# Windows XP SP2 issues **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050 "2004-09-25T16:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/1 "2004-09-25T16:27:46Z")
A friend of mine downloaded SP2 for my Windows XP program last week. Ever since then, anything requiring me to enter a password other than yahoo (and the Dope, thank god) doesn’t work, it just presents an error page after I type in my password and enter. I have Netscape dial up and can’t even _get_ to the password screen in order to get my mail. My “friend” who will never get w/in 10 feet of my computer again has no idea what the problem is. I’ve tried putting my internet default settings on, changing my security settings to default, nothing seems to work. The only thing I’m sure of is that something in Netscape doesn’t seem to be playing nice with SP2 and seems to be causing this. Does anyone have any ideas? It’s driving me crazy! ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/2 "2004-09-25T16:39:19Z")
That’s very odd. I’d try using a different browser, like Opera or Mozilla, and see if the problem is there too. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/3 "2004-09-25T17:03:31Z")
Go to [http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242) and scroll down to ENABLING PROGRAMS. You might find something there (and further on) that will bail you out. Only yesterday, I asked my computer guru (my daughter in law) about the advisability of downloading SP2. **Her** guru said to wait until Microsoft provides the patch to remedy the problems you (and many others) are experiencing with SP2. I wish you well. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/4 "2004-09-25T17:06:36Z")
> [@Antiochus](#): > > Go to > > [http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242) > > and scroll down to ENABLING PROGRAMS. You might > find something there (and further on) that will bail you out. > > Only yesterday, I asked my computer guru (my daughter in law) > . Spend a couple hours there yesterday trying every single troubleshooting manuever described. Nothing worked. I could kill my friend who put SP2 on my computer. He insisted I needed it and now that my comp’s screwed up he’s just throwing up his hands and giving up. “Oh, so sorry I screwed up your computer, bye!” :mad: I’ll try a different browser **Revtim** , thanks. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/5 "2004-09-25T17:12:37Z")
**Revtim** , I’m looking at the Opera download site now, and it says “free to try, $39.00 to buy”. Do you know of any browsers I can download that I don’t have to _buy_? I really don’t have money to throw at this problem and it makes me absolutely livid that I would have to in order to fix my friend’s screw-up (especially considering I never asked him, nor particularly wanted him to touch the damned thing!) ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/6 "2004-09-25T17:29:28Z")
[URL=http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/Mozilla Firefox is completely free & is open-sourced as well. It works very well for me, and I haven’t had any trouble using Firefox with SP2. (Though I did uninstall SP2 due to problems it caused with other programs, like bittorrent.) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/7 "2004-09-25T17:43:44Z")
I concur with **RandomLetters** and recommend FireFox. Here’s the URL again: > **[Firefox is more than a browser](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/products/)** > > It’s a whole family of products designed to keep you safer and smarter online. I use Mozilla, their other browser, which is also good. [http://www.mozilla.org/products/mozilla1.x/](http://www.mozilla.org/products/mozilla1.x/) It’s a bigger download though, since it includes a suite of apps you likely do not need. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/8 "2004-09-25T17:46:11Z")
Also, you could simply uninstall SP2, I think it’s included in the “add/remove programs” menu. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/9 "2004-09-25T17:47:47Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > **Revtim** , I’m looking at the Opera download site now, and it says “free to try, $39.00 to buy”. Do you know of any browsers I can download that I don’t have to _buy_? I really don’t have money to throw at this problem and it makes me absolutely livid that I would have to in order to fix my friend’s screw-up (especially considering I never asked him, nor particularly wanted him to touch the damned thing!) You can download the free version of Opera and use it for as long as you want, it seems. With the free version, you’ll experience a little advertising that you have to live with, but other than that, it´s ok. I’ve had it for many moons, and use it now and then. Never paid a cent, nor was I tempted to get the paid-for version. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/10 "2004-09-25T17:55:21Z")
I agree about the free version of Opera. There’s a banner ad in the upper right portion of the screen which is easily ignored. However, in the past couple of days I’ve started to use Firefox. It seems designed to look very much like Internet Explorer, so the transition should be easy. Also, it seems fast, but that may be just a perception. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/11 "2004-09-25T17:57:35Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > A friend of mine downloaded SP2 for my Windows XP program last week. Ever since then, anything requiring me to enter a password other than yahoo (and the Dope, thank god) doesn’t work, it just presents an error page after I type in my password and enter. BTW, what exactly does the error page say? Knowing that may help in finding the cause. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/12 "2004-09-25T18:07:43Z")
Okay, I’m downloading **Firefox** now and if that doesn’t work, I’ll uninstall SP2. I’ll let you all know if any of this works, thanks very much for the help. **Dewey** , it’s just a standard “this webpage is unavailable, the server is either too busy or you need to adjust your browser settings” error page. And yes, I’ve done everything the page said to do to adjust my browser settings… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/13 "2004-09-25T20:10:46Z")
What is SP2? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/14 "2004-09-25T20:13:26Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > What is SP2? Service pack 2. A group of fixes to program glitches undiscovered at time of original program release. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/15 "2004-09-25T22:20:34Z")
Well, **Firefox** is great and I’m able to log into my internet banking, netscape mail and all sites requiring passwords. Unfortunately msn messenger still doesn’t work. I uninstalled and re-installed it (with a different passport no less) and it still stays “unrecognized user name or incorrect password” Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/16 "2004-09-25T22:44:35Z")
In Internet Explorer, select Internet Options from the Tools menu. Select the Security tab and then click on Default Level (to reset the security settings to the default values). Does that make a difference in what websites you’re able to access or allow you to use MSN Messenger? ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/17 "2004-09-25T23:30:31Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > In Internet Explorer, select Internet Options from the Tools menu. Select the Security tab and then click on Default Level (to reset the security settings to the default values). Does that make a difference in what websites you’re able to access or allow you to use MSN Messenger? Yeah, I did that about 20 times to no avail. It made absolutely no difference. The password glitch is fixed now that I’m on the Firefox browser (thanks **Revtim** ) now it’s just msn messenger that’s giving me grief. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/18 "2004-09-26T00:12:15Z")
My guess is that whatever you need to do to fix the problem in MSN Messenger will correct it in Internet Explorer. In other words, it’s not two problems, it’s one. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/19 "2004-09-26T00:44:52Z")
Seems like a logical assesment. It’s gotten to the point where I’m considering junking msn messenger and getting yahoo instead and just staying with the Firefox browser. It just seems easier than being constantly frustrated and pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050/20 "2004-09-26T00:55:50Z")
Before you stop using MSN and change your preferred chat program (thus making you unavailable to your MSN friends and stuff), try downloading and using [Trillian](http://www.trillian.cc/) as your chat program. It bundles MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ and IRC all together. Lots of people I’ve talked to find it confusing to use. It even confused me for a while until I learned it, but now it’s cool. You don’t have to actually use Trillian exclusively BUT it might give you more insight on why MSN isn’t working for you, or might make MSN work for you (by that I mean chatting over MSN using Trillian), or you might get some good help making Trillian’s MSN work for you on their [forums](http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/forums/). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-sp2-issues/266050.md?page=2)