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INTRODUCTION — news about your newsletter Get a bonus e-book At least once each calendar quarter, we license some special content and allow our paid subscribers to download it at no additional charge. 
This issue, the bonus download is a special, 70-page excerpt from
Hacking Windows XP (photo, left) — a new Extreme Tech book from
Wiley Publishing.Two complete chapters are included in the bonus e-book. They're entitled "Customizing the Look of Your Startup," from the book's Customizing Your System section, and "Analyzing Your System," from the section on Increasing Your System's Performance. We selected this e-book as this issue's bonus for our contributing readers because the new work is packed with Windows XP tricks that we know you'll enjoy. The author, Steve Sinchak, is the founder of TweakXP.com, an online playground for people who want to get the most out of Windows. The full book describes more than 200 hacks, many of which you'll also find in our bonus e-book download. You may upgrade to receive the paid version of the newsletter, and download the bonus e-book, by making a contribution of any amount you choose. We don't have a set subscription fee. We simply ask you to make a financial contribution that you feel is appropriate to support our research into the Windows operating system. Your help makes it possible for us to bring you the latest tricks on how to use Windows and protect yourself from its various problems. You may use the following link to upgrade to the paid version of the newsletter and download the bonus: Upgrade now If you'd like the actual printed book, it carries a list price of $24.99 (U.S.) but is widely discounted at online bookstores. More info: United States / Canada / Elsewhere We'll be bringing our readers more bonuses like this one in the coming months, as well as the very best newsletter content we're able to put together. Thanks for your support. No rest for the Windows-wary The editors of the Windows Secrets Newsletter have decided not to take a publication break in August. We normally skip an issue in August and in December. But we feel that the challenges surrounding Windows XP Service Pack 2 are so large that it's more important that we publish two complete issues for you this month. (Don't you be expecting an issue during Christmas week, however.) Our next regular issue will be Sept. 9 Our next issue will reach you on Sept. 9, which is three weeks after today's issue. That's because the Windows Secrets Newsletter is published twice a month on alternating Thursdays — one week before and one week after Microsoft's usual release of Windows security patches on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. You'll receive a short, plain-text message on Sept. 2 that will contain details about your subscription to the newsletter. But you won't see the next full newsletter until Sept. 9, three weeks from this issue. See you then. —Brian Livingston, Editor ^ |
WINDOWS SECRETS NEWSLETTER (formerly Woody's Windows Watch and Brian's Buzz on Windows)  WOODY'S WINDOWS WATCH merged with the Windows Secrets Newsletter on July 22, 2004  ISSUE 36 — 2004.08.19 • Get a bonus e-book • No rest for the wary • Next regular issue: Sept. 9 • Top Story: XP SP 2 released in phases • OneNote 2003 drops to $99.95 • Recommended Reading • USB cable prints to parallel printers and allows file-sharing • New service packs for Office 2003, OneNote 2003, Vision 2003 • Gotchas with the new Office service packs • Index of Reviews • Double-DVD burners tested and rated • Low-cost 17" LCD monitors are reviewed • 21" LCD televisions are ranked • The Hall of Technical Documentation Weirdness • Useful Links NEWSLETTER CONTROL PANEL • Windows Secrets home page • How to subscribe • Change your delivery address • Change your preferences • Access past free issues • Access past paid issues • Submit a Windows tip • Get subscription help • How to unsubscribe CIRCULATION: over 145,000 |
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TOP STORY — info you need to make Windows work XP Service Pack 2 released in phases Microsoft finally released the long-awaited Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) to manufacturing, initiating a set of release-related activities that will likely continue well into October. SP 2 beta testers and MSDN Universal and Professional subscribers were the first to get access to the download on Aug. 6. Since that date, Microsoft has been staging the release of SP2 to the rest of the world. Here's the schedule — and what you can do to get SP2 yourself as quickly as possible. Aug. 6: RTM (release to manufacturing) Microsoft finalized Windows XP Service Pack 2 on this date. The company issued at least three versions of the service pack:
