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Computer News - Previous Articles



Wireless Views Into Home PCs

New 'Smart Displays' Allow Access to PCs From Any Room Nov 15 2002-At the annual Comdex trade show to be held in Las Vegas next week, Microsoft and computer display makers will show off so-called "smart displays."
Outwardly, they are similar to the flat-panel LCD devices that are becoming popular among PC users as thin and lightweight alternatives to traditional glass-screened computer monitors. But the key difference with these new display units is buried inside.
At the heart of these new lightweight LCD displays is special software that Microsoft developed under the code-name "Mira." The program, now called Windows CE for Smart Displays, allows the displays to wirelessly communicate with any personal computer running the Windows XP Professional operating system.
Go here for more.

Trustworthy Computing - Today and in the Future

Nov 14 2002-We continue to change things. We've reduced the privilege levels that exist in .NET Servers. We've actually created new service levels with finer granularity within the core operating system itself. All of these things tend to help mitigate what failures do occur or what breaches ultimately do occur because by having minimization of privilege then even people who do get in by some means have a much tougher time doing anything that they're not in theory supposed to do. A lot of focus has gone into not only minimizing privilege but making it much, much more difficult for people to find ways to do privilege escalation.
And these are things that you could say the average person wouldn't know about -- and shouldn't have to know about -- but they are part and parcel of making the system such that they're just intrinsically more secure.
We've done a lot of other things. For example, in Service Pack 1 for Windows XP we changed the configuration defaults again for all the wireless local area networks so that if you don't have encryption on the link even as a basic form of security it won't actually automatically install and connect you to a network; it will find it and tell you it's there but it makes you make a specific election if you want to connect your machine to essentially a completely open network. We've changed the default firewall configuration so that in a consumer machine it's always on, even though in a corporate machine it would not default to on because it would break some corporate applications. So we're using what intelligence we can build into the system to really make the default configuration appropriately more secure.
Excerpts are from here, click to read more.

PowerToys for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 1.0

Nov 11 2002-PowerToys are additional programs that developers work on after a product has been released to manufacturing. They'll add fun and functionality to your Tablet PC experience. PowerToys include: Pool for Tablet PC, Puzzle Game, Snipping Tool for Tablet PC, Thumbnail View, Tic Tac Toe, and Writing Recognition Game.
Go here to download the powertoys from Microsoft.

Tablet PC: Coming to an Office Near You?

Nov 6 2002-Many of the gadgets coming out of the technology sector in the past year have been aimed at mobile workers giving them the ability to stay in-touch and on-the-job while on the road.
But, fresh off of its victory in its landmark antitrust case, Microsoft and its hardware partners are aiming their newest products, based on the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system that will launch Thursday, at an entirely different class of worker: the "Corridor Warrior."
Go here for more from atnewyork.com.
Click here for our new page with Tablet Edition info.

MS adds video editing to Windows XP

Nov 3 2002-Microsoft will add a video-editing feature to its Windows XP operating system with a new program that automates and simplifies home movie-making, the software maker said Friday. Movie Maker 2, whose beta, or test version, which will be available for download on Microsoft's Web site on Friday, is meant to dispel the notion that home video-editing takes hours and requires a lot of learning, said Michael Aldridge, lead product manager at Microsoft's digital media division.
The new program, which will be available for free as part of the Windows XP license, automatically pulls video from a camcorder, analyzes clips and assembles a short movie set to music with titles and credits. They are actually running some ads on my site right now about it, be sure to check them out.
Go here for more from zdnet.

Microsoft Offers XP rebate

Oct 28 2002-Microsoft is offering a 75 dollar rebate for everyone who buys a pc preinstalled with home Edition and and a Windows XP upgrade at the same from the same retailer, so if you find a pc you like with Home edition on it, then go ahead and get the XP upgrade while you are at it, since the rebate makes it practically free.
Go here to print out the rebate forms.
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Microsoft retools Windows XP for devices

Oct 23 2002-Microsoft on Tuesday released an update to the version of Windows XP for embedded devices. Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 1 resolves glitches discovered since Microsoft released the operating system last year and also adds new features to the product. The operating system is a modular version of Microsoft's flagship operating system that can be installed on embedded devices, such as cash registers, slot machines or ATMs. This embedded version uses the same code base as Windows XP, but Microsoft does not license the product for use on PCs.
Click here for more from Zdnet.

