Mocrosoft Lovers: It's Patch Time....yes, again...

[MegaRock]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/18/tech/main656428.shtml

(AP) Microsoft Corp. has released two security fixes that carry its most severe threat rating, including one that applies even to computers that have downloaded the company's massive security update for the Windows XP operating system.

Both flaws affect versions of the company's dominant operating system going back to Windows 98, and both could allow an attacker to take control of another person's computer.

One of the flaws also leaves vulnerable users who have downloaded Service Pack 2, a major security upgrade for Windows XP that was released last summer. The security fix came after a series of crippling attacks on Microsoft's technology, which have wreaked havoc on both businesses and computer users.

Links to the patches are available in the news article.

[zootm]

These should download automatically if you have automatic updates enabled. My two XP machines installed two patches yesterday, I assume that's what they were. No restart was required.

[whiteflip]

Are that patches avilable to those who refuse to upgrage there 98 machines?

[zootm]

For now, it seems. (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];LifeWin)

Relevant part:
Paid incident support is now available through 30-Jun-2006. Extended hotfix support for Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition ended on 30-Jun-2003. Extended hotfix support for Windows Millennium ended on 31-Dec-2003. Online self-help support will continue to be available until at least 30-Jun-2007. For additional information on the type and length of support provided, review the Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Support Extended Announcement Web site. Critical security updates will be provided on the Windows Update site through June 30, 2006. Microsoft will not publicly release non-critical security hotfixes for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows Millennium Edition. However, customers may request a non-critical security hotfix through On-Demand Security Hotfix support, which is offered for these products through June 30, 2006. When a request is received, Microsoft will investigate the issue and try to provide an appropriate response to the customer.

[whiteflip]

Well thats something. I hope that support for Windows 2000 lasts longer than the support for 98. I love that operating system.

[zootm]

Since it's still used widely as a server OS, it probably will.

[manthabeats]

Windows 98 a server os? ugh.

[k_rock923]

I like my windows 98 machine. although its on a two gig hard drive so it doesn't have major crashes. It's gone 7 years now without a major crash or reformat or even virus.

[manthabeats]

Thats hard to believe. My pos IBM computer (theres your first hint why) crashes completely at least once every two years it seems. It runs Win 98 SE and has a 30gb hd 833 mhz. Also, its incredibly slow compaired to the comp I'm on right now.

[zootm]

Originally posted by manthabeats
Windows 98 a server os? ugh.
No, Windows 2000. Read more carefully ;)

[manthabeats]

My bad, couldn't imagine 98 being a server os anyways.

[zootm]

No. That would be silly. :D

[deeder7001]

Originally posted by manthabeats
Thats hard to believe. My pos IBM computer (theres your first hint why) crashes completely at least once every two years it seems. It runs Win 98 SE and has a 30gb hd 833 mhz. Also, its incredibly slow compaired to the comp I'm on right now.

somehow XP is faster than '98 and 2000 on my 400mhz Dell.

[manthabeats]

I'm considering upgrading it to XP some time over the summer, maybe it'll stop being a pos after that.

Word of warning:
Don't buy any computers made specifically by IBM, they suck!

[zootm]

Originally posted by deeder7001
somehow XP is faster than '98 and 2000 on my 400mhz Dell.
Memory's more important than CPU with NT operating systems. And XP is designed to be faster than 2k, if I remember correctly.

[manthabeats]

in that case I'd probably have to add more memory since the comp with 98 only has 128 mb. Win xp needs 256mb.

[deeder7001]

XP will run with 128mb but it's recommended that you have more than 128mb of ram. i should take a stick of RAM out and see how XP reacts and give the results or something like that.

[shakey_snake]

I've got xp purring on my parents computer which only has 128mb RAM. I use the "safe config" at http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
(Blackviper)which helps a lot on that little RAM. Firefox, a supposed Mem hog, even runs well on that comp.

[deeder7001]

my system normally uses about 100mb of RAM but my system's been on for 2 weeks so it's using a bit more than that.

[manthabeats]

Yeah let me know Deeder about how that works. Too bad XP is so damn expensive, but that computer really craps even with 98 SE it has. I'm not sure if XP is such a good idea for it if its going to be this picky with 98.

[deeder7001]

i'll have to wait until i have a major crash and need to restart my computer. i'm trying to see how long my computer can run non-stop without any problems. so far i've beaten my old uptime of about 2 weeks with '98 se. current uptime is 14days 7hours.

[manthabeats]

Nice :D

[deeder7001]

i'm not sure how much longer my system will be able to sustain this abuse but it's doing pretty good so far. XP rocks.

[manthabeats]

I agree, the comp I'm on now is XP and it hasn't had any major problems ever. I've had it for almost a year now. I had to update my video card (to play MOAPA) and will update my RAM soon to 768 MB. Can't wait to see my system fly like a 2.6 ghz should.

[General Geoff]

I like both 2000 and XP (and to a lesser extent, 2003 Server). They are far and away superiour to 95/98/Me. To tell you the truth, the only patch I have installed on this machine is SP1 for XP. No other hotfixes or patches. And I have yet to get any viruses or worms. That might have a lot to do with being behind a hardware firewall, though. :D

[zootm]

You know, I've never even tried to have an XP machine on for a long time, particularly since some security updates require a restart. My linux uptime record was about 250 days if I remember correctly, and I only turned that off because I had to move flat.

[MegaRock]

I only use Windows products because of certian program (like SAM2) that are purely Windows based and there are no other alternatives. Windows Media 9 server - also only runs on Windows. But I have seven Linux servers and only reboot them once in awhile for the hell of it, never once actually had to.

[deeder7001]

Originally posted by manthabeats
Yeah let me know Deeder about how that works. Too bad XP is so damn expensive, but that computer really craps even with 98 SE it has. I'm not sure if XP is such a good idea for it if its going to be this picky with 98.

i had to disconnect my HD to disconnect my HD fan so i had to shut my computer off for a bit. then my sound card blew and i shut it off yet again. total uptime was 20 days 9 hours and i never had a single problem during that time.

during the sound card thing i tried running XP with 128mb of RAM. it ran fine. i didn't notice much of a change in performance. XP is probably going to be better than '98se on a computer that is able to run XP.

[protegechris]

I run all four of my systems on XP Professional edition. Specs ranging from a 600mhz amd to a 700mhz p3 to a 1.4ghz amd to a 1.81 ghz amd, all run good.

[whiteflip]

thats not really a range but more of a list.