How can I extract the files from a Windows Vista Microsoft Update Standalone Package (MSU)
The new MSU format doesn't support the old /x type switches to extract the content. It also can't be run on a pre-Vista OS.
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3.4.2007 How to boot a Vista system from a locally stored WIM file
The Windows AIK provides excellent opportunities to create custom Windows PE based images. Those images are provided as WIM files and can be easily converted to ISO files to be burned on CD or DVD.
windows -
comments -
13.5.2007 How to boot a Vista system from a locally stored WIM file
The Windows AIK provides excellent opportunities to create custom Windows PE based images. Those images are provided as WIM files and can be easily converted to ISO files to be burned on CD or DVD. WIM files can also be used to boot from the network using Windows Deployment Services.
windows -
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6.6.2007 How to Install Windows Vista
For people with access to the Vista betas through MSDN, there is an installation guide.
windows -
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How to install another OS on your PS3
Who'll get the last laugh now? They said the PS3 sucks, is late, is too expensive, isn't worth it, isn't a bargain. Well, look at it now! It's shaping up to be something worth its weight in news.
common -
comments -
13.11.2006 Install multiple versions of IE on your PC
Ever wanted to test your website in various versions of Internet Explorer?
download -
comments -
10.12.2006 How to Install and Enable DreamScene in Windows 7
Windows DreamScene, a feature which allows a video clip, movie show, slideshow or animated image and picture to be set as the desktop background in Windows Vista has been removed in Windows 7, in favor of Desktop Slideshow wallpaper auto rotator. Although Windows 7 no longer supports DreamScane, the DreamScene function can still be manually added and installed into Windows 7 with a little hack in order to turn on and enable the DreamScene support in Windows7.
windows -
comments -
13.1.2009 Microsoft: How to install a browser on Windows 7 E
Microsoft have created a guidance page on the Windows 7 part of their website, detailing how users should go about installing a browser on Windows 7 E the main version of Windows that will ship in the UK, that comes without a browser.
microsoft -
comments -
15.7.2009 How to Install Chrome OS in Windows 7
Google unveiled Chrome OS in an event yesterday where they demonstrated the upcoming cloud-based OS for the first time in public. Source code of Chrome OS was also released which folks over at gdgt have compiled in a ready-to-install .vmdk file.
windows -
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20.11.2009 Microsoft patch fails to install for some users
Microsoft Corp. has reported a problem with one of its security patches released yesterday that requires some users to take additional steps to ensure it installs properly.
The problem affected patch number MS06-007, which fixes a TCP/IP vulnerability in several versions of Windows that could allow a denial-of-service attack. Microsoft called the patch important but not critical, and said users should install it as soon as possible. It was one of several patches released yesterday (see "Microsoft issues seven security patches").
microsoft -
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16.2.2006 Vista: Should I Install 64bit or 32bit Version?
Deciding which Vista version to install can be a difficult decision and can really limit what you can do with your system. Here are practical hints which should help a user decide which version to install. I decided to write this guide after installing 64-bit and 32-bit vista systems on several test boxes.
windows -
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12.1.2007 Windows Post-Install Wizard (WPI) 6.1
Windows Post-Install Wizard (WPI) is a hypertext application designed for giving users choice. While Windows XP offers many ways of customizing the setup process out of the box, its major drawback is the lack of being able to select which applications an end user may install.
download -
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29.7.2007 Windows 7 testers - RC is a clean install
The latest post on Microsofts Engineering Windows 7 blog outlines what existing Windows 7 beta testers will have to do in order to be able upgrade to the release candidate.
windows -
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9.4.2009 How to Install Microsoft Telnet Client on Windows 7
If you have been fan of traditional Microsoft Telnet client then you will be surprised to see that traditional Telnet Client is not available in Windows Vista & 7 by default and you have to manually install Telnet Client to use Telnet from command prompt.
