Slow XP

[Ray]

I see that Microsoft has released Windows XP Service Pack
1, which essentially destroys XPs operating speed. I
still use Windows 98SE because I wanted to wait for
Microsoft to work the bugs out of XP first but it seems
that now Microsoft will sabotage it's own operating system
and refuse to fix it. Why would a company do that? I
have watched similar things done to Internet Explorer.
Pop up and Pop Under advertisement windows have made using
the internet a negative and aggravating experience. Other
browsers allow an end user to prevent pop ups and pop
unders. This strongly suggests that there must be some
financial reason that Microsoft would allow this sort of
Guerilla Advertising in its internet browser. And it is
no secret that there is a leap frog formula whereby the
software is made so cpu-cycle intensive that it forces end
users to buy faster hardware but the cycle never ends.
What is also clear is the obvious trend to allow outside
agencies and companies to have more and more control over
individual's computer systems. Sending information back
out to web sites, applying patches automatically in the
background, tracking user habits and activities. By it's
very nature, these practices will eventually get out of
control. It is completely self limiting and eventually
the abuses and liberties being taken at the end
user/customers expense will kill the very thing it wishes
to control, peoples online and computing experience. This
can only go on for so long and the buying public as a
whole will continue to become more educated and wise about
computers, especially when the digital generation gets
older. Wouldn't it be better for Microsoft to start
operating in a friendlier manner? Or is it just that
Microsoft has grown so large that it has grown out of
control?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

I see that Microsoft has released Windows XP Service Pack 1, which essentially destroys XPs operating speed.

A few detailed occurrences of the 'destuction' would be helpful.

I still use Windows 98SE because I wanted to wait for Microsoft to work the bugs out of XP first but it seems that now Microsoft will sabotage it's own >operating system and refuse to fix it.

To fix what *exactly* - again a few details from yourself would help.

Why would a company do that? I have watched similar things done to Internet Explorer.

Again a few more details would help.

I'm not going to any further with answering your posting as I believe that you perhpas haven't got the 'correct' PC to run XP.

Will

 

[Testy]

This can only go on for so long and the buying public as a
whole will continue to become more educated and wise about
computers, especially when the digital generation gets
older.

If that were true then the previous problems you stated would be irrelevant.
Learn how to use your computer.

Testy

 

[Will Denny]

Sergey, where do you get your info from regarding SP2 - several other people have said the same, but AFAIK, ATM, there is no SP2 for XP.

Will

 

[Tommy]

Oh, and I forgot to tell you where to get a good pop-up
stopper if you still want one.

www.panicware.com has a great free pop-up stopper. I used
it for a while and I bought the prof. version last week,
Since buying it, I haven't received any pop-ups (I even
tested it by going to the rom and mo3 sites). So the free
version works well and the prof. version is well worth the
$30.

 

[Sergey]

SP2 is not yet released though the fixes comming out now
will all be included in SP2. The specific fix i was
talking about is on my home computer and i can e mail it
to you after i get home from work, its about 500k. Unless
you are employed by Microsoft you don't know the release
date for SP2. My guess on it is sometime in september or
october. I get my information from Computer Forums and
sites. The best would be www.Arstechnica.com a great site
on news and it has the best Forums out there. If you have
a computer related qestion they can help pretty fast. Just
post in the right Forum.

Sergey

-----Original Message-----
Sergey, where do you get your info from regarding SP2 -

several other people have said the same, but AFAIK, ATM,
there is no SP2 for XP.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

I don't work for Microsoft, but I can assure you that there is no SP2 in the offing ATM.

Will

 

[sergey]

Clearly you are misunderstanding me. I am not saying SP2
is out. I am saying the fixes you get now will come with
sp2 since sp's are just a pack of fixes some of which were
already released. the fix that fixes the effect of sp1
making win XP slower was released however is now not on
the microsoft dl page that i know off. I dont know where
you got your information of me saying there is a sp2
because no where in my msg did i say there is a sp2 now.
I even said that my guess on its release is september or
October. You will notice in add and remove programs that
some critical updates say sp2 thats because they will come
with it when it comes out.

Sergey

-----Original Message-----
Hi

I don't work for Microsoft, but I can assure you that

there is no SP2 in the offing ATM.

 

[Will Denny]

I still can't understand where you got the info that there 'might' an SP2 for XP.