The full network installer, described above, was posted publicly on the Web on August 9. Microsoft prefers that individuals use the express installer or install SP2 through Automatic Updates or Windows Update (see below), when the update becomes available via those routes. But we feel broadband-equipped power users should download this version and install SP2 immediately. You can find out more information about this version of SP2 at the Microsoft Download Center. Aug. 16: Software Update Services (SUS) release On Monday, Microsoft made a version of Windows XP available to small business users who utilize the company's Software Update Services. SUS is a Windows Server add-on that makes it easier to deploy patches and other updates to a group of managed computers. If you're running SUS, you should now have the option to deploy SP2 to your client machines. Aug. 18: XP Home users get SP2 via Automatic Updates Yesterday, Microsoft started enabling users running Windows XP Home Edition to "drizzle download" Service Pack 2 via Automatic Updates. XP SP2 will download over time to XP Home users who've enabled Automatic Updates. (To do this, right-click the My Computer icon, choose Properties, then navigate to the Automatic Updates tab.) The Automatic Updates version of SP2 is based on the code for the express installer, described above. Only the bits you need will be downloaded, so the download size will vary from machine to machine. If you'd like to get SP2 this way, just ensure that Automatic Updates is enabled. Aug. 25: All XP users get SP2 via Automatic Updates Next Wednesday, Microsoft will widen the release of SP2 to all XP users who've enabled Automatic Updates. (This adds the Automatic Update capability to users of XP Professional, Media Center, and Tablet PC Edition.) The process for enabling Automatic Updates on these systems is the same as it is for XP Home, described above. Late September: New wine in old bottles At great expense, Microsoft will replace all retailed boxed copies of Windows XP with new boxed copies of XP upgraded to Service Pack 2. These new versions will be differentiated by a graphic touting the included "advanced security technologies." October: All OEMs switched over By October, all new PCs from major PC makers should be switched over to Windows XP SP2. Some PC makers will switch to SP2 much more quickly, however. Worried about SP2 incompatibilities? Many of you are likely to be concerned about potential problems caused by the installation of Windows XP SP2, and with good reason. Though the upgrade will make your PC more secure, it definitely causes issues in some cases. We'll be tracking the problems as they arise. But so far, the issues are relatively minor, with more serious problems confined to a few specific programs. First, Microsoft has published a list of third-party applications called Programs that behave differently in Windows XP Service Pack 2. Of the three dozen or so apps on this list, most of them exhibit symptoms that are irritating but not fatal. In other cases, such as Adobe LiveMotion 1.0, Softwin BitDefender 7.2, and ScanSoft PaperPort Deluxe 8.0, the programs no longer install and/or run. You should definitely examine the list in this document to check for programs you may be using. The document links to three other Knowledge Base articles with related information about known incompatibilities. The most interesting of these is KB article 842242. This document currently lists about 50 programs that require exceptions to be made in the Windows Firewall. Some major Microsoft apps are in here, such as VisualStudio.Net, SQL Server, and SMS 2003 Server. Other well-known programs on the list are Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.0, AutoCAD 2000 (and higher), and Veritas BackupExec. This is yet more required reading for harried Windows admins. These and other programs will need upgrades or other tweaks to operate successfully with XP SP2. If you're using XP, you should collect the names of the vendors whose programs you depend on, and start checking their Web sites for SP2-specific downloads, many of which are already available online. Second, while problems actually installing and running SP2 seem to be rare, it's wise to approach this update as if it were a full-blown Windows upgrade. That means you should backup your important data before installing SP2. You should also use the upgrade for a few days before installing any other applications on top of it. Third, remember that SP2 isn't a panacea. It's not going to suddenly fix all of your problems or cure all of your security concerns. As we've noted previously, one obvious deficiency in SP2 is that it includes only a one-way firewall, not two-way. This means XP's renamed Windows Firewall has no ability to prevent applications on your system from communicating with online servers and services. This can be a problem if you inadvertently catch a nasty worm or Trojan horse. Get 12 months of antivirus protection for free If you're not running any antivirus software when you upgrade to Windows XP SP2, the new Security Center will prompt you to install some. It provide a Web link where you can download time-limited versions of various antivirus solutions. Most of these solutions expire in 30 to 90 days, including McAfee VirusScan and Symantec Norton AntiVirus. The F-Secure product, however, lasts for six months, and Computer Associates' eTrust EZ Antivirus lasts a full year. That's a great deal no matter how you slice it (the retail value is $49.95). Best of all, anyone can take advantage of these free antivirus trial periods, simply by visiting the download page — regardless or whether or not they've installed SP2. We've been testing the download procedure and it appears to be solid. At the very least, the download page is a good way to test various AV solutions for free and then pick the one you want after the subscriptions run out. More info Want to wait? If you're interested in putting off the SP2 install, Microsoft is providing a mechanism that will disable the delivery of SP2 