When you try to open a file through a network share by using the SMB protocol, the file may take a long time to open. This problem can occur when a Windows XP client also has the file open and owns the oplock to the file. It does not respond to the oplock break request, and because of this, the server waits until the request times out and the other client has to wait for that. Download now to prevent a possible request time out.

After you connect to a Web site, you may receive an error message. After you receive the error message, you cannot use Search Companion to search for files or folders, or to search the Internet. The options to search for files or folders, or to search the Internet, are unavailable. Download now to prevent the error message from occurring.

REDMOND, Wash. -- June 3, 2002 -- Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of Microsoft® Office v. X Service Release 1 (Office v. X SR 1) and MSN® Messenger 3.0 for Mac. The performance improvements, updates, new features and fixes featured across the entire suite of Office v. X SR 1 applications -- including Word X, Excel X, PowerPoint® X and Entourage? X -- make them must-have downloads for all users of Office v. X who want the best and most seamless computing experience possible. MSN Messenger 3.0 for Mac is a greatly improved version of Microsoft's popular instant messaging application developed for Mac OS X, with several new features and improved reliability and performance. Also announced today, Microsoft will provide, in a separate but related offering, a component to enable synchronization between Palm operating system-based handheld devices and Entourage X as a free* download starting July 15.

I saw this @ Neowin and this is what they said: This is much smaller than the previous leak, which weighed in at approx 30mb, the installer is just 205kb, and the total download is normally 9mb or under. Update: Added 2 new download links Click on Read More... for a download link

It looks like SP1 XP has been released internally. Beta testing is said to start today. And english and german versions are scheduled for a release on August 14th, 2002. We thank Steven Bink, a Windows 2000 MCSE from Amsterdam, The Netherlands for the heads up. Read more... (but take it with a grain of salt)

New beta of Service Pack 3 of Windows 2000 is available for download. This version corrects many bugs and brings in more: "Configure Programs". Update: Someone submitted news and this is what he said:
I just managed to log onto the swamped ftp server containing the latest SP3 package for Win2K, and guess what - it's empty Click on Read More... for a download link to the Service Pack.

Just saw this @ Neowin.net.

Another new MSN Explorer Build 7.02.0005.1700 has been released. This one yet again contains "Minor Enhancements were made through MSN Explorer" fix. One day maybe we will get detailed bug fixes.

Neowin.net have the latest info about what's new in Windows 2000 SP3 RC build 3.140. Looks like a worthy update when finished. Some more info:

Some changes include Windows Installer (MSI) was updated from 1.3 (SP2 level) to 2.0 rendering some installers completely useless (Trend Micro? PC-cillin 2000 are affected).

Others are a direct response to Security concerns and implementation of fixes ASAP with the addition of Automatic Updates to the Control Panel of Windows 2000. This feature was limited to Windows Millennium & Windows XP respectively but has now found its way into Windows 2000 through SP3 making this as significant as SP3 was to Windows NT 4.0 in its day. Here's a Screenshot: of the Configure Programs within Add/Remove in Windows 2000 SP3!

Just saw this @ good old Neowin.net.

Microsoft have got their thumbs out from wherever they were and released what they are calling Pre RC SP3 for Windows 2000. This would indicate at least a Release Candidate before release is expected in early summer (June we thought, but hey!).

It simply says: NEWS May 28th, 2002: We are pleased to release the SP3 Release Candidate (RC).

This update resolves the "Authentication Flaw in Windows Debugger can Lead to Elevated Privileges" security vulnerability in Windows 2000. This vulnerability is the result of a flaw in the authentication mechanism for the Windows debugging facility that allows unauthorized program can gain access to the debugger. Download now to prevent a malicious user from gaining elevated privileges through the debugging facility, and then running code of her choice on your computer.

When navigating through the options menu with the InterActual DVD playback application included with some DVD Video titles, users may experience difficulty viewing the extra features (ie photo gallery) on these DVDs. Download now to prevent these issues from possibly occurring.

Just saw this @ Xp-erience.org.

