Windows XP RC2

Product: Windows XP RC2 (build 2526)
From: www.microsoft.com
Released to beta testers: July 28, 2001
For: PCs capable of running Windows 2000

New Features
According to Microsoft, there have been "a couple of thousand bugs" resolved between RC1 and RC2. Here are a few notable changes:

SoundBlaster Live "devldr" bug fixed. (It did not exit when the machine was shut down in RC1.)
HP CD burner 8100+ operates now under WinXP
After a system partition conversion to FAT after NTFS, WinXP no longer crashes with the first boot.
Java can now be installed by means of Windows Update.
The LogOn log off sounds no longer play at maximum volume, no matter how the adjustments were
The Roxio CD-R and CD-RW driver no longer causes bluescreens and has been otherwise improved
The firewall "ZoneAlarm" no longer causes bluescreens. As with the Roxio fix, incompatible (older) versions are listed in the driver blocking database.
New builds of MSN Messenger and Media Player. Messenger now allows easy sharing of contact lists, 150 names in list.
Fixed bogus "1 unread mail message" on Welcome screen
New HP and KDS monitor INFs

Other flaws in RC1 that have been fixed in RC2:

Slow setup causes users to think machine is dead when large number of files in My Documents folders
When setup is done copying files pressing esc results in a warning that setup will be cancelled
CHKDSK fails to run after restart as scheduled, "Cannot open volume for direct access"
Logon and Logoff sounds are played at Max Volume without respect to sndvol32 settings
IBM ThinkPad A/T series (240/390/570/600/770): Infrared (IR) has yellow bang (code 10)
3com el90xbc5.sys (3c900B-TPO) fails to get Link

Compatibility
The most common and serious compatibility glitch we see reported relates to attempts to install Windows XP on systems based on a motherboard with VIA chipsets. These motherboards, commonly used with non-Intel motherboards, are not a problem for all users, but seem to make up the builk of "XP won't install" complaints.

There are driver issues with some hardware devices. The Creative Labs Dxr3 DVD decoder, for example, requires updated drivers. This card, which is an OEM version of the REALmagic Hollywood Plus card, can be fixed with new drivers and software as detailed here.

DevX - Windows XP Developer Center has an "Application Compatibility Issues" section available at http://windowsxp.devx.com/appcompat/view_issues.asp. It lists known compatibility issues regarding software and Windows XP.

The hardware and software sections at NTcompatible.com list known compatibility issues and workarounds.

Some annoyances remain
As with almost all programs, it is likely that Windows XP will ship with more than a few flaws and "less than excellent" features. Here are some that we've noticed in RC2.

Sorry, lefties: The right mouse button doesn't work on login screen, even if primary/secondary mouse buttons have been switched in all sessions. Considering that the secondary mouse button does nothing on the login screen anyway, Microsoft should easily be able to fix this. But they probably won't.
24-bit mania: We like 24- or 32-bit colour as much as the next person, but Windows XP looks terrible in 16-bit colour. Not being able to properly display desktop graphics with over 65000 colours at your disposal strikes us as a bit over the top.
Fading menus get old rather quickly. Any feature that makes a PIII 733 with 256 MB of RAM feel slow is a feature we'd rather not have turned on by default.
Commerce opportunities galore: Windows XP is chock full of proof of Microsoft's plan to expand its business by offering software-based services in the future. There's a "Windows Catalog" in the Start Menu that exhorts companies interested in offering Windows-compatible software and services to contact Microsoft to find out how to be included in what amounts to a directory of paid business listings. In the Windows Media Player, banners that can't be turned off show up below songs, while ads for Allstate Insurance and other companies show up at the top of the window. "Album Art" is a new visualization option. The Media Guide, we suspect, is comprised completely of paid-for content. The Photo Wizard -- the source of an "unfair competition" complaint from Kodak -- includes a feature that links to online photo-finishers. And there are many, many more examples.
Because Internet Explorer 6, like IE 5.5 SP2, drops support for the Netscape plug-in standard, browser add-ons that adhere to this standard won't work properly under the new OS. A notable example is Apple's QuickTime (5.02 and earlier) browser plug-in. At least part of the blame for QuickTime's failure should be shouldered by Apple, which has known this change was coming for at least six months. As a consequence, IE users can't watch QuickTime movies from within IE6, at least until Apple updates the plug-in. Conspiracy theories, anyone?

Windows Product Activation
The controversial activation scheme in Windows XP continues to draw fire from critics. The latest tests by WindowsBeta.de reveal something that has not yet been widely discussed. If you install a firmware update you will have to register again with Microsoft. It's no wonder that a poll of users at www.wxperience.com in July 2001 found that 49 percent of beta testers surveyed said WPA would negatively affect their decision to buy Windows XP, and another 14% said it might. 22 percent said it would not affect their decision. 4% did not know, while 10% didn't think it would. With numbers like these, and growing criticism of so-called spyware that has led other companies, such as Vancouver, BC-based Totally Hip Software to drop similar online authentication schemes, it's possible that Microsoft may yet back down on its plan -- but only if enough people complain.

For Further Reading
For more info on RC2, read Paul Thurrot's report on the SuperSite for Windows.
German site: http://www.winfuture.de/web/
Windows XP webring (Hub or random selection)

IT Library

The Techno Zone

User Account

Windows XP RC2

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