Will

 

[Ray]

Please see the article at
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,111108,00.asp

This should explain everything. Please see the article
below in it's entirety. Thank you for your polite
approach, do remember that I am addressing Microsoft, not
you personally. My feeling is that products should be
designed to actually work most of the time. I feel like a
hamster on a hamster wheel when I have to make constant
patches, upgrades etc. including being constantly vigilant
to guard against viruses and hacker vulnerabilities. The
thing that burns me the most is that the programs and
plugins used on web sites are constantly being changed and
tweaked which require a user to constantly patch and
update their own system. And of course the "improvements"
always contain their own bugs and vulnerabilities which
bring smaller aftershocks of patches and tweaks. I feel
very strongly that right now, the marketing departments of
software and computer hardware companies are directing the
so called "improvements" and successive iterations of
computer software and hardware. It creates this endless
cycle of upgrades which bleeds the customer of every last
cent that they feel they can part with. I'm sure that
this is intended to keep the real computing enthusiasts
hypnotized by every new nifty program and fastest cpu so
they will spend every free penny on it. Those of us who
are a little more balanced when it comes to budgeting
money are left very frustrated. If computers in general
and the internet experience specifically were more user
friendly and less strewn with landmines and marketing
traps, chances are very likely that the sales would
explode. Look at how many people have televisions.
Imagine the same number of people having computers with
internet accounts. Turn it on, surf, read shop and
relax. That's a money maker. Not patch, patch, patch,
repair, re-install the operating system, delete disgusting
pornographic email and try to figure out how someone on
the other side of the globe got your credit card number
and is now assuming your identity. Again, please see the
article below.


********************************************************

Bugs and Fixes: A Big Microsoft Mess--Patches Gone Bad

The company now says that XP performance issues don't
warrant a remedy.

Stuart J. Johnston
From the August 2003 issue of PC World magazine
Posted Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Last winter, Devin Wood of Milford, Massachusetts,
installed Service Pack 1 for Windows XP. Right after that,
his PC got slower, and he's been unhappy with it ever
since. "I'm sick of watching my desktop icons draw like
someone is inside my computer with an Etch-A-Sketch," says
Wood.

We received many similar reports from readers after SP1
rolled out (go to "Proceed With Caution When Using
Microsoft Patch"). Several months later, Microsoft said
that it had released patches to fix the performance snags.
But now we get the bad Microsoft admits that it
didn't address readers' problems, and the company says it
has no plans to fix the situation at all.

Here's how the saga unfolded: When Microsoft first
released the supposed fix, it told us that the only way to
get help was to call Microsoft (see June's Bugs & Fixes
at "Leaky Windows--Keep the Hackers Out"). Hordes of
unhappy XP users picked up the phone. Some readers said
company technicians told them there was no fix for XP
performance woes. "The tech denied the problem [existed],"
recalls Devin Wood. But other readers spoke to techs who
were aware of the problem, and they received e-mail
messages with a link to a fix. It turns out that some of
these readers were directed to one patch, and others to a
different (unrelated) patch. Neither fix took care of the
problem. (If you installed either one of these two
patches, your PC won't be affected, according to
Microsoft.)

Double Trouble
The first patch, a "hot fix" labeled Q815411 (details
at "Heap Algorithm Update for Atypically Large Heap
Requests") was aimed at a small set of corporate
customers. Hot fixes are quickie patches that Microsoft
creates when users run into specific problems.

"The patch was mislabeled," says Greg Sullivan, lead
product manager with Microsoft's Windows group. "This
enterprise hot fix was created for PCs running under very
specific circumstances."

The second patch, labeled Q811493, was a revised security
fix affecting Windows XP, 2000, and NT. Microsoft had to
withdraw the original security fix because it introduced
performance lags for some SP1 users. Visit "Buffer Overrun
in Windows Kernel Message" and click Technical Details for
Microsoft's notes about the reissued patch.

After this crazy runaround, we continue to receive
readers' reports about sluggish PCs relating to SP1.
Nevertheless, Microsoft doesn't believe that the problem
deserves a patch.

"[We've] not received broad general feedback about
performance issues with SP1," Microsoft's Sullivan tells
us. "Therefore, [we're] not currently developing a widely
applicable patch."

Some readers have uninstalled SP1 to get performance back.
Visit "Microsoft Windows Service Pack 1 Readme" for
Microsoft's notes on how to remove SP1. Sullivan doesn't
advise users to do this, but it seems to be your only
(extreme) option. Sullivan also says that, in general, you
don't need SP1 to get future updates, although some
updates (known as quick-fix engineering updates) do
require SP1.

Microsoft's site doesn't offer an easy way to submit a
complaint. Send your SP1 reports to (e-mail address removed).

Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing editor for PC World.
Click on the link for more Bugs and Fixes columns.

-----Original Message-----
Hi

Pack 1, which essentially destroys XPs operating speed.

A few detailed occurrences of the 'destuction' would be helpful.