They just recieved an email from the Betaplace telling me DirectX9 Beta 1 is available.

The DirectX is now a Web-base setup application for installing the end-user runtime. It is basically like windows Update which minimizes the download size to only the DirectX components your system requires.

I managed to get hold of a Microsoft Power Point Presentation on the the new to be released DirectX9, which you can download from the link below, it tells of all the new features and technologies of DirectX9.

At our german site Planet-XP they have some screenshot of the leaked Direct X 9.0 Beta 1. Click on Read More... for a link to see the screenshots.

Just saw on NeoWin and this is what they said:
As expected, Microsoft has released a brand-new build of the upcoming Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1 to its lucky testers! Despite other minor improvements, build 2800.1041 also incorporates the security update that has been issued for previous versions of Microsoft's web-browser on May 15. Click on Read More... for a download link.

Microsoft(R) DirectX (R) 9.0 SDK (Thanks Voodoo from Neowin for sending me the file!)

This is the Beta 1 Release of Microsoft's DirectX 9.0 Software Development Kit (SDK). It contains all DirectX software required to create DirectX 9.0 compliant applications.

Major components include: DirectX 9.0 system components (runtimes); DirectX 9.0 Application Programming Interface (API) Documentation for each of the DirectX core areas (written for C++, C#, or Visual Basic developers); DirectX 9.0 headers & libraries; Sample applications and source code; miscellaneous tools and utilities.

Looks like it's a Microsoft day today! Just spotted this piece of MSN Messenger 4.7 news from Msnfanatic.com!

Microsoft plans to introduce an update to Windows Messenger with the release of Service Pack 1. "In order for Windows Messenger to be hidden and removed, we had to make changes, and that's manifested in (version) 4.7," Cullinan said. "Also there have been some security issues (in Windows Messenger), and those will be addressed also."

So its not out yet... but im sure someone will leak it... or it might just go public before we go mad being crashed.

Xp-erience.org have found the latest service pack for the PLUS! add-on for Windows XP.



This update includes new Plus! CD Label Maker templates and Plus! Speaker Enhancement speaker profiles. It also fixes minor issues with Plus! MP3 Audio Converter and Plus! screen savers, discovered since the release of Plus! for Windows XP. This will update your version 1.00.00.0554 of Plus! for Windows XP to version 1.00.01.0732.

Our good friends @ Neowin.net have sent word on a new release of IE6 SP 1 Build 2800.1041 in english. Here's what they got to report:

Thanks Anonymous for sending me the fourth IE6 SP1 Beta announcement and release notes. SP1 will bring fixes and new features as you can see from the following notes posted below and in "read more" this is unconfirmed, feel free to confirm or otherwise.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 Beta

New Build Announcement For IE 6 SP 1 Build 2800.1041 in English The Internet Explorer Team is pleased to deliver the second beta release of Internet Explorer 6 SP 1! As always, we recommend that you uninstall any beta versions of Internet Explorer before installing Internet Explorer 6 SP1.

Just got this info from our good friends @ Neowin.net.

With all the news at the moment on Windows XP's soon to be beta tested/released/leaked (whatever!) Service Pack 1 (SP1), I read this interesting snippet on The Register.

And one last thing readers who're no better than they should be should bear in mind about SP1. Microsoft is going to engineer it so that it won't work on a widely-warezed activation key, which as we recall escaped form a large friend of Microsoft beginning with D. It would appear that Microsoft does not intend application of SP1 to vape systems installed using that key, but simply to freeze them where they are, and to block their ability to use Windows Update. Microsoft has used service packs to disable installations it deemed pirated in the past, and we'd guess it's decided not to do this because it might hit legit systems by mistake, or generate adverse publicity from innocent victims.

According to a story running at CNET Microsoft plans to begin testing on SP1 within a couple of weeks. The service pack is said to include some major updates including significant security fixes related to the trustworthy computing initiative called to life by Bill Gates himself. CNET reports that Windows XP SP1 will ship to manufacturers this summer and will also be available as a free download from WindowsUpdate.