I have been using Windows XP Service Pack 2 since beta. I had no problems with RC1 or RC2. I did use the firewall for a while just to see how it worked and form an opinion, but then I disabled it and just used either ZA or Trend Micro's personal firewall. Never had a problem.
Then the final release version came out. I installed it and could no longer communicate with anything. My computer talked with my wireless router at least long enough to get an IP address from DHCP, but I could not even ping the router, much less get out to the Web or anything else.
I ensured that the Windows Firewall was turned off. Still broken. I uninstalled my personal firewalls. Still broken. In the end I simply uninstalled SP2.
Has anyone had a similar experience or have any clues what the problem may have been? I liked SP2 during the RC1 and RC2 phases. I could probably eventually figure out the problem, but I am swamped with writing and its just not a priority of mine. Any help would be appreciated.