Microsoft has announced the public availability of Windows XP SP2 RC2. A network install for both English and German can be found here.
Windows XP SP2 RC2 Public Preview
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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Is an option for optimal refresh rates ever going to be added?
Not until MS is the victim of a class-action suit brought on by blinded secretaries who had to stare at a 60hz strobe light 8 hours a day for ten years. I mean really, 60hz is STILL the Windows default? That’s positively blinding. All monitors can support a higher refresh than that.
Everything that was broken in RC1 seems to be fixed. It feels a little snappier as well.
I mean, I know that there are hacks and drivers that include the fixes, but has it ever been stated why Microsoft removed the default option of Optimal Refresh rates in Windows 2000 and XP? It’s not a problem for me, but I hate sitting down at a computer and having to see the 60hz refresh rate that is the default value. It sucks even more when the school computers lock you out from changing the options and you have to force yourself to look at the screen.
Sorry, that should say “It’s not a problem for me when I’m at my own computer because I have it fixed, but…”
And I brought this up because I’m wondering if service pack 2 has fixed this problem.
This will become less an issue with the gaining popularity of LCD screens.
Who is the person who is running here just pressing report abuse button??? Please do not do such thing. it puts unneccesary stress on Egunia. Please STOP IT!
Formerly, I had a 14inch monitor and an S3 graphics card. The monitor, being old, did not support plug and play. If you allowed Windows to select the optimal refresh rates, it would pick a refresh rate greater than the monitor could handle, causing the display to distort and waver (and generally be unreadable). This was especially distressing when, having installed a new graphics driver, you booted into an “optimal” refresh rate and couldn’t read the screen.
Maybe Microsoft felt lowest refresh rate was a more reliable choice. I think the real issue is that we should train IT staff to configure computers with a sensible video mode to begin with. (And, in the UK at least, I believe your employer would be obliged to change it even if the setting was locked down, if you said it caused you problems.)
@ Guzz Sub
“All monitors can support a higher refresh than that.”
Well, that’s technically not true. And, you’d be surprised how many of those old school monitors are actually still in use…
It would probably be more accurate to say “Any modern monitor…” instead.
That said, I completely agree with you. Anybody running XP should have a monitor capable of running something in the neighborhood of 1280×1024@85hz.
60hz is a joke.
My LCD is a 1024*768 unit running at 60hz. OK, so it runs up to 75hz but it seemingly makes no difference. LCDs don’t flicker in the same way as CRTs.
I understand that the refresh rate issue is a biggie for a lot of people, I am curious however though, is anyone having issues with anything in the rc that is not refresh rate related?
so it’s not an issue there.
with the 60hz default, well, they’re just playing safe. i do hope admins just allow changing the resolution/refresh settings per user, instead of allowing only the admin to change those values.
Is an option for optimal refresh rates ever going to be added?
Uh, every version of XP I’ve ever seen attempts a >60Hz refresh rate during install or first startup and prompts the user whether or not they want to keep it.
I understand the english release, but why of all other languages to choose, German? Are German speakers the second largest consumer of Microsoft products?
my sp2 rc1 install doesn’t have an uninstall entry in the add/remove programs. what’s up with that? anyone know of a workaround?
does sp2 support easy write/mount rainier?
is it faster?
what non-security bug fixes are there in sp2?
thanks
This is probably the most important question for those who want to try this? Is there an easy way to get rid of it?
Yes, German is a very important language.
I believe that Siemens has been beta testing for Microsoft, that’s why German version comes out so fast.