Windows Update automatically changing user settings - again
After Patch Tuesday this week (October 9), some Windows Vista users noticed something strange: Windows Update had changed their Automatic Update settings and rebooted their machines automatically without their consent.
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12.10.2007 Microsoft Denies Changing Windows Vista Settings without Users' Consent
Microsoft denied that it is messing around with the settings of the Windows Vista operating systems without the users' consent.
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15.10.2007 Group Policy Settings Reference Windows Vista Beta 2
This spreadsheet lists the policy settings for computer and user configurations included in the administrative template files(admx/adml) delivered with Windows Vista Beta 2 (build 5384).
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26.8.2006 Group Policy Settings Reference for Microsoft Windows Vista RC1
This spreadsheet lists the policy settings for computer and user configurations included in the administrative template files (admx/adml) delivered with Windows Vista RC1 (build 5600).
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13.9.2006 15 Years On, Microsoft Research Changing Face of Computing
Thousands of research papers and hundreds of product innovations by Microsoft Research add value both inside and outside the company.
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27.9.2006 Temporary Windows 7 Beta Download Link Not Changing Microsoft's Plans
There is, without a doubt, a consistent volume of anticipation related to the upcoming beta for Windows 7.
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22.12.2008 Windows Live Safety Settings Unveiled
Microsoft on Tuesday confirmed plans to offer a new service that gives parents more control over the Internet content their children can view without supervision. Called Windows Live Safety Settings, it includes content filtering for the Web, contact list management tools for communication services, and online activity reports.
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15.3.2006 Prevent 1.0 - Stop Unauthorized Copy, Delete, Move & Change of Settings
I am sure everyone has faced the situation where either their friends, colleagues, family member of kids renaming, deleting important files or changing settings like wallpaper, screen resolution etc. this is typical with younger sibling.
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17.9.2009 Windows Update Blocker Tool Kit - Block Automatic Windows Vista SP2 Update
After availability of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 for public download I am sure many users would have already installed Vista Service Pack 2 to see the performance improvements and its advisable to install Windows Vista sp2 as it has many noticeable changes and also includes all the fixes released after Vista sp1.
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27.5.2009 Windows 7 In Box All Windows 7 Settings at One Place
So you have recently switched from Windows Xp to Windows 7 and finding it difficult to change simple settings like System settings, keyboard & Mouse settings, managing user accounts, starting various Windows tools etc.
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13.11.2009 Microsoft plans to issue non-update update for Win 7
Microsoft will spit out dummy updates for Windows 7 beta testers next week that will probe the forthcoming operating systems updating abilities.
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20.2.2009 Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update
A few months ago, Steve Ballmer publicly noted that Windows Vista was a work in progress. That inspired a predictable outpouring of Vista-bashing.
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15.7.2008 Do not update cracked Vista
Some our members report in
our forum that they have problems after updatimg cracked or patched Vista.
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30.1.2007 An Update For Windows Update
An infrastructure update has been planned for Windows Update client. The gradual roll-out of this update will begin in late July.
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6.7.2008 Security Update for Windows Vista
A remote code execution security issue has been identified in the Graphics Rendering Engine that could allow an attacker to remotely compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it.
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16.1.2006 How to recover from the Vista Validation update
Well, I wasn't paying attention and installed the validaton update. Oops.
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17.12.2006 Another Vista Reliability & Performance Update
Vistas performance is one of those topics that wont be exhausted until Windows Seven hits RTM. It all comes down to trade-offs.
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12.12.2007 Update: "Vista Capable" trial
The ongoing "Vista Capable" class-action lawsuit against Microsoft took an interesting turn the other day when an expert witness for the plaintiffs claimed that the Redmond company made more than $1.5 billion through their "Vista Capable" marketing campaign.
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6.1.2009 New Vista AutoPatcher - Vista update toolkit Alpha
Vista Update Toolkit Alpha (Windows Vista Updates Downloader) is a FREE program which downloads updates directly from Microsoft. All files are very useful with vLite!
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26.9.2008 Microsoft Update Windows Vista Homepage
After a brief demo at the on-going CES conference in Las Vegas, Microsoft have launched a re-vamped version of the website for Windows Vista.
The slick new look makes a break from the often bland Microsoft product pages, and moves towards the Glass theme expected in Vista.
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5.1.2006 Update for Microsoft Windows Vista Beta 2
Install this update to address an issue where Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) does not consume intermediate session data.
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23.7.2006 Windows Vista RC1 Availability Update
Microsoft employee Nick White has posted some information on the Windows Vista team blog regarding the availability of RC1.
