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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...
"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.
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.
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).