Technical Tidbits™

I had read somewhere on another blog (or maybe it was twitter?) that allegedly Microsoft XP had extended the support for SP2 on the day it was set to expire – July 13, 2010.

Now maybe I read the other blog (or tweet) wrong, or maybe the blog owner (or tweeter) was confused. I don’t know which is true.

But here’s the truth about Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2000 support straight from Microsoft.

Extended Support

During the Extended Support phase for Windows XP, Microsoft will continue to provide paid support and security updates at no additional charge. Extended Support for Windows XP will retire on April 8, 2014. (Source: Microsoft)

So what does ‘Extended  Support’ mean?

Support options for Windows XP SP2 after July 13, 2010:

• Customers will have access to limited break/fix troubleshooting for Windows XP SP2. Note: If the support incident requires escalation to the product development teams for further guidance, requires a hotfix, or requires a security update, customers will be asked to upgrade to a supported service pack.
• Customers with a Premier Support agreement also have the option of purchasing Custom Support while they migrate to a supported product or service pack. The Custom Support offerings include access to security hotfixes.

(Source: Microsoft)

What You Should Do

If you are like me and have no desire to upgrade your equipment and you like XP, you can keep it. But you should update to SP3.

Now, there’s a trick to that.  I have experienced, as have my clients and students, a HUGE slowing of the system once you upgrade to SP3 over a current system.  I don’t know why, it just happens. But, if you reinstall the operating system and upgrade to SP3 on a clean system, the slow down doesn’t happen. Again, I don’t know why.

If you’ve had that happen and you uninstalled SP3 because of it, then I suggest you do what I did.

• Back up your important files that you need saved.
• Make a list of every software you have installed on your system and make sure you have reinstall disks or know where to get the reinstall information.
• Check your device manager and make sure you know what drivers you’ll need upon re-installation by knowing the devices you have on your system.  If you have a major manufacturer’s system, like Dell, HP, and so on, you can usually download all your drivers from their support site. Download them BEFORE you do this and burn them to a CD uncompressed or unzipped.  That way, if you can’t access the Internet due to a missing driver, you have all of them handy!
• Confirm that you have all the license numbers for all your software.
• Back up your email program if you use something like Outlook or Thunderbird. (Web-based e-mail on Yahoo or Gmail does not disappear. It stays on their servers. You just need to remember your login information.)
• Reinstall Windows XP clean and update to SP3.
• Reinstall your programs and put your files back.

Making it Easier

You can use a program like Belarc Advisor to run a scan of your system and print a report to tell you what software is on your computer, the drivers you’ll need to have a copy of and other important details.  It is free.

Also, please be aware that this program may set off your security software. Rest assured that it is not a virus or malware. It has to do with the way it scans your system for the reporting. It performs certain functions that mimic malware which sets off your software.

If You Do Not Have A Windows XP Install CD

If you want to do this and do not have a Windows XP Install CD, use the Contact Page to contact me.  I will help you out.

I cannot give you a license key however. You need that long code (I think it’s 24-characters?)  that’s usually on the side or back of your computer. That’s your Windows Key for installing. But any Windows CD will work to reinstall your OS as long as you have the right version and the key.

So, if you have Windows XP Home and the key sticker on your machine (or somewhere in your paperwork), you can borrow your neighbors CD to reinstall using your key.

If you have Windows Media Center and your neighbor has XP Professional, you cannot use the disk with your key. It has to be EXACTLY the same version to match your key.

Occasionally, you will have to call the Microsoft support center to get a new installation number.   I don’t know what triggers that but I’ve had to do it several times. I think they now have my name in a database somewhere that says if this crazy woman calls, give her a key! When they ask me why I need a new key, I tell them I had to reinstall their lame operating system again because it crashed for the 100th time again! (SMILE)

So, there’s the truth about the Windows XP SP2 Support expiration.

The only thing Microsoft did do,  was extend the option to downgrade to XP from Windows 7 for a longer time.  If you are curious about that option, you can check out another blog post I found on the subject here:  One Microsoft Way.

Never mind that the sky might be falling Henny Penny. Is Microsoft falling? Or worse yet (oh woe is me, Wall Street), is it failing?

I’m not one to watch Microsoft stocks but I have been known to show excitement when I accidentally hear that the software giants stock prices fell. Alright, I confess I express total euphoria!

But I do watch for signs of change within the tech industry. And I’m noticing a very interesting trend as of late. And that trend is the mysterious disappearance of the Microsoft name!

When Stephen Colbert, of The Colbert Report, recently started the Colbert Nation Gulf of America Fund with donations from bing.com, there’s no mention of the tie-in to Microsoft.  Specifically, his site states:

Stephen Colbert and his generous fans are supporting relief efforts. The host of the Colbert Report and leader of the Colbert Nation, along with Bing.com have begun the effort with a $100,000 commitment to a new charitable fund – THE COLBERT NATION GULF OF AMERICA FUND.  This fund will be used for general relief. From it, grants will be made to nonprofits that work directly to help the people and wildlife affected by this oil spill.

Other sites have mentioned the Microsoft connection to the Bing search engine in their news about the Colbert fund, but in Colbert’s original broadcast (which I watch religiously) there was no mention of Microsoft being behind Bing or the donations.  Which I first thought odd.

That alone is not enough to peak my interest on the possibility of Microsoft sliding downhill. But then on another cable channel, I see this very ingenious advertisement about online scams put into a real world scenario and showing people falling for it! (Which I also see happening all the time!) But watch this commercial and tell me where the name “Microsoft” appears?