Windows XP, Office and SQL Server open to new attacks

Oct 18 2002-Microsoft warns of new flaws that could let hackers manipulate database servers and steal data from users' PCs Microsoft late on Wednesday warned of three new bugs in its software, including a flaw in SQL Server 7.0 and 2000 that could allow an unauthorised user to execute particular administrative functions called Web tasks. The company also disclosed a flaw in Windows XP that could allow an attacker to delete files, and one in Office that could lead to information disclosure.
A second flaw affects the Windows XP version of Help and Support Center, which contains help files and access to Windows Update, among other features. A mistake in permissions could allow a malicious Web page or HTML email to call on a file within Help and Support Center, causing it to erase any file on the user's PC.
Click here for more from Zdnet.

Microsoft calls off new XP restriction

Oct 13 2002-Bowing to criticism, Microsoft Corporation has backed off a copyright-protection scheme that would have restricted the use of TV programmes recorded on computers that run an upcoming version of the Windows XP operating system.
Windows XP Media Center Edition, to be installed on a new line of Hewlett-Packard personal computers later this year, would have encrypted recordings so that they could be played only on the PC that recorded the programme.
After details of Microsoft's original plan emerged last month, consumer advocates criticised the system as being more restrictive than traditional technology such as videotape recorders.
Click here for more from TheStraitstimes.

Outlook Express security alert

Oct 11 2002-Microsoft released another security alert today for Outlook Express, another buffer overrrun type of vulnerability. This fix is already included Windows XP sp1 and Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1, and this doesn't affect Outlook, a different version of their email client.
Click here for more from our security pages.

Windows XP Embedded

Here is the Microsoft low down on what Windows XP Embedded is:
"Windows XP Embedded is the componentized version of the leading desktop operating system, enabling rapid development of the most reliable and full-featured connected devices. "
Windows XP Embedded is the componentized version of the leading desktop operating system, enabling rapid development of the most reliable and full-featured connected devices. Based on the same binaries as Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Embedded enables embedded developers to individually select only the rich features they need for customized, reduced-footprint embedded devices.
Click here for more from ActiveWin.

Customers could spur interim Windows XP version

Oct 6 2002-Microsoft will slip out an interim desktop version of its Windows operating system before 2004 under pressure from some customers who signed up for its new enterprise licensing plan, several analysts predict.
Microsoft's current roadmap calls for the next release of Windows for the desktop to appear in the second half of 2004, officials say. That release is code-named Longhorn, and Microsoft has promised to pack a number of new technologies into the operating system that coincide with its Web-based .Net initiative.
However, industry watchers say that Microsoft is poised to miss the deadline for Longhorn, which would leave customers that signed up for its new annuity licensing plan, known as Software Assurance, paying for a product that they may not receive. Those contracts, which last three years, require customers pay an annual fee each year during the life of the contract for access to bug fixes, or new operating system releases.
Click here for more from infoWorld.

Windows XP and a product key

Oct 4 2002-WHAT IF YOU booted your PC, and it booted you back? That's what many Windows users dread these days. They've heard that Service Pack 1 for Windows XP "phones home" -- and may refuse to install.
Many of the fears are unfounded or the usual "I want Windows for free" hacker angst. But some of the concerns are real. Let's take a look, shall we?
bNormal SP1 installation. Normally, an XP user installs SP1 using Windows Update or a physical CD. After upgrading to SP1, you may need to run XP's Product Activation routine. This would occur if you're setting up a new PC or if you've made more hardware changes to an existing XP machine than Product Activation allows. If so, XP with SP1 transmits to Microsoft during the activation process the unique 25-character product key that's printed on the CD case.
Click here for more from infoWorld.

Red Hat set to roll out Linux 8.0

Sep 30 2002-HOPING TO BETTER establish its version of Linux on the desktops of small and midsize companies, Red Hat on Monday will formally deliver Version 8.0 of the open-source operating system that features a spiffier graphical interface.
The new Bluecurve interface, based on Gnome 2.0, features themes, scroll bars and menus, and several new graphical enhancements and icons. The new version also contains a number of updated applications including the Open Office productivity suite, beefed up Evolution e-mail client, and the Mozilla browser 1.0.1.
Also included is a suite of configuration tools for setting up several different system services including Apache servers, Samba, network settings, firewall, and peripherals. The company has also included improved versions of its C compiler and operating system kernel.
Click here for more from infoWorld.

