Device driver updates causing Vista to deactivate
After weeks of gruelling troubleshooting, I've finally had it confirmed by Microsoft Australia and USA -- something as small as swapping the video card or updating a device driver can trigger a total Vista deactivation.
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24.10.2007 Vista SP2: Windows Driver Model Upgrade
Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista extends the operating system's support for drivers that play nice with all Windows operating systems.
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28.12.2008 Driver Magic - Automatically updates your computers drivers
Automatically updates your computers drivers quickly and easily.
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4.7.2007 Microsoft to push Windows Server 2003 SP2 via Automatic Updates on Patch Tuesday
On June 12, this month’s Patch Tuesday, Microsoft will be delivering more than its usual bundle of security fixes and patches for Windows, Office and other products. The company also will be starting to push Windows Server 2003 Service Pack (SP) 2 to customers via its Automatic Updates patching mechanism.
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10.6.2007 Windows Vista Display Driver Model
The Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) is a new display driver architecture supported in Windows Vista. This display architecture is an overhaul of the Windows XP-based display architecture and gives users a better performing, more reliable desktop experience, while supporting new scenarios, graphics, and applications.
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2.8.2006 Capture Windows 7 and Vista SP2 Images with ConfigMgr 2007 SP2 Beta
Capturing Windows 7 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 images, but also client assessment, updating and deployment are tasks that can be performed with System Center Configuration Manager 2007.
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15.6.2009 Windows Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2 download
Microsoft has released a standalone installer for Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 today.
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27.5.2009 The Vista driver outlook gets a little brighter
’ve been watching for the past six months as PC hardware makers deliver updated drivers to make their products work with Windows Vista. Lately, the trickle has turned into a steady stream.
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8.7.2007 Windows Driver Kit Beta release hints at upcoming Vista SP1
Thanks to pacpis for this post. One of our members received the following e-mail earlier today from the WDK team:
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18.7.2007 Vista SP1 Has Driver Compatibility Problems? Do Tell!
Ever since February 4, 2008, the day Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 were released to manufacturing, Microsoft made a move indicating that it was not entirely comfortable to release Vista SP1.
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4.3.2008 ATI driver flaw exposes Vista kernel to attackers
An unpatched flaw in an ATI driver was at the center of the mysterious Purple Pill proof-of-concept tool that exposed a way to maliciously tamper with the Windows Vista kernel. Thanks to pacpis for this news.
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12.8.2007 Notable Changes in Windows Server 2008 SP2 RC and Windows Vista SP2 RC
Microsoft® continuously improves the Windows Vista® and Windows Server® 2008 operating systems by providing ongoing updates while working with software and hardware vendors to help them deliver improved compatibility, reliability, and performance. These updates are provided to customers by Microsoft’s hardware and software partners, as well as directly from Microsoft in the form of regularly distributed updates delivered via Windows Update. Updates to Windows are also delivered directly to some affected customers and preinstalled by PC manufacturers.
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1.3.2009 Windows Driver Kit RTM Build 6000.16386 Available on Connect
UPDATED! Microsoft have made the final version of the Windows Driver Kit available on Connect under the
Microsoft Windows Driver Kit Beta Program.
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5.11.2006 Updates for Windows Vista
Here are new Updates for Windows Vista. (KB942089), (KB942089), (KB940069), (KB940069), (KB943544), (KB943544)..
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25.10.2007 Driver Magician Lite 3.31
Driver Magician Lite is freeware, it identifies all the hardware in the system, extracts their associated drivers from the hard disk and backs them up to a location of your choice.
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11.10.2007 Xinput Driver for Microsoft Common Controller (64 Bit)
The Microsoft Common Controller Driver is a new game input standard that is used for both the Xbox360 console and for Windows XP SP1 and above.
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6.5.2006 exFAT DRIVER for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
Microsoft has released an update for Windows XP SP2 and SP3 system that adds exFAT file system drivers to the operating system.
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6.2.2009 Intel Centrino Wireless Driver Malformed Frame Remote Code Execution
Security vulnerabilities exist in the Microsoft* Windows* drivers for the Intel® 2200BG and 2915ABG PRO/Wireless Network Connection Hardware because of the way that they currently handle certain frames.
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7.8.2006 In progress: Vista updates!
In progress right now is a beta testers chat with MS experts on the future of IE7 and Vista. Here are some parts of the chat that may be interesting to you... more to come shortly:
SamW [MS] (Expert):
Q: [17] When will you release the November CTP? Only 2 days left of November!
