WinXP system builder blues

Windows XP is causing UK system builders a great deal of misery.

Pre-loading the software is a pain, and Microsoft has not managed to resolve compatibility issues between the OS and the WorksSuite Money 2001 module, which means that Money does not work.

The MD of one major UK system builder, who asked not to be named, said: "From an OEM perspective it's been a f*****g disaster." He cited recovery and compatibility problems as well as the Money issue.

Every time the manufacturer changes the make of hard drive he's putting in his systems, he needs to create a fresh recovery disk for the PC, because of driver issues with WinXP. This was something that was never a problem with Windows 98 or ME.

And changing the make of the hard drive also means the system builder has to create a new universal cloning module - the master version of the software to be pre-installed on all the PCs.

"We've received so many updates for it [WinXP]," said the MD.

Meanwhile the WorksSuite Money 2001 issue drags on. Microsoft knew about it before the launch of Windows XP. Its solution was to ship a disk for customers to upgrade their WorksSuite Money 2001 to WorksSuite Money 2002.

Evesham.com has not yet received the upgrade disk. According to company spokeswoman Carolyn Worth, it is shipping its PCs with a letter telling customers that "regrettably the product does not work with Windows XP" and that they'd receive an upgrade when one became available.

"At the moment we don't have a definite delivery date," she said. ®

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Win XP doesn't work with WorksSuite Money 2001