Windows XP SP3 Creating Havoc

ozmanjusri writes "According to Information Week, within hours of its wide availability Windows XP SP3 had drawn hundreds of complaints from users who claim the update is wreaking havoc on their computers. One user said in a Microsoft newsgroup: 'I downloaded and installed [the SP3] package for IT Professionals and Developers on one of my computers. Now I can't get the computer to boot. I don't think Microsoft should have made this a critical update.' Other sites including IT Wire are also reporting problems, which include include random reboots or the inability to boot at all." Note that XP3 won't install on systems running beta IE8; and after a successful SP3 install users will no longer be able to downgrade from IE7 to IE6.

Nudge Nudge Wink Wing

[TheMeuge]

It may be paranoia, but I am considering that given the welcome that Vista has received, Microsoft had no choice but to do this. Producing two OSs that compete with one another is insanity... especially when the product that's winning is not the latest one.

So the solution is fairly obvious - if you can't improve Vista, you can make XP worse. That way, people know they're going to be dissatisfied with your product from the get-go, but at least they'll buy the latest one.

Just a quick thank-you

[LearnToSpell]

to all the beta testers out there. You know who you are! We appreciate all your hard work, and when we install SP3 several months from now, when it's ready for release, we'll be sure to think of you sucke^Wkind folks.

Re:Nudge Nudge Wink Wing

[DAldredge]

What is so bad about Vista?

Re:Remember a bad Kathleen Turner movie

[garett_spencley]

"Not that I'm a MS fan-boy, far from it."

Don't worry. I did not feel that was the message you were trying to put across at all.

Your message was clear and unambiguous. You're a fan-boy of murder for hire.

Re:One of the finest pieces of software ever made

[kalirion]

The rest of the people can't send in a complaint because their only computer won't boot.

Re:People mess with thier own machines..

[heritage727]

So as long as I don't install any software on my machine or do anything that changes the registry I'll be OK? I think the next computer I buy I'll just leave in the box. That way I'm sure not to have problems like this.

Finally they made XP secure

[g0bshiTe]

FTFA

The service pack should offer a number of enhancements over the current version of the OS, which Microsoft is phasing out after June 30th. It includes all updates issued since Windows XP Service Pack 2 was released in 2004, and some new elements.

I'm glad MS figured out how to secure Windows totally.

Re:Lost TCP/IP on my install yesterday

[the_wesman]

I just bought a Lenovo laptop with XP Pro for my wife that came yesterday

... your other wives, that didn't come, get nothing.

-w

Re:Oh Yes It Will

[MillionthMonkey]

I never installed IE7, so I've already avoided one flaming hoop right there already. Since I still have IE6, if I were to update to SP3 I wouldn't have to uninstall IE7 to get to XP SP3 + IE6 nirvana, so I avoid a second flaming hoop. It's more like a straightforward descent into hell with no annoying hoops in the way.

Re:One problem machine out of many installs

[pohl]

Sure, Vista kinda sucks, but all Windows versions kinda suck.

I'm not sure I see how your post qualifies as less of a microsoft-bashing post than the one you were responding to. Why must you say such negative things about the products of a poor, defenseless, beleaguered little 800lb gorilla!?

Re:People mess with thier own machines..

[bellers]

>>There are less-popular operating systems with upgrade / driver issues way worse than this.

Slackware, I'm looking at you.

Re:Remember a bad Kathleen Turner movie

[up2ng]

Now Kathleen Turner is as bloated as XP is, good comparison

Re:Nudge Nudge Wink Wing

[Mister Whirly]

Shhh! No fair bringing reality into the Microsoft bash fest!

omg

[Toreo asesino]

it totally thrashed my computer, now won't start at all - constant BSOD's. Also, there's a burning smell coming from the back of the tower; I could swear its killed the fan on the cpu too. Oh, and it constantly leaves the toilet seat up now when it goes to the loo, and keeps looking at my girlfriend's ass.

Fucking Microsoft.

*shakes fist*

Re:People mess with thier own machines..

[Sun.Jedi]

I find my servers work far better before users actually try to use them, or after I've kicked them off. /intended sarcasm

Re:One problem machine out of many installs

[Stanislav_J]

Some people still swear at Windows 2000 to this day, so I don't doubt that there will be people who will swear at Windows XP several years from now anyway.

There....fixed those typos for ya.....

Re:One problem machine out of many installs

[Anonymous Coward]

You can fix a botched libc update most of the time.

I botched mine on Gentoo, and it was quite easily fixed.

First I used the installation CD to boot the system, then I started recompiling libc and probably it's dependencies. Three hours later I installed Debian. Problem solved!

Re:One problem machine out of many installs

[operagost]

The difference is that Vista really does suck.

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Re:Nudge Nudge Wink Wing

[harry666t]

Wow, 140,000,000,000,000 copies is indeed great success. Who they've been selling to? Bacteria?

Re:One problem machine out of many installs

[InvisblePinkUnicorn]

I've been running OS upgrades on the same PC since Windows 3.1 without ever having to reformat...

...then I upgraded to Vista and my house burned down.

new plan

[TRRosen]

If you can't fix vista...Break XP

Brilliant

[slashdotlurker]

That is one way to boost Vista adoption rates.

Can't make Vista better ? No problem. Lets just screw Windows XP.

Re:One problem machine out of many installs

[filthpickle]

Why is it the some of the biggest and most vigorous defenders of MS refuse to pay for software?

I don't know if you are referring to me, or it just made you think of it, but I am neither a big nor a vigorous defender of MS. Like I said in the post, I am just citing my experience with Vista.

I am, however, an asshole and I do have a big mouth after about 3 whisky and cokes so you were half right.

Re:One problem machine out of many installs

[Moryath]

Better idea - why not just install Windows 2000 on the machine? It'll run great!

Dear participants of the SP3 public beta,

[Nullav]

Thank you for both warning and revenue.
Signed, the participants of the SP2 public beta.