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XP Service Pack Slows Programs
AEton writes "Vnunet and others are reporting that Windows XP's Service Pack 1 has introduced a flaw into the operating system. Changes to memory handling code result in programs which often allocate memory (which is many of them) can take up to ten times longer than normal to start. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem in Q815411, and while a patch is available by request from Microsoft Product Services, it will not be widely released until Service Pack 2."
I genuinely am surprised that something like this could've slipped through the cracks.
Service Packs are suppose to be stable, extensively tested set of updates unlike hotfixes, and the bug description makes it sound like it could be a programming logic error, not a programming bug. I mean, they must've noticed *something* if certain programs take up to 10 times as long...
...why is it taking six months to learn the news. No one noticed their program startups taking TEN TIMES longer? I haven't noticed. How about providing a list of said programs and some benchmarks with these headlines? I'm not here to defend Microsoft, but I suspect the scope of the problem is limited and can wait till SP2 for most users.
"So it's entirely up to Microsoft whether or not to charge you for the fix to a problem they admit having! Of all the nerve."
Welcome to Microsoft's new "Captive Audience" pricing plan.
Remember kids, this is why monopolies that abuse their powers are bad.
Here's another thought...Wait until you (or someone trustworthy) has actual evidence of something like that, before spouting off?
Linux is cool, I have a dual-boot set up myself, but- I cannot reliably run 99% of the Windows games and many other programs i've spent hundreds of dollars on under Linux. Hence, I and many others like me can't just switch over to an all-Linux box, just because the Man at Microsoft might be slipping nasty stuff in that there's no evidence of.
I sat and ran my key generator for up to 20 minutes before I was able to get a valid key
Actually it only takes about 3 minutes to generate a valid key.
Did you read the KB article? "To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix." Not, "go to Windows Update to obtain the fix." I'm sure you can download the fix for free, but finding out how requires a call to Support Services, which will cost you if you don't already have a support contract (in which case it already cost you). From the tone of the KB article it's clear they don't want just anyone downloading this fix -- I'm guessing it's not fully tested -- and they probably want the Support droids to try and talk you out of it.
If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.
You've obviously never worked with PSS. If you want this hotfix, they will give it to you for free. You call PSS, say "I'm calling a known issue, Q so-and-so." They email you the hotfix in WinZip format and the password to unzip it.
.NET to install. About a thirty minute call there, including my callback to the support engineer.
They also helped me for free when I couldn't get Visual Studio
Knock MS all you want, PSS is pretty effective.
No, no... They stopped fixing it. That's different, y'see. :-)
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
Every new release of windows runs slower than the one before. Looks to me like MS is trying to stay ahead of the curve.
Tetris rules.
I did notice the slowdown.
XP took longer to boot. Some applications also took longer, like AOL, and some games.
I downloaded the patch, and everything ran faster. I'm playing C&C Generals at the moment, and the game did run a lot faster after installing the patch.
But see, only third party software actually has to use the documented interfaces to allocate memory, and so they're the only ones affected.
7 November 2006: The day Americans realized corruption and incompetence weren't addressing 11 September 2001
It looks like the pirates who weren't allowed to upgrade to SP1 have gotten the last laugh. Piracy does pay! Thanks MS, for pointing this out.
I thought the same thing. Unfortunately, I'm one of the pirates who used a crack which allowed me to install SP1. Now I regret what I have done.. no, not pirating WinXP, I regret installing SP1.
Fortunately, I don't use that WinXP box for much (at least not for booting WinXP).
Zoot!
Holy crap... I love the fact that every post that's been modded to 4 or 5 seems to be written by someone who doesn't use Windows.
FYI: It's not a big deal. I've been using SP1 for months, and haven't noticed anything. Obviously, so have a whole lot of other people.
It's nothing to get so worked up about.
(Posted AC because this will be flamebait to some people).
3 minutes on what kind of processor?
Considering the relatively large amount of people running a pirated version of WinXP, and haven't installed service pack 1, i'd say the problem is rather contained.
Remember: If you buy anything from spammers, you have a small penis.