First, don’t be fooled into thinking that you’re protected by IE 8, because that’s bull! But I won’t get on my rant about that right now.

You may have noticed the “Windows” mention, but no mention of Microsoft, not even as an itty-bitty copyright mention in the corner anywhere! And in years past, you couldn’t mention the name Microsoft without having to putting the trademark notice that “Microsoft® is a registered Trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries,” or you’d have their Trademark Attorney’s sending you a cease and desist letter!

Has Microsoft’s name become so tarnished that it’s losing market share just by the sheer mention of it’s name? (I can only hope!)

Keep on eye open for yourself and see if I’m not on to something!

I am asked time and again by students and folks on twitter about what I think about Windows 7. I will restate my position one more time for you,

Windows 7 is nothing more than a regurgitate version of Vista.  ~ Debbie Mahler

I have had other twitter followers agree with me, while a few others – very few I might add – have said that they like it.

The folks that apparently like it have a few things in common. They have high end, fast computers, or newer computers that had Windows 7 pre-installed. Many of them are also Microsoft groupies who believe everything that Microsoft makes is a gift from the tech gods, or who make the majority of the income from their work with Microsoft products.

While still others learned on Vista and liked Vista so they are elated with Windows 7.

CNN Money published a recent report (December 9, 2009) about how the complaints are starting to roll in with Windows 7. I’ve heard nearly all of these and to be quite fair to Microsoft – I can be fair and balanced too – the list with this roll out is NOT as bad as what it was with Vista.

But, if Windows 7 is nothing more than a regurgitated version of Vista, shouldn’t it roll out better? If not, Microsoft learned absolutely nothing!

Here’s what I find totally unacceptable according to the article (full article link below):

One common gripe, experienced by 9% of installers, is that the half-hour to an hour-long upgrade process gets to the “62% completed” point and then freezes. It’s a problem that Microsoft is aware of, and can be fixed by rebooting the computer, going into advanced settings, and typing in a code that instructs the computer to ignore plug-ins.

A half-hour to an hour to download the freaking thing? Are their servers using dial-up? But the freezing computer? Anyone who uses Microsoft products is used to that – no big deal.

Aside from that point, and the other reported Windows 7 reboot loop I talked about, there are a few other glitches in the upgrade that include odd things like:

….complaints was that basic “applet” programs, like Mail, Movie Maker and Photo Gallery, were missing. That’s because Windows 7 deletes those programs and makes users download them from the Windows Live Essential Web site. IYogi said 26% of their customers were confused about that extra step.

Others had problems getting their computers to work properly: Eight percent said their DVD drives couldn’t be found and 2% couldn’t sync their iPhones with Windows 7.

One in seven users also complained that the sleek new “Aero” theme doesn’t work. The Aero theme enables users to see through a window to view the desktop or other programs that are open behind it. According to iYogi, most of the 14% of users that have problems with Aero don’t have the graphics capabilities on their PCs to handle the program.

But here’s my biggest problem with Windows 7 aside from these installation issues and aside from the fact that it’s made by Microsoft,

According to Zeus Kerravala, an analyst at Yankee Group, one of the biggest annoyances with the new operating system is that the “ribbon menus” at the top of programs have been redesigned and must be relearned. In previous Windows versions, the menus remained very consistent (File, Edit, View, Insert, etc.), but in Windows 7, they can be wildly different from application to application.

Says one user quoted in the article,

“It took me a long while to figure out how to print,” said Kerravala. “Microsoft tried to improve the user interface, but there’s a learning curve because it’s inconsistent.”

Once again, Microsoft reinvents the wheel and we all have to learn how to drive again.  They’ve done this consistently with newer versions of Microsoft Office and nearly every other program they manufacture.

So, why do you suppose that is? Why do they keep forcing us to relearn new software? Hmmmm, could it be the money? And this time it’s not Microsoft making the money.

Sure, they stand to benefit from the sales of Windows 7, but there’s more at stake here than meets the eye.

Perhaps you heard the story about how the radio patent was given away to manufacturers by the battery company that invented it so that it would have a product being produced that would require a constant supply of batteries? If not, read the story of Rayovac.

Well, look at what Microsoft offers the industry. They create a new operating system that requires you to upgrade your computer. Microsoft increases PC sales! Why wouldn’t PC manufacturers support it?

Apps, software, drivers, devices, and a whole slew of items have to be recreated or modified for the new operating system. Microsoft created a new revenue stream for software manufacturers, app developers, and hardware companies.

Partners and Value-added Resellers (VARs) gain from reselling the OS or subsequent upgraded software.

Places like colleges and universities, as well as companies that offer onsite or online training gain new courses teaching people how to use the new software. And I’m sure Video Professor is ready with his newest Windows 7 CD!

When you put the money in perspective, it’s easy to see why so many people and companies are pushing the new Windows 7.  Microsoft is not the only company that will benefit from this new OS.  Shareholders in publicly held companies are rubbing their greedy little hands together and visions of dividends are dancing in their heads.

Will MICE be offering courses in Windows 7? Yes, unfortunately. There are too many people who will be forced into it on new computers that will need to learn. But, we are also preparing to teach you about your options. Ubuntu. But that’s another story for another time.

Read More: Windows 7 complaints rolling in – Dec. 9, 2009.