Microsoft to work the bugs out of XP first but it seems
that now Microsoft will sabotage it's own >operating
system and refuse to fix it.

To fix what *exactly* - again a few details from yourself would help.

things done to Internet Explorer.

Again a few more details would help.

I'm not going to any further with answering your posting

as I believe that you perhpas haven't got the 'correct' PC
to run XP.

 

[Ray]

Netscape and Opera web browsers allow you to prevent pop
ups/unders. That function is integrated right into those
browsers. Pop ups/unders should be treated like a virus
and those two web browsers allow you to do just that. Ask
yourself why Internet Explorer doesn't. Follow the money.

Also see the article at
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,111108,00.asp .

*********************************************************


Here's the article:

Bugs and Fixes: A Big Microsoft Mess--Patches Gone Bad

The company now says that XP performance issues don't
warrant a remedy.

Stuart J. Johnston
From the August 2003 issue of PC World magazine
Posted Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Last winter, Devin Wood of Milford, Massachusetts,
installed Service Pack 1 for Windows XP. Right after that,
his PC got slower, and he's been unhappy with it ever
since. "I'm sick of watching my desktop icons draw like
someone is inside my computer with an Etch-A-Sketch," says
Wood.

We received many similar reports from readers after SP1
rolled out (go to "Proceed With Caution When Using
Microsoft Patch"). Several months later, Microsoft said
that it had released patches to fix the performance snags.
But now we get the bad Microsoft admits that it
didn't address readers' problems, and the company says it
has no plans to fix the situation at all.

Here's how the saga unfolded: When Microsoft first
released the supposed fix, it told us that the only way to
get help was to call Microsoft (see June's Bugs & Fixes
at "Leaky Windows--Keep the Hackers Out"). Hordes of
unhappy XP users picked up the phone. Some readers said
company technicians told them there was no fix for XP
performance woes. "The tech denied the problem [existed],"
recalls Devin Wood. But other readers spoke to techs who
were aware of the problem, and they received e-mail
messages with a link to a fix. It turns out that some of
these readers were directed to one patch, and others to a
different (unrelated) patch. Neither fix took care of the
problem. (If you installed either one of these two
patches, your PC won't be affected, according to
Microsoft.)

Double Trouble
The first patch, a "hot fix" labeled Q815411 (details
at "Heap Algorithm Update for Atypically Large Heap
Requests") was aimed at a small set of corporate
customers. Hot fixes are quickie patches that Microsoft
creates when users run into specific problems.

"The patch was mislabeled," says Greg Sullivan, lead
product manager with Microsoft's Windows group. "This
enterprise hot fix was created for PCs running under very
specific circumstances."

The second patch, labeled Q811493, was a revised security
fix affecting Windows XP, 2000, and NT. Microsoft had to
withdraw the original security fix because it introduced
performance lags for some SP1 users. Visit "Buffer Overrun
in Windows Kernel Message" and click Technical Details for
Microsoft's notes about the reissued patch.

After this crazy runaround, we continue to receive
readers' reports about sluggish PCs relating to SP1.
Nevertheless, Microsoft doesn't believe that the problem
deserves a patch.

"[We've] not received broad general feedback about
performance issues with SP1," Microsoft's Sullivan tells
us. "Therefore, [we're] not currently developing a widely
applicable patch."

Some readers have uninstalled SP1 to get performance back.
Visit "Microsoft Windows Service Pack 1 Readme" for
Microsoft's notes on how to remove SP1. Sullivan doesn't
advise users to do this, but it seems to be your only
(extreme) option. Sullivan also says that, in general, you
don't need SP1 to get future updates, although some
updates (known as quick-fix engineering updates) do
require SP1.

Microsoft's site doesn't offer an easy way to submit a
complaint. Send your SP1 reports to (e-mail address removed).

Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing editor for PC World.
Click on the link for more Bugs and Fixes columns.

 

[sergey]

Do you mean how i know there will be an SP2?
If so then thats plain common sense! MS always releases
SP's. Just ask Microsoft if there will be a SP2 for win
XP. They will say yes.

Sergey

 

[Will Denny]

A 'pop-up' is **not** a virus. It may be a b* nuisance, but it is not a virus and can't even be treated like a virus - completely different format for getting rid of them. Suggest that you have a look at a computer dictionary.

Will

Netscape and Opera web browsers allow you to prevent pop
ups/unders. That function is integrated right into those
browsers. Pop ups/unders should be treated like a virus
and those two web browsers allow you to do just that. Ask
yourself why Internet Explorer doesn't. Follow the money.

Also see the article at
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,111108,00.asp .

*********************************************************


Here's the article:

Bugs and Fixes: A Big Microsoft Mess--Patches Gone Bad

The company now says that XP performance issues don't
warrant a remedy.

