PCTips Box

Whilst the roll out of Windows XP Service Pack 3 has gone reasonably smoothly some problems have been reported. One of the first to emerge is a persistent reboot that affects some HP machines using AMD processors. Both HP and Microsoft are aware of the problems but neither has announced a patch yet, however, several fixes have been developed including this one on Jespers’s Blog. A second, potentially more serious problem concerns a conflict with several Norton products, which can results in a PC’s Registry being filled with corrupt entries. (more…)

An update version of the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool is now available for download and it’s a perfect fit for the latest service packs for Windows Vista and Windows XP. The Redmond company releases new versions of the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool on the second Tuesday of each month, accompanying the availability of the Security Bulletins dropped as part of the monthly patch cycle. The updated version of MSRT is distributed via Windows Update, Microsoft Update, Windows Server Update Services and is also up for grabs on the Download Center.

Microsoft has failed to emphasize the fact that MSRT integrates seamless with both Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 3. However, tests reveal that the tool plays well with the latest releases of the two operating systems. Vista SP1, RTM’d on February 4, 2008, was released to the general public on March 18, and XP SP3 is accessible to end users since May 6, having been released to manufacturing on April 21. (more…)

Microsoft decided to pull KB937287 from automatic updates that was supposed to prepare machines for the upcoming SP1 release after reports the patch was causing infinite reboots. According to Microsoft Help and Support, patch KB937287 was designed to “improve reliability and performance when you install future individual update from Microsoft.”

Nick White on the Windows Vista Blog states that the problem affects “a small number of customers in unique circumstances.” The unique circumstances are still unknown. I have installed this patch on a handful of different manufacturers and models and have not yet had any issues. (more…)

Microsoft has patched a patch released for Internet Explorer. It might not sound good, but it’s true. And it all began with the Redmond company’s monthly patch cycle. On December 11th, 2007, Microsoft made available Security Bulletin MS07-069 Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (942615). As it is a tradition with offering and implementing security updates into Internet Explorer, the company releases a complete set of patches for all the supported versions of the browser, every month. Each security bulleting not only plugs the latest security holes, but also deals with previous vulnerabilities. (more…)