windows -
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17.7.2009 Install Any Version of Windows 7 with Universal ISO
Those of you who own an official copy of Windows 7 from MSDN or TechNet may have faced a scenario where you wanted to install a different edition of Windows, only to find out that you will have to download a separate ISO file just to install your desired edition.
download -
comments -
9.11.2009 Crack Available to Install Windows Vista with Only 256MB RAM
Want to perform the impossible with Windows Vista and install the operating system on systems with only 256 MB of RAM? vista_nomem.exe is a patch that promises to deliver just that, enabling you to deploy Vista even if you only have 256 MB of memory.
windows -
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8.2.2007 Vista Hands On #4: Clean install with an upgrade key
I've been reading
the breathless reports this week about the "Vista upgrade loophole." Most of it is typical echo-chamber stuff, and most of the reports I've read so far have gotten the basic facts wrong.
windows -
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19.2.2007 Pirates release fully cracked Vista install
DISCUSSING PIRATED software is still fairly taboo within the press, but sometimes a scene release is worthy of note, despite the influx of staunch anti-piracy e-mails that will flood our in-box.
windows -
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18.5.2007 Windows Vista SP1 Beta Install Fair
The Windows Vista SP1 Deployment Team wanted me to pass along notice of an upcoming Install Fair being held here in Redmond at month's end; we've held events like this before and they've always been well received.
windows -
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3.10.2007 My Day at the Windows Vista SP1 Install Fair
On Saturday October 27th, I had the chance to visit the Microsoft campus and join various others in installing the Windows Vista SP1 Beta.
windows -
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29.10.2007 Microsoft: IE 8 Release Candidate wont install on Windows 7
Windows 7 testers wont be able to install Microsofts near-final Release Candidate (RC) test build of Internet Explorer (IE) 8 a limitation Microsoft is acknowledging and saying is by design.
microsoft -
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20.1.2009 How to install Windows 7 on a virtual hard disk - VHD
If You want to test Windows 7, without impacting your current installation of Windows XP or Vista on your desktop? A possible solution is: Boot from VHD.
windows -
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19.6.2009 How to Install Snow Leopard (10A432) on PC Hackintosh
Snow Leopard 10.6Snow Leopard is released and all the Hackintosheers are waiting eagerly to run the latest version of Mac OS X 10.6 on their PC a.k.a Hack Pro.
common -
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27.8.2009 How to download and install Windows 7 Language Packs - MUI
Language packs or MUI packs are used to change the default language of Windows 7 to a language of your choice. For example, download and installing the French language pack will translate all the menus and options in Windows 7 into French.
windows -
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27.8.2009 Founder to Install $250M Worth Microsoft Software in China
Founder Technology Group Corp., one of China?s largest PC makers, signed a Windows cooperative engagement agreement with Microsoft.
microsoft -
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13.4.2006 Workaround Discovered For "Clean Install" With Vista Upgrade DVDs
DailyTech has posted a 7-step workaround courtesy of Paul Thurrott (via Microsoft internal documents) on how to perform a clean install with a Windows Vista Upgrade DVD.
windows -
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31.1.2007 Microsoft: Should You Install Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh?
Last week, on January 9th, 2008, Microsoft dropped Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate Refresh Build 17128 into the laps of some 15,000 testers.
windows -
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14.1.2008 Install Vista SP1 RC Refresh for the Added Performance
According to Microsoft, one reason to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate Refresh and test drive it is the added performance.
windows -
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15.1.2008 Windows Vista SP1 Beta Install Fiesta, Courtesy of Microsoft
Microsoft is hard at work hammering away at the first service pack for Windows Vista.
windows -
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20.11.2007 Install and Uninstall Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate 1
The first public build of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is imminent and is planned by the end of this week. Microsoft has already made available Vista SP1 Release Candidate 1 via Connect, MSDN and TechNet, and is preparing for the next step, opening up the beta testing
process to the general public through the Microsoft Download Center.
windows -
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11.12.2007Mounting WIM Images from Windows Explorer
Robert McLaws: Over the course of my Windows Server 2008 testing, I've had
to do a fair amount of work with WIM files. The problem is, that works comes in fits and starts, and I really hate having to keep looking up the
syntax for mounting WIM images using ImageX.
