcome, those are my thoughts & facts I could offer on SP #2... I think it needs ALOT of work, especially on the AMD CPU opcode buffer-overflow protection I mention initially!

APK

P.S.=> Welcome to our forums & love the nickname/handle you use... from one of my FAV films of ALL time! apk

APK,

Wow - thanks for the quick reply, I'll try to tackle these issues one at a time (starting with the ActiveX/Windows Update issues). Currently I don't get any prompts whatsoever when I try to access an ActiveX webpage. I'll fiddle with IE's settings and hopefully get it to work (at least intially).

The problem I foresee is that it's currently set to prompt for permission for ActiveX... and I get nothing.

In hindsight I'm glad I got started on this update on the weekend - have a good one!

--Dan

So I started with an easy one - updating MSN Messenger. Got the following error message:

"MSN Messenger setup has failed with error code: '1601'. Please got to the MSN Messenger Website and download the software from there."

Which is exactly what I did - looks like it's going to be a long day. I think I see a lot of football in my future.

--Dan