Category: Windows Update

Microsoft to Release One Crictical update for Tuesday

Paul

Microsoft has release the information for May’s Patch Tuesday and it looks like there is one major update for Power point:

ms09patchtuesday1

The Affected software is MS Office 2000, MS office Xp, MS Office 2003, Ms Office 2007, Power point viewer, and MS compatibility pack for Word, Excel, and Power point 2007.

[ad]What will be coming out for Tuesday is as Followers for Non-security Releated:

  • Windows PowerShell 1.0 for Windows Vista (KB928439)

  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 and .NET Framework 3.5 Family Update (KB951847)

  • Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1 (KB867460)

  • Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool – May 2009 (KB890830)/Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool – May 2009 (KB890830) – Internet Explorer Version

  • Update for Windows Mail Junk E-mail Filter [May 2009] (KB905866)

Although some of this is usual like the Malicious software removal tool, and Windows Junke e-mail filter, we won’t know what else will be released until Tuesday.  Some of the updates will be minor like the Powershell, I am guessing tis will help get ready for SP2, and the SP1 for the .NET framwork also looks to be getting ready for SP2.  So I will keep you updated if i find out what else is released on Tuesday!

Deciding the need for a Full backup or backing up your important files

Paul

This weekend I talked about Backups on the [intlink id=”3455″ type=”post”]Mike Tech Show listener Round table[/intlink], and I heard from one or two people saying you can’t do a full backup with Allwaysync, and to a point that is true but I really don’t need a full back and some have said the program is only good for Synchronization and not backup.

I could debate that last point because what is a backup?  Wikipedia defines it as “backup refers to making copies of data so that these additional copies may be used to restore the original after a data loss event”.   So backing up and Synchronizing are essentially the same thing.  Some users will argue that it is getting every file on your hard drive but I don’t think so.   I however will tell you that Most files on your hard drive don’t need to be copied.   Due to the fact that if you get a complete backup of your windows directory you will most ly end up where you left off, Viruses or some file that corrupt.   I don’t make copies of the windows for that one reason, I have all OEM systems and don’t need to worry about the Windows because when I do a system restore, I get my system back to the Factory default.

With Vista you have some data that is never put in Windows system, like your email settings and other such important date.  This is usually put in the Application Data directory, which is usally “[DRIVE]\USERS\[USERNAME]\AppData” . To get to the directory in Vista just type “%APPDATA%” in the Vista search bar and hit enter.  So I tell Allwaysync to copy everything in that directory including subdirectories.  This is where my configuration files are put for each and every program I install or run!!

People will also argue that you need to compress the data or use a Proprietary software to backup your hard drive, although this can be useful.  The more complicated the process the more chance there is for failure.  My dad always told me to keep it simple.  The simplest is usually the best in my opinion.  If I were to need to backup data, I do not need any program to get to it.   This is how I like it, plus if the drive starts to go bad you have more time to move the data off the backup drive because of moving parts and the magnetic properties could change the compress file just one bit and you would not be able to access the programs inside of it.

I also have a 500 gig external backup drive for use with keeping my data backed up, which my two laptops only use 380 if I back up all of my hard drive space but in my case my data drive is usually just used a safegaurd if I did need to do a restore on the road.  I’d still have my important programs ready to re-install and restoring my configuration files.  I wouldn’t be in the dark if I had to restore on the road.  This is how I keep my important safe.  I use:

  • [intlink id=”3059″ type=”post”]My A600 Broad Band Sd Card[/intlink] — Passwords and such on it

  • My External hard drive —  Important Software and important files

  • Mozy Free 2 Gig – I use this also to put my Passwords and my configuration files here.  It’s free but you can pay 4.95 a month for unlimited.  I like it and it works really well.

  • My spouses computer – We keep our important passwords on each other computer just in case we are on the road with one laptop we can always have access to the passwords for each of our accounts.

This has worked for me for quite some time but this isn’t for everyone, some require the compression on the hard drive and that is fine but I don’t.  I hope this clears it up on what I said on the Mike Tech show.  I did however make a mistake.  This software is not bit by bit coping it is however a file by file copy.   That was my fault and no others.  I’m only human.  Hope you understand.

