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Thread ID: 46719	2004-07-03 06:32:00	Windows XP SP2 RC2	overdrive_5000 (1684)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
249415	2004-07-03 06:32:00	Hello again people im just trying to download the Windows XP SP2 RC2 through windows update but cant find it there is there anywhere else that i can download it from?	overdrive_5000 (1684)
249416	2004-07-03 06:49:00	Hi OD5 - Coincidentally, I was just readin a blurb about RC2 on a US site, and I might just hold off for a while......As follows: Whatever you do, don't install RC2 on a machine that does real work, or you're bound to end up unhappy. But if you have an old XP machine sitting around doing nothing useful, by all means give it a try. In fact, it's a good thing to do because it will help you assess which of your favorite apps is likely to be affected when you install the real thing. So, if you have a second machine, install RC2 and then test out your usual apps, try swapping and changing hardware and software, and give it a good work over. In particular, spend some time testing out communications programs, as the new firewall is bound to affect some of these. It's still not clear when the final version will be released. Microsoft was hoping for a mid-July release, but it's highly likely that deadline will pass us by. As we said last time: that's good news. Microsoft needs to focus on getting things done right, not getting things done fast. In the meantime, make sure your current XP system is well patched. A number of resurgences of worms such as Netsky and Sasser have been taking advantage of unpatched Windows systems. Should you upgrade? Installing SP2 is almost guaranteed to break some of your existing applications, or at least make them behave strangely. That's thanks to the new firewall, turned on by default, and other security features such as beefed up browser security. Despite the difficulties, upgrading to SP2 is a must. Unless you know one of your critical apps is at risk, you shouldn't let that deter you. With threats of all kinds -- viruses, phishing scams, browser hijacking, operating system exploits, data theft, and so on -- increasingly common, your will most assuredly want this service pack. And other, non-security features, such as the enhanced wireless networking support, increase SP2's desirability. Chances are, with a little tweaking you can get all existing programs working again, and you can always turn the Windows Firewall off and revert to your existing, well-tested firewall instead.	Scouse (83)
249417	2004-07-03 06:59:00	> Hello again people im just trying to download the > Windows XP SP2 RC2 through windows update but cant > find it there is there anywhere else that i can > download it from? Search the Microsoft site, as I think its in there somewhere, but it won't be in Windows update. > Windows XP SP2 RC2 RC2 stands for "Release Candidate 2" - in other words, it hasn't been officially released yet; the current version is the second (possibly of many) candidate for final release. It is still in beta (or testing) phase, so if it passes through a set period with no issues/bugs/whatever then it might be officially released. Up until it is officially released, it must be treated as beta software. Mike.	Mike (15)
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