"On a computer that is running Windows Vista, some messages may be stuck in the Outbox when you use Windows Mail. You cannot send or delete these messages. Additionally, every time that you close Windows Mail, you are prompted that there are unsent messages in your Outbox."You will be prompted to restart your computer after installing the update.
"DeVaan: I should start by saying that one thing people shouldn’t expect to see is new features, although some existing components and features will be enhanced. For example, we’ve added support in BitLocker Drive Encryption for encrypting multiple volumes on the PC, and have improved printer management by simplifying printing to a local printer from within a Terminal Server session. Service packs typically are not vehicles for new features, and the same will be true with Windows Vista SP1.SP1 will include an enhancement to some features and existing components, including support in BitLocker Drive Encryption for encrypting multiple volumes on the PC. However, Microsoft is not waiting for SP1 to deliver updates to customers. For example, yesterday, Microsoft released two updates to improve performance and reliability, KB 938194 and KB 938979. In addition, through the cooperation of vendors, Microsoft has been better able to provide driver updates via Windows Update.
Windows Vista SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing feedback from our customers across a number of areas. In addition to all the fixes delivered via other channels like Windows Update, Windows Vista SP1 will address specific reliability and performance issues that have been discussed on many self-help forums, such as copying files and shutdown time. It will support new types of hardware and emerging standards, like EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) and ExFat (a new file format that will be used in flash memory storage and consumer devices). It will also include some management, deployment, and support improvements, such as adding the ability to detect and correct common file sharing problems to Network Diagnostics. Windows Vista SP1 also will include Secure Development Lifecycle process updates, where we identify the root cause of each security bulletin and improve our internal tools to eliminate code patterns that could lead to future vulnerabilities.
As we’ve done in the past, we will document all of the changes through our support.microsoft.com site in a Knowledge Base article, which will be available around the time the beta is released."
"Security
Security improvements that will be in Windows Vista SP1 include:
- Provides security software vendors a more secure way to communicate with Windows Security Center.
- Includes application programming interfaces (APIs) by which third-party security and malicious software detection applications can work with kernel patch protection on x64 versions of Windows Vista. These APIs help ISVs develop software that extends the functionality of the Windows kernel on x64 computers without disabling or weakening the protection offered by kernel patch protection.
- Improves the security of running RemoteApp programs and desktops by allowing Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) files to be signed. Customers can differentiate user experiences based on publisher identity.
- Adds an Elliptical Curve Cryptography (ECC) pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) to the list of available PRNGs in Windows Vista.
- Enhances BitLocker Drive Encryption (BDE) to offer an additional multifactor authentication method that combines a key protected by the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) with a Startup key stored on a USB storage device and a user-generated personal identification number (PIN).
Reliability
Windows Vista SP1 will include improvements that target some of the most common causes of crashes and hangs, giving users a more consistent experience. Many of these improvements will specifically address issues identified from the Windows Error Reporting tool. The following list describes some of the reliability improvements that Windows Vista SP1 will include:
- Improved reliability and compatibility of Windows Vista when used with newer graphics cards in several specific scenarios and configurations.
- Improved reliability when working with external displays on a laptop.
- Improved Windows Vista reliability in networking configuration scenarios.
- Improved reliability of systems that were upgraded from Windows XP to Windows Vista.
- Increased compatibility with many printer drivers.
- Increased reliability and performance of Windows Vista when entering sleep and resuming from sleep.
Performance
The following list describes some of the performance improvements that Windows Vista SP1 will include:
- Improves the speed of copying and extracting files.
- Improves the time to become active from Hibernate and Resume modes.
- Improves the performance of domain-joined PCs when operating off the domain; in the current release version of Windows Vista, users would experience long delays when opening the File dialog box.
- Improves performance of Windows® Internet Explorer® 7 in Windows Vista, reducing CPU utilization and speeding JavaScript parsing.
- Improves battery life by reducing CPU utilization by not redrawing the screen as frequently, on certain computers.
- Improves the logon experience by removing the occasional 10-second delay between pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL and the password prompt displaying.
- Addresses an issue in the current version of Windows Vista that makes browsing network file shares consume significant bandwidth and not perform as fast as expected.