Windows XP Gets Bluetooth Support

Sep 27 2002-Microsoft says its implementation could finally launch the wireless technology into the mainstream. Microsoft has released to manufacturers the software necessary to allow devices that support the short-range wireless technology Bluetooth to work with Windows XP-based PCs, the company said Thursday.
The software will allow device makers to use a consistent Bluetooth implementation when developing new products, said Charmaine Gravning, a product manager with Microsoft's Windows division. Devices that use the technology include handheld computers, mobile phones, keyboards, printers and mice.
"It gives these device manufacturers a standard to work from," Gravning said. Typically, manufacturers design their own Bluetooth software from scratch, which has created some incompatibility issues for the industry, she said.
The new support in Windows XP for the wireless technology could give Bluetooth a much needed boost, as it has been slow to take off so far, some analysts say.
Click here for more from PCWorld.

Microsoft Ponders Windows Upgrade for 2004

Sep 27 2002-According to developers close to the Redmond, Wash., company, a proposal to deliver a Windows 'Yukon' release—timed to tide over Microsoft and its users until the long-awaited Longhorn debuts—is on the company's drawing boards.
Microsoft executives have held fast to their promise that Longhorn will be the version of Windows designed to follow Windows XP on the desktop, and Windows .Net Server 2003 on the server. In recent weeks, however, company representatives have taken to calling Longhorn the next "major" version of Windows.
Click here for more from eWeek.

Critical Flaw in Frontpage

Sep 26 2002-Microsoft released a patch yesterday it has deemed as critical, Buffer Overrun in SmartHTML Interpreter Could Allow Code Execution. It affects Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions 2000, Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions 2002, Microsoft Windows 2000 (shipped FPSE 2000), and Microsoft Windows XP (shipped FPSE 2000). Machines not affected are those that have ran the IIS Lockdown Tool, if used to configure a static web server, disables the SmartHTML Interpreter. Servers on which this has been done could not be affected by the vulnerability, and servers on which the exstentions have been removed.
Click here for more from our security page, including links to download the patch.

Microsoft Posts Steps to Change Windows XP Keys

Sep 26 2002-An interesting turnabout took place over last weekend when Microsoft Corp. posted on its Product Support Services Web site a detailed knowledge base article that provides step-by-step instructions on how to change volume-licensed product keys for Windows XP.
But the move, which started as a customer service to help users legitimately change keys, could actually serve as a blueprint of sorts for hackers to access XP keys, some said.
Unlike consumer customers, Microsoft, of Redmond, Wash., provides XP to volume-licensed customers with keys that unlock re-quested applications and validate their installations. But shortly after XP's release last fall, hackers seized on a method of accessing such keys to open their pirated versions of the operating system.
Click here for more from eweek.

Baffling hack attacks on Win2K Server

Sep 26 2002-Beginning in late August, users started to report a number of mysterious attacks against Windows 2000 Server, which Microsoft struggled to explain. The Redmond giant still isn't really sure whether the cause of these attacks is a new vulnerability or just poor configuration, but it's leaning toward the latter. The good news is that the number of incidents has been declining.
The attacks themselves have been Trojan attacks, and all of them appear to be associated with Backdoor.IRC.Flood, which installs an ICQ instant messaging client on the system.
Click here for more from zdnet.

Windows XP--one year later

Sep 23 2002-I've been using Windows XP as my main desktop OS for about a year now. I'm really very happy with it, as are most XP users I know. It's probably the best job Microsoft has ever done on a desktop operating system.
It was a good move for Microsoft to include 802.11 support in Windows XP, but as a heavy XP wireless user I find the implementation merely adequate. I haven't really found a good implementation of WEP in terms of user interface, and the problems in Windows XP's implementation are partly a result of all that is confusing and wrong with WEP and the rest of 802.11 security.
XP's Wireless Networks properties dialog and related user interfaces are not the worst I've seen, but they're bad, and the Help file avoids explaining important points, such as the definition of the WEP key index and the distinction between the hex and ASCII entries. Service Pack 1 amends the hex/ASCII issue by removing the option to use hex network keys for WEP. This is great, as long as the passphrases are compatible between systems, but in my experience, this hasn't always been the case.
Click here for more from zdnet.

Windows XP Slow to Gain Ground

Sep 23 2002-Consumers may be buying into Windows XP on new PCs, but many corporate users are still putting off plans to migrate to Microsoft's nearly one-year-old desktop operating system.
Even the recent release of the first service pack of bug fixes for XP--typically a signal for broader corporate adoption of Windows operating systems--was shrugged off by several IT managers.
A Computerworld poll of 25 Windows users in a wide range of industries found only four companies that are currently rolling out XP across their operations and four more that plan to start migrations in the coming months. Some users who are holding back on XP cite cost, the lack of a pressing business need, and recent Windows 2000 rollouts as factors in their decisions.
Click here for more from pcworld.

