Microsoft silently updated the build of Windows messenger for Windows Xp to 4.7.2009 without announcing the changes in the latest version. One can expect miscellaneous minor updates as there's no major change apparently.

MSN 8.5 just automatically updated to build 8.50.0016.0801, with some minor visible changes such as a MSN butterfly on the dashboard on startup as opposed to the MSN logo, address bar animation, along with other visual changes. Also added is a "Check Names" button to the Write Message screen when composing a new e-mail message, which will check the e-mail addresses listed in the To or CC fields for mis-spellings (applies to only those e-mail addresses you have in your address book). Click on Read More... to for a screenshot and a download link.

Thanks to my good mate Waddy at NTFS.org for this information.

Normally available only to subscribers, three CD images comprising the April 2003 MSDN Library have been posted by Microsoft for public download. The MSDN Library contains documentation, code samples, technical articles and reference guides designed for Microsoft developers.

The Microsoft VM is a virtual machine for the Win32® operating environment. The Microsoft VM is shipped in most versions of Windows as well as in most versions of Internet Explorer. The present Microsoft VM, which includes all previously released fixes to the VM, has been updated to include a fix for the newly reported security vulnerability. This new security vulnerability affects the ByteCode Verifier component of the Microsoft VM, and results because the ByteCode verifier does not correctly check for the presence of certain malicious code when a Java applet is being loaded. The attack vector for this new security issue would likely involve an attacker creating a malicious Java applet and inserting it into a web page that when opened, would exploit the vulnerability. An attacker could then host this malicious web page on a web site, or could send it to a user in e-mail.

Thanks to creamhackered at Neowin.net for the info.

Now that references to Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows 2000 SP4 are appearing in Microsoft documents, it?s time to review the procedure you follow to combine hotfixes with a slipstream installation directory.

The Microsoft Windows Script Control is an ActiveX control that provides developers with an easy way to make their applications scriptable. This, in turn, enables users to extend application functionality through scripts, much as they do with macros today.

This update addresses a potential problem when using system cloning and FBRESEAL.EXE on Windows XP Embedded runtimes. When FBRESEAL.EXE is run on the embedded runtime, certain information can be reset, including domain membership, user-specific information such as start menu items, mounted drives, and network information. This update allows the OEM to decide which sets of information are retained or reset.

This just in from Neowin.net ... Windows Server 2003 is shipped default with the themes service disabled. Neowin made an article enabling these services and more you can view that here. A special thanks to vorte[x] of WiNBETA for creating a working patch for the RTM version of Windows Server 2003. Instructions for applying the patch are as follows:

MSN Messenger is an instant messaging program that lets you send instant messages with cool emoticons, send pictures and other files to your friends, call a phone anywhere in the world from your computer, see when someone is typing a message to you, page a contact's mobile phone, and much more. Click on Read More... for download links

Thanks to Neowin.net for the info.

Late on Friday night Microsoft unveiled a set of intructions to enable and install Plus! for Windows XP on Windows Server 2003.

It may look as Windows 2000 SP4 RC 4.62 has been leaked.

MSFN is proud to announce the only currently available DirectX 9.0a Redistributable download on the net! There is another site claiming to host it, but the downloads are down at the moment (22:20 CET). Please hurry, because the download is limited to 5000. They are just providing the Windows 2K/XP version, because these operating systems are most popular. The downloads are in English language and for English operating systems only.

This Just in from Neowin.net ..... installing the Microsoft Jet 4.0 SP7 Beta allows you to block unsafe expressions by enabling sandbox mode, while allowing Microsoft Office Access 2003 to remain fully functional.

Thanks to creamhackered at Neowin.net for the info.

A new build of Windows XP SP 2 has escaped - now v1194 and built on the 1st of April - (no April fool). This looks as though it is just an update to 1185 - still just patches and fixes.

Reported freshly by the WinInformant Paul Thurrott. This week, Microsoft revealed that the company will expand its Microsoft Office 2003 lineup to include new basic and professional enterprise editions and a developer-oriented release called Visual Studio Tools for Office. But not all Office products will be available at retail locations, and the most compelling version for consumers, Office 2003 Basic Edition, will ship only with new PCs. According to my sources, Microsoft will launch Office 2003 in early June at Microsoft TechEd 2003, and the product will ship later that month.

MSN is the all-in-one software from Microsoft that makes it easy to get more from the Web. It works with your existing Internet connection, allowing you to browse the web, e-mail and instant message friends, chat, listen to music and much more. Easily sign-in and access to your favorite MSN features and an integrated media player offers a great new way to find and play music and video.

Thanks to creamhackered at Neowin.net for sending in these exclusive screenshots of MSN Explorer 8.5 Beta.

So as we reported a few moments ago the official MSN Explorer 8.5 beta has now begun. Testers have been given the opportunity to download and install the beta which includes an updated interface to both the Dashboard and MSN 8 itself as well as eye candy tweaks to MSN 8's email capabilities. MSN Messenger 5.0.0544 is included with this beta too. In the true style of Neowin we wouldn't be Neowin if we didn't give you an exclusive insight into how MSN 8 is changing so check out our exclusive screenshots.

Microsoft Corp. on Friday announced it has released Windows Server 2003 to manufacturing. The company's best-performing, highest-quality Windows server operating system released to date, Windows Server 2003 delivers an integrated server platform that enables customers to run their IT infrastructure up to 30 percent more efficiently. By completing a rigorous new testing program including a thorough line-by-line code audit, Windows Server 2003 incorporates innovative new security and reliability features that ensure the product is more secure by design. The new server platform is already receiving widespread partner support and customer interest worldwide: Microsoft has been preparing over 70,000 industry partners to market, deploy and service Windows Server 2003 when it launches April 24. More than 550,000 customers signed up for preview program betas, the highest number for any server in the history of the company.

Hardware-Created ASF Files Stop Playing in Media Player 9 Series. When you try to play back certain ASF files created by hardware devices, you may receive the following error message approximately three or four minutes after playback has started: 0xC00D1199 -- Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The file is either corrupt or the Player does not support the format you are trying to play.

We have been informed by ATI that the information we received about an incompatibility is wrong. Microsoft pulled and re-released DX 9.0a for some other reason which could not be verified as of yet. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and did not intent to harm any company's reputation in any way. Update: Microsoft has re-enabled the download: here. The release date now is 3/26/2003. A quick comparison using DXDIAG did not reveal any changes.