Barthos Computers Blog

Category: Systems

05/09/08

Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for May 2008

09:29:26 am, Categories: Software, Systems, Programs

Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification issued: May 8, 2008
Microsoft Security Bulletins to be issued: May 13, 2008

This is an advance notification of security bulletins that Microsoft is intending to release on May 13, 2008.

This bulletin advance notification will be replaced with the May bulletin summary on May 13, 2008. For more information about the bulletin advance notification service, see Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification.

To receive automatic notifications whenever Microsoft Security Bulletins are issued, subscribe to Microsoft Technical Security Notifications.

Microsoft will host a webcast to address customer questions on these bulletins on May 14, 2008, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada). Register now for the May Security Bulletin Webcast. After this date, this webcast is available on-demand. For more information, see Microsoft Security Bulletin Summaries and Webcasts.

Microsoft also provides information to help customers prioritize monthly security updates with any non-security, high-priority updates that are being released on the same day as the monthly security updates. Please see the section, Other Information.

05/02/08

XP SP3 vs. Vista SP1 - Which is fastest?

09:29:48 pm, Categories: Software, Systems, Programs

The data speaks for itself. At the top of the list is Windows Vista 64-bit, while at the bottom is XP SP2. In the middle we have XP RTM, XP SP3, Vista 32-bit RTM and Vista 32-bit SP1 fighting it out. However, benchmarks scores such as Passmark don’t translate well into real world performance indicators. Later on today I’ll publish my gaming benchmark results which will pick up on a post I made in February. Stay tuned!

Vista SP1 vs XP SP3

04/21/08

Windows XP SP3 goes RTM

10:31:56 pm, Categories: Software, Systems

Redmond (WA) - The third service pack for Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system has reached the critical “release to manufacturing” phase, allowing computer makers and high-profile buyers/consumers to access the final version of what could be the last major XP update.

“Windows XP SP3 bits are now working their way through our manufacturing channels to be available to OEM and Enterprise customers,” said said Windows release manager Chris Keroack on Microsoft’s official Technet forums.

“We are also in the final stages of preparing for release to the web (i.e. you!) on April 29th, via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center,” he added.

XP is the longest-running operating system for any computer platform, and with an unanticipated resistance toward Windows Vista, it is experiencing a longer shelf life than Microsoft had planned. However, a fourth XP service pack is not currently expected.

According to the Windows XP SP3 White Paper, SP3 includes “all previously released Windows XP updates, including security updates and hotfixes, and select out-of-band releases. For example, the service pack includes functionality previously released as updates, such as Microsoft Management Console (MMC) 3.0 and the Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0 (MSXML6).”

Microsoft is reportedly not adding significant functionality from newer versions of Windows with this service pack, and it does not include Internet Explorer 7. The one notable exception is an upgrade to Network Access Protection (NAP), which helps organizations that use XP take advantage of some new features in the Windows Server 2008 operating system.