Old Posted News

Place you can talk about other things not related to autopatcher.
User avatar
Whatacrock
Release Maintainer
Release Maintainer
Posts: 1967
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:47 am
Location: Australia
Contact:

Microsoft Reissues KB2982791 to Fix Windows 7 BSODs

Post by Whatacrock »

Microsoft Reissues KB2982791 to Fix Windows 7 BSODs

Microsoft has just released a revised version of the MS14-045 bulletin originally rolled out on August 12, this time trying to fix all the issues that this patch could cause, including BSODs on a number of Windows 7 installations.

As you might already know from previous coverage on this, some of the patches that were shipped to users on this month’s Update Tuesday cycle were causing quite a lot of issues, including BSODs during a cold boot.

Only little was known at the very beginning, but given the number of affected computers, the company decided to pull the updates and recommend users to remove them from their PCs until a fix is being provided.

That time has come and users can now download a new MS14-045 bulletin, and although it’s a revised version of the original KB2982791, it comes with a different name. KB2993651 is now the patch that should come to the rescue, with Microsoft recommending everyone experiencing issues with the previous update to remove it and then install this new patch.

“Microsoft strongly recommends that customers who have not uninstalled the 2982791 update do so prior to applying the 2993651 update. Customers do not need to uninstall the expired 2982791 update before applying the 2993651 update; however, Microsoft strongly recommends it. Customers who do not remove the expired update will retain a listing for 2982791 under installed updates in Control Panel,” the company says in a statement.

As Rod Trent of WindowsITPro reports, Tracey Pretorius, director of Microsoft Trustworthy Computing, says in a note that only a small number of computers are actually affected by this problem, which is a little surprising given the number of complaints that the company has received not only on its Community forums, but on websites from all over the world.

“This month we had our first roll out with additional non-security updates. A small number of customers experienced problems with a few of the updates. As soon as we became aware of some problems, we began a review and then immediately pulled the problematic updates, making these unavailable to download. We then began working on a plan to rerelease the affected updates,” Tracey Pretorius points out.

Although it’s hard to tell how many computers have actually been affected by these botched updates, it’s more important to know that a fixed bulletin is already up for grabs and you should be able to download it via Windows Update right away.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsof ... 6673.shtml
"Now if you Sons of B*@ches got anything else to say, NOW'S THE F@#%ING TIME!!"
User avatar
Whatacrock
Release Maintainer
Release Maintainer
Posts: 1967
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:47 am
Location: Australia
Contact:

Re: Microsoft Reissues KB2982791 to Fix Windows 7 BSODs

Post by Whatacrock »

Microsoft Says Windows 7 BSOD Bug Fix Has Bugs

Microsoft rolled out this morning a revised version of MS14-045, the August bulletin that caused so many problems to Windows 7 users, but this time the company promises to address all issues and provide a much smoother updating experience.

Information posted in the updated description of the bulletin reveals that some known issues with this update have also been confirmed, and in some cases could also be experienced by users.

First of all, Microsoft says, after installing the newly launched KB2993651, some users might spot problems with system fonts.

“After you install this security update, fonts that are installed in a location other than the default fonts directory (%windir%\fonts\) cannot be changed when they are loaded into any active session. Attempts to change, replace, or delete these fonts are blocked, and a ‘File in use’ message is displayed,” the company says, without also providing a fix for the problem.

At the same time, the window of some of your running applications could become invisible, but Microsoft guarantees that a fix for this bug will be released very soon.

“After you install this update, the z-order of the windows is changed. (The z-order calls the SetWindowPos function together with the HWND_TOP parameter.) Therefore, the windows of certain applications may become invisible or may be incorrectly displayed behind other windows,” it says.

Keep in mind that these two issues might only occur on a very small number of computers, so you should proceed to installing today’s patch as soon as possible to keep your computer fully updated.

The company recommends everyone to remove the KB2982791 before getting the new update, explaining that although it’s not mandatory, it’s better to do it just to be on the safe side.

“Microsoft strongly recommends that customers who have not uninstalled the 2982791 update do so prior to applying the 2993651 update. Customers do not need to uninstall the expired 2982791 update before applying the 2993651 update; however, Microsoft strongly recommends it. Customers who do not remove the expired update will retain a listing for 2982791 under installed updates in Control Panel,” the company said in a statement this morning.