A: There will be no CTP for Vista in November because we are targeting for most features to be code-complete by end of December and resources efforts are going towards that effort. We should have a CTP in December before the Christmas holiday. These interim changes have no impact on our general availability target for Windows Vista. We are on track to deliver a high-quality Windows Vista in the 2nd half of 2006.
Paul Donnelly [MS] (Expert):
Q: [54] Can someone clear up what seems to be confusion on the groups over the release of Build 5259? Did it go to selected testers or TAP because date of release and extent seems confused. I notice Mario mentions it today.
A: A specific, small group of partners received access to 5259. It is an IDW build and has not gone through the CTP testing process.
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29.11.2005 Microsoft releases Security updates for Beta Windows Vista, Server 2008
Microsoft releases Security updates for Beta Windows Vista, Server 2008!
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15.1.2008 Microsoft Releases Eight Updates for Vista
This week, Microsoft released some "important" updates for its newest operating system.
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28.6.2007 Security Updates for IE7 and Vista Beta 1 Available Now
Security updates for Internet Explorer 7 Beta 1 and Internet Explorer in Windows Vista Beta 1 are now available from the Windows Vista/IE 7 beta downloads page on the Connect site. Direct links to these updates are also provided below. These security updates resolve a vulnerability in IE 7 Beta 1 and IE in Windows Vista Beta 1 that has already been addressed for released/supported versions of Internet Explorer by Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-052.
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Microsoft Releases First Batch of Updates for Vista
Microsoft has made the first batch of updates for Vista available via the built-in Windows Update client. If you don't see the 22 updates, manually "Check for updates".
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30.1.2007 Updated List of updates for Vista SP1
This guy Aaron Tiensivu keeps a VERY good list of non-critical Vista updates and this looks like it could be part of SP1.
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14.6.2007 New Performance and Reliability Updates for Vista SP1
A reliability and performance update is available for download for Windows Vista Service Pack 1. This specific release targets all Windows Vista editions, provided that they have the first service pack integrated.
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25.6.2008 New Updates Available on MDC for Vista/XP/Server 2003
Microsoft have released a few updates on the Microsoft Download Center to resolve various issues in Vista/XP/Server 2003. Thanks to pacpis for this news.
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25.7.2007 Critical Vista, IE 7 patches highlight MS security updates
This month’s batch of patches from Microsoft includes six bulletins covering at least 15 vulnerabilities, including several critical code execution holes in Windows Vista and Internet Explorer 7.
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13.6.2007 Microsoft Updates the Default Spy Tool in Vista SP1
In order to improve the quality of the software information collected from the users' operating systems and sent to Microsoft, the Redmond company introduced an update to the spy tool included by default into every copy of Windows Vista, following the release of Service Pack 1.
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13.6.2008 Vista SP1 RC1 Flies Past Vista RTM and Windows XP SP2
Despite the fact that Microsoft has expressed its official position regarding testing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 ahead of its finalization, there is simply too much of a hunger for the service pack.
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27.12.2007 Details on Windows Vista SP2 emerge
Microsoft has begun to release some details on the enhancements that they intend to bring with Windows Vista Service Pack 2. As we reported on Neowin last week, Microsoft has released an early beta build of Vista SP2 to testers weighing in at around 290MB.
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26.10.2008Microsoft releases Windows Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2
Microsoft has released a standalone installer for Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 today. The software giant posted some things to know
about the service packs last month, one of the warnings is if "vLite" was used to customize your Windows Vista installation, you may have removed
required system components which prevent Service Pack 2 from installing. Microsoft has a workaround for this issue. Microsoft is expected to post the
bits to Windows Update in the coming weeks but if you are eager to install SP2 today then the download links are listed below. Download: Vista
SP2/Server 2008 SP2 32 bit Download: Vista SP2/Server 2008 SP2 64 bit
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
26.05.2009Device driver updates causing Vista to deactivate
After weeks of gruelling troubleshooting, Ive finally had it confirmed by Microsoft Australia and USA -- something as small as swapping the video card
or updating a device driver can trigger a total Vista deactivation.
Put simply, your copy of Windows will stop working with very little
notice (three days) and your PC will go into "reduced functionality" mode, where you cant do anything but use the web browser for half an
hour. Youll then need to reapply to Microsoft to get a new activation code.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
24.10.2007Microsoft Vista SP2 beta: Nothing new has been added (yet)
If you install the beta of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) expecting to see visible changes to your version of Vista, you'll be sorely
disappointed. At least in this initial beta, all the changes are under the hood, and even they are far from earth-shaking. Microsoft says that it has
fixed compatibility problems with the third-party Spy Sweeper and ZoneAlarm security applications, enhanced hardware support for Direct X, improved
Wi-Fi connections after a system resumes from sleep, improved Windows Search, added support for the newest Bluetooth specification (2.1) and rolled up
all previous Vista updates.
