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General discussion

Will XP's Service Pack Break Existing Apps?

Mar 5, 2004 1:46AM PST

Some software may not work on PCs with SP2 installed.

Joris Evers, IDG News Service
Friday, March 05, 2004
When Microsoft releases Service Pack 2 for Windows XP later this year, some software developers may find their applications no longer work on updated Windows machines.

Microsoft has made something of a trade-off with the update, focusing on security improvements at the expense of backward compatibility. The Redmond, Washington-based vendor is calling on all software developers to test their code against the beta version of Service Pack 2, or face the possibility that the update will break their handiwork.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) is more than the usual roll-up of bug fixes and updates. It is also being used to make significant changes to the software that are designed to improve security. These changes can render applications inoperable, Microsoft warns.

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,115093,00.asp

Discussion is locked

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This will cause MAJOR problems for users!!
Mar 5, 2004 2:27PM PST

How many users replace their machines, and expect their current applications to be useable? How many PC dealerships automatically install the current version of Windows in new machines using default settings as standard?

It won't be too long after launch that this becomes the standard OEM install issued to the stores, taking choice away from the customer. Look at my own situation, I upgraded hardware and got Win 98SE back on by my dealer, then they also added WMP 9 and IE 6 which I didn't have before, but never asked if this was okay to do.

So whenever a user buys a machine in the future, they can expect to have to shell out the same money and more all over again to buy the new software needed to run on it because whatever they now have probably won't work.

Suddenly, owning a new computer became a multi thousand dollar expense. Sad

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Not a big deal for most.
Mar 5, 2004 9:46PM PST

But the ones that get broken will be in the news.

The issue about activex has been written about widely and it's about time they closed it. The same hollering occurs when you move from Windows 95/98/ME (no security) to NT/2000/XP/2003.

After awhile, you don't hear so good.

Bob