As was the case with all the other patches, this new one is being shipped to users via the integrated Windows Update, so you have nothing more to do than to connect your computer to the Internet and wait for the necessary files to be downloaded and installed.

At this point, it appears that only Windows 7 computers are affected by the botched update, so users running any other Windows versions should be on the safe side.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsof ... 6730.shtml
"Now if you Sons of B*@ches got anything else to say, NOW'S THE F@#%ING TIME!!"
User avatar
Whatacrock
Release Maintainer
Release Maintainer
Posts: 1967
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:47 am
Location: Australia
Contact:

Re: Microsoft Reissues KB2982791 to Fix Windows 7 BSODs

Post by Whatacrock »

Users Still Reporting BSODs on Windows 7 Despite KB2993651 Launch

Today, Microsoft has patched the patch it rolled out earlier this month as part of the Update Tuesday cycle, but it turns out that despite this release, some users are still experiencing issues on their Windows 7 computers and getting the same BSODs as before.

Posts on Microsoft’s Community forums reveal that in some cases, deploying the new KB2993651 update doesn’t make any difference and actually leads to the very same BSODs as before.

“Can you believe this?! I installed patch KB2993651 today, allegedly fixing the problem. Yet, lo and behold, upon reboot, my Windows just hang! Totally dead (with no disk activity of any kind). Had to reset machine four times to finally get it to start again, and now I'm scared to reboot again,” one user wrote.

And still, there are many reports pointing out that Microsoft’s new patch actually solves all issues, at least on Windows 7 PCs. The company however recommended everyone to uninstall the original patch, but a number of users claimed that doing that was actually causing more harm than good.

“Do not, under any circumstances, follow their ‘strong recommendation’ to uninstall KB2982791. That is what is causing my problems and stopping Windows Update from running now. Note I am running Win 7 x64 SP1, which is what seems to be being impacted,” another Windows 7 user posted.

Microsoft however has already confirmed that there are a few issues with today’s patch, but nothing that could lead to more BSODs or errors which could block the booting process.

In most of the cases, KB2993651 works as expected and installs just fine on Windows 7, with no other BSODs experienced after that whatsoever.

“On Win 8.1, uninstalling the old one, rebooting, installing the new one, rebooting, and then checking WU all went normally, so no WU error, fortunately. Hopefully any new WU errors as reported by some recent posts are not a widespread problem,” one user said.

At this point, it appears that the issue persists only on a limited number of computers, but it’s not yet clear whether these problems are being caused by today’s update or users aren’t following Microsoft’s instructions when trying to repair the problems.

Keep in mind that although the removal of the original patch is not mandatory, Microsoft says that everyone should do it, especially due to compatibility problems that could in the end affect the overall stability and reliability of the operating system.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Users-St ... 6788.shtml
"Now if you Sons of B*@ches got anything else to say, NOW'S THE F@#%ING TIME!!"
parkd1
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 333
Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:33 pm

Re: Microsoft Reissues KB2982791 to Fix Windows 7 BSODs

Post by parkd1 »

Microsoft has started pushing a patch which was pulled earlier in the month for causing boot failures, after fixing the bug.

The patch which was part of the August update was reported to have been a cause of boot failures and BSODs by some Windows users, which caused Microsoft to pull the update from being rolled out as part of the August update.

The kernel-mode security update KB2982791 had a total of three known issues which included the locking down of the fonts folder in Windows, incorrect rendering of system fonts on Windows 8, 8.1, 8.1 RT and Server 2012 R2. However, it was recently reported that hardly 0.01% of the total Windows user base actually faced these issues after the update.

Microsoft was prompt in addressing the issue and has now made the patch available once again under a new KB number, KB2993651. The company has recommended that users who were able to install the previous update, uninstall it, although not doing so should not affect their use.

It is interesting that the Microsoft Support site still mentions that the Fonts related issues still exist with the update, which means Microsoft has just fixed the system crashes and boot issues caused by the update.

http://www.neowin.net/news/pulled-patch ... ows-update
parkd1
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 333
Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:33 pm

Windows 9 launch teased by Microsoft in China

Post by parkd1 »

So, Geek fans, are you excited about the impending arrival of the Windows 9 Preview? Sure you are. You know who else is excited? Microsoft China. So excited, in fact, that they pulled the trigger on a Windows 9 teaser post on their corporate Weibo account today.