Rival Group Blasts Windows XP Update

Sep 22 2002-A coalition of Microsoft rivals has taken the software giant to task in a letter sent to officials at the U.S. Department of Justice, claiming Microsoft's Windows XP ( news - web sites) update violates six terms of the proposed antitrust settlement with the federal government.
ProComp, an industry group that includes Oracle, Sun Microsystems and AOL Time Warner among its members, homed in on Microsoft's new Service Pack 1 release, focusing on its inability to let users choose rival software to replace standard offerings in Windows XP.
Click here for more from yahoo.

Patch Plugs Win XP Hole Without SP1

Sep 21 2002-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.

XP Service Pack Said to Fix Major Flaw

Sep 21 2002-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.

Win XP Update Crashes Some PCs

Sep 20 2002-Some Windows XP ( news - web sites) 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 reboot. Other users complain that applications won't start or now crash repeatedly, including Microsoft's own programs.
Click here for more from yahoo.

Win-XP Help Center request wipes your HD

Sep 18 2002-A malicious Win-XP Help Center request can easily and silently delete the contents of any directory on your Windows machine, we've learned. Worse, MS has rolled the fix silently into SP1 without making a public announcement. A good sketch of the problem in English, along with a harmless self-test, can be found here, thanks to Mike at http://unity.skankhouse.org, who did some tinkering after noticing a tip on a BBS.
The hole was discovered by Shane Hird of Distributed Systems Technology Centre, who first reported it to MS on 25 June 2002. His bulletin, dated 15 August, offers the most detailed view of the problem. He suggests that fellow bug hunters look more deeply into the Help Center and its mysterious powers, since requests can remotely open files with elevated privileges. He offers a few hints about where one might start probing.
Click here for more from eweek.

Service Pack 1 Provides Quick Windows XP Fix

Sep 13 2002-For many IT administrators, a piece of Microsoft software—particularly one as central to an enterprise as Windows—isn't ripe for rollout until the first service pack release. Judging from the number of security and bug fixes addressed in Service Pack 1, it paid to be cautious with Windows XP.
In eWEEK Labs' tests of Windows XP Service Pack 1, which Microsoft Corp. made available for free download today, we experienced no problems during installation or subsequent use. However, newsgroup posters have reported a few minor hitches post-upgrade, including trouble switching among Outlook Express profiles. Administrators should carefully test the package with their own hardware and software before undertaking the upgrade.
Click here for more from eweek.

Windows XP Service Pack 1

Sep 10 2002-It's official, Microsoft has updated their windows xp service pack 1 webpage here, get the express install here and the network install, if you are going to beinstalling on multiple computers, here.
Microsoft continually works to improve its software. As part of this effort, we develop updates and fixes to recognized issues and release them for customers. On a regular basis, we combine many of these fixes into a single package and make the package available for you to install on your computers. These packages are called Service Packs.
Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) provides the latest security and reliability updates to the Windows XP family of operating systems. Windows XP SP1 is designed to ensure Windows XP platform compatibility with newly released software and hardware, and includes updates that resolve issues discovered by customers or by Microsoft's internal testing team. To determine whether to install Windows XP SP1, we recommend reviewing the Windows XP documentation and information below.
Click here for more from Microsoft.

Windows XP Media Center Edition Preview

Sep 6 2002-Extend the reach of Windows PCs to the Television. During the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January 2002, Microsoft unveiled two technologies--code-named Freestyle and Mira--designed to extend the reach of Windows PCs from the office into the far larger and more lucrative living room. The plan, launched through the company's eHome Division, aims to leverage the power and intelligence of the PC while offering simplicity and convenience for consumers.
Currently, PCs are powerful, but limited to specific tasks. As we move toward a more connected world where digital media experiences such as music, photos, and movies are used more and more with PCs, it makes sense to bring that machine into other areas of the house. Windows XP Media Center Edition ("Freestyle") addresses this need. With Windows XP Media Center Edition, a new generation of TV-based PCs, or PCs used in smaller living areas such as dorm rooms and apartments, is made more viable thanks to a simple new user interface. Somewhat predictably, Microsoft calls these PCs Media Center PCs.
Click here for more from winsupersite.

