Download Windows XP SP2 (RC1)

[zikronix]

rc1 has been out officially from M for about 2 mnths now...

 

[Fallen Kell]

Basically beta test their software...

I thought that was what they used the "final realeases" for anyway.

 

[unclebud]

much thanks to op for the info!

 

[lMlHuxley]

Ok, I didnt know they fixed that issue. I havent tried the beta in a month or so. Yeah, built in virus scan is the plan

 

[cronos]

i'll just wait for the release

 

[RagingBITCH]

This is great - XP managed to "lose" my wireless USB adapter so I'm going to have to reinstall that.

 

[SimMike2]

Google has a free toolbar that includes a fairly decent pop-up blocker. What I like about this blocker is it can easily be disabled for specific websites, such as Ebates and Dell, where you need to enable popups. It will remember these sites. Also use Spybot or something like it to keep your computer clean. The only popup I am fighting right now are the adx10 cr@p when I go to Yahoo.

 

[papaschtroumpf]

what do I google for to try out that 640-PID generator? I've got a "sacrificial" machine that I use for all sorts of experiments and I sure could use a new key.

 

[Flexicon]

Thanks for the info Chevydriver and RagingBITCH. I'm gonna pass, too. Who needs the headache?

SimMike2, Firefox lets you selectively allow pop-ups on certain sites, too. Tools, options, web features, add site. Done. IE bites no matter how much you dress it up.

 

[Crucial]

I am staying away from this like the plague. I had tons of problems after installing. Had to format and reinstall windows to clean it up.

Hot damn, I just went Platinum.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: papaschtroumpf
what do I google for to try out that 640-PID generator? I've got a "sacrificial" machine that I use for all sorts of experiments and I sure could use a new key.

Should most likely refrain from any sort of activity that condones/endorses/encourages/etc software piracy - at the very least with blatant disregard, in a public forum type setting.

 

[formulav8]

Love hi speed. Taking under 15minutes to download. I am not sure if I will install it yet though. Still debating. Hmm....


Jason

 

[CtlAltl33t]

"beta test Microsoft software"

lol, no thanks dude

 

[SoylentGreen]

Originally posted by: CtlAltl33t
"beta test Microsoft software"

lol, no thanks dude

No matter what you're running you are part of it anyway.

I think I'll ghost then give it a shot.

 

[pxc]

I've been running this release candidate since 3/24. No problems here.

 

[Souka]

Originally posted by: zikronix
rc1 has been out officially from M for about 2 mnths now...

No kidding.... old newz....

Anyways, I read somewhere that XP SP2 RC2 is coming in next month.....


I've used RC1 on a few systems and virtual machines...no problems. But some friends have had all sorts of probs... just be caareful.

 

[Shaorinor]

Only qualms I have about SP2 are that certain programs won't install...always hits an error. Programs I've noticed this on are: Fireburner and TMPGEnc.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: SimMike2
Google has a free toolbar that includes a fairly decent pop-up blocker. What I like about this blocker is it can easily be disabled for specific websites, such as Ebates and Dell, where you need to enable popups. It will remember these sites. Also use Spybot or something like it to keep your computer clean. The only popup I am fighting right now are the adx10 cr@p when I go to Yahoo.

How to you get the Google toolbar popup blocker to automatically disable at specific websites? I don't see it in the "Options."

 

[Placer14]

Muse: Hold either Shift or Ctrl while clicking. Don't rmemeber which.

Also...RC2 is due out this month according to: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1590320,00.asp

Been running sucessfully for 24 hours with no problems. I'm slightly satisfied. I think MS has already tarnished their brand to the point of no return.

 

[OCedHrt]

The IE Popup blocker (don't know if the sp2 one is the same as the add on that is availabe) and the current VIA Audio driver resulted in random blue screens when pages loaded I still think its the fault of the VIA Audio driver.

 

[amheck]

Did anyone else notice a substantial increase in the space used for install? On my HDD, I went from around 23gig used before install to 29 gigs after install. I don't know that this SP is worth 6 gigs of my HDD space.

Aaron

 

[Runamile]

I installed SP1 RC1 the day after release. It was fine at first, but after a few weeks went by I started hitting errors. Locks ups, memory/addressing errors, VERY slow startup. After about a month and a half it wouldn't boot. Had to reinstall. I liked the new features a lot, but too unstable. Bad experience, but I guarantee you I'll be dl'ing RC2 and give it a wirl

 

[thedealmaker]

I want to know how many brave souls out there actually install this beta onto their prime computer. There are already enough bugs in their real version, I can't imagine how bad it is for the beta version.

I have used pc for more than 13 years. In the old days, there was no such thing as beta version. Either it works or not or minor bugs. Nothing like this in the past. I remember that Microsoft was one of the first companies that start the whole update thing to fix bugs. Afterward, all companies followed suit.

 

[pxc]

Originally posted by: thedealmaker
I want to know how many brave souls out there actually install this beta onto their prime computer. There are already enough bugs in their real version, I can't imagine how bad it is for the beta version.

I have used pc for more than 13 years. In the old days, there was no such thing as beta version. Either it works or not or minor bugs. Nothing like this in the past. I remember that Microsoft was one of the first companies that start the whole update thing to fix bugs. Afterward, all companies followed suit.

:lol: if anything, software was just as buggy back in the "good old days". There was of course much simpler software back then on PCs (pre-Win 3.1), but feature for feature the bugs were about the same as now. Patching WAS a lot different back then... it's involved upgrades or mailed disks since email and the internet wasn't available to the general public. And there were many versions of software that were released in ALPHA condition... I don't know how you can't remember keyboard crashes in WordPerfect (and a lot worse) if you've used computers for 13 years.

I built my first system 15 years ago. Hardware stability (when not wrecked by unskilled fiddling) has improved more than I can imagine. Compared to Win95/98, software conflicts have decreased in Win2K and WinXP. Even with the beta SP2 RC1 installed my system is still rock solid -- and I did install it on my main system.

A lot of people blame their unstable hardware problems on Windows. Sure, Windows does have bugs (and I dare you to name ONE OS that doesn't), but when you install buggy device drivers written by the manufacturer, have unusual software conflicts, damage to files caused by hardware/software (not Windows)/buggy device drivers, is that really Microsoft's fault? The inexperienced user wouldn't know why their system crashed or why something doesn't work (even though the blue screen gives a very big hint, usually with device driver name or address that can be looked up), it's always Microsoft's fault.

I'll tell you what... for most of the problems that people have with their computer (including Macs), there is little MS or Apple can do (edit: in the operating system, at least) to solve problems with bad memory, overheated components, poorly seated heatsinks, degraded TIM/paste, dusty heatsinks, buggy device drivers or other software MS or Apple didn't write, or misc flaky hardware.