Thanks to Neowin.net we have the latest build of MSN Messenger version 6.1 Beta Build 150 and while you're there you might want to check out MSN 9 Beta Build 1601!.

Flirt, banter, gossip, or just catch up without saying a word.

On screen conversations that are more instant than e-mail and more discreet than phone calls.

A new updated version of the DirectX 9.0b Redistributable for Software Developers - Multilingual is available (35MB). This new package officialy dated 10/6/2003 and includes newer cabinets.

After announcing that customers will see the next service pack for Windows XP this year, Microsoft now says it will be a beta only, and that final code is still some way off. Just three days after a Microsoft vice president - who is in charge of Microsoft.com and Windows Update - told thousands of delegates at a conference in Florida that Service Pack 2 for Windows XP would be available by the end of 2003, the company has effectively retracted the comments and said that customers will see only a beta version of SP2 this year.

Microsoft have released more updates the 15 oct. than the single one posted at Neowin:

824141
825119
828035
826232 (Win2k only)
823182

Generally it is time to visit Windows Update.

Neowin.net reports that a security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Microsoft Windows and gain control over it. To attempt an attack, the attacker would have to be able to log on to the computer. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

I have searched around the web and found the following updates and fixes for Microsoft Windows XP:


Read More

Just got word that TechConnect have snagged Windows XP Service Pack 2 Build 1224!

Update: Just a quick update! TechConnect Windows XP Service Pack 2 Build 1224 is in fact Build 1213.

even though the links say: hirekmedia.hu/xpsp2-1224.exe

Thanks to MR Tech for the Info:

This update fixes a problem on your Windows 2000-based computer. When you try to play music, the computer stops responding and you receive the following error on a blue screen: Stop: 0x0000001E (0xC0000090 0xB73B4CF3 0x00000000 0xED27F6F4) Kmode_Exception_Not_Handled Address B73B4CF3 base at B7397000 Datestamp 3829162e - Kmixer.sys

A few weeks ago a big Windows XP download was been sighted on DELL´s FTP server, the 47 MB download had fixed issues reported in KB 823583 , Availability of a Processor Driver to Support Mobile Processor Power Management Features on Mobile Intel Pentium 4M Processors with Hyper-Threading Technology We were still wondering why this package was that big and [PM] started some investigation. And look what he found: A Windows XP Kernel Update, Build 1240, which is not reported in Microsoft Knowledge Base. Read More for more informations and download

Microsoft stellt für den Internet Explorer in den Versionen 5.01, 5.5 und 6.0 eine neue Patch-Sammlung zum Download bereit. Der Download enthält alle bisher verfügbaren Updates und schließt jüngst entdeckte Sicherheitslücken, die Microsoft als "kritisch" eingestuft hat.

Das Update schließt unter anderem ein Sicherheitsloch im Microsoft-Browser, das sich durch einen "Buffer Overrun"-Fehler auftun kann. Der Internet Explorer ist nicht in der Lage, von Servern verschickte "Object Types" in Pop-Up-Fenstern korrekt zu bestimmen.

Thanks to Neowin.net for the Info:

A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to execute commands on a computer running Windows Media Player 6.4, 7.1 or 9. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft.

A number of security issues have been identified in Microsoft® Internet Explorer that could allow an attacker to compromise a Microsoft Windows®-based system and then take a variety of actions. For example, an attacker could run programs on your computer when you are viewing a Web page. This vulnerability affects all computers that have Internet Explorer installed. (You do not have to be using Internet Explorer as your Web browser to be affected by this issue.) You should help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft.

Eine Kalifornierin verklagt Microsoft. Marcy Levitas Hamilton behauptet, dass sie durch Fehler in dem Microsoft-Betriebssystem finanziellen Schaden erlitten habe. Sie hat die Klage bei einem Gericht in Los Angeles eingereicht.

Die Klage enthält zwei Vorwürfe:
1. Microsoft hätte die Wettbewerbsregeln verletzt.
2. Microsoft hätte gegen zwei kalifornische Konsumentenschutz-Gesetze verstoßen.

Microsoft will auf der Professional Developer Conference (PDC) Ende Oktober neue Einzelheiten zu der für 2005 geplanten Longhorn-Version bekannt geben. Insbesondere die technische Basis der neuen Oberfläche, entwickelt unter dem Codenamen Avalon, soll dem Fachpublikum gezeigt werden. In welchem Umfang die neue Aero-GUI Thema sein wird, in noch nicht bekannt.

Thanks to Neowin.net we have the latest build of MSN Messenger version 6.1 Beta Build 128 and while you're there you might want to check out MSN 9 Beta Build 1802!.

Flirt, banter, gossip, or just catch up without saying a word.

On screen conversations that are more instant than e-mail and more discreet than phone calls.

Neowin.net reports that according to sources close to Microsoft the latest date set for Longhorn to go to manufacturing by is August 15, 2005. This date is due to be announced to many partners/OEMs and internally with Microsofts roadmap dates by the end of next month.

Windows 2000 Registry Repair Utility can help to repair some types of registry corruptions

Registry Corruption in Windows 2000 can prevent your system from booting. The Windows 2000 Registry Repair Utility is a tool that can help to recover a Windows 2000 system from registry corruption. This utility can be downloaded on to floppy disks and then run on the system with the corrupted registry. Six floppy disks are required for downloading this utility. The utility will attempt to repair the corrupted registry and allow your machine to boot again.

Backing up your Microsoft Outlook information is quicker and easier with the Personal Folders Backup feature. Personal Folders Backup creates backup copies of your .PST files at regular intervals, in Outlook 2000 and later versions, making it easy to keep all of your Outlook folders safely backed up.

With Personal Folders Backup, you can choose which of your .PST files you wish to back up, and how often you wish to back them up.

Each .PST file contains all of your Outlook folders, including the Inbox, Calendar, and Contacts. You can have a single .PST file (usually called "Internet Folders" or "Personal Folders" in your Folder List), but you might also have an additional .PST file that you use for archiving ("Archiving Folders"). Personal Folders Backup lets you back up any or all of these .PST files.

A big thanks to the guy's over at Winbeta.org for the Info:

Download the complete DirectX 9.0 SDK - (Summer 2003), which contains the DirectX 9.0b Runtime and all DirectX software required to create DirectX 9.0 compliant applications in C/C++, C#, and Visual Basic .NET.

Der Support von Microsoft läuft aus

Zum Ende des Jahres 2003 läuft die Hersteller-Unterstützung (Support) von www.microsoft.com für die Betriebssysteme Windows 98 und Windows Me aus.

Das heißt, dass der normale Benutzer dieser Betriebssysteme ab 01.01.2004 keine kostenlosen Security-Paches und Updates mehr erhalten wird. Für Firmenkunden hingegen sind andere Fristen vorgesehen.