Office 11 Beta Begins

Microsoft has alerted potential testers that the beta for the next version of Microsoft Office, code-named Office 11, will begin shortly. The beta will include Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, FrontPage, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Scribbler, which is designed for Tablet PC devices, along with a hosted SharePoint Team Services Web site for "exploration and use" during the beta time period.
"Our goal is to have a targeted group of testers willing to actively participate and provide useful feedback to our development team," the company wrote in a beta invitation it distributed yesterday. "Please carefully consider your willingness and ability to test Office 11. Your feedback will be critical to the success of our product. Regular and consistent participation throughout the program is expected."
Click here for more from wininformant.

Launch Date Set for Windows XP Service Pack

Sep 3 2002-Microsoft Corp. this weekend released Windows XP Service Pack 1 to manufacturing, but said the pack will be available for the general public via download or CD on Monday, September 9.
The service pack, which has been in beta since June, will include all the security fixes, application compatibility updates and updated drivers released since the product's launch last October.
Jim Allchin, Microsoft's group vice president for the platforms products group in Redmond, Wash., said SP1 also serves as the core foundation for several soon-to-be-released PC-based entertainment and productivity innovations, including Windows Media Player 9, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows-powered Smart Displays. Microsoft is also urging all Windows XP users to apply Windows XP SP1 to their systems.
Click here for more from eWeek.

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack Provides Enhanced User Experience

Increased Security, Reliability and Compatibility Make Windows XP the Foundation for the Future for Consumer and Enterprise Users
Sep. 1, 2002-Microsoft Corp. today announced the release to manufacturing of Windows® XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), a package of updates for Windows XP, the company's most advanced and fastest-selling Windows licenses. Windows XP SP1 brings enhanced security, reliability and compatibility to business and home users. Windows XP Service Pack 1 will be available to the general public Monday, Sept. 9.
"Microsoft is always focused on improving the reliability and security of Windows for our customers, and Service Pack 1 is the latest delivery on our commitment to those customers," said Jim Allchin, group vice president for the Platforms Products Group at Microsoft. "Windows XP is the most secure and dependable operating system we have ever produced, but our work doesn't end when we ship the product. Windows XP Service Pack 1, along with services such as Windows Update, are examples of how we help customers keep their PCs updated with the latest and greatest technology."
Click here for more from Microsoft.

Settlement fuels Windows XP update

Aug 29 2002-Microsoft is finishing work on an update to its Windows XP operating system, clearing the way for public release of the software within the next few days, sources say.
The software giant periodically issues free updates, known as service packs, in order to fix bugs or revamp security software. The Windows XP update is unique, however, because it adds a new control for setting default middleware--such as Web browser and media player software--as required by Microsoft's pending antitrust settlement with the Justice Department and nine of the 18 states that sued the company.
In court papers filed Wednesday to document Microsoft's progress in complying with the proposed settlement, the software giant said that "in the next few days, Microsoft will release SP1 for Windows XP." Microsoft spokesman Jim Cullinan would not elaborate on the timing of the release, other than to say that it is "still on target for the next couple of weeks."
Click here for more from zdnet.

Windows XP SP1, finally?

August 29 2002-Originally expected today, and then delayed until the end of this week, Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) will now ship within ten days, according to Microsoft. The software giant announced the delivery schedule late Tuesday in an effort to comply with part of its proposed settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ), which specifies a time table for delivering compliance changes. These changes are part of SP1, Microsoft says.
XP SP1 includes Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (SP1), support for USB 2.0, a number of security and bug fixes, along with the new Set Program Access and Defaults UI component, which was required by Microsoft's DOJ settlement proposal. Set Program Access and Defaults lets users choose whether to hide certain XP middleware applications, including Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Windows Media Player, Windows Messenger, and Microsoft's Virtual Machine for Java. Third party applications can register with the UI and have their icons appear in a list of available middleware applications. This will let users choose which applications appear in the XP UI, Microsoft says.
Click here for more from wininformat.

RIAA Site Defaced by Hackers

The Recording Industry Association of America was the victim of a hack Wednesday, forcing network administrators to shut down the site and look for the hole in its Web server.
The RIAA has drawn the scorn of legions of Internet denizens in recent years for its stance on Internet radio broadcast fees and peer-to-peer networking. The organization became infamous to millions of users after filing an injunction against the popular free music-swapping program, Napster.
Click here for more from internetnews.

