Microsoft Halts XP SP3 Update to HP PCs Running AMD Processors
The recent Windows XP Service Pack 3 update has left certain AMD-based PCs manufactured by Hewlett-Packard caught in an endless reboot cycle caused by an Intel-specific disk image mistakenly being used with AMD hardware. According to the Microsoft Update Product Team Blog, "The problem is a registry value, present on images created with Intel processors, that causes a driver (intelppm.sys) to load at boot."
In order to fix the problem, Microsoft has temporarily blocked these AMD machines from getting the service pack while it cobbles together an alternative update. While some users wait for Microsoft's fix to eventually be released, others have turned to a former Microsoft employee, Jesper Johansson, who coded up a free tool to detect and fix the problem and made it available last Wednesday. Once Johansson's fix has been implemented, users can update their systems to SP3 without any problems.
So while Microsoft is busy "investigating a fix" that's basically been readily available from one of its former employees since the middle of last week, consumers can also update their HP computers with a patch that was deployed last Wednesday, available here. To be fair, Microsoft does outline steps to resolve the issue here, but the process involves manually starting your computer in Safe Mode and tinkering with your registry, two tasks that are far beyond the skill set of most average computer users.
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AXION Studios
In the film and movie industry which we are in, we can't afford to jump in and install just any XP Service Pack that comes online... Everything on our systems can and will be at stake! or even lost!!
I decided way back when first looking into sp2 to hold out for a year and a half before we updated our systems. No problems once all those bugs were worked out...
This morning the opportunity arose once again to become 'Tempted' with the xp-sp3 updates....
Again after reading this sites post and over 20 other complaint related forums, its time once again to just sit back and let every other xp system owner who wants to 'beta' the sp3 beast... live and or in this case "Die" for us!!
Our advice.. Why would you want to 'beta test' this release?... If your SP2 systems are running fine... Don't download sp3 for at least 6 months or longer.. It's just an option friends, and your XP world won't come crashing down for not downloading it....
AXION Studios
In the film and movie industry which we are in, we can't afford to jump in and install just any XP Service Pack that comes online... Everything on our systems can and will be at stake! or even lost!!
I decided way back when first looking into sp2 to hold out for a year and a half before we updated our systems. No problems once all those bugs were worked out...
This morning the opportunity arose once again to become 'Tempted' with the xp-sp3 updates....
Again after reading this sites post and over 20 other complaint related forums, its time once again to just sit back and let every other xp system owner who wants to 'beta' the sp3 beast... live and or in this case "Die" for us!!
Our advice.. Why would you want to 'beta test' this release?... If your SP2 systems are running fine... Don't download sp3 for at least 6 months or longer.. It's just an option friends, and your XP world won't come crashing down for not downloading it...!!
AXION Studios
In the film and movie industry which we are in, we simply can NOT afford to just jump on the public band wagon and install any XP-SP versions that spring online...
Everything on and in our systems then becomes the potential victem and is then at stake!!
We decided way back when first looking into the XP-SP2 system updates to hold out for as long as one and a half years before updating our systems... We had not a single problem after all the bugs were smashed out of the SP2...
This morning once again we have become tempted to install Microsoft's final service pack under SP3.
After reading this sites post and over 20 other complaint related forums, once again we find our self's sitting tight only to watch other XP system owners "BETA TEST" this SP3-Beast...
It has turned into the same old thing... A live or in this case "Die" for us release!.
Our advise...
Stop beta Testing XP,SP3...
I agree with the previous post, that's one hell of a stammer btw bud!
It's MS all over, they seem to have the attitude that it's better to release unfinished applications and, instead of spending $$$ on R+D of this software, just let the unsuspecting end-user find the problems for them
A lot of end users don't see these updates as something they should have got when they bought the software for whatever ridiculous price
I think a lot see these 'critical updates' etc as new improvements to an already 100% complete piece of software when, in truth, these 'fixes' should have been implemented during the testing phase of the software when they should have found the bugs
Basic programming:
Analysis
Design
Implementation
Documentation
EVALUATION
MAINTENANCE
The evaluation & maintenance should of course be done prior to release
I wonder how many people would have went out & paid such XP if it was made clear on the packaging etc that it was unfinished?
Esskie