Administration Experience
Many of the changes in Windows Vista SP1 will improve the deployment, management, and support experience for Windows Vista customers. The following list describes some of these enhancements:
- BitLocker Drive Encryption encrypts extra local volumes. For example, instead of encrypting only drive C, customers can also encrypt drive D, E, and so on.
- Addresses problems with printing to local printers from a Windows® Terminal Services session.
- The Network Diagnostics tool will help customers solve the most common file sharing problems, in addition to the basic problems that it already diagnoses.
- Administrators can control the volumes on which to run Disk Defragmenter."
"Microsoft’s WGA server went down August 24th 2007, and installations were being flagged as counterfeit because they could not be validated."As Tashi and I are in different time zones, I hoped that by this morning the problem had been rectified. Heading to the Windows Genuine Advantage blog, I found and update by Alex:
"We've been receiving reports on our forum and through customer service starting last night that Windows Vista validations have been failing on genuine systems. It looks now as though the issue has been resolved and validations are being processed successfully.
Customers who received an incorrect validation response can fix their system by revalidating on our site (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine). We encourage anyone who received a validation failure since Friday evening to do this now. After successfully revalidating any affected system should be rebooted to ensure the genuine-only features are restored."
"Storm, the Trojan horse that collects PCs into hacker-controlled botnets, roared back into life last month in several waves, security researchers said Monday, and has blown by 2005's Sober to become the most prolific e-mail-borne malware ever.There are more varieties now and changing quickly. Some are still the e-cards from family, friends, etc. Others provide links to the membership account reportedly just signed up for. Some have an IP Address to click on, others show an HTML link. The important thing to remember is"This is the biggest since Sober in mid-to-late 2005," said Sam Masiello, director of threat research at MX Logic Inc., referring to a long-lasting worm whose variants struck repeatedly in the second half of 2005, often in extremely high numbers. In November 2006, for instance, e-mail filtering companies reported malware-laden e-mail counts spiking 1,500% in a week, and said they were intercepting four times the usual number of infected messages."
Do you have a Windows Vista tip? To celebrate the redesign, the Windows Connected Team is giving away prizes for the best tip or hardware/software review. The number of prizes depends on the number of entries. Grand prize? Are you ready for this? It is a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate Edition!!! There are also a few Windows Vista games, Laptop bags and lots of other swag for other potential winners."Steve Lamb of Microsoft created this 5 part series on securing a Wireless network. If you unsure how to do this then check it out, complete with videos."
Part 1: Enabling WPA on a wireless router
Part 2: How to change the SSID
Part 3: Reconfiguring a Vista client to connect to your WPA secured access point
Part 4: Connect using WPA for the first time on Windows Vista
Part 5: Connecting using WPA for the first time on XP
The contest will end on August 31st. Winners will be selected based on quality of post(s) by the Windows Connected Staff, which means I am not eligible to enter. However, you are as there are no restrictions against readers of my blog.
Join the fun at Windows Connected. I'm connected, are you?
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"Doc&Wyatt" by Linda Henthorn, August 2007Additionally Microsoft is re-releasing one bulletin:
Please refer to the bulletin revision notes for more detail.
Also today Microsoft released Microsoft Security Advisory (932596). This is to let customers who run x64-based Windows operating systems know about an update to Kernel Patch Protection that is available. The update adds additional checks to Kernel Patch Protection for increased reliability, performance and security. Please see the security advisory and associated KB for more information.
References:
"We are open for volunteer helping of users
If you wish to become part of the staff here, please register then make a post with your qualifications in the Open forum or PM an Admin we will reply to you or PM you privately.
If you are seeking help, welcome to AntiSlyware, please start a New Topic in the appropriate area so that someone can help you as time allows, Please keep in mind that the helpers here may already be helping in many forums and time is limited so it may take a bit to get around to your topic. This is an all volunteer effort to help users on the internet with computer problems and not a paid service. And to that, all information and help given is subject to your approval to use or not use on your computer, you have the final say, and therefore no gaurentee is given nor intended at any point.
If you are not part of the staff, you are not allowed to post to other user's problem posts, however you are allowed to post to news articles and topics in the open chat areas as well as start your own topics in the appropriate areas.
