Re: XP SP2 and Group Policy

From: Russ (Russ.Cooper_at_RC.ON.CA)
Date: 08/17/04

  • Next message: Brian Bergin: "Defect in installer for Antivirus Corp Ed 9.0.1.1000 when upgrading from 9.0.0.x" 
    Date:         Tue, 17 Aug 2004 13:40:24 -0400
To: NTBUGTRAQ@LISTSERV.NTBUGTRAQ.COM

    You know what they say, patience is a virtue...;-]

    So, the following from a very reliable source regarding the GPEdit fix;

    1. Windows 2000 (all SPs), Windows Server 2003 (including SP1), and Windows XP (pre-SP2) are all affected by this problem. The fix is available separately for each affected platform. Microsoft Support has had them available for a while. The W2K fix is up on dowload.microsoft.com. The others are not (RC: yet, but IMO, will likely be soon.)

    2. Do not simply copy the W2K files onto W2K3 or XP (pre-SP2). If you need W2K3 or XP fixes, call Microsoft Support.

    3. I'm assured that hotfixes are "supported", it says so in the KB itself ("a supported fix is available...")

    4. All reports I have received indicate that the fix is working smoothly.

    I never said this problem prevented GPOs from working. Whether you apply this fix or not, GPOs will continue to be delivered to all of your clients. This is true even if you edit the GP to include XP SP2 specific information/templates. The problem is simply in trying to edit GPs that include XP SP2 functionality from a platform other than XP SP2. If you do, you receive repeated errors. Further, if you do edit them from an XP SP2 system, and subsequently edit them from another system, you will truncate the "Explain text" included with the XP SP2 features.

    None of this is life-threatening, but an annoyance and something that may cause alarm to people already skeptical of XP SP2.

    Maybe more importantly, it should have been addressed in a better way. Having to call Microsoft Support to get a fix because you want to deploy XP SP2 isn't ideal for many NTBugtraq subscribers. I called, and they were quick, and didn't charge me for the call to ask for the fix. Others might not be used to such ease with Microsoft Support, and still more can't easily call a North American 1-800 number and may not find Microsoft Support quite so easy from their home country.

    Cheers,
    Russ - NTBugtraq Editor

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