Category: Windows Update

Vista and BSOD

Paul

I wanted to talk about Vista and the terrible BSOD scenarios that I have found around the network.  I also want to talk about them to a point.  So I went through and look and here is what I found:

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  • NVidia Graphics Drivers — That should be well fixed by now.  I  don’t have an NVidia Computer with Vista on it and can’t say one way or the other.  I do know that recently they added new graphics drivers for Vista and are out.   That alone should fix most of the problems.

Here are a few of them that I could find out lately.  Most of the Blue Screen of Deaths for VIsta should be over with.  Since the Release of Vista SP1, Microsoft has issued driver fixes and program compatibilities with that release.

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Windows updates has an EULA attached!

Paul

As I was install Vista ukpdates, this popup with a licensed agreement for the Malicious Software Removal Tool — July 2008.  It was

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MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
MICROSOFT WINDOWS MALICIOUS SOFTWARE REMOVAL TOOL
These license terms are an agreement between Microsoft Corporation (or based on where you live, one of its affiliates) and you.  Please read them.  They apply to the software named above, which includes the media on which you received it, if any.  The terms also apply to any Microsoft
* updates,
* supplements,
* Internet-based services, and
* support services
for this software, unless other terms accompany those items.  If so, those terms apply.
By using the software, you accept these terms.  If you do not accept them, do not use the software.
As described below, using some features also operates as your consent to the transmission of certain standard computer information for Internet-based services.
If you comply with these license terms, you have the rights below.
1. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.  You may execute any number of copies of the software on your devices running validly licensed copies of Microsoft operating system software (editions and versions specified at www.support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830).
2. INTERNET-BASED SERVICES.  Microsoft provides Internet-based services with the software.  It may change or cancel them at any time.
Consent for Internet-Based Services.  The software feature described below connects to Microsoft or service provider computer systems over the Internet.  In some cases, you will not receive a separate notice when they connect.  You may switch off this feature or not use it.  For more information about this feature, see www.support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830.  By using this feature, you consent to the transmission of this information.  Microsoft does not use the information to identify or contact you.
Computer Information.  The following feature uses Internet protocols, which send to the appropriate systems computer information, such as your Internet protocol address, the type of operating system, browser and name and version of the software you are using, and the language code of the device where you installed the software.  Microsoft uses this information to make the Internet-based service available to you.
* Malicious Software Removal.  Before execution of the software, the software will check for and remove certain malicious software (“Malware”) from your device, which is listed and periodically updated by family at www.support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830.  When the software checks your device for Malware, a report will be sent to Microsoft about any Malware detected, specific information relating to the detection, errors that occurred while the software was checking for Malware, and other information about your device that will help us improve this and other Microsoft products and services.  No information included in these reports will be used to identify or contact you.  You may disable the software’s reporting functionality by following the instructions found at www.support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830.  For more information, read the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool privacy statement at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=113995.

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3. SCOPE OF LICENSE.  The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the software.  Microsoft reserves all other rights.  Unless applicable law gives you more rights despite this limitation, you may use the software only as expressly permitted in this agreement.  In doing so, you must comply with any technical limitations in the software that only allow you to use it in certain ways.    You may not
* work around any technical limitations in the software;
* reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software, except and only to the extent that applicable law expressly permits, despite this limitation;
* make more copies of the software than specified in this agreement or allowed by applicable law, despite this limitation;
* publish the software for others to copy;
* rent, lease or lend the software;
* transfer the software or this agreement to any third party; or
* use the software for commercial software hosting services.
4. BACKUP COPY.  You may make one backup copy of the software.  You may use it only to reinstall the software.
5. DOCUMENTATION.  Any person that has valid access to your computer or internal network may copy and use the documentation for your internal, reference purposes.
6. EXPORT RESTRICTIONS.  The software is subject to United States export laws and regulations.  You must comply with all domestic and international export laws and regulations that apply to the software.  These laws include restrictions on destinations, end users and end use.  For additional information, see www.microsoft.com/exporting.
7. SUPPORT SERVICES. Because this software is “as is,” we may not provide support services for it.
8. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This agreement, and the terms for supplements, updates, Internet-based services and support services that you use, are the entire agreement for the software and support services.
9. APPLICABLE LAW.
a. United States.  If you acquired the software in the United States, Washington state law governs the interpretation of this agreement and applies to claims for breach of it, regardless of conflict of laws principles.  The laws of the state where you live govern all other claims, including claims under state consumer protection laws, unfair competition laws, and in tort.
b. Outside the United States.  If you acquired the software in any other country, the laws of that country apply.
10. LEGAL EFFECT.  This agreement describes certain legal rights.  You may have other rights under the laws of your country.  You may also have rights with respect to the party from whom you acquired the software.  This agreement does not change your rights under the laws of your country if the laws of your country do not permit it to do so.
11. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY.   The software is licensed “as-is.”  You bear the risk of using it.  Microsoft gives no express warranties, guarantees or conditions.  You may have additional consumer rights under your local laws which this agreement cannot change.  To the extent permitted under your local laws, Microsoft excludes the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
12. LIMITATION ON AND EXCLUSION OF REMEDIES AND DAMAGES.   You can recover from Microsoft and its suppliers only direct damages up to U.S. $5.00.  You cannot recover any other damages, including consequential, lost profits, special, indirect or incidental damages.
This limitation applies to

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* anything related to the software, services, content (including code) on third party Internet sites, or third party programs; and
* claims for breach of contract, breach of warranty, guarantee or condition, strict liability, negligence, or other tort to the extent permitted by applicable law.
It also applies even if Microsoft knew or should have known about the possibility of the damages.  The above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you because your country may not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental, consequential or other damages.