Dell taps market for 'white box' PCs

Aug 20 2002-Dell Computer is seeking alliances with mom-and-pop shops to further its growth in the PC market. This week, Dell will begin offering a special, low-price desktop PC to distributors that cater to small businesses, typically companies with less than 100 employees, the company confirmed Tuesday.
The Texas-based PC maker is embarking on the new plan as a way to enter the "white box" market, which it estimates to be worth about $3 billion. White-box PC sales have grown quietly over the last five years to represent roughly 30 percent of the market, according to a recent IDC report. These PCs are assembled by small outfits ranging in size from one-person or family-owned shops to larger, regional PC sellers.
Click here for more from zdnet.

Office XP vs. bugs, round two

Microsoft on Wednesday plans to release its second collection of bug fixes, or service pack, to Office XP, the company confirmed Tuesday. Service Pack 2, a 15MB download, is supposed to enhance Office XP's performance, security and stability, while fixing a wide range of glitches, Microsoft said. "This is a very comprehensive service pack," said Simon Marks, Office product manager. The software giant issued the first Office XP service pack in December.
Click here for more from zdnet.

Microsoft: Flaw is in Windows, Not IE

Aug 16 2002-Responding to claims made earlier this week that Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) contains a security flaw related to its implementation of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology, the company says that the flaw is actually in Windows, not in IE. To address the problem, Microsoft is working on patches for Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, Windows Me, and Windows 98.
"This SSL flaw has been described as an [IE] problem but it is a Windows issue," said Scott Culp, who manages the Microsoft Security Response Center. "[The flaw] is in the [cryptography] of the [OS], so we have to patch the OS. It is an implementation problem in the way SSL certificates are processed, where information is not available in the certificate or it is available in two places and there is a conflict." Culp noted that IE relies on the cryptography code in Windows, which could explain why the security flaw was mistakenly attributed to IE.
Click here for more from wininformant.

IE Bug Deemed Serious

Aug 15 2002-A rogue programmer recently announced the discovery of a serious new security flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), Microsoft's popular Web-browser software, which could compromise the technology used to make secure online transactions. The vulnerability has been present in IE for up to 3 years, during which time users made millions of online transactions with the compromised technology. The bug is in IE's implementation of the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol for encryption and authentication and could let intruders launch "man-in-the-middle attacks" in which an intruder poses as the e-commerce site and obtains credit card information and other personal data.
Click here for more from wininformant.

Windows XP SP1 this summer

Aug 11 2002-Deliver Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) this summer. Smith said that the company is on track to ship SP1 this summer and later noted that the release will ship on or after August 28. XP SP1 includes a UI change that lets end users and PC makers hide access to five key middleware components--Internet Explorer (IE), Outlook Express, Windows Media Player (WMP), Windows Messenger, and Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine (VM). Based on feedback from beta testers, PC makers, and the DOJ, Microsoft will make additional changes to XP SP1 to make the product's middleware-hiding feature "even more clear to users."
Click here for more from wininformant.

Microsoft EULA asks for root rights - again

Aug 08 2002-Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 contain a new condition which asks you to allow Windows to go and install future updates.
"You acknowledge and agree that Microsoft may automatically check the version of the OS Product and/or its components that you are utilizing and may provide upgrades or fixes to the OS Product that will be automatically downloaded to your computer," is the new bit you'll be interested in.
Click here for more from theRegister.

Sideshow is Not Longhorn

Aug 4 2002-When your only source of information is user feedback on a rumors site, you know you're in trouble, but that didn't stop an otherwise respectable tech publication (which shall remain nameless) from publishing a story this week erroneously tying some current Microsoft beta products to Longhorn, the next Windows version. These products include "Sideshow," a Microsoft internal test product that places Internet links in a locked toolbar on the side of your screen; and MSN 8, which uses a new Dashboard component (incorrectly called a "task shelf" for some reason in the report) to provide MSN services-based links either in the MSN browser, or directly on the desktop. So what's the connection to Longhorn, you ask? Anybody know who he's talking about?
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Microsoft releases Windows 2000 fixes

July 31 2002-Microsoft released the third major collection of Windows 2000 bug fixes, or service pack, to premier customers on Tuesday. But everyone else will have to what until Thursday.
Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 is the first update released since Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates issued a company-wide directive about putting security ahead of adding new features to products. Soon after, Microsoft issued a rollup package of cumulative security fixes.
Service Pack 3 includes all previously released security fixes, "plus security fixes learned from the security push," said Jim Cullinan, Windows lead product manager.
Click here for more from news.com.
Bink's XP Site has posted this url where you can download service pack 3 from Microsoft, download of the English version while start as soon as you click the link.

