30/04/2008 by swordfish.

The release of Windows XP SP3 to the web has been delayed due to a bug.

“In the last few days, we have uncovered a compatibility issue between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) and both Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1,” says Chris Keroack, release manager of Windows Serviceability, in a statement released on the TechNet forum.

“In order to make sure customers have the best possible experience, we have decided to delay releasing Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to the web.”

The update to the aging operating system was due to be released to the general public via automatic update and download yesterday, but this has now been put on hold.

Source: PC Pro

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24/04/2008 by swordfish.

Microsoft has started to roll out Vista Service Pack 1 via its Automatic Update process.

Until late last night (Wednesday 23/04/2008), Vista owners had to manually download the Service Pack. Now it will be automatically downloaded on machines that have Automatic Updates switched on, with the PC alerting owners when the full patch is ready to install.

However, not all Vista PCs will see SP1 immediately. Microsoft is gradually phasing in the software, while it attempts to overcome problems with third-party device drivers that can cause the operating system to hang.

Source: PC Pro

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22/04/2008 by swordfish.

Microsoft has released the third Service Pack for Windows XP to manufacturing.

Confirming last week’s leaked launch dates, Microsoft will release the Service Pack to the public next week, on 29 April. It will then be rolled out via Microsoft’s Automatic Update system “in early summer”.

Microsoft is desperately trying to play down the benefits of XP SP3, as it attempts to migrate more users to Vista.

The final XP Service Pack arrives just as Microsoft is preparing to withdraw the operating system from sale at the end of June.

Source: PC Pro

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18/04/2008 by swordfish.

Steve Ballmer has admitted that Vista is “a work in progress”, and admitted the company has to learn lessons from its release.

Speaking at the Most Valuable Professional Global Summit in Seattle, Ballmer resisted calls for a slimmed down Windows 7: “Vista is bigger than XP and it’s gonna stay bigger than XP. We have to make sure it doesn’t get bigger still.”

However, Ballmer went on to admit that it had taken too long to get Vista out the door and admitted it had caused problems: “Vista is a very important piece of work, and I think we did a lot of things right, and I think we have a lot of things we need to learn from.

Source: PC Pro

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04/04/2008 by swordfish.

Microsoft’s regular patch Tuesday update is set to bring five critical patches when it rolls around on 8 April.

Among the critical patches two will focus on Internet Explorer, two will affect Windows and one Microsoft Office, the company has revealed in its advance security bulletin. Each of the five will address flaws that could lead to remote code executions from malicious websites.

Patch Tuesday will also bring three “important” updates for Windows, addressing potential spoofing and elevation of user privileges.

The critical flaws affect all versions of Windows, including Vista, which could be seen as something of an embarrassment for the company just a month after it released its first Service Pack for the operating system.

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25/03/2008 by swordfish.

Vista users encountering problems when they upgrade to Service Pack 1 can breathe out: the company is giving away free support for those installing the service pack.

The transition to the service pack has not been problem-free for many users, with issues such as computers falling into endless reboot cycles and broken applications rearing their head.

Normally, only Vista users who bought the retail product would be eligible for free support but, for SP1 installation, even users with an OEM copy of Vista on their computer can get Microsoft’s help, according to the official Vista blog.

Source: ZDNet

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