Read full story.....
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09.12.2008Windows Installer 4.5 for Vista SP2, 5.0 for Windows 7
In June 2008, Microsoft
released Windows Installer 4.5 on the Microsoft Download Center for XP SP2+, Server 2003 SP1+, Vista, and Server 2008. Now, with yesterday's release
of the
SP2 RC-Escrow
build, it has been confirmed that the new version will also be bundled with the second service pack for Vista and Server 2008.
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29.01.2009More on the Vista Service Pack 1 drivers roadblock
Long Zheng: It appears the roadblock preventing
Windows Vista Service Pack
1 from being made publically available when it was released to manufacturing two days ago is a deja vu of the same but less severe problem that
also happened in 2004 with Windows XP Service Pack 2.
The problem
then affected a very particular ATI graphics driver and Dell Bluetooth driver which resulted in loss functionality after installing XP SP2.
The problem today affects an identifiable set of drivers which too results in loss functionality after installing Vista SP1. Both of
which will require driver updates prior to the service pack install.
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06.02.2008Microsoft sends Vista SP2 invites - beta release in 4 weeks
Thanks to a tipster we have learned Microsoft has started sending Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 invites to select testers today.
Earlier this week it was
revealed the company will release SP2 before Windows 7. Microsoft recently put a
placeholder online for the upcoming betas of Windows
Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2.
Microsoft will include Windows Search 4 in Vista SP2 along with Bluetooth wireless support
(including latest BT 2.1 fixes), support for the new VIA 64-bit CPU and additional application compatibility updates.
For Windows Server
2008 SP2, Microsoft will include Backwards compatibility with Terminal Services licensing keys, improved manageability features with DFS/FRS console,
and Storage Resource Manager, print server and spooler performance improvements for printers in Windows Vista and Server 2008 and improved error
reporting in DFSR to help identify incorrectly configured deployments which lead to failed replication.
Both builds are "anticipated" to
be released within the next four weeks.
Read full story.....
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18.10.2008Microsoft readying RC of Vista SP2 for February 2009
Citing a source at Microsoft, Techarp has revealed that Microsoft is targeting a release candidate (RC) version of Windows Vista SP2 for February
2009. Microsoft sent invites to testers in mid October asking them to take part in the SP2 beta. Build 16489 was released to special group of testers
in late October but Microsoft has been quiet since then. TechArp also believes the RTM of Vista SP2 will be in April 2009. Microsoft is readying SP2
so there are additional incentives for customers to upgrade to Window Vista now, instead of waiting for Windows 7.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
24.11.2008Vista Performance and Reliability Pack Unofficial Release
Thanks Nekrosoft for the news
on this major update to
Windows Vista that should for
most of us improve the speed
and reliability of Windows
Vista significantly!
Please note: These fixes
break all current methods of
bypassing driver singing
requirements except the good
old F8 during boot (that you
have to do every single time
you start vista)
IF
you are using Rivatuner,
atitool and or Peerguardian on
64bit vista, you will have to
use F8 every single time to
disable driver signing
requirements to use those two
programs. x86 version is
unaffected.
These
updates should go official on
the next patch Tuesday (in one
weeks time). Please read more
for the download links and
information on these
updates.
R
ead full story.....
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30.07.2007Windows Vista SP2 RC to be released to public next week
Last week we had a rumor that Windows Vista SP2 RC was released to select testers. It turns out that it might be just a notification from Microsoft a
week ahead that RC is done and available for testing or it might have been a near final RC made available for testing to select testers. Microsoft
has announced today that the RC of SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 is available to TechNet and MSDN subscribers to test prior to final
release. Microsoft will make SP2 RC available to the general public via TechNet during next week. As expected the final version of SP2 will be made
available in the 2nd quarter of 2009.
Read full story.....
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26.02.2009Microsoft: Vista SP2, Windows Server SP2 betas Thursday
Not one half-hour after Microsoft responded to BetaNews' inquiry, the company reversed its position, effectively announcing that the first public
betas of Vista SP2 not in February, but next Thursday...
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03.12.2008Windows Server 2008: Printer-Driver Packages
Day Twelve. We're almost halfway through our series. Today we'll continue on with our Printing theme - specifically, Printer-driver packages.
We'll also provide some background on the driver store feature of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
Printer-driver packages
are digitally signed printer drivers that install all of the components of the driver to the driver store on computers running Windows Vista or
Windows Server 2008. Using printer-driver packages on a print server that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 enables users who are not
members of the local Administrators group to connect to the print server and install (or receive) updated printer drivers. Before we go too much
further, let's go over the concept of the driver store.
