Posted on 09/27/2007 9:21:58 PM PDT by abt87
Bowing to pressure from customers and computer makers, Microsoft plans to keep Windows XP around a little longer.
Large PC manufacturers were slated to have to stop selling XP after January 31. However, they have successfully lobbied Microsoft to allow them to continue selling PCs with all flavors of Windows XP preloaded until June 30, a further five months. Microsoft also plans to keep XP on retail shelves longer and will allow computer makers in emerging markets to build machines with Windows XP Starter Edition until June 2010.
The move indicates the continued demand for the older operating system, some nine months after Windows Vista hit store shelves.
In recent weeks, several PC makers launched programs that allow new PC buyers to more easily "downgrade" their Vista Business and Vista Ultimate machines to Windows XP. Fujitsu, which was among those lobbying for the change, has started including an XP restore disc in the box with all of its laptops running Vista Business.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
MSFT ping...
I’ve been having trouble with the audio of my pre-loaded XP for a few months now (sound works fine when I use linux, my DH partitioned my computer)—I’ve tried reinstalling the sound drivers, etc. yet a lot of times my sound sounds like Max Headroom talking and it’s really frustrating! :-( Anyone know how one goes about re-loading XP on a pre-loaded computer that didn’t come with a restore disc? :-(
This has to be humiliating for Microsoft. It appears that Vista truly is the Windows ME of 2007.
Have you tried listening to it through headphones or different speakers? Sometimes the speakers that come with the system are included as an afterthought.
If you do not have this option, you may need to contact your system's manufacturer and inquire about obtaining a set of restore discs. Most OEMs charge a "nominal" fee for this service.
And no money to be made on improving an existing OS.
Yeah, I’ve tried *everything* I can possibly think of. It’s weird that the sound is PERFECT when I’m in linux, but Max Headroom-y when I’m using XP!! Aggravating beyond belief. I’d been thinking about upgrading to Vista in the hopes that that might fix the windows problem, but I’ve seen a lot of complaints about Vista and I’d rather not trade one problem for more problems! *sigh*
I was talking to someone today and said just that same thing.
Have you tried ‘restore’ feature on XP back to the date (or there abouts) when your sound was OK? Just a thought.
Many big corporations are not going to go to Vista anytime soon, but have to replace/add client PCs. The PC vendors like Dell don’t want to lose corporate sales over Vista.
BTW...if you are using the built-in sound you need to get the proper XP audio driver for your MB.
Mine is also a powerspec 4.1b—it’s an AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3200+, MMX, 2D Now, ~2.2GHz
The Windows XP is the Home Edition, 5.1, Build 2600.
It sounds like you need to check in device manager, and see if your drive controller has your hard drive operating in PIO mode instead of UDMA.
If your hard drive in the bios is forced to PIO mode, the same can happen. I have seen corrupted driver installs get the HD stuck in PIO mode, too.
If all else fails, remove the driver for the HD controller that has your hard drive and reboot. When it comes back, make sure it’s set for UDMA. If it’s not, set it, and reboot yet again. And check again.
If it won’t stay in UDMA mode, you have a bad controller or HD cable.
My husband installed the linux about 1.5 years ago when we first got this computer. The sound problems started a few months ago, so I don’t think the linux caused the problem, but I don’t get linux, so I’m not sure!
Would that delete everything I’ve done since then? I don’t want to lose my stuff if I go back to a restore point from several months ago!
Thanks—I’ve saved your post for my husband to look at when he returns from an out of town trip—I have a vague understanding of the terms you’re talking about, but not strong enough to get into the root of my system and mess around with settings, etc.
It seems if I had a bad controller or HD cable, the sound problem would also be in linux, wouldn’t it? *puzzled*
The other posters' suggestions about checking the hard disk controller drivers may also be useful.
I am using a PowerSpec B640 with a Core 2 Duo processor, RAID, and Windows XP Professional. I was busy moving back to school, needed a computer for course work (experimenting with Microsoft's Windows Research Kernel and some light programming for an undergrad course on networks), and ran short of time to build my own.
It might, but it sounds more like your system is having trouble with the sound drivers (possibly a hardware conflict if there is extra crackling).
If you are worried about potentially losing data, you should backup your system ASAP ... it's a good idea, anyways.
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