Yes, the ravages of XP’s infamous Service Pack 2 are still being felt. Attempts to install iTunes on a Windows XP machine running SP2 may result in error messages and an inability to complete the install. But the fix is easier than you’d think. ;-D

First of all, the error message may look something like this: “OpenSCManagerA Error - Error Connecting To Service, Error Number=0″. Your mileage may vary slightly.

But the software actually is fully installed. My guess is that SP2 messes with security permissions that prevent the installer from starting or restarting some services. Once the intended processes cannot complete, the installer spits out that nasty message, and upon your clicking “Okay”, completely removes the installation.

I don’t know how thoroughly this solution works, but if you copy the installation directory that is created in the Program Files directory (for instance, “c:Program FilesiTunes”) after the error message appears but before clicking “Okay”, it appears that you acquire all the files from the installation. Click “Okay” and the installer uninstalls the files. Then just place your copy of the iTunes directory back into the Program Files directory, and you have a working version of iTunes. You can then make shortcuts in the Start Menu or wherever else you want them.

Too complicated for your taste? Send your curses to Microsoft for breaking existing software and go buy a Mac. For everyone else, I hope this proves helpful.

At a recent shareholders meeting, Steve Jobs made a great, succinct swipe at Microsoft and Longhorn.

It is mentioned in: Jobs rebuts eco-group claims at annual meeting.

According to MacWorld, when Jobs was asked about the release of Mac OS X Tiger and the upcoming Longhorn, he said, �They are shamelessly trying to copy us…I think the most telling thing is that Tiger will ship at the end of the month and Longhorn is still two years out. They can�t even copy fast.�

What a great line!

Adding fuel to the fire about Longhorn as well as salt to the wound of SQL Server’s laughable clarified release date is speculation in the industry that Microsoft’s Longhorn will not make its 2006 release date.

Read about it at: Longhorn in 2006: Can Microsoft Really Pull This Off?

Granted, opinions are just that, nothing concrete. But the opinions are a reflection of Microsoft’s track record, which is indeed concrete, and not flattering for Microsoft.

To Microsoft’s credit, at least they are readily acknowledging that Longhorn won’t be ready any time soon in 2006; when you look at the schedule of events surrounding the Longhorn release, you can see that they anticipate it hitting retail shelves (and bundled with Wintel machines) in time for Christmas 2006. That places the release date 20 full months away, a lot further than the short 8 full months before the beginning of 2006.

Nevertheless, many things have to happen between now and then, starting with a working beta, which Microsoft is already overdue on delivering.

Let’s just sit back and see what the giant pulls off.

Coming off the curtails of Microsoft’s absurd recent announcement redefining the seasons to avoid another release date pushback, progress over in Tiger land strongly suggests that Apple may be releasing Tiger earlier than some expected.

Please read: Tiger on Track for Mid-April Release

Granted, all Apple ever promised was “in the first half of 2005.” Understandably, everyone translated that as “in the summer of 2005,” a reasonable conclusion. How pleasantly surprised we all will be if Apple could push out Tiger in early May, potentially even in late April!