It was quickly taken down, but not before the vigilant staffers of Cnbeta snatched a screengrab. No important details like pricing or availability were actually confirmed, but the post did ask one important question: “do you think the Start Menu will come back to the bottom left corner?”
Now, it’s not as if we actually need additional confirmation that Windows 9 was going to resurrect the Start Menu. Microsoft showed it off way back in April at the BUILD conference, complete with an array of Live Tiles — proof that Metro elements can actually be integrated into the Desktop without looking like a ham-handed attempt to mash two disparate UIs together.

And with all the other tweaks we’ve heard confirmed — windowed Metro apps on the desktop, the removal of the Charms bar — pointing to a more straightforward and familiar desktop, well, the Start Menu is definitely going to return in Windows 9. You can’t blame the social networking crew at Microsoft China for trying to play it coy, however.

The only other thing that the post hinted at was the fact that Windows 9 is coming soon. We’ve heard as much from a couple of sources before. First it was a broad late September/early October predication, then a more definite date: September 30th.That’s supposed to be the day that Microsoft publicly announces the Windows 9 Preview, and presumably the day that enterprise partners and developers will get access to the download. That also means that you’ll find the Windows 9 Preview all over torrent sites within an hour or so of the official downloads going live.

http://www.geek.com/microsoft/windows-9 ... a-1603347/
User avatar
Whatacrock
Release Maintainer
Release Maintainer
Posts: 1967
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:47 am
Location: Australia
Contact:

Microsoft Relaunches Windows 8.1 August Update

Post by Whatacrock »

Microsoft Relaunches Windows 8.1 August Update

On August 12, Microsoft rolled out one of the most eagerly awaited Windows 8.1 updates, but instead of implementing a Start menu and other exciting features, the company actually focused on minor improvements for PCs and tablets.

The so-called August 2014 update rolled out for Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2 caused quite a lot of issues for many users who installed it, so Microsoft quickly decided to pull it and block further computers from deploying the botched update.

Today, the company has officially announced that Windows 8.1 August Update, officially known as KB2975719, is again available for download with fixes for all issues that were reported last month.

Microsoft says that only a small number of customers actually experienced problems with the August 2014 update, although posts on forums across the web suggest that lots of computers were actually broken down by this new release.

“On August 15th, as soon as we became aware of a small number of customers experiencing problems with the August 2014 update rollup for Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2 (KB2975719), we immediately investigated and pulled the problematic update making it unavailable to download. Today, we are re-releasing this update with fixes for these known issues,” Microsoft has said in an announcement today.

The company also explains that customers who have already installed the Windows 8.1 August Update and are running the operating system with Windows Update turned on should not do anything because the new patch is automatically delivered to their computers.

“Customers who have already installed the original update that was released on August 12, 2014, and who may have experienced an issue, can read this KB article that details instructions on how to resolve the issue before the new updates will install automatically. Customers with Windows Updates enabled, and who have selected to receive optional updates automatically, do not need to take any action,” the company says.

Contrary to what people expected, Windows 8.1 August Update brings only three minor improvements, so no Start menu or options to run Metro apps on the desktop are part of the package. Here’s what this new update brings new, according to Microsoft’s own release notes:

• Precision touchpad improvements – three new end-user settings have been added: leave touch pad on when a mouse is connected; allow right-clicks on the touchpad; double-tap and drag.

• Miracast Receive – exposes a set of Wi-Fi direct APIs for Independent Hardware Vendor (IHV) drivers or OEM drivers to develop Windows 32-bit applications that run on all supported x86-based or x64-based versions of Windows 8.1, enabling the computer as a Miracast receiver.

• Minimizing login prompts for SharePoint Online – reduces the number of prompts with federated use in accessing SharePoint Online sites. If you select the “Keep me signed in” check box when you log on for the first time, you will not see prompts for successive access to that SharePoint Online site.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsof ... 7409.shtml
"Now if you Sons of B*@ches got anything else to say, NOW'S THE F@#%ING TIME!!"
User avatar
Whatacrock
Release Maintainer
Release Maintainer
Posts: 1967
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:47 am
Location: Australia
Contact:

Could Windows 9 Finally Kill Windows 7?

