The Microsoft Windows Installer is an installation and configuration service that ships as part of the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system, and is provided as a redistributable product for Microsoft Windows 95, 98, ME, and NT version 4.0.

Windows Installer enables software users to efficiently install and configure products and applications. The installer can also provide software products with new capabilities to advertise features without installing them, to install products on demand, and to add user customizations. The Windows Installer supports advertisement of applications and features according to the operating system.

Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.7 RTM ? Refresh (2.70.9001.0) contains core components, including the Microsoft SQL Server? and Oracle OLE database provider and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver. MDAC does not contain the MDAC software development kit (SDK) or the desktop database providers and drivers.File size: 5 megabytes (MB). Available for x86-based computers only.

This download document describes a proposed API that extends Microsoft DirectX VA to support de-interlacing and frame rate conversion of video content by graphics device drivers. The purpose of this document is to provide driver developers with a preview of the APIs and the opportunity to provide feedback.

The information in this document applies for Microsoft Windows XP SP1 and later versions of Windows Video that is interlaced must be de-interlaced using the DirectX Video Acceleration and Microsoft Direct3D® 9 APIs for video. The graphics engine and the hardware overlay, if present, must support a minimum of bob and weave de-interlacing functionality.

The Office XP SP-1 Speller Update: April 25, 2002 refreshes the dictionary of words referenced by Microsoft Office XP SP-1. This update adds improved and new terminology and improved replacement suggestions. US English only The Word 2002 Update: April 25, 2002 prevents ActiveX controls running without a warning when you use Word to edit an e-mail message with Outlook configured to disable script. Multilanguage support

Ok peeps, I know you have been waiting for this! So all I am going to say is GO GET THEM! Update: Just got word from Tim @ Majorgeeks that he has zipped them all up in one file for you. Instead of downloading individual files from Microsoft you can now grab a package.

I saw this @ NeoWin. Microsoft have updated their Windows Messenger to v4.6.0078. Click on Read More... for direct download links.

If the 3D Flowerbox, 3D Flying Objects, 3D Pipes, 3D Text, or another Direct3D-based screen saver is running in Windows XP, the computer may be unable to enter standby or hibernation by using the timer in Power Management properties. Download now to avoid this issue.

This update addresses several graphics rendering issues with GDI+ in Windows XP, and is discussed in Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) Article Q318966. Download now to resolve some rendering issues. Read more for issues explained and download link!

The guys over @ OfficeXp.nu have some screenshots form the new Office.Net.
Here´s a bit: This does not look like the version of the last week leaked presentation. It does not install well on Win2k even with .NET Framework installed, but runs fine on XP. There is also a new member called scribbler. The screendumps are made on a WinXP machine with default Theme. Take a look @ the screenshots by using the above shown link.

REDMOND, Wash. -- April 16, 2002 -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that in response to growing customer demand, Macintosh OS X drivers are available for the popular Microsoft® line of keyboards, mouse products and trackballs. Today?s news extends compatibility of the entire Microsoft hardware line to the latest Macintosh operating system.

IIS Lockdown Wizard version 2.1 works by turning off unnecessary features, thus reducing attack surface available to attackers. To provide multiple layers of protection against attackers, URLscan, with customized templates for each supported server role, is integrated into the IIS Lockdown Wizard. To keep the server completely secure, however, all hotfixes are required before and after applying IIS Lockdown Wizard to stay protected against known security vulnerabilities.

Once again a Windows home-call 'feature' raises concern of Microsoft software users. The search assistant ( wizard like running in background ) is spying on the PC users searching behaviour according to an article at The Register. If one makes use of the function it gathers your IP adress, the search terms that you type and more. This does not only apply to internet (online) searches but also to searching for files and folders on your local computer. Read more...

Microsoft has released an updated version of the URLScan security tool, 2.5, with additional functionality that provides greater security and functionality than previous versions of the tool. URLScan 2.5 is an update to URLScan 1.0 and URLScan 2.0.

Important Urlscan stops many types of attacks but is not a substitute for staying up to date on patches. Microsoft strongly recommends that customers apply security patches to keep the server secure and fix known security vulnerabilities.

Microsoft has released the latest compatibility update for Windows XP on Windows Update V4. This latest update is a rollup package of the previous application compatibility update and includes loads of new software. For the complete list and additional information hit read more.

The good peeps over @ IRC.BetasOnline.com #betas have let me know that they have got hold of some new info regarding Microsoft Windows Longhorn!

It seems to be a real document referring to product planners working for system and component manufacturers, driver developers, firmware engineers, and silicon vendors who will create new PC and server products designed to run the next version of the Microsoft Windows operating system, code-named Longhorn.

Just saw this @ Xp-erience.org. Sony have released a "Spiderman" skin for Windows media player.

A computer science professor says Microsoft Corp. has the ability to create and release a modular version of the Windows operating system so computer makers can swap out Microsoft functions for competitors' programs. Microsoft has maintained that it would be impossible to create a stripped-down Windows because so many portions of it are dependent on others. Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has said that the requirement, a key proposal by the nine states seeking antitrust penalties from the company, would force Microsoft to take Windows off the market. Read more...

Just got word from Brownie and he seem to of found an site that will show you how Microsoft are looking to s**** you when you get your X-Box online! here's a quote from the site.

A friend and I recently came across some interesting info about the Xbox Online Service. We have obtained detailed info about how they plan to charge you for every little thing and even give you bad service. Anything that is dark grey and to the right is a direct out take from these help files. The out takes are direct from Microsoft and are not edited in any way. It also seems you?ll have to purchase or some how get an update for your Xbox. At this time there is no detail info if it will be via CD or if it will be packaged w/ new games.

To our knowledge Microsoft is not making it too easy for developers to get net games up and running. They are planning on everyone having a horrible broadband connection, 64kbit/sec up and down with a 250ms ping. The last time I played on an online game with a server that had a 250ms ping, I immediately disconnected. This is supposed to be a very detailed gaming system meaning that there would need to be more data transferred than your average computer game, most new computer games require much better speed than the Xbox requires. This speed is so low that a person on 56k could almost use it.

Microsoft today made available a new security patch for customers hosting web servers using Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Ten new vulnerabilities, the most serious of which could enable code of an attacker?s choice to be run on a server were fixed and it is recommended to apply the patch immediately.

Just saw this @ our good friends from neowin.net.

This is going to be a long Article and all quotes are from NeoWin.Net.

Neowin has been emailed anoymously, and exclusivly about Microsofts secret project, code named "saturn". It appears to be a free (microsoft- free???!!) asp editor that microsoft is developing that will allow developers to to run and test code on 95 upwards. Heres a snippet for you.

While application developers have long enjoyed development tools like Microsoft?s Visual Studio suite, development tools targeted to Web developers have been few and far between. Sure, there have been development tools targeted to HTML designers such as Microsoft?s FrontPage and Macromedia?s Dreamweaver, but Web developers creating the backend code for data-driven Web applications have had to use tools not quite fit for the job. We?ve either been forced into using glorified text editors like Visual InterDev or Homesite, or are using tools like Visual Studio .NET to create our ASP.NET Web pages, which, in many cases, is akin to killing a flea with a cannonball. Not to mention Visual Studio .NET?s imposing price tag. If it is your job to do application or Web development, the one thousand to twenty-five hundred dollar price tag of Visual Studio .NET is reasonable, but if you do ASP.NET development for pay or for fun on your spare time, purchasing Visual Studio .NET might not be an option.