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11.8.2006 Update for Windows Vista Beta 2 (KB922917)
An issue has been identified that may cause you to lose access to protected media music, videos, and recorded TV after upgrading to Windows Vista RC1.
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16.8.2006 Windows Vista Validation Update (KB929391)
Microsoft have just posted a Windows Vista Genuine Validation Update to Windows Update.
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16.12.2006 Visual Studio 2005 Update for Vista
Microsoft has released a new version of its Visual Studio toolset for Windows Vista development.
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7.3.2007 Intel waiting for key update before going Vista
If it's not good enough for Intel, is it good enough for you? We're talking Microsoft's Windows Vista, which the chip giant's CEO, Paul Otellini, this week indicated has not won the backing of his technology experts.
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7.3.2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Vista Available
This update addresses issues with Media Center for Microsoft Vista. For complete listing of issues included in this cumulative update, see KB941229. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. Thanks to pacpis for this news.
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2.10.2007 Compatibility, Reliability, and Stability of Vista Update
About 2 months ago Microsoft released a couple of hotfixes that improved the stability and reliability of Windows Vista, these were not made available on Automatic Updates.
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24.10.2007 Vista Update Fingers Activation Cracks
Microsoft Corp. has been lowering expectations about Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) since before it even confirmed there would be one. Numerous times, company executives and managers have told users and the press that Vista SP1 would not be like Windows XP SP2, the last desktop operating system service pack the company released.
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23.2.2008 Mac Virtual Machine Update Runs Vista
Enhancements to Parallels Desktop for Mac include support for the recently released multi-processor Mac Pro tower equipped with 3.5GB of RAM, as well as for the developer build of Mac OS X 10.5, code-named Leopard.
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22.9.2006Automatic Update Not Making Unauthorized Change
Microsoft has responded to recent web posts claiming that last weeks automatic update actually changed peoples update settings on their computer.
The company is still looking into the issue, if you experienced weirdness after updating last week, hit the link above and report it.
We have been hearing some questions recently regarding Tuesdays update release changing automatic updating settings. We have received some
logs from customers, and have so far been able to determine that their AU settings were not changed by any changes to the AU client itself and also
not changed by any updates installed by AU.
jcxp.net -
15.10.2007Microsoft responds to mysterious Automatic Updates issue
A quick note regarding automatic update settings getting changed...
We have been hearing some questions recently regarding
Tuesdays update release changing automatic updating settings. We have received some logs from customers, and have so far been able to determine that
their AU settings were not changed by any changes to the AU client itself and also not changed by any updates installed by AU.
We
are still looking into this to see if another application is making this change during setup with user consent, or if this issue is related to
something else. We are continuing the investigation, and as I have more information I will update this post.
If you are running
into this issue, your help would be greatly appreciated. You can contact
support, and they can walk you through the steps necessary to provide logs and other useful data.
Nate
Clinton
Program Manger
Microsoft Update
winbeta.org -
13.10.2007Why installing Vista SP1 might fail via Windows Update
When you try to install Windows Vista SP1 via Windows Update you can get error: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation from
Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates.
To help ensure a positive update experience, Windows Update will temporarily not
offer Windows Vista SP1 to systems that have the following device drivers. In some cases, these device drivers are problematic on Windows Vista-based
computers when you update to Windows Vista SP1. By installing updated device drivers, you will resolve the issue and enable Windows Update to offer
Windows Vista SP1.
Click read more to view a list of drivers that don't work well with Vista SP1:
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
20.03.2008An Update For Windows Update
An infrastructure update has been planned for Windows Update client. The gradual roll-out of this update will begin in late July. This update will
occur automatically to any system configured to either receive updates “automatically” or “notify” customers that new updates
are available for download.
For enterprise customers who use Windows Server Update Services or Systems Management Server, all updating,
including the WU client, is controlled by the network administrators, who have authority over the download and install experience. Windows Vista
customers who select “never check for updates” in their WU settings will not receive this update until they manually install updates from
Windows Update.
In this particular update, there will not make any changes to the way WU looks or feels, instead the following have been
improved:
- The length of time it takes Windows Update to scan for updates
- The speed in which signature updates will be delivered
Detailed information on this is posted on the
Microsoft Update blog.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
05.07.2008Windows Search 4.0 to Become Available on Windows Update
Since Windows Search 4.0 (WS4.0) was
released to the web on
June 3rd, we've seen a good number of downloads, and a number of positive responses from customers who started using it. Users are telling us
that they're seeing better performance and reliability of search after WS4.0 is installed. As a result, we feel it's time to make WS4.0
available to the broader audience.
