Today Microsoft released the following Security Bulletins. 13-4-04]

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,9959126~mode=flat
confirms what I found at WU: for my XP Home, there were FIVE critical updates --
837009
831167
837001
828741
835732

I patiently waited for all from a thrashing, overtaxed server, got three the first time around and had to go back for the other two (the biggies), and the installs went without incident. Reboot and general and online computing so far okay.

I won't remove the three uninstallers until 24 hours after the installations, though.

And good luck to all who enter there.

 

Now downloading

Thanks for the heads up much appreciated as always

 

Ditto-ing both The General and Wiz: thanks Nick Only had one hang up on me and the reinstall went down fine.

 

My goodness the server is taxed. Guess I will have to wait until I can access it. I do assume it's safe to use windows update...

 

Oh my. Now THERE's an assumption that IS an assumption!

Seriously, dsb, we all sorta pass our experiences around here at MG every time there's a new batch of patches, cuz we CAN'T assume that it's safe. We hope and we test. The number of bad experiences (that were MS's fault) has been small to date, but we're still cautious and watchful, and I think it's generally regarded around here as a good idea to be prepared to UNinstall if you see something going wonky after an update.

Anyhoo, so far so good for me and lots of others with this set of patches. The howling about messed up machines has been low key so far, and we just all hope it stays that way.

 

Alright one more thing I should mention. I got some stating some of the updates (3) were not certified by microsoft to work with windows xp and thus couldn't install. Interesting stuff...

Security Update for Windows XP (KB837001)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB828741)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB835732)

A document simply named "~" and with no apparent suitable file extension that windows can open showed up on my desktop after that. Weird too...

 

Yep.. I did too. Got the 5 criticals and it was veeeerryyy slooooooow. One hung and I had to go back for it. One thing I try to do is install updates that require rebooting first... then go back for the other guys.

I've always wondered if we should download them in a specific order when there are multiple updates with some requiring reboots? Any thoughts on that?

 

thanx 1 hang up and then all was well

 

dsb: You were misinformed. The three patches you cited are absolutely fine with XP Pro and Home. If you have probs with them, they're not probs with the OS, but conflicts with other software (read *games* here!) you have installed.

Chas: It never hurts to take multiple changes step-by-step, but there is this caution to remember: IF the patch repairs a vulnerability, and IF you don't take the patch, then until you take that patch, your machine remains vulnerable, and the bad guys have a public heads-up from MS that the vulnerability is there.

Bitsy: Millions have wondered the same thing ever since the very first MS posting of more than one patch at a time. Here's the BIG thing on that to remember: in the rare instance when you might find two patches (in the critical list) that change the same named file, the one that changes the file to the newest date wins. Always. Zero exceptions. If there's a patch that WOULD HAVE changed the named file to last month's version, and you apply that patch after you've patched the named file to THIS month's version, no overwrite takes place, and if there's an update log for that patch, it reports that no action was taken because the later-applied patch found a newer version of the file already in place.

meandog: Thanks for the positive input. Looking good so far.

 

Day Two: So far so good, Nothing has (knock wood) poked its head up and gone BOO!

 

WOWEXEC and shut down problem

I did encounter one problem.
I'm now having trouble shutting down XPHome.
During shutdown mode it brings up the error that WOWEXEC is not responding.
I've read a little about it and it has something to do with 16BIT Apps.
Also learned it could be a regedit problem.
What should I look for?

 

Hey Bitzy From what I googled up WOWEXEC has to do with MS Virtual Machine. Have you uninstalled MSVM in favor of the Java Virtual Machine or anythng like that recently?

 

NTVDM and MSVM are two different creatures.

NTVDM= NT Virtual DOS Machine
MSJVM or MSVM= Microsoft Java Virtual Machine

WOWEXEC deals with NTVDM.

We need more info about the WOWEXEC error.