via Automatic Updates for 120 days (starting from August 16). You can find out more information about this mechanism in a TechNet article and download it via a download page. Our advice: Install XP SP2 ASAP While it's still early in the Windows XP SP2 rollout, we stand by our earlier contention that all XP users should download and install SP2 as soon as possible. We haven't heard about any major, widespread problems caused by SP2 yet, though that could change at any time. For now, however, the goal should be to get your system as secure as possible, as quickly as possible. And installing SP2 is an excellent first step. To send us more information about SP2, or to send us a tip on any other subject, visit WindowsSecrets.com/contact. You'll receive a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of your choice if you send us a comment that we print. ^ UPDATES ON WINDOWS STORIES — the times, they are a-changin' OneNote 2003 drops to $99.95, doesn't require Office 2003 In our story on the improvements that Service Pack 1 bring to Microsoft's OneNote note-taking program, we said in our Aug. 5 newsletter that Microsoft had cut the list price of the full product in half to $99.95 (U.S.). That frustrated several readers, because no online stores were yet reflecting that price. Even Microsoft's own order page tried to charge shoppers the old price of $199.95, despite the fact that the OneNote 2003 product page clearly stated "$99.95." This glitch has now been fixed, at least at Microsoft's site. Visit the OneNote 2003 "how to buy" page, then click the link that says "Order." The order page now charges you only $99.95. Online e-tailers seem to have adjusted to the even lower, $49.95 academic price for students and faculty. Check prices: U.S. / U.K. But the pricing of the standard version of OneNote 2003 has stubbornly remained based on the old $199.95 list price at all the retailers we've checked. That means Microsoft is selling OneNote 2003 for half the price of some "discounters"! Actually, a Microsoft source tells us that retailers with OneNote in stock will be getting a $100 rebate for each copy they still have. So e-tailers who are still charging $199.95 may be milking the situation until consumers get the word. On another subject, we said in error that OneNote 2003 requires Office 2003, based on a statement that appeared for a time on Microsoft's product page. This is incorrect. OneNote 2003 is a standalone application, and does not require Office 2003. However, it does require Microsoft's Internet Explorer 6.0. In addition, to use the inking features of OneNote 2003, you'll need a Tablet PC. We're sending gift certificates to readers Ed Carman and Hugh Merrill for their help in researching these issues. RECOMMENDED READING — our book reviews of tech topics 
The Best Damn Windows Server 2003 Book, PeriodYou should get this just for the title. But the book has a lot to recommend it other than its humorous creativity. It's designed for the IT admin who's going to be setting up a new Windows 2003 server. There's not a lot here about migrating Server 2000 to Server 2003, but with 1,000 or so pages you'll find out plenty of other things about the new operating system without having to learn everything the hard way. More info: United States / Canada / Elsewhere 
The Tao of Network Security Monitoring: Beyond Intrusion DetectionRichard Bejtlich takes you in his new book far past the mere detection of intrusions. His principle of Network Security Monitoring (NSM) assumes that you can't necessary stay ahead of attackers but that you can successfully defend your systems even if the attackers are technically sharper than you are. This approach isn't easy, but if you take the steps Bejtlich describes, you'll have a defensible network. More info: United States / Canada / Elsewhere 
Windows Forensics and Incident RecoveryUnlike many network security books for Unix operating systems, Harlan Carvey's new work starts from the premise that Windows administrators don't have all the open-source defensive and diagnostic tools that have been developed over the years for non-MS servers. Even so, there's plenty you can do to monitor and recover from exploits against your system. Carvey, a Perl programmer who specializes in Windows implementations, lays it out for you. More info: United States / Canada / Elsewhere ^ WINDOWS GIZMOS — our product reviews of new stuff 
USB cable prints to parallel printers and allows file-sharingNeed to print to a printer with a parallel interface? Need to transfer files between a laptop that has only USB ports and an older PC that has only a parallel port? Keyspan announced on Aug. 17 its new USB Parallel Transfer Cable, which solves both of these problems. The device, which lists for only $29 USD, includes software that enables file-sharing between one computer with a USB port and another with a parallel port. With this cable in your laptop's USB port, you can also connect to a second printer using your parallel port, if you have one, or using a second USB port and cable. Pretty convenient. Prices: U.S. / U.K. ^ FORWARDING INSTRUCTIONS — news gains value when it's shared Please share this information with your friends You're encouraged to refer your friends and colleagues to this free newsletter. Because most e-mail programs don't correctly display a formatted message that's been forwarded, simply call people's attention to the permanent Web address of this issue: WindowsSecrets.com/040819. HERE'S A TIP — you'll get a better newsletter if you choose the paid version You're reading the free version of the Windows Secrets Newsletter Subscribers to the paid version receive additional information in each issue. Some of the extras this week are:
