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Microsoft extend the ability of Windows XP

Although cooking it's Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft has also managed to further expand the availability of Windows XP. With 32-bit version of Vista was the precursor to Service Pack 3 and SP2 64-bit version, Windows XP will now live up to June 2009. The latest postponement means that the XP operating system originally released in late 2001 will survive the recent launch of Vista until SP2 and Windows 7 will be in the final stages of development.

Microsoft has decided to extend XP's availability to the end of May 2009, according to CRN in a move that aims to support the system builder. At that time, the builders can still get Windows XP licenses for new machines, and will continue to do so until January 31, 2009. But the software giant has relaxed System Builder License availability end date for Windows XP. The fact is that system builders will be able to obtain a license of Windows XP even after January 31, 2009 officially end date.

In this regard, Microsoft informed that, while January 31, 2009 remains the deadline for placing the new XP OEM licenses, deliveries will be spread out to the end of May. Microsoft's tactics, the system builders have elbow room with their financial resources, no longer having to get as many XP licenses that they can afford January 31, 2009 and frequency hopping technology that supplies will run in accordance with demand.

Windows XP is no longer available through OEM and retail channels since June 30, 2008, although the original date was January 31, 2008. But even with Vista SP1 available and Vista SP2 on the immediate horizon, Microsoft's latest delay for Windows XP is a clear indication of the Windows client is still favored by consumers. This is of course still an extension of XP's availability remains in force, and which will last even after Windows 7 hits the shelves. "As of April 2008, Microsoft extend the availability of Windows XP Home Edition OEM install on the Ultra-cheap computers. The new OEM end date is the later of either June 30, 2010, or one year after the general availability of the next version of Windows," reads a fragment from the Microsoft Windows Life-Cycle Policy.

No Comment | Posted in » SP3, windows 7, Windows Vista SP2, Windows XP  

The Ugly Side of Vista SP1 vs. XP SP3

By: Marius Oiaga, Technology News Editor

In Windows Vista and Windows XP simultaneously available on the market, Redmond company is essentially a catalyst for a comparison between two windows clients. But the fact is that the question of criteria, comparing performance, market shares and potential security vulnerabilities measuring competitions after Vista became available managed to hurt Microsoft's Windows business, where it has more. In the end, the consequences of a permanent Vista RTM against XP SP2, who grew up in a smackdown in Vista SP1 and XP SP3 which affects Windows client's total revenue and operating income.

April 24, Microsoft released its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, and say as gloomy picture when it comes to the separation of clients Windows, including Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP3. "Customer revenue declined by three months ended March 31, 2008, primarily reflects revenue of about 1,2 billion dollars recognized during the third quarter of fiscal year earlier in January 2007 release of Windows Vista for consumers", Microsoft said.

In the quarter ending March 31, 2008, Windows client revenue was only $ 4025 billion, having fallen by at least 24% compared with the same quarter last year. Back at the end of March 2007, Windows client accounts for no less than $ 5274 billion in revenue, which translates as opposed to 1.2 billion U.S. Operating income declined 26% from $ 4204 billion in Q3 2007 to $ 3097 billion in Q3 2008.

"Client revenue increased in the nine months ended March 31, 2008, primarily reflects the licensing of Windows Vista. In the three months ended March 31, 2008, OEM revenue fell 1.1 billion dollars, or 25%, in the first This reflects revenue recognized during the third quarter of fiscal year 2007 related to the technology guarantee program, partially offset by 5% more, OEM licenses in units ", Microsoft added.

Microsoft continues to see much of the proceeds from the Windows client operating system copies of the ship preloaded with OEM computers. Even machines with original equipment manufacturers saw overall growth of only 8% to 10% worldwide, Windows OEM revenue increased by 1.3 billion U.S., or 14%. Nevertheless, Vista sales, even with the advent of Service Pack 1, do not match Vista RTM. And the fact that, as of April 21, Windows XP SP3 RTM is added to this equation, does not deliver good signals for future market performances Vista SP1 client.

"Revenues from commercial and retail licensing of Windows operating systems declined $ 146 million, or 18% for the three months ended March 31, 2008, primarily reflects revenue recognized during the third quarter of the previous year related to the January 2007 consumer launch of Windows Vista . Revenues from commercial and retail licensing of Windows operating systems more than $ 71 million or 4% for the nine months ended March 31, 2008, primarily due to sales of businesses and agreements on anti-piracy efforts in new markets, "Microsoft added.

