Skater

Woah! Happy B-Day MJ!!! That one flew right under the radar! -Skater

Once the Windows FW is enabled, it stays that way. The only thing I can think of is that ZoneAlarm is interfering with the Windows fw. This is very likely, because fw's usually do not play well together. The Sysmantec Internet Security fw works well with the Windows fw. HW fw's also usually like working in conjuction with the Windows fw, but many SW fw's do not, so bear that in mind. The only reason to run multiple (layered) fw's, is for increased security. -Skater

PG, I just don't understand how your DRAMATIC decrease in throughput can be attributed to the Windows firewall. I am running three firewalls, 2 software and 1 hardware, and my total drop in DELIVERED throughput is less than .02Mbps. Here is my test suggestion... Turn off the Windows fw and any other fw you may have, and do a bandwidth test. Then test with the fw(s) enabled. See if there is any difference. If there is a difference, it should be a very small one. I just can't believe that any fw, much less the weak Windows fw, is causing such a dramatic decrease in throughput. -Skater

Messenger 6.2 and WMP9 need to be reinstalled. The SP2 makwes changes to both Microsoft applets. Normally, on first use after installing the SP2, the reinstalls will be done. Only takes a few seconds. This is perfectly normal behavior. -Skater

Most likely an issue that your ISP is having technically, probably a temporary glitch. The Windows firewall, while it may take bit longer (in milliseconds) to filter data coming through it, does not limit throughput. Firewalls simply do not work that way. -Skater

Actually, the multi-machine network install of SP2 is better because it has all necessary files for install on a variety of different computers, with no need to download anything further. It is more stable, in my opinion, as well. -Skater

Bingo! that's the question I thinks a lot of folks want to know.. Answered in the post above yours. -Skater

yeah it has,ok heres another question,does it play good with any other firewall programs? for example zone alarm,or jimmysurf ad blocker?..or for that matter with symantec products? MS reccommends that you use only one firewall to avoid problems. They say use either their FW or use a third party FW, but not both. I say bulls**t! I use a three-tiered defense. I use a hardware firewall (Watchguard Firebox 700) as my Primary Layer. I use a software firewall (Norton Internet Security 2004) as my Secondary Layer. And I also use another software firewall (Windows SP2 FW) as my Tertiary Layer. It works fantastically. I have been using variations of my three layer defense for the last 8 or 9 years, and I have NEVER had a successful intrusion yet. I upgrade as the technology available (at a reasonable cost) improves, and so far, after thousands and thousands of attempts, not one hacker has made it through all three layers. Most are neophytes who do not have the skill to even try, but there have been a few good ones over the years that I have seen. Still, I have always prevailed. So the answer to your question is YES. It plays well with other firewalls, just ignore the MS warning not to do that. They are basically covering their ass against litigation with that statement. -Skater

Official SP2 Network Multi-Machine Install. Better than the single machine install, and more than 3 times the size, weighing in at about 272MB versus about 88MB. -Skater

It's the same here. I work for Merrill Lynch, and we are directing users not to install it, and have been doing so since RC1 was released to the net. This patch is huge and has a very wide scope, and our systems, some 300,000 desktops and other devices of which XP represents about 40% and soon moving to more than 75%, are not homogenized. Our internal patch verification and testing process has not finished certifying the SP2 package, and won't be finished for some time. It boils down to a manpower issue, and I suspect the same is true over at IBM. It will eventually be certified and released to our XP users via our internal processes, but for now, the answer to the SP2 question is no. It has nothing to do with whether SP2 works as advertised or not. IBM is an IT Services vendor of ours, and I know that is their policy as well. I have dissected the package at length, and it is probably 99% safe for all home users. The only issues I have seen were with some VB and VC, Powerbuilder and FoxPro created (homegrown) apps. I can also verify the MS CRM issue, but they released the patch on CD to all CRM users before RC1 was finished testing. CRM was not an issue for MS, the uswer base was not extensive, and including the fix in the SP2 package for all users would mean increasing the size of the SP2 MSI by more than 30%. Not really an option. Trust me guys. SP2 is completely safe to install. -Skater

Safe, and works great. The network install is actually the safest way to assure that you get a good install. It contains more alternative installs so as to ensure platform compatibility. The smaller single machine install is 88MB, barely a third of the size, and optional platform device compatibility is sacrifices for a more manageable code size. I always opt to use the IT/Developer versions whenever I can for this reason. None of my machines are of the pure vanilla variety, and this way, I make sure that my devices are covered as best as possible by the download. Go 'head and git' it. :) -Skater