Big Windows XP hole Microsoft doesn't want anyone to know about

Yesterday, Leo and Pat found themselves in a difficult editorial dilemma. Leo had received a confidential email from Steve Gibson of Gibson Research alerting him to a potentially disastrous vulnerability in Windows XP. Gibson said the hole could be plugged by downloading Microsoft's latest service pack, but that the specifics of the vulnerability must be kept secret to avoid misuse by hackers.
Gibson says that Microsoft has known about the XP security hole for 11 weeks. If we found out about it yesterday, then other organizations must have known about it as well. Oddly though, as of show time yesterday, there were still no stories written about the XP hole. Since reporters aren't likely to sit on a big story, there must have been a good reason.
In this case, the reason is that the XP security hole is incredibly easy to exploit. So easy, that if given the right information, anybody with Internet access could potentially clean out the hard drives of thousands of unassuming users. Who wants to be the dope to set off the worst hacker disaster in years?
Click here for more from zdnet.

The fatal flaw inside MS's new Media Center PCs

If Microsoft's handling of digital-rights management in its new Media Center PCs is any indication, Redmond is perfectly happy to sell out its customers to keep the entertainment industry happy.
What I'm talking about are features built into Windows XP Media Center Edition that let some next-generation PCs act like TiVo-esque personal video recorders (PVRs). The first Media Center machines, due before Christmas from HP, also come with a DVD burner. That combination means you can copy TV programs you've recorded using the PVR features from your hard drive to DVD.
THAT'S WHERE the catch comes in: The DVDs you burn can only be played on the same machine on which they were recorded.

Longhorn: It's All in the Timing

July 27 2002-The next major revision of Windows, code-named Longhorn, won't ship until 2005 at the earliest. Various Microsoft executives have said as much, certainly, and this week Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates even specifically mentioned the date during the company's annual financial analysts meeting. But the Longhorn release schedule is tied to so many other products and technologies now, that a timeframe of 2005 (or beyond) is virtually guaranteed. Here's why: Gates said this week that Longhorn would be tied to future releases of Office, Exchange Server, and, of course, the SQL Server "Yukon" technologies, which will be used for the Longhorn file system. And my understanding is that the Longhorn's server versions--the follow-ups to the Windows .NET Server family releases that will happen in Q1 2003--will be released in lock-step with the Longhorn desktop versions. Given all this information, how quickly would Microsoft release updates to Office, Exchange and Windows Server? I'm thinking two years would be the minimum, and indeed, Office 11 will ship mid-2003, meaning that Office 12--the one that will be released along with Longhorn--won't happen until at least mid-2005. And consider Windows Server: Windows 2000 Server shipped to customers in February 2000, with its successor, a minor update called Win.NET Server, hitting around the same time in 2003. So how could the next one hit any sooner than mid-2005? It can't. So Longhorn is definitely on track for mid-2005 or later. And that, people, means that we can expect at least one or two interim Windows XP releases in the meantime, as I've been saying for a while now. And though Microsoft won't talk about these releases because it's busy pushing Windows XP SP1, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, and Windows XP Media Center Edition right now, I can assure you that mentions of future Windows XP versions will start appearing later this year. It's unavoidable.
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Rumors About Windows XP SP1 Product Activation

July 26 2002-A bizarre rumor about Microsoft making sweeping changing to its Product Activation technology in Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) is completely untrue, the company told me today. The rumor, which was started by a small technology enthusiast Web site, had Microsoft changing the product keys for all of its customers using volume licensing. This rumors has since spread across the Internet and been embellished in various ways, including a version I came across Thursday morning claiming that Microsoft was making the change so it could charge licensees yet again for SP1. Not so, says Microsoft.
As I first reported back in May, the Windows Product Activation feature in XP SP1 will get two minor modifications, neither of which will affect any legitimate users. First, Microsoft discovered that the majority of pirated XP copies out there are tied to single volume license product key. So Microsoft alerted the company about the problem, changed their key, and disabled it for use after SP1. So anyone using this pirated key will be unable to upgrade to SP1 or any future updates via Windows Update. Also, Microsoft is adding a three-day grace period for people that use the same product key to install XP on two different systems; in the past, there was no grace period and the user had to immediately activation via phone in order to use XP on the second system. This will give users some breathing room if disaster strikes and you have to install XP on a new system.
We had posted this info also from that website, sorry for any confusion, that info has been removed.
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UPDATE: Windows XP SP1 build 1081 leaked

Posted on www.neowin.net.
Move over 1079, 1081 is in town!
Yep we can confirm with the help of Arnaudt & Bunnios that build 1081 of Service Pack 1 has been released to oems and employees today. This build has not been released to testers.
The file size is 130,601,560 and as of posting there is no additional installation details, we can assume however that IE and MSN follow the trend bumping up their respective build numbers up from 1079 release.
No word on final build numbers and release date yet, the build is also too new for public downloads... we'll keep you posted.
Click here for more from neowin.

