Posted by viper on Friday, November 14 @ 12:40:48 CET
This update addresses the following issue: "You Receive an Error Message If You Use Backup in Windows 2000 or Windows XP to Catalog or Restore a Tape Made in Windows Server 2003." You can read more about the issue in Knowledge Base (KB) Article 821588. Download now to catalog or restore a tape made in Server 2003. After you install this item, you may need to restart your computer.
Posted by sensemann on Friday, November 14 @ 09:37:43 CET
The new installation procedure for Windows is really a step forward, especially if you look at it from the end-users point-of-view, since the text-based part from the XP install has been removed. I do not think an installation can get much easier than this, I believe only LindowsOS 4.0 is more easily installed....
Posted by viper on Friday, November 14 @ 01:19:17 CET
Just in time for the holidays, Microsoft Corp. today announced the immediate availability of three new digital media Fun Packs for Windows® XP, which offer a collection of free and easy-to-use winter-themed downloads for users of Windows XP. Created as a special thank-you to Windows XP customers and based on consumer requests, the Fun Packs include enhancements and tools to help users of Microsoft® Windows XP have more fun this holiday season with their digital music, photos and home movies. The Fun Packs include features to help consumers make attractive greeting cards from digital photos, enhance their digital music experience with Windows Media Player, add winter movie effects to home movies and more -- perfect for everyone who enjoys digital media on their Windows XP-based PC. Visitors to the holiday site also will find useful how-to articles and holiday project ideas that show how to get the most out of digital media with Windows XP.
Posted by Adek on Thursday, November 13 @ 18:48:15 CET
MSN Messenger lets you see when your friends are online and exchange instant messages with them. Send instant messages with cool, new emoticons, call anywhere in the world from your computer, see when someones typing, page a contacts mobile phone, send pictures and music to your friends, and much more. You can also use this free program to make phone calls, send a message to a pager, trade pictures and music with your friends, and much more.
Software: Microsoft Corp. v. Lindows.com Inc to trial
Posted by viper on Wednesday, November 12 @ 20:17:49 CET
SAN DIEGO -- November 12, 2003 -- Lindows.coms Chief Executive Officer, Michael Robertson, issued a statement today about the pending trademark lawsuit against Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT).
Q: When and where is the trial?
A: The jury trial is expected to begin on Monday, December 1, 2003 in Seattle, Washington. The Honorable John C. Coughenour, United States District Court Judge, will preside over the case in Court 611, 6th Floor, 1010 Fifth Avenue, in Seattle. After selecting the jury first thing in the morning, we expect opening statements will begin mid-morning or early afternoon. The case number is 2:01-cv-02115.
Posted by viper on Wednesday, November 12 @ 13:00:20 CET
This update fixes a problem on your Windows 2003-based computer. The fix allows you to enable GNU zip (Gzip) compression using the Exchange System Manager for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.
Software: Security Update For Internet Explorer - Nov 2003
Posted by viper on Wednesday, November 12 @ 11:47:21 CET
Microsoft has released a new Security update for Internet explorer 5 to 6 with SP1. Customers should install this security update immediately. Affected software:
Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
Microsoft Windows NT® Workstation 4.0 Service Pack 6a
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6a
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition, Service Pack 6
Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2, Service Pack 3, Service Pack 4
Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003
Microsoft Windows Server® 2003
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Edition
This is a cumulative update that includes the functionality of all the previously-released updates for Internet Explorer 5.01, Internet Explorer 5.5, and Internet Explorer 6.0. Additionally, it eliminates the following five newly-discovered vulnerabilities:
Three vulnerabilities that involve the cross-domain security model of Internet Explorer, which keeps windows of different domains from sharing information. These vulnerabilities could result in the execution of script in the My Computer zone. To exploit one of these vulnerabilities, an attacker would have to host a malicious Web site that contains a Web page that is designed to exploit the particular vulnerability and then persuade a user to view the Web page. The attacker could also create an HTML e-mail message that designed to exploit one of these vulnerabilities and persuade the user to view the HTML e-mail message. After the user has visited the malicious Web site or viewed the malicious HTML e-mail message an attacker who exploited one of these vulnerabilities could access information from other Web sites, access files on a users system, and run arbitrary code on a users system. This code would run in the security context of the currently logged on user.