Make a contribution to support our research into Windows and you'll immediately be able to read and search through scores of valuable articles. Get this month's bonus e-book download Paid subscribers are entitled to download valuable content that we license for them at least once every calendar quarter. This issue, the bonus is a 70-page e-book excerpt from Extreme Tech's "Hacking Windows XP." See the description above for more details. To upgrade, simply make a contribution of any amount that you choose If you do this by Sept. 8, 2004, you'll instantly be sent the full, paid version of today's newsletter. To upgrade to the paid version of Windows Secrets, please visit WindowsSecrets.com/upgrade. Thanks in advance. ^ WACKY WEB WEEK — playing for you the Internet's greatest bits 
The Hall of Technical Documentation WeirdnessWe know you'll enjoy this hilarious collection of signs and directions that don't communicate what the designer thought they would. The symbol on the left, for example, obviously meant something to someone, but the proprietor of the Hall of Technical Documentation Weirdness suggests it says, "When boxing up your kid, ensure the lid is on securely." These and many other examples are being immortalized by a writer who goes by the name of (and may actually be named) Darren Barefoot. There are dozens of such cases, and the collection is growing day by day. Perhaps you have some of your own work you'd like to submit. More info ^ USEFUL LINKS — more stuff that's good to know Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 2 You can create a bootable CD that includes the original "gold" version of XP plus SP2 and other product updates, hotfixes, etc. This will help you install XP SP2 directly the next time you install Windows — "slipstreaming" — instead of installing from an old CD and then going through the tedious upgrade process. (By Paul Thurrott, SuperSite for Windows) More info Can you bid on ads without bid management? The Web e-conomy is heating up. There now are plenty of people, just as there were during the Internet bubble of the '90s, who'd like to help you spend your company's money buying online advertising to make your business grow. But do you need them more than they need you? (By Brian Livingston, Datamation) More info Fraud stalks Google and Overture advertising 'Click fraud' is a dirty little secret that threatens to undermine the financial success of the paid text ads that appear in many search engines. But if the problem keeps growing, pay-per-click advertising will become ineffective or even disappear. (By Brian Livingston, Datamation) More info ^ ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION — we're here to serve you The Windows Secrets Newsletter (formerly Brian's Buzz on Windows and Woody's Windows Watch) is published twice a month, except for breaks in August and December. The newsletter is published on the Thursday one week before and one week after Microsoft releases its new security patches on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Publisher: The newsletter publisher is WindowsSecrets.com LLC, 300 Queen Anne Ave. N. #456, Seattle, WA 98109 USA. Vendors, please send no unsolicited packages to this address (readers' letters are fine). Editor: Brian Livingston is the co-author of Windows 2000 Secrets, Windows Me Secrets, and eight other books. Associate Editor: Paul Thurrott is the author of Windows XP Home Networking and Great Digital Media with Windows XP and the author or co-author of several other books. Research Director: Vickie Stevens. Program Consultant: Ben Livingston (no relation to Brian). Trademarks: "Windows" is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. The "Windows Secrets" series of books is published by Wiley Publishing Inc. "The Windows Secrets Newsletter," "WindowsSecrets.com," "WinFind," "Windows Gizmos," "Index of Reviews," and "Wacky Web Week" are trademarks and service marks of WindowsSecrets.com LLC. All other marks are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. How to subscribe: Anyone may subscribe to this newsletter by visiting WindowsSecrets.com/signup. How to change your delivery address: To change your delivery address, log in at WindowsSecrets.com/prefs/?a=cP. How to change your other preferences: To change from HTML format to a plain-text notification and to set other preferences, log in at WindowsSecrets.com/prefs. How to get subscription help by e-mail (fastest method): Visit WindowsSecrets.com/contact. Subscription help by facsimile: 206-282-6312 (fax). Emergency subscription help by phone: 206-282-2536 (24 hours). How to unsubscribe: To unsubscribe from the Windows Secrets Newsletter, • Use this Unsubscribe link; or • Visit WindowsSecrets.com/unsubscribe. All subscribers are covered by our Ironclad Privacy Guarantee: (1) We will never sell, rent, or give away your address to any outside party, ever; (2) We will never send you any unrequested e-mail, besides newsletter updates; and (3) All unsubscribe requests are always honored immediately, period. Privacy policy Copyright © 2004 by WindowsSecrets.com LLC. All rights reserved. ^ |