Gates Evaluates .NET, Promises Future Advances

For the future, Microsoft sketched out a wide array of products and technologies that will be built on .NET. A project code-named Greenwich provides the real-time communications muscle needed on the server to deliver a seamless experience for desktop and Pocket PC users, for example; Greenwich is due in mid-2003. Microsoft's oft-touted Yukon release of SQL Server, now due late next year but in development for eons, will form the basis of the next Windows file system, a future Exchange data store, and the next major revision of Active Directory, the company says.
The company's most compelling upcoming release, Longhorn, the next major revision of Windows, is still at least two years away, Gates said. This extended schedule might necessitate further interim releases of Windows before then, such as the new XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) release that's being fielded next month. But the company didn't do a lot of talking about Longhorn yesterday, focusing instead on the more immediate challenges it faces with .NET. Given the company's debatable accomplishments thus far, it still has a lot of work to do.
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Microsoft Unveils Windows XP Media Center Edition

July 20 2002-Microsoft Corp. today announced the newest member of the Windows XP family: Windows XP Media Center Edition. Formerly known by the code name "Freestyle," Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition turns a PC into a media center that integrates digital entertainment experiences -- including live television, personal video recording (PVR), digital music, digital video, DVDs and pictures -- with the freedom of remote control access. Currently in beta testing, Microsoft will ship Windows XP Media Center Edition to OEMs in time for the holiday shopping season in the United States, Canada and Korea. It is expected to be available in Japan in the first half of 2003.
"The PC has evolved from a tool for productivity to a device capable of entertainment, communications and so much more," said Michael Toutonghi, vice president of the Windows eHome Division at Microsoft. "Consumers desire more fun and enjoyment from their PC and want it to contribute to their lives even more creatively than it does today. The time is right for Windows XP Media Center Edition; it maps to our vision of realizing potential with technology in ways people may not have thought possible."
Windows XP Media Center Edition's dual-purpose functionality makes it ideal for digital media enthusiasts and consumers in small, space-constrained environments, such as teen-agers, college students, young adults and families who want to use their PC for multimedia entertainment.
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Focus On: Printers and Windows XP

Installing a Plug and Play printer in Windows XP is usually as easy as plugging it into your computer and waiting a few seconds for the Found new hardware message to be displayed. However, if you run into printing problems, whether you’re adding a printer that isn’t a Plug and Play device, setting up a shared printer, or updating a printer driver to work with Windows XP, these links can lead to solutions.
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Microsoft Windows Messenger for Windows XP

July 15 2002-Support WebCast: Microsoft Windows Messenger for Windows XP: New Features, Common Issues, and Troubleshooting Wednesday, July 17, 2002: 10:00 A.M. Pacific time (Greenwich mean time - 7 hours) Level:200
In this session, you will learn about common issues that users may face and how to troubleshoot and resolve these issues. You will hear about the new features of Windows Messenger that help make the user experience more enjoyable.
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Windows XP Newsgroups Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the most frequently asked questions in the 18 Microsoft Windows XP newsgroups. To participate in these newsgroups, by reading messages or posting your own comments, check out the Microsoft Windows XP Newsgroups.
FAQ's include:
  • What happened to Netbeui?
  • What happened to the winipcfg utility?
  • I just installed a new Windows XP computer on a network of computers running Windows 9x. Can I put passwords on the shares like I can do in Windows 98?
  • What happened to Lock Computer? In Windows 2000 and Windows NT version 4.0, you could type CTRL+ALT+DEL to bring up a window that contained the Lock Computer option. In Windows XP, this key combination brings up the Task Manager.
And many more on Administration, performance, startup, music, video and photo's, installation and many more.
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MS to use PEAP for home wireless security?

July 13 2002-A little bird suggests to The Register that Microsoft's "more secure than others" wireless products will be using Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP). He further suggests that PEAP support will ship with Windows XP SP1, and although we hadn't heard that as a possible Windows XP SP1 addition, Microsoft is a supporter of PEAP, and a while back said a "future version of the Windows client may also include Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol," here.
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