Now that last one was fake, c'mon... I've been in the Nav for 16 years and never heard that one. -Skater

http://humaneventsonline.com.edgesuite.net..._video_wmv.html Typical of a politician. Do and say what you have to, to get into public office. This guy was planning his run for office before he even stepped on the plane to Vietnam. It's disgusting really. He dishonors all who served. -Skater

Aye Aye Chief... http://www.swiftvets.com/index.php?topic=KerryinVietnam guess their choice was doing what they did,or fragging...... The site has been swamped all day. Can't even get to it. It is a definite possibility that a certain political candidate's campaign may be performing a DoS attack here. The possibility has been raised, and again, it would not surprise me. -Skater

You mean www.news.navy.mil :) -Skater

Chief, try stuffing them into hot dogs. That's what I did with Roxy, and she had no problem taking the pills voluntarily then. :) I'm so happy to hear Chief is doing better. -Skater

Chief, (I have trouble calling you NavyChief, since I'm in the Navy, and we are the only ones with Chief's, so it's like an oxymoron or something) I've got a rottweiller that looks a lot like yours, except mine's a girl. Her name is Roxy, and she's my baby (since 1997). I love her to death, and even though this breed looks big and dumb and loveable, she is the best, smartest, and most loyal dog I have ever had. She's a beast of a dog, able to crush the largest, thickest, and hardest bones on the planet in her mouth as if they were made of chalk. Totally awesome! She routinely, when she wants to play, grabs me by the bottom of my jeans and procedes to drag my big ass around the yard. And I'm so small fry at 6'4" and 250lbs! I look like a professional football player, but Roxy could care less. She's the big dog and she knows it! I love that dog to death, and I can't even think how I would feel if anything happened to her. So my prayers are with you, and the other Chief in the house. I can only imagine how you feel, and what is going through your mind. I hope the big guy pulls through ok. Godspeed Chief. -Skater

:) Beat me to it! -Skater

No, it does not. Wordpad comes with the OS, not Word. Word is a part of the MS Office Suite of applications, and is a revenue product. It is not given away for free. -Skater

I don't care if it gets to beta 50! I want the best patch they can give me, and I don't care how long it takes. I am patient. LOMAC is plenty fun right now, the way it is. I don 't mind waiting. I appreciate every single minute they spend getting that patch right. And I speak from experience, I have beta tested more than 40 games and sims over the years. I know exactly how hard it is to do it. And another thing, in all my years of testing, I have NEVER seen this level of public status reporting. NEVER. It is unbelievable actually... Many thanks for that as well guys. Keep up the good work guys. When it's done, it's done. -Skater

Thank you Fates. I was just about to lock it myself. This one was going nowhere fast. -Skater

You gotta admit tho,it took big brass cojones to do it...lol you cant go on strike,you're all fired..that ought have been a good hint to daffy and his crew that this Mans MAN was not going be intimidated by anyone..yes the Man DID return Pride to the US Military,gone soon were the days of crossdecking,of hangar queens and of a military that was in a lot of ways in decline...but he did not only do that,he did it with a style and class thats rarely seen these days of 'they did it first'....Mr Regan,after your long goodbye into that dark night I Pray you are at Peace,as you touch the face of god I hope he holds you in his arms.... Well, certain industries should not be allowed to strike. ATC is one of them. It puts the public safety in danger and also endangers National Security. Reagan understood that. While I am all for organized labor, you simply cannot allow a strike that would endanger the public safety or a lapse in National Security. -Skater

Hear! Hear! I enlisted in '87, and so, came in at the tail end of his Presidency, but I still remember the greatness of his "600 Ship Navy" policy. The Navy was like no other during that time. It was amazing to be a sailor back then, and even on through HW Bush's Presidency. It all changed when "he, whose name shall never be spoken" took over. It was like being a pariah while that guy was President. It's a sad day for America, for a great leader, and a great man, has passed. May God grant him everlasting peace. -Skater

CNN was reporting today that Pat Tillman was probably KIA as a result of a fratricide. Tillman was posthumously awarded the SS and the PH. A Lt. Gen. conducting the press conference said that no one was to blame. It was a "fog of war" incident. -Skater

Agreed... Tragic indeed. I'm starting to believe in the Nuke and Pave method more and more every day. -Skater