This morning, I was preparing to move my web hosting environment yet again ,
which means I have to build new ISOs with my unattended settings files yet again . So I decided to make life a little bit easier. I'll let the
picture explain what it does, then I'll explain what you need to do...
winbeta.org -
05.11.2007vLite v1.1 Beta 2 Available
vLite is a tool for customizing the Windows Vista installation before actually installing it.
Changelog:
-
new: 'Select this version on install' Unattended option
- new: 'WebDAV (WebClient)'
- new: 'IP Helper'
- new: 'File and printer sharing (Server)'
- new: 'DNS Client'
- new: 'Windows Time'
- new: 'Modem
Support'
- new: 'Remote Differential Compression'
- new: 'Dynamic Volume Manager'
- new: 'QLogic Fibre
Channel Adapter'
- new: 'Windows Color System'
- new: 'Beep'
- new: Integration failure report
- new: 'unwim' switch for uninstalling the WIM Filter
- upd: Computer Name synthax validation
- upd: KB941649
integration workaround
- fix: Finish before ISO page was shown
- fix: Error Reporting removal breaking Compatibility Tab
and MCE Reciever service
- fix: Merging CDs
- fix: Help was needed for IIS
- fix: KB932596 install
failure
Author's Note on v1.1 Beta 2:
Here you go, new removals, important fixes, better
compatibility...no you are not getting a free set of knives.
winbeta.org -
19.11.2007Vista SP1 Integration Guide
As
we reported a few days ago, the latest build of Vista SP1
released to testers (6001.16633) is in the EXE standalone update format. Many of you will no doubt be wondering as to how exactly the bits can be
integrated into a Vista RTM ISO if at all possible.
There's some good news and there's also some bad news.
First of all, it must be noted that we are still unsure if the SP1 update will remain in the EXE format and that anything noted below is subject
to change. The primary reason being
Microsoft's documentation for Vista Service Packs state that they will be provided in the MSU format whereas it is currently
being offered to testers in the EXE format.
Unlike previous service pack updates for older Windows OSes, Microsoft do not provide
any switches in the EXE to allow for simple integration. Part of the problem has to do with the completely different format that the Vista Setup DVD
uses where each edition of Vista is a separate index in the install.wim and that each index needs to be separately updated. While Microsoft could
implement a switch to allow the user to select which index to update or a switch to update all the indexes, it will turn out to be a very lengthy and
time-consuming process as we are talking about gigabytes of files that need to be updated/replaced, saved and recompressed. Unfortunately, Vista also
does not implement an Updates folder unlike Office 2007 where one could stick all the latest updates in the folder in the ISO and setup would pick
them up and install them...
winbeta.org -
28.08.2007Office 2007 SP1 Installation/Slipstream Guide
Some of you may be wondering how to do a clean install of Office 2007 using an Office 2007 RTM image along with SP1 at the same time. As you may know,
Office 2007 makes use of the Updates folder in the installation media to install any new updates that it finds in the folder however updates have to
be in the .msp file format for them to be recognized. Since the Office 2007 SP1 update file is delivered in the .exe format, an extra step is required
before being able to proceed:
First, you should copy the contents of the Office 2007 RTM image to a temporary folder. For our
example we're using C:O2007Temp. We have also copied the Office 2007 SP1 Update file (office2007sp1-kb936982-fullfile-en-us.exe) to the D:
drive.
Then, using the Run command in Windows XP/Vista (WinKey+R), run the following command:
D:office2007sp1-kb936982-fullfile-en-us.exe /extract:C:O2007TempUpdates
replacing D: with wherever you stored
the Office 2007 SP1 update file and C:O2007Temp with wherever you stored the Office 2007 RTM files. After agreeing to the Microsoft Software
License Terms, SP1 will be extracted to C:O2007TempUpdates.