Stuart J. Johnston
From the August 2003 issue of PC World magazine
Posted Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Last winter, Devin Wood of Milford, Massachusetts,
installed Service Pack 1 for Windows XP. Right after that,
his PC got slower, and he's been unhappy with it ever
since. "I'm sick of watching my desktop icons draw like
someone is inside my computer with an Etch-A-Sketch," says
Wood.

We received many similar reports from readers after SP1
rolled out (go to "Proceed With Caution When Using
Microsoft Patch"). Several months later, Microsoft said
that it had released patches to fix the performance snags.
But now we get the bad Microsoft admits that it
didn't address readers' problems, and the company says it
has no plans to fix the situation at all.

Here's how the saga unfolded: When Microsoft first
released the supposed fix, it told us that the only way to
get help was to call Microsoft (see June's Bugs & Fixes
at "Leaky Windows--Keep the Hackers Out"). Hordes of
unhappy XP users picked up the phone. Some readers said
company technicians told them there was no fix for XP
performance woes. "The tech denied the problem [existed],"
recalls Devin Wood. But other readers spoke to techs who
were aware of the problem, and they received e-mail
messages with a link to a fix. It turns out that some of
these readers were directed to one patch, and others to a
different (unrelated) patch. Neither fix took care of the
problem. (If you installed either one of these two
patches, your PC won't be affected, according to
Microsoft.)

Double Trouble
The first patch, a "hot fix" labeled Q815411 (details
at "Heap Algorithm Update for Atypically Large Heap
Requests") was aimed at a small set of corporate
customers. Hot fixes are quickie patches that Microsoft
creates when users run into specific problems.

"The patch was mislabeled," says Greg Sullivan, lead
product manager with Microsoft's Windows group. "This
enterprise hot fix was created for PCs running under very
specific circumstances."

The second patch, labeled Q811493, was a revised security
fix affecting Windows XP, 2000, and NT. Microsoft had to
withdraw the original security fix because it introduced
performance lags for some SP1 users. Visit "Buffer Overrun
in Windows Kernel Message" and click Technical Details for
Microsoft's notes about the reissued patch.

After this crazy runaround, we continue to receive
readers' reports about sluggish PCs relating to SP1.
Nevertheless, Microsoft doesn't believe that the problem
deserves a patch.

"[We've] not received broad general feedback about
performance issues with SP1," Microsoft's Sullivan tells
us. "Therefore, [we're] not currently developing a widely
applicable patch."

Some readers have uninstalled SP1 to get performance back.
Visit "Microsoft Windows Service Pack 1 Readme" for
Microsoft's notes on how to remove SP1. Sullivan doesn't
advise users to do this, but it seems to be your only
(extreme) option. Sullivan also says that, in general, you
don't need SP1 to get future updates, although some
updates (known as quick-fix engineering updates) do
require SP1.

Microsoft's site doesn't offer an easy way to submit a
complaint. Send your SP1 reports to (e-mail address removed).

Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing editor for PC World.
Click on the link for more Bugs and Fixes columns.

-----Original Message-----
While Win98SE is a good OS, XP pro is so much better. I
thought asbout keeping my 98se, but then I realized I
don't really like it when I'm in the middle of doing
anything and my comuter decides to crash. Since I've gone
to XP, I haven't even gotten a blue screen.

And the thing about the pop ups and pop unders, that's not
really from IE, that's more from spyware and adware. A
simple pop-up blocker or ending frequent stops to porn
sights can fix that.

You do have to love people that talk to their Linux
buddies and actually listens to them...


.

 

[Will Denny]

I bow to your superior knowledge and I am left in defeat - 'woe is me'.

Will

 

[Tommy]

Yes, as Will said, pop-ups are not considered viruses, and
yes, some browsers give you the option to block pop-ups.
That said, those options rarely work. It may block some,
but believe, they aren't going to get near all of them.
Like I said earlier, the pop-ups you're complaining about
probably have to deal with adware and spyware on your
computer which have nothing to with IE or MS. I suggest
finding Spybot: Search and Destroy and running that a few
times.

 

[sergey]

I did not mean to br rude however all service packs are,
are packs of all the critical updates and some they havent
released on windows update. You will notice SP4 just came
out for win2k less then a month ago, win xp is due for a
sp since there are many bugs that need fixxing.

Sergey

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Sergey

You weren't rude - heck I have more 'backlashes' from my eldest daughter - and I only see her about 10 hours per week, Thank God. I'm afraid that I can't comment further on whether there will be an SP2 upgrade or not. As for XP 'needing a fix' - perhaps, perhaps not - I'm non-committal as usual.

Will