Right after we brought you the Windows XP Kernel Rollup Fix, that was unleashed on June, 20th by me, I found a new patch for Windows XP, that is also only available for premium support members. Today Warp2Search makes it available for you to download. It's a network fix, that fixes a problem with the network drive mapping, that is shown wrong by Windows XP. In this package the file Shell32.dll will be updated to version 6.0.2800.1161. Read more...

Hot on the heels of Q815227 - Performance Degradation Occurs in the UnmapViewOfFile Function which we discovered on Sunday June 15th and which The Tech-Report evaluated in a benchmark suite we now bring you the Windows XP Kernel Rollup Hotfix Package which is a complete Windows XP kernel update. As a reminder the original Q815227 hotfix updated the kernel files to build 5.1.2600.1178 to fix a bug in the Windows XP Hyperthreading support. The new kernel hotfix rollup package includes the most recent versions 5.1.2600.1224. Patches are available in english and german language versions. Thanks to our editor BILDZeitung for digging these up. Read more...

Just got word from our friends at Neowin.net that MSN Messenger 6, is available beginning today June 18th, at 11 a.m.

MSN Messenger 6, available beginning today at 11 a.m. PDT from http://messenger.msn.com/download/v6preview.asp, helps users create their own online identities through customized display pictures, backgrounds and emoticons. They also can share more of themselves - silly or serious - with IM contacts by competing at live online games, sending photos to their friends, or sharing animated emoticons that breathe life into that sad old :). In addition, MSN Messenger 6 lets users connect in fresh, new ways - via a webcam, a multitude of mobile devices or a Tablet PC - while blocking spam and helping protect privacy.

We first reported on the Q815227 update for Windows XP on Sunday, where a program that uses large mapped file views to share information between two processes may experience a significant performance decrease on Intel Hyper-Threading capable CPU's. In the meantime a lot has happened on the Windows XP knowledge base article site. The article has been updated this Monday, June 16th. There is no change content wise, however Microsoft has siginificantly downgraded the file version numbers within the patch. While the original article stated the patch would upgrade the kernel files to build 1202, it now shows build number 1178 to be included. Kinda strange if you ask me. Read more...

Microsoft has released a knowledge base article that describes that the company has updated the Windows XP kernel to accomodate a fix for Intel Pentium 4 HyperThreading capable CPU's. According to the article, a program that uses large mapped file views to share information between two processes may experience a significant performance decrease. The performance degradation occurs in the UnmapViewOfFile function. This problem occurs if you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) on an Intel Pentium 4 computer that has more than one logical processor. The kernel files are updated to version 5.1.2600.1202 once installed. Unfortunately the update is not yet publicly available. Should you obtain information on how to get it, please leave a comment.

MSFN.org sends word that they've snagged Windows Messenger 5.0 Beta 2 Build 0230.

Keep in mind this is a version of Messenger only for Windows XP, with the added features of corporate IM functionality such as the SIP Communications and Exchange Messaging services which is not present in MSN Messenger. But... it doesn't contain the new features of MSN Messenger 6, so take your pick

This just in from Betas.intercom.net ... Our good friend Keyser Soze informs us that he has released a Windows XP Pre-SP2 Security Pack.

This pack includes security hotfixes which are essential to Windows XP. If you have just installed Windows XP and havent visited Windows update, this pack will save you tons of time. It must be stated that this is not supported by Microsoft, this is an unofficial Service Pack for Windows XP.

Ever wanted to quickly and easily define your own keyboard layout for a language Microsoft doesn't support? Or define your own keyboard layout so you can quickly and easily enter your favorite symbols with a simple keystroke? Well, want no more: the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator is here!