That's it! Just start the setup for Office 2007 and the
updates for SP1 will then be picked up and installed during the setup. The same method applies to any other Office 2007 SP1 update.
winbeta.org -
12.12.2007Ribbon Baseball Widget for Word 2007 (built using VSTO)
Bill Morein: This is a Visual Studio Tools for Office 2008 beta add-in that lets you track games right inside the home tab of the Word 2007 ribbon.
The add-in shows the score, inning, and base situation for games in progress, tracking them by pulling data from a MSN sports web service. To use it
once installed, click on the button to pick a team. It will then update the score every 30 seconds as long as there is an internet connection.
winbeta.org -
08.10.2007Windows Vista SP1 Deployment Info
A few quick bits that are noteworthy from the
Windows Vista SP1
Whitepaper regarding deployment.
Windows Vista SP1 will support the following delivery methods:
- Express. Requires an
Internet connection but minimizes the size of the download by sending only the changes needed for a specific computer (approximately 50 MB for
x86-based operating systems).
- Stand-alone. Recommended for computers with limited Internet connectivity and for applying the service
pack to multiple computers. The download size is larger than the express package, but customers can apply a single package to any Windows Vista
version and language combination (within a platform). Distribution tools like System Center Configuration Manager 2007 use stand-alone packages to
deploy Windows Vista SP1.
- Slipstream. The slipstream version of Windows Vista SP1 is media that already contains the service pack,
which companies can use to deploy the operating system to new computers or to upgrade existing computers. Availability will be limited. Microsoft will
update Windows Vista retail media with Windows Vista SP1 slipstream media in the future. Slipstream media will also be available to Volume Licensing
customers.
As also stated in the Whitepaper, "customers cannot apply SP1 to offline Windows Vista images," meaning that the Vista SP1 update
cannot be manually slipstreamed into a Vista RTM ISO. However, a method of repacking an install.wim with Vista SP1 integrated is available using our
Vista SP1 Integration Guide which still requires a complete install
of Vista RTM in order to reverse integrate it. While this may not be the most ideal method, it is at the moment the only method if one doesn't have
access to Microsoft's fully slipped SP1 ISO since availability will be limited.
winbeta.org -
29.08.2007Windows Vista SP1 Slipstreaming FAQ
Kevin Remde from Microsoft has
posted a very useful FAQ regarding why SP1 cannot be directly slipstreamed into a Vista RTM image. As he points out:
See, there's this important part of the OS known as the "servicing layer" in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. This is the
part of the OS that allows for easy update installation with minimal disruptions, allows for an update to be applied to an offline captured image
that's within a .wim file, among other things.
Well.. let's say that that servicing layer ALSO needed to be updated? What
then?
A solution to this problem might be to first integrate the new servicing components and then integrate the other SP1 bits
however Microsoft apparently
disabled
that option during the development of SP1 and
warned users that the image will be corrupted. There are
plans to make SP2 directly slipstreamable however
Microsoft have made no promises.
So what's Microsoft's current solution?
You are going to have to install your
image to a machine. Install the Service Pack. Then re-capture the image.
Note that this is the same method we wrote about in
detail back in August in our
"Reverse Integration" guide. The new
bit of info from Kevin's post is that Microsoft have also been nice enough to give users an additional Re-arm with SP1 meaning you won't lose any of
the 3 Re-arms that came with the base Vista RTM install.