Post by Whatacrock »

Could Windows 9 Finally Kill Windows 7?

Windows 7 continues to be the world’s leading operating system on the desktop, and everyone expects it to be extremely difficult to kill, especially due to the growing market share that keeps it on the leading spot of all charts.

And still, Windows 7’s market share increase has slowed down in the latest few months, and partially responsible for this change is the avalanche of Windows 9 rumors which have pointed to a quickly approaching launch of a brand new operating system developed by Microsoft.

Statistics provided by market researcher Net Applications show that Windows 7’s growth ended in July 2014, which was one of the fruitful months in terms of Windows 9 rumors. In June 2014, Windows 7 had a market share of 50.55 percent, growing to 51.22 percent the next month. In August, Windows 7 dropped 0.01 percent to 51.21 percent.

StatCounter data also indicates that Windows 7 adoption is slowing down these days, again due to what could be the result of Windows 9 rumors.

Last month, for example, Windows 7 had a share of 55.67 percent, according to StatCounter figures, up slightly from 55.33 percent the month before.

Windows 9 speculation could have an impact on Windows 7 adoption pretty much because those seeking a new operating system might delay the move to another operating system for a few more months in order to see what Microsoft’s software brings new.

According to people familiar with the matter, Microsoft might unveil the very first public beta of Windows 9 this month, thus allowing consumers to see what’s new in this operating system months before the public launch.

As far as the full version of the operating system is concerned, sources say that Microsoft could release it in April 2015, approximately one year after the launch of Windows 8.1 Update.

The feature lineup is going to include quite a lot of new items, among which a modern Start menu and options to run Metro apps in their dedicated options right on the desktop. At the same time, sources are also pointing to multiple desktop, a PC version of Cortana, and some other improvement supposed to refine the experience you get on both desktops and tablets.

Windows 9 could be offered free of charge to users of previous Windows builds, including Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, but these plans could change a little bit before launch, depending on Microsoft’s strategy to boost early adoption.

And still, Windows 9 will have the very difficult mission of getting users off Windows 7, as this operating system has all the chances to become the new XP and thus be impossible to kill after reaching end of support.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Could-Wi ... 7496.shtml
"Now if you Sons of B*@ches got anything else to say, NOW'S THE F@#%ING TIME!!"
User avatar
Whatacrock
Release Maintainer
Release Maintainer
Posts: 1967
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:47 am
Location: Australia
Contact:

Microsoft Announces New Critical Windows, Internet Explorer

Post by Whatacrock »

Microsoft Announces New Critical Windows, Internet Explorer Security Updates

Microsoft is getting ready for a new Update Tuesday cycle, this time with fewer updates targeting vulnerabilities in software solutions such as Windows and Internet Explorer.

The company announced in the security bulletin advance notification for September 2014 that a total of four bulletins would be launched on Tuesday, with just a single one being rated as “critical,” while the other ones are considered to be “important.”

Only little is known at this point, as Microsoft does not provide details about these security flaws in order to keep users protected until the patches become available, but it does mention that all Windows and Internet Explorer versions are part of this new rollout.

As pretty much everyone should know by now, Windows XP is left out of Patch Tuesday, despite the fact that 23 percent of the desktop computers worldwide are still running it. Microsoft stopped releasing updates and security patches for Windows XP in April this year and is recommending everyone to update to a newer operating system as soon as possible.

“While it's true that you can keep using your PC with Windows XP after support ends, we don’t recommend it. For starters, it’ll become five times more vulnerable to security risks and viruses, which means you could get hacked and have your personal information stolen,” Microsoft says.

“Also, companies that make devices like digital cameras, Internet-ready TVs, and printers won’t provide drivers that work with Windows XP, so if you get new devices, they won’t work with your current PC. And over time, the security and performance of your PC will just continue to degrade so things will only get worse.”

As it’s the case with every single Update Tuesday rollout, users will get patches via Windows Update, while system administrators will also be provided with a dedicated ISO containing only Windows fixes that would allow them to patch computers without the need for an Internet connection.

At the same time, Microsoft is also expected to release firmware updates for Surface tablets on Patch Tuesday, including a new pack of improvements for the top-of-the-range Surface Pro 3.