Microsoft have relaeased a new version of the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer v1.1.1, which includes a graphical and command line interface that can perform local or remote scans of Windows systems. MBSA runs on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 systems and will scan for common system misconfigurations in the following products:

Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Internet Information Server (IIS) 4.0 and 5.0, SQL Server 7.0 and 2000, Internet Explorer (IE) 5.01 and later, and Office 2000 and 2002. MBSA will also scan for missing security updates for the following products: Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, IIS 4.0 and 5.0, SQL Server 7.0 and 2000, IE 5.01 and later, Exchange 5.5 and 2000, and Windows Media Player 6.4 and later.

Want to know what's in the latest Service Packs for Microsoft's Windows XP - Windows 2000 - Windows Server 2003? Unofficial charts with direct links to the Microsoft articles.

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Thanks to Neowin.net for the heads up! A refresh Service Pack 4 Release Candidate (RC) build is now available to download. The build version is 4.077. Please install, test and submit your feedback at your earliest convenience.

Just got word from creamhackered at Neowin.net that MSN Explorer 8.5 Final is out.

Now we can bring you an exclusive download of MSN Explorer 8.5 before it is available generally and before MSN 8 subscribers recieve updated CDs including the software. MSN 8.5 is designed as an interim update to MSN 8 preparing MSN to take the next step to MSN Explorer 9 which will be fully intergrated into Windows Explorer and will include MSN Messenger 6.0. The final build is marked as 8.50.0017.1202, a build that previously entered the beta stage around two weeks ago. It seems this build has been stamped as the final build to be delivered to consumers and Microsoft will be releasing this build to its current MSN 8 subscribers throughout the week.

Thanks to WinBeta.org! MSN Messenger lets you see when your friends are online and exchange instant messages with them. You can also use this free program to make phone calls, send a message to a pager, trade pictures and music with your friends and much more!

MSN Messenger lets you see when your friends are online and exchange instant messages with them.

You can also use this free program to make phone calls, send a message to a pager, trade pictures and music with your friends and much more!

Thanks to B i n k . n u

A number of security issues have been identified in Microsoft® Internet Explorer that could allow an attacker to compromise your Microsoft Windows®-based systems and then take a variety of actions. For example, an attacker could run programs on a computer used to view the attacker's Web site. This vulnerability affects computers that have Microsoft® Internet Explorer installed. (You do not have to be using Internet Explorer as your Web browser to be affected by this issue.) You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

Just got word that Tech-critic have snagged Windows Media Player 9 Build 3005 Upgrade Patch and also they tell me that they have some Media Center Edition Beta 2 Screenshots.

We have all been hearing recently after our latest exclusive story about Windows Media Center Edition that there is a new version of Windows Media Player in MCE 1.5. It is build number 3005. Although there is not alot of difference or hardly any "viewable" difference in this build from the final that Microsoft Relased. Alot of people were anxious to get there hands on this Build for some reason, do not ask me why, well we listened to them and got this build for you. Enjoy this download!

The information below applies to Windows Media 9 series for Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98 SE. When a client tries to play back video content on a non-primary monitor, either no video is rendered and the client sees only a black frame, or only the first video frame is displayed. Audio plays back without error. Windows Media Player 9 Series enters a deadlock state when it starts playback on a non-primary monitor. The Player is waiting on certain information that follows the signaling of the display change event, but it never receives this information because of timing.

Just got word from WinBeta.org that they've snagged Windows XP Service Pack 2 Build 1213 and it is ready for Download.

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.

Microsoft Technet has posted an interview with Rob Franco, from the Internet Explorer team and Brian Countryman, Program Manager in Internet Explorer. The interview goes by the topic Changes in Internet Explorer for Windows Server 2003. According to the baseline at MS IE6 SP1 marks the top mark of IE implementation in "legacy OS's". If this is true for Windows XP too, remains unclear. Read more...

The Register.co.uk reports that Devos claims that Whirling Dervishes has discovered hidden Windows interfaces that are crucial for the development of such applications, but whose existence is denied by Microsoft. Not much change there then, post-lawsuit. These and other interfaces which Devos says should have been part of the API disclosures are used in NSELib, and he proposes to make public full documentation on how to use them.