SP1 anyone?

[Nuno]

SP1 is nice, everything seems a bit smoother now. As usual, it´s what XP should have been from start.

About that MS anti-piracy mombo-jambo, it´s just pathetic. SP1 isn´t even officially out and a quick search on google already points you out to several "how-to" guides to easily circunvent invalid key detections.

MS has only managed to annoy the legal, average computer user and to make the OS even more bloatware with product activation and stuff alike, and never even managed to bother the pirates.

Maybe when they make really good software, sell it at sensible prices with reasonable licences (why can´t I install the OS I bought on my PC and laptop? Why did I buy a laptop with a licenced OEM XP OS and I didn´t even got a OS CD, but a licence number on the back of the laptop and the install files bloating the hard-disk?), maybe then they won´t have to worry about pirates.

[mutz]

...heh! When I changed my mobo, CPU, GPU, practically everything, when I restarted XP I immediately got a message to reactivate, offering me Internet, direct dial or voice options. Really stupid 'cause if XP hasn't started there's no ISDN, DSL drivers loaded. I called on the phone, the automated bit didn't work, so I had to get a real human being.

She cheerfully took me through the whole activation process, then asked me if I would answer some questions about activation. I said sure, but could I say what I wanted to without involving her? She laughed and said yes. So I told her exactly what I thought, and the whole way through she laughed and laughed 'til she was almost in tears.

She couldn't say much, didn't want her to lose her job, but I got the impression that the activation bit is really getting on people's nerves, housewives to IT biggies.

Sure, somebody has to pay for our tools and toys, but it could surely be done in a more intelligent way...

[mutz]

...wooo! Since SP1, after restart I get only BSODs 15 seconds into XP desktop. Uninstalled the P drivers in safe mode, restart, no problem. Reinstall the P drivers and same BSOD cycle. Uninstalled P drivers in safe mode, reinstalled with single head and now it works.

Any body else had problems since SP1?

[DGhost]

Originally posted by mutz

Any body else had problems since SP1?

yes... i started a thread detailing the problems i had over in the Matrox Hardware forum, lemme get a link...

here it is... it is a different problem tho... deals with graphics corruption...

[mutz]

...hmmm. Could be the switching in common. At Desktop loading there's a switch to DH, and another DH switch some seconds later.

Since mine now works in SH, i.e. no switching, guess it's a driver problem. P was working perfectly before SP1 so shit! here we go again.

Maybe SP1 has something to do with the delay on the next P driver release... and we have to limp and lump it 'til then...

[mutz]

...and while we're at it, Microsoft used to charge 10,000 buckos to certify a driver, which is a good reason manufacturers don't certify every driver. On top of it, you could send them everything including the hardware and wait until they got around to it, sometimes months.

Don't know what they charge now, or how long it takes, but it's almost like blackmail. Now with the release of SP1 I wouldn't be surprised if there was some sneaky routine in there to futz uncertified drivers and indirectly say "Pay up boys."

For a while, when they used to get away with stuff like that, they chopped the legs off Netscape and other software they felt threatened by. Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but FYJ!

Billy-boy, get your head out of your ass!

[Technoid]

And even drivers that manufactors states is certified sometimes gets caught in the "non certified" routin....

[Indiana]

And the recent Microsoft WHQL certified ATI drivers crash or deliver strange artifacts in Microsoft games The non-certified betas before and afterwards don't seem to have this problem.
Tells you everything you need to know about certification: You pay, it's certified. Did anyone really expect anything different from M$??

[mutz]

...Ssswishhh went the Sumarai's blade!
"Ha!" said the other "You missed!"
"Nod" said the Sumarai "Just nod"

better SH than none... for now...

[DGhost]

even some of the Matrox's certified drivers have caused problems with systems. Once driver set would BSOD on start up on a VIA SMP system if bus mastering was enabled.

[mutz]

..Ssswwisshhh! hissed Intel's blade...

[Agent31]

I think I'll pass on the Service Pack thanks

<img src="http://home.iprimus.com.au/agent31/stuff/bwaahahaha.gif" width="810" height="626">

[DGhost]

man... you are like a week late with that...

[Agent31]

yeah yeah

remember though, the slipstreamed build has only just become available

[DGhost]

hehe, thats true...