Microsoft embarrasses itself over XP SP2 delay

Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack Two (SP2) is looking increasingly cursed after the release date appears to have slipped again - if only by a few days.

The software giant had set itself an internal deadline of releasing the new service pack, designed to significantly improve the operating system's security, to manufacturers on 4 August.

But the company said that it decided to hold off because it wanted to make final improvements to the code.

Paul Randle, product marketing manager for the release, said: "The Wednesday schedule was an internal deadline for release to manufacture and we were not happy enough with the product to release it on that day.

"Our internal deadline got communicated by the Australian office and was withdrawn almost immediately."

Randle insisted that this would not cause a delay to the release to customers later this month.

"All I can say [on a final release day] is 'soon'. We are still on track for an August release as before," he explained.

Randle said that the code was undergoing "polishing up" and "tidying rough edges" in part due to customer feedback.

The process of release to manufacture is usually expected to take a minimum of 21 days, allowing time for all OEMs to receive code and set up systems to write it onto new PCs.

SP2 has already been delayed three times. It was first due in June, then July, and now August. Release Candidate 2 of the service pack was officially released on 15 June.

At 80MB SP2 will be one of Microsoft's largest ever service packs, and the first to contain entirely new applications.

The company is relaxing its moratorium on use of cover-mounted CDs for a 90-day period, and CDs will be available in the high street in an effort to get the maximum number of users patched.

See also:

Windows XP SP2

XP Service Pack 2 provides some security improvements which users cannot afford to ignore, but some existing apps may need to be tweaked to run at their best  17 Aug 2004

XP SP2 set to be mother of all downloads

Delays and throttled downloads can't hide the benefits of SP2  12 Aug 2004

Microsoft puts the brakes on XP SP2 auto-update

Redmond offers tool to delay upgrade delivery to allow for testing  12 Aug 2004

XP SP2 upgrades 'could take months'

But security concerns mean that users cannot afford to ignore it  10 Aug 2004

XP SP2 finally rolled out to manufacturers

Much-delayed Windows service pack is released at last  09 Aug 2004

Microsoft delays XP Service Pack 2 once again

But software giant says SP2 will be ready before the end of August  06 Aug 2004

Windows XP key to Microsoft's secure computing

Upgrade now if you want security, Redmond tells 2000 and 9x users  15 Jul 2004

XP Service Pack 2 launch date revealed

Security-focused Windows upgrade to be released in August  13 Jul 2004

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