Microsoft just posted this note on their newsgroups:

Thanks to the posts from the few of you that were having trouble getting build 2800, we were able to discover that one of the servers in our distribution system didn't take the propogation of the new build correctly, thus leaving 2799 and causing anyone that happened to hit that particular server to still see/get the old build. This should now be corrected. If anyone is still getting 2799 when they try to download, please let us know!

This article describes situations in which you must reinstall Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP. With some Microsoft operating systems such as Microsoft Windows NT you must re-apply the latest service pack after you make a change to your computer. Although you do not have to do so in Windows XP, there are a few situations in which you must reinstall SP1 for Windows XP.

Reinstall SP1 for Windows XP in the following situations:

Microsoft have released some more languages for your edition of Windows XP and XP 64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1.

This update resolves the "Buffer Overrun in SmartHTML Interpreter Could Allow Code Execution" vulnerability in Windows XP/2000! Download now to eliminate a vulnerability of moderate severity in the Front Page 2000 Server Extensions for Microsoft Office.

Processor architecture and system device/core logic design are frequently taken for granted, but are the fundamentals of all hardware platforms. The better these components, the more contribution they can provide to the basic capabilities of a platform. Likewise, a critical flaw in any of these components can result in a completely non-functional platform design.

Yes, Cnet's News.com reports "Microsoft is prepping a version of MSN Messenger with new features that will be available exclusively to paying subscribers of the MSN 8 online service. "
"MICROSOFT PLANS to offer two versions of MSN Messenger 5, one as part of MSN 8 and another as a separate, stand-alone product. But some of the best new features will only be available to MSN 8 customers, who must pay to subscribe to the service. An additional feature would be available exclusively to Windows XP users. " Contd...

Windows Messenger lets you see when your friends are online and exchange instant messages with them. Send instant messages with cool, new emoticons, call anywhere in the world from your computer, see when someone's typing, page a contact's mobile phone, send pictures and music to your friends, and much more. No changelog available.

Saw this at Windows Media Technology download page, dated 24 Septmeber.

Get fast and flexible playback with the best audio and video quality for Windows and the Web. Includes special new features optimized for Windows XP. Read more about the updated build 2800 in the release notes.

Ok this update has just came in from Winbeta.org. Thanks for the pointer, guys. LOL, Microsoft gives WinBeta users a hand.

Curiously it would appear that our friends at M$ have finally accepted the inevitable. Either that or it took them an extra month to learn how to do it correctly.

HOW TO: Change the Volume Licensing Product Key on a Windows XP SP1-Based Computer (Q328874)

Ok peeps if you are still looking for the Windows XP Service Pack 1 in your own languages look no further cause we got the comprehensive list posted for the English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Brazilian versions. And a big thanks to all the guys that sent in the info.

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. For more info warp 2 ... Yahoo News.

Time for more MSN 8 eye candy for ya'll to wow at. This time I also felt like posting a few previews of the face lift that's being done on the MSN channels. The only MSN 8 screenshots I posted were the new Media Player and About box, other than that, not much is new in Beta 2 (Build 2007.6). Check out the shots under read more...

Thanks Anonymous for sending us this article, It appears Microsoft have gone all soft and mushy and are telling pirates how they can change their Volume License Key after they spent a good deal of time blocking 1 or 2 keys from the SP1 code. read on! Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - Q328874: This article describes how to change the Windows XP product key in a Volume Licensing installation. Because of changes in Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows XP-based computers that use a leaked product key that is known to be available to the general public may not be able to install SP1 or automatically obtain updates from the Windows Update Web site. For example, you may experience the symptoms that are described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article when you install SP1: Read More at NeoWin.Net

The Microsoft® Windows XP Tablet PC Edition Platform Software Development Kit (SDK) contains the information you need to develop applications for Microsoft Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition. The Tablet PC platform encompasses Windows XP and its extensions that enable input and output of handwriting and speech data on a Tablet PC as well as interchange of this data with other computers.

The Windows XP startup disk allows computers without a bootable CD-ROM to perform a new installation of the operating system. The Windows XP startup disk will automatically load the correct drivers to gain access to the CD-ROM drive and start a new installation of Setup. You cannot upgrade from a Windows XP startup disk.

Windows XP Home Edition startup disks will not work for Windows XP Professional installations and vice-versa.

This update resolves the "Cryptographic Flaw in RDP Protocol can Lead to Information Disclosure" security vulnerability in Windows 2000. Download now if you use Remote Desktop or Terminal Services, to prevent an attacker from potentially learning encrypted information that was sent during Remote Desktop or Terminal Services sessions! This fix is NOT included in W2KSP3.

Here's another update from the nice peeps over @ Winbeta.org:

New builds of .NET 2003 Server, Standard and Enterprise are now available. No feature reports as of yet. But if the post RC1 builds that we've tried till now are any indication, the stability and configurability of this server family is unmatched.Come pay us a visit and get the latest toys from Microsoft!

Who should read this bulletin: System administrators who operate terminal servers using Microsoft® Windows® 2000, or Windows XP users who have enabled Remote Desktop. Fixed with XP SP1. Others please download to secure your system.

The Remote Data Protocol (RDP) provides the means by which Windows systems can provide remote terminal sessions to clients. The protocol transmits information regarding a terminal sessions' keyboard, mouse and video to the remote client, and is used by Terminal Services in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000, and by Remote Desktop in Windows XP. Two security vulnerabilities, both of which are eliminated by this patch, have been discovered in various RDP implementations.

This update was previously posted on WindowsUpdate V4 as we reported earlier. Microsoft now released the complementary knowledge base article and Technet announcement. Impact of vulnerability: Three vulnerabilities, the most serious of which could enable an attacker to gain complete control over a user?s system.
Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Recommendation: Customers should apply the patch immediately.
Affected Software: Versions of the Microsoft virtual machine (Microsoft VM) are identified by build numbers, which can be determined using the JVIEW tool as discussed in the FAQ. All builds of the Microsoft VM up to and including build 5.0.3805 are affected by these vulnerabilities. Read more...

This just in from winbeta.org: Yet again another Messenger release by the famed gang of WiNBETA. This time it's build 5.0.0527.

No patch is needed to stay connected/online, so come on over to your favorite suger shack on IRC to grab yourself a copy.

Ad removal patch also created and available!