Archive for March, 2004

One-Click Shutdown

If you have Clean Sweep Deluxe, Mike recommends that you disable it before proceeding. Follow these directions to create a one-click shutdown shortcut:

1. Navigate to your desktop.
2. On the desktop, right-click and go to New, then to Shortcut (in other words, create a new shortcut).
3. You should now see a pop-up window instructing you to enter a command line path.
4. Enter one of these as the path:
   • Use this path if your operating system is Windows 95, 98, or Me:
     C:\windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows
   • Use this path if your operating system is XP:
     SHUTDOWN -s -t 01

   If the C: drive is not your local hard drive, then replace “C” with the correct letter of the hard drive.

5. Click the “Next” button.
6. Name the shortcut and click the “Finish” button.

Now whenever you want to shut down, just click on this shortcut and you’re done. Also, if you want to make life better and faster, you can right-click the new shortcut you just made, go to Properties, and type in X (or whatever letter) in the Shortcut Key box.

Click here for more.

HOW TO: Enable Windows XP Automatic Wireless Network Configuration

This step-by-step article describes how to enable Windows XP automatic wireless network configuration. Windows XP makes it easy to set up your computer for wireless networking on any 802.11b standard wireless network.

Wireless networking is integrated into Windows XP and can be set up quickly with the Windows XP automatic networking Setup. All you need is a 802.11b wireless adapter installed on the mobile device, and an operating 802.11b standard wireless network.

Click here for more.

You Cannot Log On to Windows XP After Running the Out-of-Box Experience

You may not be able to log on to your new Windows XP-based computer, or a computer in which Windows XP was installed from an installation source created by your administrator with Sysprep, after you run the Wizard, also called Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), that runs when you first turn on the computer. You may also receive the following error message:

System error lsass.exe:

When trying to update a password the return status indicates that the value provided as the current password is not correct.

This problem occurs if your computer is restarted during the Wizard (OOBE). If this occurs, OOBE cannot flush the Machine registry key before the computer is restarted.

Click here for more.

MIRC Trojan-Related Attack Detection and Repair

UPDATE: As of September 6, 2002, reports of malicious activity that follow the particular pattern that is outlined in this article have lessened significantly. The Microsoft Product Support Services Security Team has modified this Microsoft Knowledge Base article to reflect this information and to refine suggestions for detection and repair criteria.

Microsoft has investigated an increase in malicious activity that tries to load code on Microsoft Windows 2000-based servers. This activity is typically associated with a program that has been identified as Backdoor.IRC.Flood.

By analyzing computers that have been compromised, Microsoft has determined that these attacks do not appear to exploit any new product-related security vulnerabilities and do not appear to be viral or worm-like in nature. Instead, the attacks seek to take advantage of situations where standard precautions have not been taken as detailed in the “Prevention” section of this article. The activity appears to be associated with a coordinated series of individual attempts to compromise Windows 2000-based servers. As a result, successful compromises leave a distinctive pattern.

Click here for more.

Stop 0x000000D1 Error Message When You Turn Your Computer Off

When you shut down your computer that has one or more universal serial bus (USB) devices attached to it, you may receive the following error message on a blue screen:

Stop 0x000000D1 (0×00000040, 0×00000002, 0×00000000, 0xfc96a9dc)

These shutdown problems may occur because the OHCI endpoint is unable to find the transfer descriptor in the list.

Click here for more.

XP Service Pack Said to Fix Major Flaw

Security boards are buzzing with warnings of a serious hole, but Microsoft is simply urging users to upgrade.

Microsoft always urges users to update programs when it ships a Service Pack, but an easily exploited Windows XP flaw makes it especially important that users of the operating system download and install the newly released SP1 promptly, several security experts warn.

The Win XP flaw is described as a still little-known but critical vulnerability, and is described as “trivially easy” to exploit by some who have studied it. It could allow files on any PC running Windows XP to be deleted simply by clicking on a malicious URL, according to bug hunter’s reports.

An exploit could be distributed by e-mail as a URL the recipient is invited to click, or posted in a newsgroup or on a Web page.

Click here for more.

Patch Plugs Win XP Hole Without SP1

Third-party program rescues Win XP users having trouble installing Microsoft’s update to fix serious flaw.

Windows XP users unable to successfully install the operating system’s first service pack face a bad choice: an unstable system or a vulnerable one with an extremely serious hole that the newly released SP1 corrects. Now, a software developer has released a freeware tool to block exploits of the previously undisclosed flaw–even without SP1.

The flaw, described on a handful of security message boards and revealed earlier this week, relates to the operation of Windows XP’s Help and Support Center’s “self healing” function. It could let a malicious cracker delete files by remote access. The exploit could be easily distributed as a URL in an e-mail or on a Web site.

Click here for more.

Windows XP Update Crashes Some PCs

Users who forgo recently released SP1 risk a major vulnerability, as well as missing numerous small fixes.

Some Windows XP users are having trouble installing the operating system’s first service pack, bulging with bug fixes and updated drivers–and are judging the cure worse than the disease.

Although SP1 plugs a major hole in the OS, the fix has been painful for a tiny but vocal few of the estimated 1 million users who have downloaded the update, which Microsoft posted on September 9. For the vast majority, the download and installation has gone well, according to a Microsoft spokesperson, who calls the process “smoother than a lot of previous releases.”

But Internet support forums and e-mail to PC World from disgruntled users show that many people continue to have serious problems with the update. The chief complaint: PCs that run like molasses after installing SP1. Running a close second are reports that PCs refuse to restart after installation or become highly unstable. Some systems continuously reboots. Other users complain that applications won’t start or now crash repeatedly, including Microsoft’s own programs.

Click here for more.

Stopping Messenger Spam

If you’ve received some anonymous messages popping up on your windows XP or 2000 systems, it may be messenger spam, people are taking advantage of the messenger service that allows administrators to monitor servers and send out service messages over corporate networks. Friends of mine have been complaining about it, but now that we know where it’s coming from, we can stop it.

Open the Control Panel, and then double-click Administrative Tools icon and then double-click the Services entry. In the list of services listed in the resulting Services dialog box, locate the messenger entry, and double-click it. Click the Stop button in the service status section and then in the same dialogue box, change the start-up type to Disable. If you are on a corporate netwrok, check with your administrator before making any changes, and if you are behind a firewall, at work, or at home with some of the cable/dsl routers, then you probably won’t have to worry about it at all.

Network File Errors Occur After You Install Windows XP SP1

After you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), you may see a variety of errors relating to Windows XP SP1 client computers. These errors may include, but are not limited to the following errors:

When you open Microsoft Office files, they are opened as read-only (you have to click Save As to save a file).

You cannot copy files.

The file or the network path no longer exists.

Network paths are not accepted by any network provider.

Click here for more.