Comments on: MS-DEFCON 3: Apply all outstanding patches except the 960715 killbit patch

By: Apply most patches - but avoid two @ AskWoody.com

Apply most patches - but avoid two @ AskWoody.com — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:21:03 +0000

[...] KB 960715 killbit patch, which seems to zap some programs, and The Autorun patch, KB article 953252 for Vista [...]

By: Tim Sharp

Tim Sharp — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:35:25 +0000

Hi Woody-

I bought your all-in-one Windows Vista for Dummies book a couple months ago and boy did it come in handy today!

Even though I followed your advice and changed my Windows automatic updating to allow me to make the final choices on which files I want to download, the KB960715 still slipped by me.

So, I broke out your book and looked up how to uninstall Windows updated files, followed your procedures without a problem and got rid of said killbit file. I do believe that file was messing with my PC, as I have noticed it running better since I did the uninstall.

Thanks, Woody I was really sweating it because I am a total computer amateur, but I put my trust in you and your book and you didn’t let me down. Thanks also for this site, because without it I would have no way of knowing about some of the PC dangers out there.

You da man!

By: Liz

Liz — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:10:25 +0000

Thank you very much Woody, will do.
Liz

By: woody

woody — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:23:58 +0000

Liz -

Weird. KB 948881 is the old MS08-023 Security Bulletin, with ActiveX killbit updates. No idea why you’re seeing it again. I would hold off until somebody figures it out.

There’s at least one person complaining about KB 960544, http://www.techsupportforum.com/microsoft-support/windows-vista-support/346239-solved-issue-vista-since-auto-update.html . I would hold off on that, too.

By: Liz

Liz — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:18:38 +0000

Hello,
On the 10th of February I received another 2 updates in addition to KB960715:
A security update for ActiveX Killbits for Windows Vista KB948881 (dated 04/08/2008 and a Cumulative update for Media Centre for Windows Vista KB960544 (recommended).
In addition to holding off on KB960715, should I hold off on these as well?

Enjoyed your book Windows Vista for Dummies very much and am very pleased with the lounge as well.
Thank you.

By: Bob Primak

Bob Primak — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:56:07 +0000

I wish you had mentioned that .NET Framework 3.5 is being offered as a “critical” update this month. I wasn’t paying much attention when I got my updates, and this monster came down — slowly– taking almost an hour to download and install. Not time well spent. But thanks for the heads-up about the Killbits Patch. I skipped that one.

By: Esther

Esther — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:12:46 +0000

If you are using Firefox, go to Tools/Options/Colors and uncheck the ‘Allow pages to choose their own colors…’ box. They won’t be as interesting, but the text will be black.

By: BillB

BillB — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:41:17 +0000

This is a comment about your new format. I don’t know where else to post it.

I like your latest format. Congratulations and thank you.

I have one problem with it. My eyesight is not the greatest. The gray text of the body of your posts is more difficult for me to read than standard black text. The black offers more contrast for my weak eyes.

Web accessibility for the disabled/handicapped/special-needs person has often been an issue at websites. Perhaps you could rethink your web design and return to black message body text. I am not going to stop frequenting your site, but I would appreciate the consideration.