Microsoft on Tuesday said it is delaying the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 because of a newly uncovered glitch.
The software maker said there is a "compatibility issue" between the XP service pack and Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System, a retail chain management program for small and midsize businesses.
Microsoft finalised the code for Windows XP SP3 last week and had planned to make it broadly available starting Tuesday.
"In order to make sure customers have the best possible experience, we have decided to delay releasing Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center," the company said in a statement.
The glitch also exists between Microsoft Dynamics RMS and Windows Vista Service Pack 1, though that product has already been broadly released. Microsoft started pushing out Vista SP1 last week via Automatic Updates.
"To help protect our customers, we plan to put filtering in place shortly to prevent Windows Update from offering both service packs to systems running Microsoft Dynamics RMS," Microsoft said. "Once filtering is in place, we expect to release Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and Download Center."
Microsoft advised those running Microsoft Dynamics RMS to not install either service pack. The company said a "fix is currently in testing and will be available as soon as that process is complete".
Windows XP SP3 isn't the only Microsoft product rocked by delays...
Windows Home Server has got a proven data corruption design flaw (KB 946676) that was reported last year and offers no resolution what's so ever and isn't even expected to arrive until sometime ahead in June 2008 no less!
For a backup server, you would think that data corruption would have been taken much more serious than to delay, delay and delay...
Then again, why didn't Microsoft have a higher internal bar of testing it's own software, being how Windows Home Server Drive Extender technology causes data corruption with the following Microsoft applications:
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
Microsoft Money 2007
Microsoft Office Excel
Microsoft Digital Image Library
Microsoft Windows Vista Photo Gallery
Microsoft Windows Live Photo Gallery
Microsoft Office OneNote 2007
Microsoft Office OneNote 2003
Microsoft Windows Media Player 11
Microsoft Zune Software
Microsoft Virtual PC 2008
Microsoft Project 2000
Microsoft SyncToy 2.0 Beta
So why is Microsoft still selling WHS with a proven design flaw that causes data corruption for the public to purchase, buy and afford?
How does Microsoft get away with selling WHS when it's NOT delivering what was advertised?
Microsoft is just making true it's own claim of fear, uncertainty and doubt about it's own products...