In this issue: w   Free Windows XP Winter Fun Packs w   Microsoft Security Bulletin w   Recent Support BBS Postings w   Web Site Updates w   Administrivia

Free Windows XP Winter Fun Packs

by Arie Slob

Hello Windows users,

This week Microsoft released a series of Winter Fun Packs for Windows XP, to help you have fun with your computer and Windows XP this holiday season. They include a wide range of winter-themed content designed expressly for Windows Media Player 9 Series, Windows Movie Maker 2, and Windows XP Digital Photography, Communications, and Browsing.

Note: The Winter Fun Packs are unsupported by Microsoft. For system requirements see the article on the Windows-Help.NET Web site.

Four Fun Packs are available, including:

• Digital Music with Windows Media Player 9 Series Winter Fun Pack. New skins, Auto Playlists, and Visualizations make it more fun to enjoy your music with Windows Media Player 9 Series.
• Digital Video with Windows Movie Maker 2 Fun Pack. Check out this expansive collection of wintery sound effects, holiday music, titles, video titles, and cut scenes. Whatever the occasion, there's something here that will help you make your home movies even more creative and professional looking (more information about Windows Movie Maker 2. You can download the beta version of Movie Maker 2 here).
• Digital Photography, Communications and Browsing Fun Pack. Discover a fun set of Internet Explorer holiday favorites and use the Fun Pack templates to create custom greeting cards.
• Winter Fun Screensavers. Check out these cool screen savers with vivid 3-D and interactive sound effects.

Microsoft also posted a number of "How-To's":

• Create the Ultimate Holiday Music Mix with Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Movie Maker 2
  • Film your child's holiday play or Pageant
  • Create a Holiday Video Greeting Card
• Create a Personalized Holiday Greeting Card with Your Digital Photos
• Share the Gift of Photos This Holiday Season
• Messenger
  • Share Holiday Memories by Using Video Chat
  • Share Your Digital Holiday Greeting Cards and Photos

Give your comments on this article.

Microsoft Security

Flaw in Windows WM_TIMER Message Handling Could Enable Privilege Elevation

A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Microsoft® Windows® NT 4.0, 2000 or XP, and gain complete control over it. An attacker would need the ability to log onto the computer to carry out an attack.

Affected Software Versions

• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition
• Microsoft Windows 2000
• Microsoft Windows XP

More...

Flaw in SMB Signing Could Enable Group Policy to be Modified

A security flaw in Microsoft® Windows® 2000 and Windows XP could enable an attacker to modify a network's security policies. Network administrators can help protect their networks by installing this update from Microsoft. This update only affects networks running Windows 2000 or Windows XP.

Affected Software Versions

• Microsoft Windows 2000
• Windows XP (Service Pack 1 is not affected; SP1 users need take no action.)

More...

Flaw in Microsoft VM Could Enable System Compromise

A new version of the Microsoft VM is available, which includes all previously released fixes for the VM, as well as fixes for eight newly reported security issues.

Affected Software Versions

• Versions of the Microsoft virtual machine (Microsoft VM) are identified by build numbers, which can be determined using the JVIEW tool as discussed on the page linked below. All builds of the Microsoft VM up to and including build 5.0.3805 are affected by these vulnerabilities.

More...

Recent Support BBS Postings

Moving Pagefile. Your Opinion pls!! - Windows XP
Special Icon In Favourites? - Internet Explorer
Satellite 2-way - General Discussions
How do I get autocomplete off in IE6 - Internet Explorer
All Programs List - Windows XP

Web Site Updates

These pages were added/updated in the past 2 weeks. Information on previously updated/added pages is available on the What's New? page for 1 month.

InfiniSource.com

Added: Video Games and Kids -- Part 4

Windows-Help.NET

Added: Microsoft Security: Flaw in Windows WM_TIMER Message Handling Could Enable Privilege Elevation
Added: Microsoft Security: Flaw in SMB Signing Could Enable Group Policy to be Modified
Added: Microsoft Security: Flaw in Microsoft VM Could Enable System Compromise
Added: Microsoft Releases Updated Baseline Security Analyzer

Windows XP

Added: Microsoft Posts Windows .NET Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack Final Beta version (RC2) for Download
Updated: Passwords Not Saved in Outlook/Outlook Express
Added: Use the Classic Logon Screen
Added: Increase Number of Download Sessions in Internet Explorer
Added: Microsoft Posts Free Windows XP Winter Fun Packs
Added: Microsoft Releases Updated Baseline Security Analyzer

  Highlights

Video Games and Kids -- Part 4

Playing alone tonight? Or with strangers online in a multi-player setting?

Read Full Article
Microsoft Releases Updated Baseline Security Analyzer

Microsoft has released an update to its security tool, dubbed the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA), that allows an individual home or corporate user or an administrator to scan one or more Windows-based computers for common security misconfigurations.

Read Full Article

Windows XP Getting Started Tip: Use the Classic Logon Screen

Setup configures Windows XP to use the friendly Welcome logon screen and the shutdown buttons, if your computer is installed as a home computer (a computer where a network domain has not been specified).

Read Tip
Windows XP Tip: Increase Number of Download Sessions in Internet Explorer

To comply with current Internet standards, Internet Explorer limits the number of simultaneous downloads to two downloads, plus one queued download. This configuration is a function of the browser. However, as connection speeds increase, and the number of total connections that are allowed to Internet servers increase, the two-connection limit may be restrictive.

Read Tip
Microsoft Posts Windows .NET Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack Final Beta version (RC2) for Download

This week, Microsoft poststed the Windows .NET Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack RC2 for Download. The adminpak allows administrators to install the Windows .NET Server 2003 management tools onto a Windows XP Professional or Windows .NET Server 2003 family machines to perform remote server management functions.

Read Full Article
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