Further info is available in the
new WAIK
documentation and
Vista SP1 Deployment Guide or via our
"Reverse
Integration" guide.
winbeta.org -
10.02.2008Group: AOL 9.0 Uses Malware
Tactics
AOL is being accused of using
malware-like tactics to
install software unbeknownst
to users when they install AOL
9.0, the company's latest
version of its online service
software. The charge was made
by industry coalition
StopBadware.org...
betanews.com -
29.08.2006Microsoft: How to install a browser on Windows 7 E
Microsoft have created a guidance page on the Windows 7 part of their website, detailing how users should go about installing a browser on Windows 7 E
– the main version of Windows that will ship in the UK, that comes without a browser. Users will be required to install an internet browser
from external media, such as a USB pen drive or CD, as there will be no way of browsing the web without one otherwise. Due to the EU pushing on with
its anti-trust case against Microsoft, users buying Windows 7 E will have to find their own browser to use.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
15.07.2009Microsoft Office Communicator
Web Access RC Released
"The Release
Candidate for Communicator Web
Access is now available for
download at Beta Place. This
is our final code drop before
Release to Manufacturing
(RTM).
Ple
ase note this version requires
a Re-Install - you will have
to un-install any previous
version of CWA. This version
also requires that you
un-install the .Net Framework
and install the 2.0 RTM
version (recently released).
You can download this from
ht
tp://www.microsoft.com/downloa
ds/details.aspx?FamilyId=0856E
ACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F
5&displaylang=en...
winbeta.org -
11.11.2005Hackers Install Windows XP on
Intel Mac
While Windows XP won't
natively boot on Apple's new
Intel based Macs due to lack
of EFI support and Microsoft
has no plans to change that in
Vista, one hacker has found a
way around the limitation and
snagged a $13,854 prize in the
process. But the approach
requires heavy editing of an
XP install disc...
betanews.com -
16.03.2006Windows 7 upgrade chart available
Microsoft has made available the official Windows 7 Upgrade chart, via allthingsd which indicates which previous versions of Windows are available for
an in-place upgrade to Windows 7, and to which version they can upgrade. You can view the chart below: As you can see from just a glance at the
chart, it's relatively confusing. Windows 7 offers no direct upgrade path from XP, which was announced very early on in the Windows 7 development
life cycle. Very specific upgrade paths from other versions of Windows Vista exist also. You can perform a "Custom Install" which is pretty much a
clean install, but you have the option to install Windows 7 to another disk without overwriting data.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
10.08.2009Workaround Discovered For "Clean Install" With Vista Upgrade
DailyTech has posted a 7-step
workaround courtesy of Paul
Thurrott (via Microsoft
internal documents) on how to
perform a clean install with a
Windows Vista Upgrade DVD. Per
Microsoft's new licensing
requirements for Vista, users
are required to install a
Windows Vista Upgrade from
within Windows XP and to make
matters worse, the Windows XP
license is forfeited. The
process may be tedious, but
few will argue when they
compare the price differences
between the upgrade and retail
versions. Here we go:
- Boot from the
Windows Vista Upgrade DVD and
start the setup
program.
- When prompted
to enter your product key, DO
NOT enter it. Click "Next"
and proceed with setup. This
will install Windows Vista as
a 30-day trial.
- When
prompted, select the edition
of Vista which you have
purchased and continue with
setup.
- Once setup has
been completed and you have
been brought to the desktop
for the first time, run the
install program from within
Windows Vista.
- This
time, type in your product key
when prompted.
- When
asked whether to perform an
Upgrade or Custom (advanced)
install, choose Custom
(advanced) to perform a clean
install of Vista. Yes, this
means that you will have to
install Vista for a second
time.
- Once setup has
completed for the second time,
you should be able to activate
Windows Vista normally. You
can also delete the
Windows.old directory which
contains information from the
first Vista
install.
neowin.net -
31.01.2007Beware of fake Microsoft security alerts
With Microsoft's monthly
patch release expected on
Tuesday, scammers are sending
out fake security bulletins
that attempt to install
malicious software on
victim's computers.
The e-mail messages claim
to describe a "Cumulative
Security Update for Internet
Explorer" that fixes a
critical security flaw in the
browser. It comes with a link
entitled "Download this
update."
