Microsoft Delays Windows XP Service Pack 2 399
Rinisari writes "DesignTechnica, among some others
, explains that Microsoft has once again delayed its release of Service Pack 2 for Windows XP, though only until August. Microsoft has declined to comment on the reason for the delay. Windows Update v5, however, is online and operational (and works with Service Pack 1!), although not officially so. I know many smaller education institutions are chomping at the bit with the looming release, as they are worried about compatibility with some of the new features in Service Pack 2."
Cannot validate the product key (Score:5, Interesting)
V5 Windows update (Score:2, Interesting)
they cannot be stopped.
What about Windows 2000 (Service pack 5?) (Score:5, Interesting)
Maybe a Sensible Move... (Score:5, Interesting)
I recall an operating system that was fairly rushed to get out, called Windows 95, that really sucked. Hopefully, though this is only an SP, the delay will prevent rush-to-get-it-out-crappiness.
sigSEGV - doy!
Comping at the bit about the wrong thing... (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm sure they're all worried about compatibility issues. Everyone is. But with school starting in August...and the release date in August...there's going to be zero time to work out the kinks before students start hitting the labs full force.
New Windows Update: Way different (Score:5, Interesting)
Means a delay on VPC7 too (Score:5, Interesting)
Or Microsoft is stalling because they're not finished with VPC7. One of the two.
Why not release July Security Service Pack? (Score:3, Interesting)
Why don't they just release an XP interim security service pack? Surely they have enough already working in SP2 that they can get at least SOME of the fixes out the door sooner?
Cripes, even something that just defaults a user's firewall to "on" and obscure ports to "off" would be a head start.
Normally I'd say fine, the longer the better - lets me get Firefox into wider distribution
Re:What about Windows 2000 (Service pack 5?) (Score:5, Interesting)
Microsoft are sort-of obliged to keep rolling out security fixes for 2K, but is a popup blocker a fix or a feature? They surely would love to have a lever to get us all moved onto XP.
[ot] windows update, without IE? (Score:3, Interesting)
hfc.
Re:Windows Update v5? (Score:2, Interesting)
http://www.iol.ie/~locka/mozilla/plugin.htm [www.iol.ie]
I'm curious but not enough so to put a hole like activex in firefox.
Re:Corp Keys (Score:5, Interesting)
blah...who cares? (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm much more looking forward to Mcafee's next release which will include a buffer overrun protector and its own spyware killer(which I bet will work a bit better).
--pete
Re:invalid product keys... (Score:4, Interesting)
Doesn't make much sense to me.. and makes me reluctant to use AutoPatcher.
This couldn't have worked out better. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:This couldn't have worked out better. (Score:3, Interesting)
This couldn't have worked out better if the Linux community had planned it.
1) Numerous recent IE exploits convinced thousands of people to try different browsers. These people (and likely a lot of their friends) have now realized that IE != The Internet.
2) Now, MS cuts off security updates to some of those users and other users who either got XP from a friend or bought a "bargain" PC from a fly-by-night outfit that used corporate keys.
3) The type of people mentioned in #2 don't like paying a lot for stuff. What are they going to do now as an upgrade path?: Try Linux for free, and/or pay several hundred dollars for an XP license?
Now, ever Linux user out there, here's your mission: Burn a dozen copies of Knoppix and hand them out to everyone that has issues with SP2. I see converts in them thar hills.
Re:invalid product keys... (Score:5, Interesting)
I don't see how you can come to this conclusion. Product Activation is a total non-event for the vast majority of customers. It's way less invasive than some of the other copy protection schemes the industry has seen over the years.
I sure prefer it to the fragile, tenuous daisy chain of serial port dongles I had in the 80s and it's way better than copy-protected media that was impossible to back up.
In the years I've been running XP, the product activation has caused me _zero_ difficulty, and that's on home-built hardware that's been upgraded and changed quite a bit over the years.
Longhorn (Score:2, Interesting)
Thanks!
Re:invalid product keys... (Score:3, Interesting)
Current prices according to MS:
XP Pro - $279.99 x 5 = $1,399.95
Server 2003 Ent - $3,999 x 2 = $7,998.00
--------------------
$9,397.95
Re:Maybe a Sensible Move... (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:invalid product keys... (Score:2, Interesting)
It was a fairly lengthy process but it worked just fine. Certainly less painful than other methods. One of the software products we run at work still uses a dongle, it's a complete PITA.