In this issue:

• Windows XP Service Pack 3
• Microsoft Security Bulletin
• Recommended Software: DU Meter
• Recent Support BBS Postings
• Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT) version 3.0
• Administrivia

Windows XP Service Pack 3

by Arie Slob

Hello Windows users,

OK, Windows Vista has been released for manufacturing, so when are we going to see a Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP?

According to Microsoft, current planning is in the first half of 2008. This is completely ridiculous (to put it mildly!). SP2 was released in August 2004, that's already over 27 months ago.

Microsoft should just release a service pack as service packs used to be: an accumulation of previously released fixes. If you would buy a new copy of Windows XP today (which has SP2 included), and you'd visit Windows Update, you'll need close to 70 critical updates, well over 50 MB. On its Windows Service Pack Road Map Web page Microsoft notes that: "Microsoft continually works to improve its software. As part of this effort, we develop updates and fixes to recognized issues and release them for customers. On a regular basis, we combine many of these fixes into a single package and make the package available for installation. These packages are called Service Packs."

Well, they seem to have a weird notion of "regular". SP1 for Windows XP was released in September 2002, just over a year after the initial Windows XP release. SP2 was released in August 2004, nearly two years after SP1. And now we've been told that SP3 will probably not happen before some three and-a-half years have passed after the SP2 release.

Last April, at the National Data Security Day in Sweden, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said Microsoft was considering releasing Windows XP SP3 before Longhorn (now Windows Vista) shipped. Windows Vista was at that time expected to ship in the second or third quarter of 2006. Microsoft has not commented on the reason why SP3 is being delayed, leading to speculations that it wants to help stimulate upgrade demand for Windows Vista.

Microsoft Security

Microsoft Windows Security Bulletin Summary for November, 2006

The security update for November 2006 includes five fixes for Microsoft Windows and one for Internet Explorer.

Severity Rating: Critical

• Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (922760)
• Vulnerability in Microsoft Agent Could Allow Remote Code Execution (920213)
• Vulnerabilities in Macromedia Flash Player from Adobe Could Allow Remote Code Execution (923789)
• Vulnerability in Workstation Service Could Allow Remote Code Execution (924270)
• Vulnerability in Microsoft XML Core Services Could Allow Remote Code Execution (928088)

Severity Rating: Important

• Vulnerability in Server Service Could Allow Denial of Service and Remote Code Execution (923414)

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Recent Support BBS Postings

• XP Power Settings No Longer Work - Windows XP
• IE7 doesn't save a changed shortcut icon? - Internet Explorer
• Which OS For Core 2 Duo - Hardware
• firewall issues - hardware router and need for software firewall - General Security
• Windows XP ZIP function - Windows XP

Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT) version 3.0

Microsoft Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT) version 3.0 migrates user files and settings during deployments of Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista. You can use USMT to perform unattended migrations and to migrate files and settings for computers with multiple users. Also, with USMT you have the ability to encrypt and compress the store. USMT 3.0 is intended for administrators who are performing automated deployments.

This tool includes two command-line tools named ScanState and LoadState. ScanState creates an intermediate store that contains the user files and settings from the source computer. LoadState restores these files and settings to the destination computer.

USMT 3.0 also has three default migration rule (.xml) files named MigApp.xml, MigUser.xml, and MigSys.xml. You can alter the default .xml files and you can also create customized .xml files. Depending on what you want to migrate, you can specify all or none of the default .xml files on the command line.

The entire migration process is controlled by the .xml rules, which you can modify, and logic that is built in to the tool. When using USMT for automated migration, in almost all cases, you should modify the migration .xml files for your unique situation.

Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows Vista; Windows XP
- Source system: Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista.
- Destination system: Windows XP or Windows Vista.

• TechNet Article: User State Migration Tool 3.0
• Vista x64 Download [4.9 MB]
• XP x64 Download [5.6 MB]
• 2000 & XP x86 Download [4.15 MB]
• Vista x86 Download [3.6 MB]

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