In this issue: Windows XP SP2 Automatic Update Blocker to be Lifted Microsoft Releases Application Compatibility Toolkit 4.0 Recent Support BBS Postings Administrivia

by Arie Slob

Hello Windows users,

When Microsoft introduced Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) last August, it provided IT professionals & System Administrators with a tool that would block the delivery of SP2 via the Automatic Update feature of Windows XP.

Microsoft allowed people to install this block to provide IT professionals & System Administrators additional time for validation and testing of the SP2 update.

Initially the blocker was limited to 120 days, but last September Microsoft doubled that time to 240 days (8 months) from August 16, 2004 to April 12, 2005. After this date, Windows XP SP2 will be delivered to all Windows XP and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems who have Automatic Updates enabled.

You can find your Automatic Update settings by going to Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System and selecting the Automatic Updates tab.

This upcoming change affects only computers use in businesses, for which system administrators used specific software to "roll out" updates across an organization, such as Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 or Software Update Services (SUS).

For more information about deploying Windows XP SP2, visit the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Deployment Information Web site.

Give your comments on this article.

Microsoft this week released a new version of its Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT). ACT is intended to be used by System Administrators to help migrate applications from previous Windows versions to Windows XP or Windows Server 2003.

ACT 4.0 includes updated versions of the Microsoft Application Analyzer; the Internet Explorer Compatibility Evaluator; and Compatibility Administrator.

The Application Analyzer tool collects application information from your computers (along with identifying computer information), and provides you with detailed reports of known application compatibility issues. The Application Analyzer tool can collect information from the following operating systems:

• Windows 98
• Windows 98 Second Edition
• Windows Me
• Windows NT 4
• Windows 2000 Professional
• Windows 2000 Server
• Windows XP Professional
• Windows Server 2003

The Internet Explorer Compatibility Evaluator (IECE) is designed to help you evaluate changes in behavior of Web Applications and Web sites caused by the new Security Features in Windows XP with Service Pack 2. It also gives specific details to identify the location of the problem. Internet Explorer Compatibility Evaluator can be run on Windows XP SP2

The Compatibility Administrator tool is a useful tool for resolving application compatibility issues during a deployment of Windows XP or Windows Server 2003. This tool can be run on Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) or later, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

The Application Compatibility Toolkit 4.0 can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Web site.

S P O N S O R

Same Windows Update will not stop coming - Windows XP
Disk Defragmenter for Users - Windows Server System
Opinions on Office Software - Other Software
Dump Data collection tool and instructions - Most Common Problems
Spyware Stoppers PC World tests - General Security

I get messages from people having problems with Windows Explorer crashes on a regular basis. In a lot of cases, these errors are caused by 3rd party shell extensions that are not functioning properly.

Read Full Article

Do you enjoy reading this Newsletter? Why not tell your friend(s) about it?

Recommend this Newsletter!

This is a desktop theme for Windows XP Home and Professional Editions. It includes a desktop wallpaper and a screensaver depicting images from around the island of Ireland. The images have been kindly supplied by Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Download [5.46 MB]

Join Jawad Khaki, Corporate Vice President of the Networking and Devices Technologies division, for a frank conversation about networking in Longhorn. Exchange points of view, ask tough questions, share experiences and get answers.

March 22, 2005
11:30-12:30 P.M. PT
19:30-20:30 GMT

Join the chat room on the day of the chat.

OK, this is always a frequent request, since we've finally gotten rid of that buggy Windows 9x code... the question comes to mind: how long has our system been running?

Read Full Article

Although Windows 98, when running on an identical setup as Windows 95, outperforms the latter, there are still a few "tweaks" to improve the performance of Windows 98.

Read Full Article

Tell a friend about
this Newsletter!

Need Help with Windows? Ask your questions here!

FREE Software!

HelpWithWindows
WindowsBBS
InfiniSource
Rose City Software

This Newsletter is also available on-line. You can view previous issues in the on-line archive.

Copyright(c) 1998-2005, HelpWithWindows.com. All rights reserved.

HelpWithWindows is a division of InfiniSource, Inc.