XP

Regular readers of this blog must have already got there hands on Microsoft Windows XP SP3 RC1 using this SP3 Download hack, if not Microsoft has now officially released the Windows XP SP3 RC1 for public downloading.

This near-final release candidate version of XP service pack 3 is sized 336 MB's and can be downloaded directly from Microsoft's website here, Please note that Microsoft does not recommend installing this software on primary or mission critical systems as this is a near-final version but not final.

Microsoft is doing it again, users are reporting stealth updates at Microsoft Windows XP and Vista forums, files are getting updated without consent and even while Windows Update is turned off.

The new update has the version number 7.0.6000.381,A user Dean-Dean at the Microsoft forum states:

"Windows Update Software 7.0.6000.381 is an update to Windows Update itself. It is an update for both Windows XP and Windows Vista. Unless the update is installed, Windows Update won't work, at least in terms of searching for further updates. Normal use of Windows Update, in other words, is blocked until this update is installed."

Dean-Dean names several files that are changed on XP and Vista as below:

In XP, the following files are updated:

1. cdm.dll
2. wuapi.dll
3. wuauclt.exe
4. wuaucpl.cpl
5. wuaueng.dll
6. wucltui.dll
7. wups.dll
8. wups2.dll
9. wuweb.dll