In late July WS4.0 will become available for installation off Windows Update. Customers
using Windows XP will see WS4.0 available as an Optional update, meaning they can manually install it from update.microsoft.com. Windows Vista customers will see the update as a
recommended update. Depending on the Windows Update settings on your Windows Vista SP1 client, WS4.0 may be installed automatically, updating
the search capability in Windows Vista SP1.
winbeta.org - 22.07.2008
Microsoft Introduces New
Security Tool
Microsoft on Monday introduced
the final version of a new
security tool for locking down
computers that operate in
shared environments. The
Shared Computer Toolkit for
Windows XP enables
administrators to restrict
users from changing system
settings and running
unauthorized software...
betanews.com - 20.09.2005
Group Policy Settings Reference Windows Server 2008
This spreadsheet lists the policy settings for computer and user configurations included in the Administrative template files (.admx/.adml) delivered
with Windows Server 2008. The policy settings included in this spreadsheet cover Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP
Professional, and Windows 2000. You can configure these policy settings when you edit Group Policy objects (GPOs).
In addition,
this spreadsheet includes the following categories of security policy settings:
- Account Policies (Password Policy, Account
Lockout Policy, and Kerberos Policy)
- Local Policies (Audit Policy, User Rights Assignment, and Security Options)
- Event Log
- Restricted Groups
- System Services
- Registry
- File System policy settings.
Note: This
does not include security settings that exist outside of the Security Settings extension (scecli.dll), such as Wireless Network extension, Public Key
Policies, or Software Restriction Policies.
winbeta.org -
06.02.2008Office 2003 Service Pack 3 imminent?
Microsoft just published a
download for Office 2003
Service Pack 3 Administrative
Templates (ADM). I guess this
means Office 2003 SP3 is
around the corner.
The download includes
updated Group Policy
Administrative Template files,
OPA files, and an updated
Microsoft Excel workbook that
lists the Administrative
Template policy settings and
OPA settings.
This
download includes the
following updates:
-
Policy settings that provide
the ability to block file
format settings to prevent
users from opening or saving
specific file types and file
formats in Microsoft Office
Excel 2003, Microsoft Office
PowerPoint 2003, and Microsoft
Office Word 2003.
-
An updated Excel 2003 workbook
(Office 2003 Group
Policies.xls) that describes
policy settings listed in the
various Administrative
Template and OPA files. It
supports changes to the Office
2003 SP3 policy settings.
Note: This update
replaces the previously
available Office 2003 Service
Pack 2 Administrative Template
(ADM), OPAs, and Explain Text
Update download.
winbeta.org -
25.07.2007Windows XP Service Pack 3 RC2 via Windows Update (Public Availability Program)
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate 2 is available to the public. Specific registry settings will allow you to be offered SP3 via Windows
Update.
Download the script and run it on a machine currently running Windows XP Service Pack 2. The script sets a registry key
on your system. The registry key is required for Windows Update to recognize your machine as a valid target for Windows XP Service Pack 3 RC2.
Versions of Windows XP Service Pack 3 prior to Release Candidate 2 should be removed before attempting to use the registry key.
Windows Update will not offer Release Candidate 2 to machines with previous versions of the Windows XP Service Pack 3 beta.
It is
recommended that you apply the resulting update package to an activated, genuine copy of Windows XP, in a test environment. As with any pre-release
software, it is also recommended that you back up files and settings on your machine before applying this update package.
winbeta.org -
20.02.2008Controlling Group Policy Security Settings Refresh and Application
There is no question that Group Policy inside Active Directory is the most efficient and logical way to configure and maintain security for all of
your domain controllers, servers, and desktops. The question becomes how to maintain and control the application of the security settings, as well as
the refresh of settings that you make in a Group Policy object (GPO)? There are many ways to control how security settings are refreshed and
controlled, some of which are already occurring on your network now and can be tweaked if you want to go down that path. This article will go into the
different methods that are available for controlling how security settings refresh and apply from Group Policy.
winbeta.org -
06.08.2008Microsoft: Another Vista Reliability & Performance Update
Vista’s performance is one of those topics that won’t be exhausted until Windows Seven hits RTM. It all comes down to trade-offs. Ever
since the features of Vista were finalized, Microsoft tried to tip the scale the other way by focusing on performance, with the obvious limitation of
not disabling any services. Updates regarding performance and stability are numerous, but most have not hit Windows Update as they are not quite ready
(preview releases). The Windows Serviceability Team wants feedback on one such update, available for download at the Microsoft Download Center, before
its expected release on Windows Update in January.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
13.12.2007Compatibility, Reliability, and Stability of Vista Update
About 2 months ago Microsoft released a couple of hotfixes that improved the stability and reliability of Windows Vista, these were not made available
on Automatic Updates. That aside, Microsoft has released an update to the compatibility, reliability, and stability of Windows Vista fix that
further improves the reliability of your system.