When users
click on this link, they are
taken to a server that
attempts to install malicious
software known as
Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Agent.
avk. This Trojan software then
attempts to reach out to other
computers on the Internet in
order to install more programs
on the victim's computer...
winbeta.org -
09.06.2007Demonstration: Windows 7 VHD Boot
This command line demonstration explains how to build a bootable Windows 7 VHD image from a Windows 7 install.wim file using diskpart.exe and
imagex.exe. The demonstration continues with an explanation of how to configure the boot entry using bcdedit.exe and explains the limitations of VHD
Boot. Note: This screencast discusses a release candidate of a Microsoft product. The information in this screencast is provided as-is and is subject
to change without notice.
winbeta.org -
01.05.2009iPhone 3GS gets jailbroken and unlocked
Purplera1n, unrelated to the Dev Team, has come out with a solution to jailbreak the iPhone 3GS for both Windows and Intel Mac computers. The
jailbreak allows users to download Cydia on their iPhone to install unofficial applications on their device. The jailbreaking solution provided by
purplera1n still does not allow Winterboard to be used as of yet. The method installs an application called Freeze onto the device; this installs and
unpacks Cydia. Users who install Cydia onto their device can then proceed to install UltraSn0w which was recently released to unlock the iPhone 3G,
now unlocks the iPhone 3GS.
Read full
story.....
neowin.net -
06.07.2009Live Webcast: MVP Charlie
Russel on How to Get and
Install Windows XP Service
Pack 2
View a live webcast Wednesday
by MVP Charlie Russel, and
learn how to obtain and
install Service Pack 2, and
how to find help in the online
community...
WindowsXP/expertzone -
04.01.2006Network Monitor 3 One Click Capture Tool - BETA Available
Wish you could get a network capture from a computer with no capture software installed? Wish you could have a network traffic "flight recorder" on
a USB key? Here's your answer!"
The motivation behind creating this tool was to provide an extremely simple way to get a trace
from an end user. And the name says it all, though maybe a small bit of false advertisement as it may take a bit more than just one click :). Once you
have it downloaded to your machine, you can launch the executable and it will lead you through some simple dialogs that install the tool and start a
trace. Once the trace is complete, which means it was manually stopped by the user or the default time of 2 hours have passed, a window will be opened
to the location for the capture, called OneClick.cap.
<...>
Obtaining the Tool
At this
point we are beta testing the tool. So the only means of getting it is on the Network Monitor project on
http://connect.microsoft.com. When you join the project, you will see both the Auto-run and Extract Only packages in the
download section. Once we release the tool, we will make it available on the Microsoft Download site as this is more convenient, which is our goal for
this tool.
winbeta.org -
08.11.2007Silicon Valley Vista SP1 Install Fair next month
Similar to last month's Redmond-based Install Fair, the Windows Vista SP1 Deployment Team is holding another Install Fair at our Silicon Valley
campus early next month. You're welcome to drop by if you find yourself in the neighborhood, provided you register beforehand.
Date: 8-9 December 2007, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus, 1065 La Avenida St., Mountain View, CA
94043
Timeslots:
- Desktops: 9:00am or 1:00pm
- Laptops: 9:00am or 1:00pm
Registrations must be made via email to Windows Vista Install Fair Registration (
vsp1reg@microsoft.com). Please indicate your preferred timeslot when replying. Spaces are limited.
winbeta.org -
19.11.2007Managing Windows Updates
Daniel Oxley: When creating a new operating system WIM image with MDT, one of the things that you should always examine is the new updates for Windows
that you will include; my recommendation has always been to make sure that the image is as up-to-date as possible with all the released Windows
updates for the operating system you are going to deploy. During the testing phase of the image you create, you will be able to identify and catch
any possible problems that an update may cause. I believe that this is a better approach to patching rather than testing and then deploying each
individual update as they are released because it requires less time and work from you, but still ensures that an update will not give problems.
winbeta.org -
19.05.2008