(The forum is run by volunteers who donate their time and expertise. We make every attempt to ensure that the help and advice posted is accurate and will not cause harm to your computer. However, we do not guarantee that they are accurate and they are to be used at your own risk.)
May your day be blessed by those you love and those you love be blessed by HIM ;-) (Tom Coyote Wilson)"
"Our new build v12.0.2007.1 has two very minor changes.Note: The above registry script will not work with Firefox. Instead, use Internet Explorer or do the following:1) If you’re using RogueRemover it apparently edits your HOSTS file and uses the IP address of 0.0.0.0 to block sites. The HijackPatrol log will now filter these entries out just like it does the local address 127.0.0.1 and others that might be added by the popular MVP Hosts project.
In English, unless your using RogueRemover, this change won’t affect you.
2) I have added an hidden option to allow the use of the original Scotty icon in the system tray. After downloading the new version, you’ll still need to run a registry script which is available at http://www.winpatrol.com/support/scottyicon.reg"
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\Options]
"TrayIcon"="159"
back in the systray.Click Start > Run > Type regeditNice going, hewee!
Navigate to the following:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\Options]
Right-click and select New "String Value" which adds the new "String Value" to the right side as "New Value #1"
Rename "New Value #1" to "TrayIcon".
Click "TrayIcon" and in the "Value Data" box enter "159" (without the quotes).
On 14 August 2007 Microsoft is planning to release nine new security bulletins of which six are classified as critical and three as important. Here is a summary in order of severity:
Maximum Severity: Critical
Bulletin 1
Affected Products: Windows, XML Core Services
Impact: Remote Code Execution
Detection: MBSA
Restart: Required
Bulletin 2
Affected Products: Windows, Visual Basic, Office for Mac
Impact: Remote Code Execution
Detection: MBSA
Restart: Required
Bulletin 3
Affected Products: Office
Impact: Remote Code Execution
Detection: MBSA
Restart: Not Required
Bulletin 4
Affected Products: Windows, Internet Explorer
Impact: Remote Code Execution
Detection: MBSA
Restart: Required
Bulletin 5
Affected Products: Windows
Impact: Remote Code Execution
Detection: MBSA
Restart: Required
Bulletin 9
Affected Products: Windows, Internet Explorer
Impact: Remote Code Execution
Detection: MBSA
Restart: Required
Maximum Severity: Important
Bulletin 6
Affected Products: Windows
Impact: Remote Code Execution
Detection: MBSA
Restart: Not Required
Bulletin 8
Affected Products: Virtual PC, Virtual Server
Impact: Elevation of Privilege
Detection: MBSA
Restart: Not Required
Although Microsoft does not anticipate any changes, the number of bulletins, products affected, restart information and severities are subject to change until release day.
The full version of the Microsoft Security Bulletin Advanced Notification for this month can be found at TechNet.
Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
Microsoft will release an updated version of the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool on Windows Update, Microsoft Update, Windows Server Update Services and the Download Center. This tool will NOT be distributed using Software Update Services (SUS).
Click image to see full size
Nesting Duck at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
Side-View, Cathedral of St. Paul, Summit Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota
Capital Building, St. Paul, Minnesota
It looks as though I have returned to town just in time to help celebrate the newest update to WinPatrol, including the return of Scotty's bark to Windows Vista. As shown on the left, a new Scotty the Windows Watchdog image inside his own Orb has been used. This image will provide added visibility of Scotty for Windows Vista users with the default dark theme.Also improved in Version 12 is additional information such as File Type Associations and Hidden file locations in the WinPatrol System Monitor:
- HijackPatrol Log
The new HijackPatrol Log button on the options screen will create and display a style of output familiar to many online helpers. HiJackPatrol.logs aren't exact duplicates of the popular HijackThis log or meant to replace them but the format should be familiar. HijackPatrol logs will also contain additional information which is routinely monitored by WinPatrol.
- SpreadSheet Log
Important details will be output in a CSV(Comma Separated Value) format popular with spreadsheets and many database programs. WinPatrol users will be able to sort all their system data in any format they want.