The original fix improved annoyances such as file copy calculation & speed from within
windows to other (local or network) drives.
This update improves the compatibility, reliability, and stability of Windows Vista. This
update includes the following improvements ->
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
24.10.2007Vista Fix Packs Now on Windows Update
Following their public availability on Microsoft's Download Center, two hotfix packs for Windows Vista that improve performance and reliability are
now available as optional downloads via Windows Update. They will not, however, be delivered automatically to Vista users...
betanews.com -
29.08.2007Flaw in Windows 7 and Vista could allow remote reboot
Security experts warned Tuesday that a vulnerability in Microsoft's implementation of the SMB2 protocol can be exploited via the net to crash or
reboot Windows Vista and Windows 7 systems. An exploit written in Python is already available and being tested by security experts. Initial tests by
heise security indicate the exploit enabled a remote reboot of a Vista system. However, in the test, the exploit had no apparent effect on a computer
running Windows 7. Microsoft has yet to acknowledge the issue and release an official update. The only current workaround is to close the SMB ports
by un-ticking the boxes for file and printer access in the firewall settings.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
08.09.2009Changing the SSL cipher order in Internet Explorer 7 on Windows Vista
Recently, the question of using AES for SSL has come up in the newsgroups and at some conferences. When IE makes an HTTPS connection to a web server,
it offers a list of cipher supported cipher suites. The server then selects the first one from the list that it can match. The default order that IE
follows is this...
winbeta.org -
07.11.2007Vista tips and tricks: changing boot options on the fly
There are a number of boot options that can be used in Vista and Windows Server 2008 that can be a pain to modify (or not possible if you are in a
bugcheck loop), that can be done on the fly at boot time. These options are invaluable for diagnosing some problems you may experience on the system,
and modifying them in the OS may involve figuring out the bcdedit syntax, the right BCD store to modify, or rebuilding and burning a new install DVD
(if the problem is happening during install from media).
Some example boot switches you might want to use are...
winbeta.org -
23.04.2008Quickly find your privacy settings on Windows Live
Since Windows Live got updated to Wave 3, we saw Microsoft expanding into the field of Social Networking. It introduced the concept of Profiles,
where you are able to show off what you want to show to others, and also the Whats New feed which shows you what others want to show you. Every user
using Windows Live, including all Hotmail and Messenger users (who may or may not be aware of the new social networking side of Windows Live Wave 3),
now has a Profile. Although this is an exciting update for some, this update also caused some concern about privacy and user permissions what if you
dont want to show everyone else what youve been doing online?
winbeta.org -
07.01.2009Optimize game settings for
performance and looks
Gaming writer Joel Durham, Jr.
explains how to configure game
settings so they fit with your
hardware configuration and
provide the perfect level of
detail for gaming...
WindowsXP/expertzone -
04.01.2006Office Live Workspace Update for Windows Vista
The Office Live Workspace Update installs three Windows Vista updates (KB945435, KB945145, KB933860) and one Office 2007 update to ensure optimal
performance on Windows Vista when using Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with Office Live Workspace. The update improves the performance
of opening and saving Workspace documents from these Office programs. In some cases, the update also resolves problems with "Open from Office Live"
and "Save to Office Live" functions of the
Office Live Add-in.
This update is only needed for computers running Windows Vista.
winbeta.org -
10.12.2007Vista Desktop Search Annoyance
I thought people might find this fix interesting because it annoyed the hell out of me when I first started using Vista. In the XP days, I was a huge
Windows Desktop Search (WDS) fan, and like many WDS fans Vista search wasn't that exciting because of new features but rather, it gave visibility to
mainstream windows users that desktop search would change the way they computer.
When I used WDS I typically indexed my whole
C: and I carried that practice over to Vista's indexing service. That's when I started having issues. I wanted to to search all my content on
the machine, but when I would search for any files in the Start Menu, I would never get any results returned on a search unless they were
applications. For example, if I was to search for an excel file, it would not return in the Start Menu even though it was located in "Documents" --
it was very frustrating.
As it turns outs, the quick fix was to change the start menu settings so that the search bar is set to
"search entire index" instead of the default "search this user's files." The problem arises due to the user changing the "indexed locations"
to include all of the "C:" when the Start Menu is set to "search this user's files." This is a known bug and will be fixed in Vista SP1.
winbeta.org -
05.09.2007