 

Oops. Thanks Adrynalyne. Got the info off liutilities.com:

Process File: ntvdm or ntvdm.exe
Process Name: Windows 16-bit Virtual Machine
Description: Application that provides an environment for a 16-bit process to execute on a 32-bit platform.
Company: Microsoft Corp.
System Process: Yes
Security Risk ( Virus/Trojan/Worm/Adware/Spyware ): No
Common Errors: N/A

The info is right I read it wrong or at least in error. Sorry.
Bill

 

Well, I guess it is safe form me to take the updates. I have scanned this thread, and seems to be a thumbs up for the patch. I have to be very careful, cause XP and me are new to each other. If something went wrong, I would be totally lost.

 

WOWEXEC and shut down problem

Evenin billH
hmmmm... well... not intentionally. I did install the Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 through Windows Update on April 11. I checked through the event logs and the problems connected with Event 7000 begin on March 16 and occur on a daily basis about the time I'm booting up for the evening. I'll have to find out what I installed or what mischief I was up to on 3/16 thru 4/14.

I'm a very sleepytime gal right now after a 12 hr day at work so I'll ttul when I've learned more.

 

You did good, Billy No, it's not SP2, that's still in beta and in most opinions a good thing to stay away from right now, until the BetaBugs are worked out.

Edit: Mornin' Robo. Sorry about your toes. Hope it didn't hurt when I stepped on them

 

I must have chosen SP2 along the line or something because I saw it installed under the remove programs menu, I removed since I wasn't interested in it. Seems to just be my case though.

 

All:

I asked HP Help why the updates 837001, 828741, 835732 were occurring over and over but never loading to my unit. They told me that those updates are not for XP machines. They told me to change my update to notify before download and notify before install. That way, when they come up you uncheck them so they will not download.

I checked the updates at the sites given and it states specifically that these updates do affect XP machines.

Could it be that the upates are not for the HP windows version?

 

justified screed?

I recently battled the Blaster Worm,with much help from Techs at Dell and my ISP. I have found a great deal of info at this site and feel fairly well protected with a new Norton and some great freeware I found here. In no way do I consider myself technically proficient, but I admire and respect the abilities of people that are.Anyway.Microsoft sent me the update CD. I had already downloaded most of the stuff on there (for XP) and have stayed on top of all the updates since. Mind you this low-cost Dell is only 4 months old. Microsoft asked me to complete a survey. When asked if I would be willing to PURCHASE updates on CD I said ...uh...NO. And then got the opportunity to explain why. Here is my question. Shouldn't they be willing to back up their product? Does the average person have access to,or the technical ability to use other operating systems besides Microsoft? Am I wrong to feel that expecting everyone that uses technology to be software experts is arrogant? Anyhow,,just wondering what people that concentrate on technical issues think about any of this. And finally, How many freakin' fixes can one project? Is my entire memory going to be used up eventually? Is XP growing like an irradiated lizard???!!!

 

to dellseizure:

yes

no

many more, until Longhorn starts the whole festivities over again...

Yes, kind of. The average person DOES have the access
right now, because the powers that be *SCO, et al, M$* have not been able to use the courts to shut OSS down, yet.
No one has ever been more at a loss to learn about computering than I have. I have paid my dues, though, still paying them... Having the time of my life. It is so gratifying, so fun...

Look into this link here:

http://www.edmunds-enterprises.com/linux/cart.php/ba/pdtl/product/160

I will help you all I can with it, if I can, but check it out, its cool.
You don't have to wipe your hdd, either. You don't even have to touch it. Wait until you see the Open Office software on it. Ha Ha. It'll blow you out of your chair, Mister!!!


anyway, end of rant, end of preaching, end of mania episode!

 

Thanks Robster

I'm checking out the Edmunds site. If I wasn't so lazy I'd learn to hack Microsoft myself mebbee! I just found out what "Easter Eggs" are - and feel oddly compelled to join the hunt.

 

Glad I can offer something, dellseizure.
Be sure to let us know if it is adventuresome!