This is getting silly on Microsoft’s part. Those SP3 updates we’ve been talking about for Windows XP might do some more harm than good. Some users have reported that the update causes their computers to endlessly reboot, something a few updates for Windows 95 did over a decade ago.
Intel users appear to be in the clear, the problem affects computers with AMD chipsets primarily. Some Intel machines have the problem, but not many.
So far Microsoft is mum on the issue, though we’re confident that it has a team working on the issue day and night, fueled by Sparks.
A fellow Minnesotan named Jesper Johansson (I think that name MIGHT by Scandinavian) has a great article about how to fix a problem that seems to be plaguing AMD-based computers after upgrading to Windows XP Service Pack 3.
If you find that your computer either doesn’t boot or constantly reboots after you’ve upgraded to SP3, try the following;
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The Windows Update version is supposed to be about 70mb, but is anyone really in that much of a hurry? This is the slow-cooked chef’s special version as opposed to the pan-sear for the consumers over at Windows Update. You know you like that slow cooked flavor of Service Pack stewed in its own juices. Man, I’m making myself hungry. What are you waiting for? Get downloading!
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system.
This file is a CD image file for users who wish to create an update CD for Windows XP Service Pack 3, for example for offline installation by administrators.
Thanks to those who alerted us.
Enjoy now!
Gateway is said to be launching three new lines of desktop computers tomorrow. One aimed at gamers, one for online media enthusiasts, and a line of entry level computers for average users.
For gamers, the FX series is the place to start. Gateway is highlighting the FX541, with it’s SLI motherboard, dual PCIe x16 slots, and has a factory overclocked NVIDIA 8800 GT video card.
If you’re into watching movies on your desktop or you’re a BitTorrent freak, you’ll want to look at the GT series. They feature a variety of configurations and can include AMD’s odd triple-core processor. Starting at $549, they have 15-in-1 card readers in the front, integrated NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE or ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphic cards. The machines all have large hard drives to manage your large media libraries.
The DX series is a no-frills budget line for Mom and Dad. They’re similar to the GT line, but also include A/V in/out jacks on the front for editing home movies.
These lines come pre-loaded with Windows Vista, except the DXDX442XP which can ship with Vista or XP. It’s notable that a PC giant like Gateway is still bundling XP as an option, something that can’t make Ballmer happy.
You’ll be able to get machines from these lines tomorrow at Gateway.com
Apparently the service packs for Microsoft’s Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems aren’t playing nicely with another one of Microsoft’s products; Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System.
The incompatibility is a big enough problem that the automatic updates for Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 have been shut down for a while.
Here’s more from CNET…
“We are temporarily holding any additional automatic distribution of Windows Vista SP1,” Microsoft said in response to an inquiry from CNET News.com. The company said it will continue to make Vista SP1 available for manual download. Microsoft had just started pushing out the Vista service pack last week via automatic updates.
“While we are recommending that customers running Microsoft Dynamics RMS should not install SP1, there are many other customers who can benefit from installing Windows Vista SP1 immediately, so we are maintaining availability via (Windows Update),” Microsoft said. “We are delaying the release of Windows XP SP3 and holding any additional automatic distribution of Windows Vista SP1 as a precaution and to help ensure that our customers have a great experience with Windows.”
Nice, huh? Oh well. Pobody’s nerfect.
via [H]Enthusiast
You’ll soon be able to join the ranks of happy XP owners and download SP3 online. If you don’t want to wait for the updater to pick it up you can apparently download it here as well. It might be a horrible virus called Vista, though, so be afraid. Just kidding.
Will Microsoft extend the life of Windows XP after all? Steve Ballmer told reporters today that “If customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter,” according to the Associated Press.
He conceded that most of the customers who are still buying XP are IT departments but said that “most people who buy PCs today buy them with Vista. That’s the statistical truth.” Gee, thanks Steve. I’m not sure about the last time you were in a Best Buy store, but you may have noticed that XP isn’t an option on most new computers unless you order them online and/or customize them yourself.
The XO laptop from the One Laptop Per Child project was originally supposed to make inroads into the developing world and low-income areas for the free and open source community. But OLPC’s founder thinks that the Sugar OS is scaring off investors and buyers alike. He says:
"One can be an open-source advocate without being an open-source fundamentalist."
Which is true, but I think that’s a bit disingenuous when you’re ostensibly trying to provide simple, efficient, and low-cost computing to people who’ve never seen a mouse before. He complains that Sugar doesn’t support the latest Flash framework, required for many children’s sites, but can’t they just push a patch out? I’d guess there’s a lot more to it than that, and a proven OS might draw a few more investors. Open Source and Linux are definitely entering the mainstream, but I think compromises like this will have to be expected for a long time to come.
According to the Windows SuperSite blog, Dell is planning to support Windows XP through 2012, another four years. What’s not clear is Microsoft’s involvement in this, as its said that this would be XP’s last year on many occasions.
Also, the site claims that Audible is finally coming to Zune. Support for the popular audio book site’s been a standard on iPods for years now, adding support for its format to Zune players is only good for the #2 PMP. If you’ve never listened to a “book on chip” from Audible, give it a try, it’s actually quite usable.
