Dear friends, I just wanted to let you know - esspecially the Germans, where the magazine "ComputerBild" offers the Service Pack 2 on a CD-ROM - DO NOT INSTALL THE MS Windows XP Service Pack 2!!! I had massive problems nothing worked after I had install this sh.. MS - or better SM - Pack 2. Poser 5 was very slow during initialisation but ... Vue 4 Pro started to initialize but then crashed. I didn't came further than the first small start window at the very beginning. Even reinstall of Vue didn't help anything. Now after clicking on Vue just nothing - like clicking on the empty desktop space. Using an older Windows reconstruction point didn't help either. Nothing ............. but then ;-) I totally uninstalled this sh.. MS Windows XP Service Pack 2 and yeah my beloved Vue sweety is back!!!!!!!!!! So, be carefull! Yours, Bernie

Contact E-on software, if they aren't already aware of any issues with Service Pack 2 (and aren't already working on an update for those issues as they should be) they need to be aware of this as soon as possible as it will affect everybody with Windows XP eventually.

Thanks for the warning! I have been hearing nothing from evil things from various sectors. The list of applications that SP2 affects is a mile long and growing.

Attached Link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=884130

Perhaps someone should take it upon themselves to report the Vue problem to Microsoft.

Or at least to e-on.

Interesting. I am having absolutely no problems after installing SP2. Maybe I didn't install it correctly! ;-> Perhaps it is somewhat dependant on the hardware.

Yeah....it always goes like this. Some individuals have terrible problems with the upgrade. Others merely blink and then say: "Whatta you talkin' about? It worked just fine for me." I've been on both sides of the equation at one time or another.

Actually, it might be the online update function in Vue 4 Pro that is having problems with the XP update. (I don't have XP...I'm a W2KPro user) I notice in most articles I've read about incompatability, and even in that MS article at the link XENOPHONZ posted, the online applications are affected the most. Folks who want to update XP might want to disable this function in Vue 4 Pro first and see if that helps. My graphics machine is isolated from the net, so I don't get the Vue 4 Pro updates pushed to me.

Hmm. This is why XP SP2 has been in beta so long, because it breaks apps. Developers have been aware of this now for several months, like at least 6. There are definitely some gotchas to it, but I have installed it on 10 systems without a hitch, everything still works fine. So it can most definitely depend on the system, drivers, devices, etc.. Before you upgrade, perform a complete backup, update all your device drivers to the latest versions and same with your apps. Regards, Paul

Absolutely no problems with running Vue Pro or Poser 5 after installing SP2. FWIW I have XP's firewall disabled (using Norton Internet Security) and I have eon blocked from accessing the net.

Hey guys, when you are comparing if Win XP SP2 and Vue are getting along: Don't you think it is a good idea to give information about: - What XP you are using (Prof or Home) - Which which country version you are using (both XP and Vue) - If you are connected to a network or not while using (crashing) Vue. To my knowledge most "improvement" of SP2 have to do with network security (e.g. firewall and so on) Might be that these minor details could cause already different effects. Just a thought....

I've posted this over in the Community Center forum:

OK -- after reading about the experiences of others, both positive and negative -- and after seeing what happened to one of my co-workers: I decided to gamble and load SP2.

I took precautions such as setting System Restore points and checking backups.

The transition went as smooth as silk. No problems at all.

Not only that, but my system seems to be running faster. And with greater stability.

People's experiences appear to be coming in mixed.

As for Poser and Vue Professional -- they are both working flawlessly. They both seem to be more stable than before.

-- XP Home
-- US version Vue Professional

BTW - Under SP2, the default Windows firewall helpfully informed me that Vue Pro was attempting to contact the internet, and did I wish to allow it to do so? The firewall dialog gave me "Block", "Unblock", and "Ask me later" options.

Just curious, why have you chosen to keep the MS firewall enabled if you're already using ZoneAlarm Pro? Are there advantages to doing this? Thanks for any advice, I haven't summoned the courage to install SP2 yet.

xoconostle --

I should explain that I have TWO machines at home -- networked together. I have a hardware firewall/router.

One of the machines has XP Pro, and has ZoneAlarm Pro installed.

The other machine has XP Home, and does not have ZoneAlarm installed.

I've upgraded the XP Home machine to SP2. Not so yet for the XP Pro machine, with ZoneAlarm. So I've got another machine to "test" with SP2. We'll see how that one does.

So far, the Windows firewall hasn't caused me any trouble. And I am very pleased with SP2 overall. Based upon my experience at home, I can recommend SP2 -- but with the caveat that you should do a system backup prior to the upgrade. Unfortunately, it's not always working out so well for some others.......

I've heard that various firewalls operating on the same PC tend to interfere with one another. I'll probably try both for a while, and then go with one or the other.

If you go to the symantec site and read their FYI's, they'll tell you (among others) that you should not run two firewalls on the same machine. Glad to hear your installation went well Xenophonz. I want to try it, but I haven't got brave enough yet. I also ordered the disc from Microsoft so I don't have to wait for the download. Plus I have two machines I want to try it on.

OK -- I've upgraded the XP Pro machine to SP2, also.

No problems whatsoever. Everything is working great -- perhaps even better than before.

MeInOhio -- I hope that you have a likewise seamless experience.

Another thing about the windows firewall -- it's only one way. It protects against incoming but doesn't stop anything trying to get out.

Another thing about the windows firewall -- it's only one way. It protects against incoming but doesn't stop anything trying to get out.

I've heard this said, too. But based upon my own experience, I tend to doubt that it's true:

After the SP2 upgrade, the Windows firewall asked me if I wanted to allow Vue Professional and Poser to contact the internet, or if I wanted to block the programs from doing so.

I don't know if the Windows firewall behaves this way for everything, but it does for both Vue and Poser.

well as mentioned just disable the windows firewall and use a third party one and nemas problemas, vue will work just fine and most apps on that compatibility list aswell.

Then the question remains: Why does Vue/Vue Pro need access to the internet? What information is being gathered or sent via the internet and to where? -Paul

Automatic upgrades.