Posted by sensemann on Tuesday, November 11 @ 22:58:57 CET
he Tweakomatic is a nifty new utility that writes scripts that allow you to retrieve and/or configure Windows and Internet Explorer settings. So what, you might ask. Well, think about it. Because these are WMI scripts, they can be used to configure settings on remote computers. Need to change something on a remote machine? Then haul out the Tweakomatic. And think about this: because the Tweakomatic writes scripts, you could do something like run these scripts as logon or logoff scripts. In other words, you could quickly, easily, and automatically configure settings on any or all the computers in your organization.
Posted by Adek on Tuesday, November 11 @ 14:51:44 CET
Microsoft plans to add pop-up blocking features to Internet Explorer next year as part of its Service Pack 2 update for Windows XP, a move that would go far toward stamping out the Web advertisements.
Darin Linnman, a Microsoft spokesman, said that the company plans to add the pop-up blocking feature to an updated version of Explorer with Service Pack 2 (SP2) when its released in the first half of next year. But one caveat, he said, is that Microsoft will be gathering customer feedback that will be weighed as part of the final decision to add the feature.
Software: Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator Version 1.02
Posted by viper on Monday, November 10 @ 15:48:44 CET
Updated Microsoft iSCSI software initiator for use with Windows Server 2003; Windows 2000; and Windows XP Professional. Included are x86 free and checked builds and IA64 free and checked builds.
Software: Longhorn to 'Sparkle' With New Developer Tool
Posted by sensemann on Saturday, November 08 @ 11:41:59 CET
According to reports, Microsoft is busy sculpting the form of a potential Flash competitor code-named "Sparkle." Word has it that Redmonds tool will serve as a developers front-end to build applications upon Longhorns next generation Avalon graphics subsystem.
Avalon, which forms the roots for Microsofts new Aero user experience, serves as the engine for Longhorns user interface including the display of documents and rich media. A new markup language that finds its foundation in XML -- dubbed XAML -- will be utilized to design Avalon interfaces.
Software: Microsoft unveils new Media Player for the Mac
Posted by sensemann on Saturday, November 08 @ 11:33:03 CET
Microsoft on Friday quietly released a new Macintosh version of its Windows Media Player software.
The company, which said in September that Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X was "coming soon," posted the software to its Web site on Friday. The new software follows the release of Apples iTunes for Windows, which competes with the Windows version of Microsofts media player.
The new Mac version sports a "brushed steel" look designed to match the appearance of Apples OS X operating system, and it has plug-in support to allow media files to be played from within Internet Explorer, Netscape and Apples Safari browser.
Posted by viper on Thursday, November 06 @ 11:31:00 CET
Internet Explorer Unexpectedly Quits When You Use It to View a Web Page That Contains VML:
This update resolves an issue when you use Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 to view a Web page that contains Vector Markup Language (VML), Internet Explorer may unexpectedly quit (crash). This problem may occur if a script in the Web page changes the src attribute on a VML image element to a different location.
Internet Explorer May Unexpectedly Close When You Leave the Pointer on the Text in the DHTML Editor:
In the DHTML editor of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (SP1), when the text in the DHTML editor is a link, and the pointer is at the end of the link text, Internet Explorer may unexpectedly close (crash) when you try to exit the page. You may also receive a "General Protection Fault" error message on the Dhtmled.ocx file
Posted by Adek on Wednesday, November 05 @ 16:03:08 CET
Microsoft will announce on Wednesday that it will offer two $250,000 bounties for information that leads to the arrest of the people who released the MSBlast worm and the SoBig virus, CNET News.com has learned.