Okay then. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently told a group of Microsoft MVPs (Most Valuable Professionals) that Vista is “a work in progress” and then asked, “Can we just sort of kiss that stone and move on? Because it turns out many things become problematic when you have those long release cycles.”
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On June 30th, Microsoft will stop selling Windows XP. According to the Associated Press, some people aren’t too thrilled “that Microsoft has the power to enforce the phase-out from a stable, decent product to one that many consider worse, while profiting from the move.”
Better start a petition, huh? Galen Gruman of InfoWorld has done just that with the “Save Windows XP” online petition. It’s gathered over 100,000 signatures since January but Microsoft “has declined to meet with Gruman to consider the petition.”
While some may point to the immortal words of Homer Simpson — “Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is; never try.” — the real key to keeping XP around for a bit longer may rest with businesses. Analysts predict that Windows XP’s business usage will be at around 70 percent by year’s end and, although support for XP will be offered until April 2009, it’ll be pretty interesting to see how companies react to any new computers they order after June of this year being preloaded with Vista.
Windows XP is one of the two available OSes for the Eee PC, but there’s a problem: The Eee PC is fairly new, but Microsoft has publicly said it is planning on killing XP in the near future. That would put purchasers of the minuscule laptop up the creek, support-wise.
There are rumors, though, that MS will stay the execution of XP for small laptop owners, a very quickly growing market segment.
There’s no confirmation from MS, of course, but this would mean that XP would stay in the tech world at least another year, and hold off Vista for those with new hardware that’s just not up to the task.
Chris Pirillo has found a method for upgrading to Vista from XP without activation. It’s a seamless upgrade in the System folder and has been confirmed by Microsoft. Hurry, before they close the loophole.
For those of you who use Windows but shun Vista for XP, you’re in luck, as the third (and last) service pack for the OS is in the release candidate phase, the last step before going into beta and then public.
Microsoft has said it will be done by the end of June, but its developers were working hard on getting it out sooner. Now it’s looking like the June deadline is hittable, and a sooner release looks unlikely.
This final service pack is good news for those putting off or avoiding Vista as it gives their favorite Windows OS a little longer to live, but support for XP will likely end in 2010.
Take a look around the cubicles at Asustek headquarters and you’ll see nary a March Madness bracket worksheet in sight. No, the good folks at Asus are making a much bigger, bolder bet. A bet that will shock and amaze all who dare to entertain the thought of — wait for it — an Eee loaded with XP outselling an Eee loaded with Linux.
Dun-dun-DUUUUN!!! And with that, I’ve tried my best to make an entertaining and provocative post out of relatively dry information. The delicious caramelized onions of the story include the following factoids; first, Asus says that the XP version will outsell the Linux version by a 6 to 4 ratio. I’m pretty sure they could have just made that a 2 to 3 3 to 2 ratio but hey, tomorrow’s Friday.
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There aren’t many XP machines that get my drool factory started, but the Duros from Roper is one. It’s a ruggedized tablet PC, ideal for worksites, demolition fields, or Rehab if your last name is “Lohan”.
It’s not just tough, it’s powerful, given it’s size: inside the tough shell is a vibration-proof chassis with a 1GHz Celeron or AMD Geode LX 800, 1GB RAM standard, 40GB HD, 64GB SSD, WiFi-g, Bluetooth, GPS, and GSM-based 3G connectivity.
It’s strapped to be mounted on whatever your heart desires.
The Duros [Roper, via PC Launches]
It seems that Microsoft will stop selling XP licenses after June 30 — so sad — so what is a poor country boy with Vista to do? Well, InfoWorld is reporting that you can, in some circumstances “downgrade” to XP using OEM disks or subscribing to the OS using services like CenterBeam. Clearly this doesn’t help Joe Little Guy with a bum copy of Vista, but it’s nice to know IT shops don’t have to take the plunge — yet — and still have some XP options.
How to get Windows XP after June 30 [Infoworld]
Newegg.com has the 2GB Asus Eee PC available in black, blue, or pink for $299. Three-day shipping is available for around $10. This model is pretty similar to the 4GB version that’s been on the market for a couple months except that it’s got half the storage and no built-in webcam.
ASUS Eee PC 2G Surf [Newegg.com]
I know at least two people who’ve recently bought laptops with Windows Vista pre-installed who returned them that very day. When we realized what a PITA installing XP can be on some of these new laptops (with new hardware and unknown drivers, etc.), it was the only thing left to do.
Toshiba, it seems, feels our pain, as the new Satellite T31 laptop that just debuted comes with recovery disks for both Vista and XP recovery disks, which means drivers for both OSes. Awesome.
The laptop itself isn’t too shabby, with a 2GHz Core 2 Duo proc from Intel, a 15-inch 4:3 LCD, and support for up to 4GB of RAM. The other options are build to order.
Toshiba T31 [Akibahara]
I won’t bore you with all the details of a recent XP-vs-Vista benchmarking test except to say that it involved Office 2007 productivity tasks, XP with Service Pack 3 Beta, and Vista with Service Pack 1 Beta. XP whipped through the test in 35 seconds, while Vista took 80 seconds. Both tests were run on a Dell 2GHz Core 2 Duo with 1GB of RAM.
I will tell you what Microsoft representatives had to say about the results of the test.
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