Tag: Tech

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The Trouble with Windows Patches

CNET News reported that “Windows cursor patch” is causing troubles on some computers. Apparently the update is not compatible with Realtek device drivers. The Windows cursor patch causes Realtek ethernet and audio drivers stop working.

I experienced the same thing on Tueasday (04.03.2007) after applying the Windows cursor patch on numerous computers. The audio devices stopped working and Windows reported a “generic svchost error” consistently. On some computers, the problem can be mitigated by reinstalling the drivers. On some other computers, the problem was a lot more severe.

A few weeks ago my coleague and I encountered a similar “generic svchost error” on numerous computers. The problem seemed to happen after Microsoft rolled out the new “Windows Genuine Advantage” update.

read more:

svchost.exe — application error the instruction at “0x745f2780” reference memory at “0x00000000”. the memory could not be ‘read’

http://swigartconsulting.blogs.com/tech_blender/2006/07/windows_update_.html

to be continued….

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Microsoft Patches Critical Windows Cursor Security Hole

Microsoft releases patch for the “animated cursor” security hole.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms07-apr.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS07-017.mspx

From Microsoft TechNet Security Bulletin:

Affected Software:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 – Download the update
  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 – Download the update
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2 – Download the update
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 – Download the update
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems, and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems – Download the update
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 – Download the update
  • Windows Vista – Download the update
  • Windows Vista x64 Edition – Download the update

Related News:
CNET – Cursor hole puts Windows PCs at risk
CNET – Microsoft plugs ‘critical’ Windows cursor hole

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Apple iPhone: “Talk to you soon”

Apple sends email updates to those who signed up for iPhone information today.

Talk To You Soon.

Thanks for signing up. You’ll be the first to hear the latest about iPhone— coming this June. That gives you just enough time to think of ways to break the news to your current phone.

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Boot Camp 1.2 beta and Windows Vista on MacBook Pro – Part 1

I installed Boot Camp 1.2 beta on my 15-inch MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.0GHz. I previously had an 8GB partition with Windows XP Professional installed on it. I started Windows Vista installation since Boot Camp 1.2 beta now supports it. It took about 20 minutes for Windows Vista Ultimate to install on my MacBook Pro; the installation went smoothly. After first log-in, I found out that I only had 6.5MB of free space on the Windows partition. At this point, there’s no way I could install the Macintosh Drivers provided by Boot Camp 1.2 beta.

Ah well, I had to repartition my hard drive. This time I will create a 12GB partition for Windows Vista. This will take a while since I don’t think Boot Camp can cleanly create a 12GB partition on my MacBook Pro hard drive.

I will post more on this.

My MacBook Pro specs:

  • 15-inch MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.0GHz
  • 2GB DDR 667MHz (PC5300)
  • 100GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
  • Radeon X1600 256MB VRAM

To be continued!

Boot Camp 1.2 beta
http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

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Airport Express and HP LaserJet 1020

I was helping friends (someones who wouldn’t compensate me at all) sharing an HP LaserJet 1020 using Airport Express. For some reason, the printer driver would not install at all. I tried it on their Windows XP computer and both of my Macs (PowerBook G4 and MacBook Pro). So far i have been unable to make the combination to work. I tested the Airport Express with LaserJet 3055, and the combination works.

As of know I’m not sure if it’s possible to share the HP LaserJet 1020 using Airport Express (through Bonjour).

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EMI Music and Apple Offers DRM-Free Digital Music Download

London, 2 April 2007

EMI Music today announces that it is making all of its music catalogue at a higher quality (higher bitrate) and free of Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions. EMI Music is giving an option to online music retailer to sell the DRM-free music in the format of their choice. EMI Music group is giving customers the option to purchase music with DRM at a lower price with lower bitrate or to purchase DRM-free music at higher bitrate.

Apple‘s iTunes Store is the first online music store to bring EMI’s offering to the consumer. The pricing and offers are good only for tracks by EMI Artists:

  • Individual track encoded in 128 kbps AAC with Apple FairPlay DRM costs $0.99/€0.99/£0.79
  • Individual track encoded in DRM-free 256 kbps AAC costs $0.99/€0.99/£0.79
  • iTunes customers can upgrade their previoulsly purchased 128 kbps AAC with DRM to DRM-free 256 kbps AAC for only $0.30/€0.30/£0.20 per track
  • Complete album purchased on iTunes is automatically sold as DRM-free 256 kbps AAC at no extra costs

EMI Music will still employ DRM on digital music subscriptions, due to the nature of the service itself.

In addition to the deal with Apple, EMI also states that such deal will be made available to other online music store. EMI has given online music stores the options to encode the songs in the format of their choice (AAC, MP3, WMA, or any other unprotected format).

On February 6th, 2007, Apple published Steve Jobs’ open letter on Music and Digital Rights Management (DRM). In the letter, Steve Jobs calls for the removal of DRM from online music store, noting that music has been sold without any digital restrictions for years in the forms of records, tapes, and CD. EMI Music then contacted Apple to offer DRM-free digital music download.

EMI Music Group Press Release:
http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2007/press18.htm

Related:
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/