The two programs attacked computers that run Microsofts Windows operating system, causing havoc among companies and home users in August and September. The reward, confirmed by sources in both the security industry and in law enforcement, will be announced in a joint press conference with the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service and Interpol thats scheduled for 10 a.m. EST Wednesday.
Posted by viper on Wednesday, November 05 @ 01:26:07 CET
DirectX 9.0b was released on 7/23/03 to address the MIDI security issue identified in bulletin MS03-030. A small number of non-security fixes were also included in the release. One of these fixes caused several TV Tuner capture card/driver combinations using video formats other than NTSC (NTSC-J, PAL, SECAM) to no longer initialize correctly on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. Symptoms include loss of capture functionality and potential inability to set/retain device capture settings. This hotfix, documented further in Knowledge Base article 825116, has been issued to correct the flaw.
Hardware: MS to intro hardware-linked security for AMD64, Itanium and future CPUs
Posted by sensemann on Tuesday, November 04 @ 21:08:20 CET
Microsoft is to introduce hardware-linked security technology with Windows XP Service Pack 2, and beyond that will make "additions to Windows" supporting the technology, execution protection (NX). The feature is already supported by shipping AMD K8 and Intel Itanium processor families, and according to Microsoft: "It is expected that future 32 and 64-bit processors will provide execution protection.
"Microsoft is preparing for and encouraging this trend by supporting execution protection in its Windows operating systems." So is it DRM?
Posted by viper on Tuesday, November 04 @ 20:28:29 CET
Microsoft recommends that you use the Office Update site to determine if your computer requires this update before installing it.
Office 2003 Critical Update: KB828041 offers the highest levels of reliability available for Microsoft Office 2003. This update fixes an issue in Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Excel 2003 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 that occurs when opening a file last edited and saved in Office 2000. Under this specific scenario it is possible for graphic content to be inadvertently lost on save. The Office 2003 Critical Update: KB828041 is part of Microsoft’s continued effort to provide the latest product updates to customers.
Software: Microsoft Rolls Out Rights Management 1.0; Preps 2.0
Posted by viper on Tuesday, November 04 @ 14:29:46 CET
Redmonds RMS technology is ready to roll. But so far, the only application making use of it is Office 2003.
As Microsoft rolls out its first-generation Windows rights-management service (RMS) designed to keep confidential documents, e-mail and other corporate data, the company is working on its second iteration of the technology, which will be part of its Longhorn wave.
Software: Bill Gates says users to blame for security problems
Posted by Adek on Monday, November 03 @ 17:02:08 CET
MICROSOFTS CHIEF SOFTWARE ARCHITECT Bill Gates is repeating the mantra that users are to blame for insecure PCs, in an interview with a Canadian newspaper.
This refrain is familiar to the INQUIRER: Gates said more or less the same thing when he addressed an Assembly of CEOs in Berlin a few weeks ago.
The chief software architect (CSA..) told IT Business that perfect code wasnt the answer to security problems, but firewalls and keeping the software up to date were more important.
Software: Wireless Update Rollup Package For Windows XP
Posted by viper on Saturday, November 01 @ 18:14:23 CET
This update provides support for Wireless Protected Access, a new standards-based wireless security solution developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance. WPA is intended to replace the existing Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) standard, offering much more robust methods of encryption and authentication and resulting in a new level of protection for customers taking advantage of the wireless features of Windows XP.
Software: Windows XP Service Pack 2: A Developer's View
Posted by sensemann on Saturday, November 01 @ 14:16:51 CET
With Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Microsoft is introducing a set of security technologies that will improve Windows XP-based computers ability to withstand malicious attacks from viruses and worms. The technologies include:
Software: Security Update for Microsoft Windows 2003: KB828035
Posted by viper on Friday, October 31 @ 00:31:57 CET
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to remotely compromise a computer running Microsoft Windows XP and gain complete control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Software: Security Update for Microsoft Windows XP: KB824141
Posted by viper on Friday, October 31 @ 00:30:20 CET
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Microsoft Windows and gain control over it. To attempt an attack, the attacker would have to be able to log on to the computer. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Software: Security Update for Microsoft Windows 2000: KB826232
Posted by viper on Friday, October 31 @ 00:29:09 CET
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to read files or run programs on a computer, running Microsoft® Windows® 2000, that has been used to view an attackers Web site or has read a specially crafted HTML e-mail. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Software: Microsoft Settles Six Class Action Suits
Posted by Adek on Wednesday, October 29 @ 23:24:41 CET
Microsoft has settled antitrust class action lawsuits with five states and the District of Columbia, the company announced Tuesday.