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12.02.2008Windows Driver Foundation 1.7 slated for April 15
Windows Driver Foundation (WDF) is a set of Microsoft tools used to develop drivers for Windows. It is available in two flavors: the
Kernel Mode Driver Framework (KMDF) and the
User-Mode Driver Framework (UMDF). WDF 1.7 is the latest version of the tools and it
supports the largest number of operating systems yet: KMDF 1.7 supports Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2003 SP1, Windows Vista SP1,
and Windows Server 2008, while UMDF 1.7 supports the same list with the exception of Windows 2000 SP4.
winbeta.org -
04.04.2008How to identify a buggy device driver on Windows Vista
If your computer is acting unpredictably, locking up, and encountering blue screens of death, then youre most likely the victim of a faulty driver.
The Driver Verifier Manager (DFV) is a great tool for troubleshooting driver problems by identifying the troubling driver. Although DFV does not
actually fix the driver, it still is a really useful tool because it helps you identify the troubling driver so you can choose to delete or update the
driver.
Before you attempt to use this tool, please be sure that your are really having driver problems. The tool will prevent
your computer from starting by identifying the troubling driver. I say this only because it may be a lengthy process for you but if you are
having troubles, it will definitely be worth it.
winbeta.org -
18.02.2008Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 RC released
Last week the Windows Team Blog announced that the availability of SP2 RC for Vista would be available soon. Today they have posted that the download
is now live and you can find the information needed here. If you have a beta install of SP2 loaded on your computer it must be uninstalled before
attempting to load the RC. It should also be mentioned that this, while close, is not a final product and a few hiccups may occur along the way. You
can download the RC directly from the Customer Preview Program or use the Windows Update Experience Kit to obtain the RC for your personal computer.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
05.03.2009Vista SP2: What's inside?
Mary Jo Foley: Microsoft is continuing to broaden the pool of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) testers beyond the fairly small, select group
who’ve been working with test builds for the past few months.
Over on the jkOnTheRun blog, Kevin Tofel posted
the most complete list I’ve seen of what’s in Vista SP2. In addition
to the known Vista SP2 features such as the ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista and the addition of Windows Connect
Now for simpler wifi configuration Tofel says SP2 also will include...
winbeta.org -
03.12.2008Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 reaches RTM
Microsoft has finally finished and compiled the RTM version of Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008. The full version string being
6.0.6006.18005, which company officials have confirmed is the final RTM version of SP2. Currently circulating around popular BitTorrent websites, the
final version is available in 32 and 64 bit versions. Microsoft is expected to announce public availability later this week. Screenshots of the file
properties: Thanks to Neowin user Vask for the heads up.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
29.04.2009Windows Vista SP1 outperforms Windows XP SP2 in file copy.
"Its interesting that people seem to think that Vista under performs in every area of the system which is quite an incorrect perception. In this demo
I show how Vista outperforms Windows XP and I show the under the covers process traces of just how it achieves it."
"Demo environment
consists of two images. One Vista SP1 and the other Windows XP SP2 both on the same HDD IO and communicating across my home wireless network to a
Windows Server 2008 box on my main LAN. Once the two images get going latency gets introduced and things start to slow down....except Vista doesnt
slow down." Watch and see at
Edge TechNet.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
27.05.2008Exclusive: Windows Vista SP2 RC released to general public
As expected, Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 RC is now available to general public for download. You can
download the SP2 RC for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 below: ISO for Windows Server 2008 x86/x64/ia64 and Windows Vista x86/x64x86 for
Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista x86x64 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista x64IA64 for Windows Server 2008 ia64 The service pack is
delivered as a single release for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. There will be a single 32-bit standalone installer (302 MB to 390 MB)
for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
04.03.2009Windows Vista SP2 RC build released to testers
TechARP predicted last month that RC-Escrow build of SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 will be released between the dates Jan 26-30 and
the RC build between the dates Feb 16-20. The RC Escrow build of SP2 was sent to testers at the end of January and the rumor is that now Microsoft has
released the RC build of SP2 to Microsoft Connect testers exactly between the dates predicted by TechARP. Ars reports that RC build is available for
download as a standalone installer package or via Windows Update or as a slipstreamed download which includes 691 individual hotfixes.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
20.02.2009Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2: watch this space
As some of you may recall, Windows Server 2008 shipped
with SP1 already installed. Microsoft
made this decision in order to synchronize the Windows client and server release schedule. As such, SP2 will be released simultaneously for both Vista
and Server 2008. Earlier this month Microsoft put up
Knowledge Base Article 948465, a
placeholder for both Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008...
winbeta.org -
15.10.2008