No Comment | Posted in » SP1, SP3, Windows client, Windows vista, Windows XP  

About IE8 Beta 1 and Windows XP SP3

Microsoft: IE8 Beta 1 will run on XP SP3 soon
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 is the first taste of the next iteration of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Prononcé the public following the presentation of the MIX08 Dean Hachamovitch, general manager of Internet Explorer, IE8 Beta 1 is available for download for a variety of flavors of Windows. According to the official download site for Microsoft IE8 Beta 1, Browser is designed to deal with the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista RTM, SP1 Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 with SP2. As you can see, there is an exception to this list: Windows XP SP3.

There is no IE8 Beta 1 for download XP SP3. By the third and final service pack for Windows XP Release Candidate 2 of this moment, it is clear that Microsoft XP SP3 is ignored, while the service pack is not yet complete. According to the company from Redmond, XP SP3 is scheduled to be released, based on the production, by mid-2008, the day on which the term, there is a version of Internet Explorer, 8, probably even the beta 1 to integrate the operational phase.

No Comment | Posted in » Beta 1, IE8, Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Windows XP, SP3, Windows XP  

Download Windows XP SP3 RC2 Build 3311 FULL

Everybody is waiting for new XP service pack; wondering if by installing XP service pack 3, will has the compatibility with vista. What will change?

Now, Microsoft combined regular updates, fixes and other improvements in a single package of Service Pack. Microsoft develops updates, fixes and other improvements to the problems raised by customers and partners. Hopefully it will make customer happy, make it easier for customers to updates and enhancements that Microsoft regularly combines in a single package, the package and makes for all Windows clients.

Please note that these packages are not as a service pack, Microsoft has made the introduction of the overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3 2008 Course at increasing the pool tests last week, and cook with Microsoft in the first public demonstration of the construction of the first update of its recent Windows clients, the official information for XP SP3 is the only crumb festival on service package to the company from Redmond. The Release Candidate for XP SP3 in pre-last step has already been shipped MSDN and TechNet subscribers.

Author information and download location:

Developer: Microsoft Corporation
License: Freeware
Size / OS: 315 MB, Windows XP
Last Updated: February 25th, 2008, 08:04 GMT
Download Windows XP SP3 RC2 Build 3311 FULL
Just in case that link didn’t you can download from here

No Comment | Posted in » OS Fixes, OS Update, service pack, Signatures, SP3, Update Pack, Updates, XP Pro, XP Recovery, XP Service Pack  

Microsoft Details Windows XP SP3 Secret Changes

And says it's not about security
By: Marius Oiaga, Technology News Editor | softpedia.com

If you think that all the changes that Microsoft is introducing with Windows XP Service Pack 3 are included into the official overview of the refresh, then you are sadly mistaking. The fact of the matter is that there is simply more than meets the eye, with the third and final service pack for XP, and changes run deep under the hood of the operating system.

And while the Redmond company has illustrated the evolution to SP3 by referencing the addition of such functionality, as the MMC 3.0 framework, MSXML6, Windows Installer 3.1 v2, Background Intelligent Transfer Service 2.5, IPsec Simple Policy Update for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP, Digital Identity Management Service, Peer Name Resolution Protocol, Wi-Fi Protected Access 2, "Black Hole" Router Detection, Network Access Protection and Kernel Mode Cryptographic Module, it has also managed to leave out additional details concerning other areas of the platform.

"Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released Windows XP updates, including security updates and hotfixes. It also includes select out-of-band releases,
and a small number of new enhancements, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system.(...) Microsoft is not adding significant functionality from newer versions of Windows, such as Windows Vista, to Windows XP through XP SP3. [However] SP3 does include Network Access Protection (NAP) to help organizations that use Windows XP to take advantage of new features in the Windows Server 2008 operating system", Microsoft revealed in the service pack's overview.

But, XP SP3 also brings to the table modifications impacting the DCE/RPC - Distributed Computing Environment/Remote Procedure Call. A detailed comparison of the modifications between DCERPC services on XP SP2 and XP SP3 (release candidate) has been published on Full Disclosure. And while the document is mostly unintelligible outside of professionals, Microsoft managed to detail the XP SP3 range check, denying that it was hiding an overflow condition.

"We have received a few inquiries about the full disclosure posting [over Windows XP SP3 - DCERPC Changes], where a range check was added in Windows XP SP3 for the Terminal Server RPC function RpcWinStationEnumerateProcesses. The speculation stated that this change was to hide an overflow condition, potentially leading to an exploitable vulnerability in previous Windows versions. In reality, this update to the Terminal Service RPC interface definition was made to better adhere to our own RPC best practices", explained a member of the Security Vulnerability Research & Defense team, subsequently citing the resource for IDL techniques interface and method design.

No Comment | Posted in » service pack, SP3, Window XP