Is Microsoft worried about the the Malacious Software updates that they think it could be a problem and not admitting?  Why would they want add this.  I’ve either got to accept or decline this agreement.  If I decline the agreement, the update isn’t applied?  So they are basically forcing me to agree or not install a product that I’ve not seen any use off?  Who are they trying to kid, either it’s doing a fantastic job and I don’t know about it, or it doesn’t do crap and still I don’t know about it.  Kind of makes a mute point, I’ll just decline it and not worry about it.  I
have my own anti-virus (AVG Anti-Virus 8). So If I get bit in the next month I’ll know.  I’ll update you as I it comes out!!

A quick note to all that Have installed KB951748

Paul

My wife installed the WIndows XP updates without asking me or telling me.  The next thing I found out is she couldn’t access the internet.  If you install KB951748 and have Zonealarm, you will have to unistall KB951748 to get internet Access.

I have to thank TANJENTSDOTCOM. Thanks for the help. If you worry about that update you can always uninstall Zonealarm but I like the program and feel it has some great protection. I don’t know what Microsoft is doing but I think they did not test this thoroughly!! Hope this helps!!

Microsoft Can’t you get anything Right?

Paul

I sit here listening to “Windows Weekly 61, Windows 7” and I wanted to talk about what he said and I quote:

Windows Vista was a major release, and Microsoft is positioning Windows 7 as a major release as well. However, the language Microsoft uses to describe the technical underpinnings of the Windows 7 suggest that this product will in fact be a minor release.
[Via Winsupersite]

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So My one questions is Windows going to be in fact a new whole system or just an update to Vista!! Here is some other quotes that I’ve found on the web:

Microsoft clearly are trying to launch Windows 7 as soon as possible, even though many users are only just getting around to upgrading to Windows Vista. I wonder if Windows 7 will be one upgrade too many for some customers?
[Via Windows7.cc]

So let’s start talking about this news. Will they be doing the final RC for Windows soon or are they going to wait till next year. It appears that they are going to do something soon but not sure what. They’ve been tight lipped from the start of windows Vista and have not been releasing anything big about Windows 7, Is this the attempt to hide there disgrace about Vista and how hard they are having to work for Windows 7?

First, there’ll be some new, unspecified integration with the Internet “cloud.” Windows 7 will have built-in connections with something like Microsoft’s “Live Mesh,” a Web-based system for sharing and synchronizing folders, learning the online status of friends and family, and syncing mobile devices with your desktop system.

Next, you’ll find automated backup, Microsoft’s catch-up answer to Apple’s Time Machine. This seems obvious from a leaked screen shot of the new Windows Health Center control panel applet in Windows 7.

[Via PcMagazine]

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So let’s Start talking about what Pc Magazine is talking about “cloud” computing. What they mean by cloud computing is like how you have google mail on your laptop but also on there website to be able to access it anywhere you have internet access. You can have it come in more than one ways and has the ability to keep your notes in Sync with other systems. Now they also are talking about the Apple’s Time Machine like backup for Windows 7, I am quite curious how they are going to do that also, they seem to be copying Apple and making it seem like they come up with even more features. Some other points I’d like to make are “Is Windows 7 a threat to Vista or a Complete replacement to Vista?”

PDC 2008 is slated for October 27 to 30 in Los Angeles. (I wonder if it will be right before/after/during the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, also slated for some time next fall, and possibly in Los Angeles.)
[Via Zdnet]

Now here’s my thinking on this one that they will have to start developing programs and talk when and what will be involved in Windows 7. They serious can’t be thinking it’s all about Vista, I haven’t seen a shred of evidence to think this Professional Developers Conference is going to be anything but talk about the next Windows 7. I just want to ask Microsoft to get this right this time. I don’t want to see another system that has to many bugs for corporate to use. Is Vista a doomed O/S and if so why?

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A Clone of Autopatcher!

Paul

ctofflineupdate32
Since Microsoft shut down Autopatcher, there hasnt been an easy way for technicians to install Microsoft Windows patches on a clients computer. Sure, they can go to the Windows Update site but sometimes an internet connection isnt always available, or it may just be painfully slow.
Enter “Offline Update”, a freeware tool that downloads all of the existing patches for the operating system you specify (choice of Windows 2000, XP and Server 2003) and creates an ISO file, for which you can later burn to a CD or DVD. Best of all, one you load the created disk into a computer, It will autorun the application. All you have to do is press Start and it will begin the patching process.

How to use:

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  • Download Offline Update from the download link below and extract is somewhere

  • Run the file in the root folder called “DownloadStarterGUI.exe”

  • Choose what operating system and language you want patches for. You also have two options what type of disks you want. One disk per operating system or one disk for all operating systems. I recommend the cross platform version. Once you have chosen one, press Start

  • The system will now start downloading the appropriate patches via a DOS like interface. It will close when it finishes.

  • Once it finishes, navigate to the folder where you extracted Offline Update to and goto the folder titled “iso”. In here you will find the ISO that Offline Update created. Burn this to a CD or DVD using your favorite burning application.

  • In one of the most common burning applications “Nero Express”. You will need to choose the option “Disk Image or Saved Project”, use the “Files of Type:” drop down and choose “Image Files” and navigate to where the Offline Update image file was created. Then click open and start burning.

  • To run it, just put the disk in the drive and it should autorun. If it doesnt, Open the disk in “My Computer” and run the file “UpdateStarterGUI.exe”.

Note: If you want the stand alone updates for some reason. The application stores them in the folder “client” in the location where you extracted it in a folder with the name of the operating system you wanted patches for. For example, if you downloaded the Windows XP patches, they will be in a folder named “wxp”.

[ad#ad2-left]Downloads:
Download from Official Site

This program seems to be like the AutoPatcher clone and looks very much like a clone of Autopatcher. It just came to my attention today, but I will look into it to see how it does!! Go check it out!!