Microsoft Blues

Microsoft Blues

by: Tony Dean

With the advent of กService Pack 2ก for Windows XP operating system, Microsoft have really made the forums hum.

Every forum on computer problems is replete with complaints that since downloading and installing กSP2ก, many ‘third partyก applications don’t work.

This service pack was needed to keep viruses and trojans out of peopleกs computers when they are on the internet, but it has caused a world wide backlash against the software giant because peopleกs favored applications won’t work, or the computer crashes when they try to open them. Many people have said they will buy a Mac or try Linux instead.

What causes all this fury against Microsoft who are only trying to make surfing the internet safer?

Maybe there was an almighty rush to release this service pack before it had been thoroughly beta tested on all applications to see what the issues would be.

The complexity of this service pack is such that you really need to have a degree in I.T. just to set itกs parameters, instead of relying on itกs default settings, before you can successfully use it. It really needed a dvd movie to accompany it to visually show what you had to set before starting up any ‘third partyก applications, but this was not thought necessary because Microsoft were offering free technical support via a free phone number.

Some applications require that you open ports manually, but who would know that without clear instructions?

Some of the applications that need ports to be opened for them include the following: กVisual Studio.Netก, กSQLก, กBackup Exec 9ก, กGhost Server Corporate Edition 7.5ก, กSymantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.0ก, กSMS 2003 Serverก, กCuteFTP 5.0 xpก, กExceed 7.0 and 8.0ก, กKea! 340 5.1ก, กView Now 1.05ก, กMicrosoft Operations Manager 2000ก, กAutoCad 2004ก, กBackup Exec 9.1 4691ก, กWindows Scanner and Camera Wizardก, กCold Fusion MX Server Edition 6ก, กeTrust 6.0.100ก, กNetshield 4.5ก, กIBM Tivoli Storage Managerก …and the list goes on.

Many games won’t work. Games that need กDX9.0cก to run, are not supported by the กSP2ก, so games don’t run.

Virus scanning software by McAfee, Sourcenet, Sonic Wall, Command AntiVirus, either give error messages, or crash the computer.

Most scanners including Umax scanners may not work and give error messages, or continually reboot the computer.

Some of the features of Ebay Toolbar will cease to function. Users of Ebayกs Enhanced Picture Service are locked out.

Applications which may not work are programs that have to contact a server to work at all, some ftp, multimedia streaming software, กnew mailก notifications in some email applications. Some programs reported not working are webservers such as กInternet Information Servicesก (IIS), ‘remote Desktopก, กFile Sharingก.

Many large companies are so concerned about the applications incompatability issues that IBM have notified all staff not to install กSP2ก.

Complaints to ‘third partyก software suppliers are soaring as if it is their fault applications don’t work.

Even ebooks downloaded from the internet are refusing to fully open.

The only way to get these applications to work is to uninstall กSP2ก by going to กStartก then กControl Panelก then กAdd Remove Programsก.

Microsoft, as if to shove the blame on users, have warned that installing กSP2ก on a กspywareก infested machine is a กbad ideaก.

Summing up the proกs and conกs of installing กSP2ก, one forum poster stated it simply:

กWindows XP is incompatable with SP2ก.

About The Author

Tony Dean is a published author and runs a web site selling ebooks and software for immediate download:

http://www.ebooksales.com

To subscribe to his weekly ezine กEbookSales Ezineก send blank email: [email protected]

This article was posted on November 06, 2004

by Tony Dean