Microsoft Lists SP2 Incompatibilities

Microsoft has compiled a list of incompatible applications that are "broken" by Windows XP Service Pack 2. SP2 was released to manufacturing on August 6.

The service pack features numerous enhancements such as a new version of Internet Explorer that has a pop-up blocker and download manager built in; memory protection against buffer overruns; e-mail safeguards for Outlook Express; a stateful inspection firewall; refined permissions in RPC and DCOM; Windows Security Center; and new security settings for Windows Media Player 9.

Due to customer concerns over these incompatibilities, Microsoft has released a tool for network administrators that disables automatic updates to prevent any unplanned installations of the update.

Some large organizations, including IBM, have issued mandates instructing IT personnel to hold off on adopting the Service Pack until they are certain that mission critical applications are not at risk.