Vista Sp2 To Come out in Second Quarter of 2009 — Not Compatiable with Cricket Broadband

Paul2 Replies

Well that isn’t really news we knew this was coming from my previous post about [intlink id=”3402″ type=”post”]Sp1 being sent out to all users[/intlink].
[ad#cricket-right-ez]But what I did hear won’t be a good feeling to all those who have Cricket broadband.   From a source that has contacted me and let me know, SP2 will break Cricket Broadband.   I on the other hand have to wait to see what all they put in the SP2 to figure out how to fix this small problem.   Until then I would suggest to all who like or want to continue to use Cricket broadband to install and use the Service Pack Blocker.

Download this and run as an Administrator in command line.  (START > SEARCH “cmd” > right click on CMD.EXE and run as admin.)  (You’ll want to extract this program first but You’d want to do:

  • The executable creates a registry key on the computer on which it is run that blocks or unblocks (depending on the command-line option used) the delivery of a Service Pack to that computer through Windows Update. The key used is HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate.When the ‘/B’ command line option is used, the key value name ‘DoNotAllowSP’ is created and its value set to 1. This value blocks delivery of a Service Pack to the computer through Automatic Update or Windows Update.

    When the ‘/U’ command line option is used, the previously created registry value that temporarily blocked the delivery of a Service Pack to the computer through Automatic Update or Windows Update is removed. If the value does not exist on the computer on which it is run, no action is taken.

This will help prevent it from downlading and installing the SP until Either Cricket or I have the chance to test out how to fix the problem.  Any questions can be posted on the Forums and I’ll answer them as quickly as possible!!

*UPDATE 1/1/2010*

The Latest update from Cricket is that Both the [intlink id=”3059″ type=”post” target=”_blank”]A600[/intlink] and [intlink id=”4641″ type=”post” target=”_blank”]The UM185C[/intlink] works with Vista Sp2 and Windows 7 32 and 64 bit systems.  So you no longer have to worry about it not working!!!

Facebook malware sending people to junglemix.in Phishing!

Paul

fblightfacebookphish

It looks like this is the newest phishing attempt for the Facebook community.  According to Sans, there is malware trying to send out messages to go to “junglemix.in”.  I visited the site and it redirects me to “http://fblight.com/”.   This is a phishing site because you can see from the address bar.   As of writing this post, it has been flagged by Phishtank that this is a phishing site.  I am glad people are reporting these types of sites to prevent people from getting there account stolen.

Find out the other phishing attempts that have been talked about, keep yourself safe.  Also this is a good time to[intlink id=”2205″ type=”page”] install some free Anti-virus or Free Firewall[/intlink] software to help protect your computer from Malware.

Cellular Modem common problem — DNS LOOKUP

Paul2 Replies

With Cellular Modems being used more and more, the common problem is:

Address not Found Address not Found

This is something that comes with any ISP the DNS lookup problem. In which your connection acts like a VPN connection, it connects to a cell tower and then gets transported to the nears server and then goes on the internet. The Server does the DNS lookup for you and send you to the right page. There seems to be a problem with my Cellular DNS server because it doesn’t have a complete list and if it doesn’t know where you to go you get that screen.

[ad#cricket-right-ez]So I found an easy way to fix this problem. I have been using my Host file to tell my computer the IP of the server that I am having the problem. So how do I find out the Ip of the server? This can be a problem to an extent.

I found that visiting the OpenDns.com Cache check will tell me the internet protocol of the server for the time but it could change. I just edit the host file manually and insert the need information by hand. Like I said the IP may change from time to time depending on where you are going or if it is a big server. The servers ip will rotate to help the bandwidth and keep it even on all servers, so this only works with servers that have a Static IP.

There is a program that will help you manage your host file it’s called Hostman and this does makes editing your Host file a little more easily. I have used this and I haven’t found anything that does do anywhere better than this. If you have a suggestion on a good Host Manager, please tell people in the Forums or leave a comment. I’d love to hear some good programs to help update the Host file more easily.