Windows-Help.NET Newsletter

01. Windows XP Service Pack 2 To Ship in August

by Arie Slob

Hello Windows users,

Earlier this week, at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2004 in Toronto, Will Poole, senor vice president of the Windows Client Business, announced that Microsoft will release to manufacturing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) with Advanced Security Technologies in August.

Microsoft will roll out the product to most current Windows XP customers through a new version of Windows Update (V5). Poole noted that Microsoft is sensitive to the needs of those on narrowband so it will also provide customers with the option of obtaining a free CD.

An exact date hasn't been mentioned, but some data I got seems to suggest a release date on - or before - the 10th of August.

For the latest information on SP2, read my review of the SP2 Release Candidate on the Windows-Help.NET Web site

02. Microsoft Security

Microsoft Windows Security Bulletin Summary for July, 2004

The Microsoft Windows security updates for July 2004 address newly discovered issues in Windows, including Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook Express, both components of Windows.

Severity Rating: Critical

Severity Rating: Important

Severity Rating: Moderate

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-018 - Cumulative Security Update for Outlook Express (823353)

03. Newsletter Summer Schedule

Many of you are having a summer break during July/August. I will reduce the newsletter publication frequency in these months. Instead of a weekly newsletter, I will publish the next newsletter on July 24th. In August I will publish a newsletter on the 7th and 28th. I will try to publish some information when Windows XP Service Pack 2 is released, but I'm on holiday myself from August 11th, so I'm not sure how much I'll be able to accomplish if SP2 ships after August 7. The issue of September 11th would mean the return to a weekly schedule. Have a good & safe summer!

04. Recent Support BBS Postings

Poll: Do your or your company intend to implement Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)?

Quick launch toolbar lost - Windows XP
Command line for checking IP address - Windows 98
Photo Editing Software - Other Software
Wireless network security - Networking

05. Microsoft Launches New Security Site for Home Users

Microsoft's new Security at Home site helps non-technical users by providing tips and tricks, how-tos, and the latest virus information without all the technical talk.

Security at Home

06. FIX: Windows Media Player 9 Series Quits Unexpectedly While Playing Online Content (KB840648)

When you are playing content from a network source, Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series may quit unexpectedly (crash) if Windows Media Player briefly loses the network connection and then tries to reconnect.

Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP

Download [696 KB]
More Info

07. Sun Java Runtime Security Vulnerability

The Sun Java Runtime Environment Font object is reportedly vulnerable to an assertion failure denial of service vulnerability. This issue is reported to affect Java Runtime Environment versions 1.4.1 through 1.4.2; it is likely however that other versions are also affected. This issue will crash Internet browsers running an affected Java plug-in as well.

All users are advised to upgrade to JRE 1.4.2_05.

Download Java 2 Platform