The company is said to be working on a fix addressing limited Wi-Fi connectivity issues as we speak, and a support engineer recently said that the September 2014 Patch Tuesday is very likely to bring some fixes in this regard.

In addition to security patches, Microsoft is also very likely to debut a wide array of other improvements bringing enhanced performance to modern Windows and Internet Explorer, but full details would only be provided next week after the rollout begins.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsof ... 7704.shtml
"Now if you Sons of B*@ches got anything else to say, NOW'S THE F@#%ING TIME!!"
User avatar
Whatacrock
Release Maintainer
Release Maintainer
Posts: 1967
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:47 am
Location: Australia
Contact:

Re: Microsoft Announces New Critical Windows, Internet Explo

Post by Whatacrock »

Microsoft Has to Fix Internet Explorer One More Time

Internet Explorer is becoming quite a headache for Microsoft these days, as the company needs to develop new security patches on a monthly basis in order to keep users fully protected.

This time, Redmond has announced a total of four different security bulletins for Patch Tuesday, one of which is considered to be critical and said to be fixing bugs in Internet Explorer and Windows.

Security experts claim it’s all because of remote code execution vulnerabilities in the browser, with all versions of the app affected by the flaw, starting with the old 6 and ending with the 11, which is now the default program for browsing the web in Windows 8.1.

Last month, Microsoft had to deal with a plethora of flaws in Internet Explorer, so the company rolled out a large update that included fixes for no less than 26 vulnerabilities, including one that had already been made public and which existed in the browser since late last year.

Internet Explorer currently has a market share of approximately 58 percent, according to data provided by market researcher Net Applications, while both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox come next with fewer users.

Microsoft is also working to make Internet Explorer more secure and implement new features, with sources saying that Windows is very likely to bring a brand new version of the browser that would include improvements in terms of security and stability.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsof ... 7795.shtml
"Now if you Sons of B*@ches got anything else to say, NOW'S THE F@#%ING TIME!!"
parkd1
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 333
Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:33 pm

Windows Threshold Technical Preview: It's all about feedback

Post by parkd1 »

Windows Threshold is getting really darn close to being ready for its public release. With the 30th of September quickly approaching, Microsoft is starting to put the final pieces together to create a release of the build that is ready for public consumption.

The preview of Threshold is going to be all about feedback. Microsoft wants to collect all sorts of input from the users as to what they like, what they don't like, which features should be changed, added or removed, and anything and everything in between.

Mary Jo Foley was the first to grab this bit of news and since we had heard the same thing and could a tad bit more, we figured we would add some color to the reasoning why they want feedback and what to expect. The short answer to why they are focusing so heavily on user feedback is not just about polishing the experience for user - it's also because the enterprise hates Windows 8.

It's not a big surprise and this is why Threshold will have tons of feedback surveys to make sure that they avoid this issue with the next iteration of Windows. So what will these surveys look like? Well, they appear in large windows and cover a wide range of topics but for this example, we will use searching as a feedback item.

At the top of the survey, it says "Please share your feedback with Microsoft about Searching". Anything related to your search experience can be entered here, whether related to the Start Menu, Cortana or a bunch of other items. The next question asks if you were successful in "Searching" and provides you with Yes, No, or Not Sure.

You then move down the page to another area where you are asked about the following parameters: 'Ease of Use', 'Valuable to me', 'Enjoyable', 'Is it Fast?' and a couple more general questions as well. You rate these items on a scale of 1 to 5 and then send them off to Microsoft.

Microsoft will be using the telemetry data gathered over the beta cycles of Threshold to help shape the features to exactly what the user needs and more importantly, expects.

The rapid updates that we talked about in a previous post could be part of this as Microsoft very well could send different features to some users to test out. We're still trying to clarify this, but it is also possible that, depending on your feedback, different features may be made available to you to test out. Or, this could dictate which surveys you take too.

Microsoft has made a real effort lately to listen to consumer feedback and has been opening up avenues to discuss new features for some time. So it only makes sense that Windows, a core product for the company, would go down this path too. Even when they announced the return of the Start menu, Terry Myerson said it was based on feedback from users.

http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-thre ... k-feedback
Post Reply