The six new settlements, with a total value of about $200 million, brings the total number of states that have settled to 10. Class action lawsuits against Microsoft for antitrust-related practices continue in five states.
The total cost to Microsoft of all 10 class-action lawsuits it has settled is about $1.55 billion, including a $1.1 billion settlement of a California lawsuit in January.
Software: Microsoft to shoot Messenger in next update
Posted by sensemann on Wednesday, October 29 @ 12:42:03 CET
Spam attacks and security vulnerabilities have prompted Microsoft to plan to turn off its troublesome Windows Messenger service in the next Windows XP update, a company representative said Tuesday.
The Messenger service is a data exchange mechanism for networked computers that shouldnt be confused with Microsofts instant-messaging software. Spammers have taken advantage of the service, which is typically only used to manage networks in businesses, to send advertisements that pop up in gray boxes on peoples desktops. Microsoft also announced earlier in October that the technology has a flaw that could be used by attackers to bypass a computers security.
Posted by Adek on Monday, October 27 @ 12:08:45 CET
Neowin reports that Longhorn PDC B4051 has been leaked on the internet. They also have some really nice and cool looking screenshots available. Here is snip:
The moment nearly every Windows enthusiast has been waiting for has all but nearly arrived. Windows Code-Named Longhorn 4051 has leaked onto the internet. As Paul Thurrott correctly confirmed late last evening. The select few who have been able to get hold of the build are currently working to install it. No doubt well see it half way round the internet within 12 hours or so.
Posted by Adek on Saturday, October 25 @ 22:36:28 CEST
OnlyNewZ writes: Alright here is the deal, first I wanted to Benchmark the entire Microsoft Longhorn OS and compare it with other Operating Systems like Windows XP and Windows 2000. I have Longhorn installed and noticed already that the installation is faster finished than Windows XP or Windows 2000 installations. But there are already new version details available on the net, which is Build 4051. Neowin reports that there is also a new theme developed with the codename: Slate. Neowin has also two small screenshots available online which doesnt have much details, so it could be created with Photoshop in some simple clicks. Dont know if this is true or not (Two pictures (which are confirmed to be real) have leaked). I have mirrored the screenshots because I do get some Database errors.
Now that there is a new Build available I dont see any reason to write a review about it. Although I did already benchmarked Longhorn with software and games like: 3D Mark 2001 Second Edition, PCMark 2002, SiSoftware Sandra 2003, HotCPU 4, Fresh Diagnose 6.4, WCPUID, Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament 2003. I dont have much because I wasnt finished. It was scheduled for this weekend. Interested in some screenshots, benchmarks and other details about Longhorn Build 4029? Click the review link below.
Software: Longhorn #4051 will be delivered to msdn subscribers as a DVD
Posted by Adek on Saturday, October 25 @ 22:19:40 CEST
Anonymous writes "from msdn.microsoft.com:
Active MSDN Operating Systems, Professional, Enterprise, and Universal subscribers may request a set of software distributed at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2003 (PDC), including the preview versions of the "Longhorn" operating system and SDK, and Visual Studio "Whidbey".
Eligible MSDN Subscribers can request the previews by calling MSDN Customer Service. Certified Partners and Breadth ISV / Empower partners should contact their respective Service Centers for further assistance. Note that the preview package contains DVD media, and a DVD drive is required. Please allow 3-4 weeks for fulfillment.
Hardware
