I always forget about this when I'm reformatting my computer, so I thought it might be nice to post it somewhere that I (and you) can find it somewhat easily.

For the time being, XPize does not properly patch uxtheme.dll to allow custom visual styles in Windows XP SP3, though XPize v5 is coming out soon, and that might change.

Here's the link to the new uxtheme patcher called UXTender:

http://www.msfn.org/board/UXTender-12-t116237.html

You may have heard that your Xbox 360 can connect to your Media Center 2005 PC to experience a world of DVR-like goodness: pause live TV, listen to your music remotely, use cool programs, and much more. Windows Media Center coupled with your Xbox 360 presents a vista of potential that sparks the imagination.

Once you face the reality of Media Center though, it's a god-awful mess, and no one seems to be talking about it. The problems that I've had with Media Center really boggle my mind. So, I wanted to talk about it - to open an Internet discussion. If you're looking at putting your Xbox 360 in the mix with a Media Center PC, you should be aware of just how fickle the Media Center software is, especially when streaming TV or other video.

The Xbox 360 and Media Center: A Series of Disappointments.

--

I'm using the title and subject of this post almost verbatim from the link.

In addition, I'm going to add that so far I've had to....

...add a completely new registry key...

...add and remove the software any number of times...

...got way too close to uninstalling a service pack (death to installs)...

...and now I'm manually changing the size of RDP packets in a hope to make two *CORE* Microsoft products work together...

And now I need to restart...again...to hope the change takes hold.  And yes, I'm still halfway through the software install that can't finish when the XBOX crashes...which it has about 10 consecutive times now.

So I had to post this (and keep the links) without knowing if it will *finally* work.  This seems to be on the right track, as it's the kind of bad input that could cause a hard crash (networking hardware is usually very sensitive to crap data...for good reason), but we'll only know for sure after I kill it all again.

It also makes sense this is an issue caused by .Net 3.0.  After working with 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 and the core problems (changes) they created, I can certainly believe this is the problem here.

Wish me luck.

---

UPDATE: No luck so far.  Now I'm going to try rolling back some drivers.

For some reason, I can almost assume as this point the *real* fix for this *problem* is to upgrade to Vista.   Let's see if I can't get this shit fixed without *that* horrid step (which I'm not taking).

---

UPDATE2:  Look like it was the RDP problem, as detailed here.

This is the registry key you need to add.   Start -> Run -> "Regedit".  Then find this place, add the D-Word value and then modify it.

 So, that's ultimately what it took to get working.  I had recently added a new hard drive (300gb) to my main machine (XP MCE '05 SP3) and decided to use about 100gb of the new drive as DVR space.  Since my TV has 15" more diagonal screen space that my PC monitor, it would make sense to route the signal through that viewing device.

To install the Windows XP SP3 package, the computer must have the following amount of free disk space:

• One gigabyte (GB) of free space to make sure that the SP3 package files are extracted correctly
• Another 1 GB of free space on which to actually install the SP3 package
  Note This includes space to create an archive folder that can be later used to uninstall the SP3 package.

According to KB 947311

Hard disk space that is required if you install Windows XP SP3 from a shared folder on the network

Note The numbers that are listed in this table are estimates. These numbers are not intended to be exact. User’s systems may vary significantly. Therefore, these numbers only represent guidelines to let users know approximately how much free space is required.

Hard disk space that is required if you install Windows XP SP3 from the Windows XP SP3 CD

NOTES

• In these tables, the "Working space" entry describes the hard disk space that is required for files that are used only during the installation process. The working space requirement is temporary. It does not contribute to the total hard disk space requirement.
• In these tables, the "Files that remove Windows XP SP3" entry describes the hard disk space that is used for storing the files and the settings that are changed during the installation of the service pack. You can automatically back up the files during the installation of the service pack. These files are required if you want to remove the service pack later.
• You must also have 30 MB of free hard disk space on the first primary system partition. The first primary system partition is the disk volume that contains the hardware-specific files that are required to start Windows. For example, the primary system partition contains the Ntldr file, the Boot.ini file, and the Ntdetect.com file.
• We recommend that you have 1500 MB of free hard disk space if you install Windows XP SP3 through Microsoft Download Center or 1100 MB of free hard disk space if you install Windows XP SP3 from a shared folder on the network.

However, you can safely install Windows XP SP3 on a computer that has 700 MB of free hard disk space on the active partition. The remaining 800 MB of free hard disk space can be on some other partition on the computer. This remaining 800 MB of free hard disk space is used mainly to store the temporary folder that contains the extracted service pack files

• The actual download size of Windows XP SP3 as obtained from the Windows Update Web site is approximately 70 MB. The download size varies depending on the updates that are installed on the computer.
• The actual size of the %Windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Temporary_folder_name folder is approximately 600 MB.

If you want to install Windows XP SP3 on more than one computer on a local network, you can use the UNC mode of installation.

Note When you use the UNC mode of installation to install Windows XP SP3, you can save the hard disk space that is required for the extracted Windows XP SP3 files on the local computer.

To install Windows XP SP3 by using the UNC mode of installation, follow these steps:

1. Copy the contents of the Windows XP SP3 CD to a shared folder on the network.

2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then press ENTER.

3. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu.exe /x:shared folder name

Note In this command, shared folder name is a placeholder for the folder on the network to which you want to extract Windows XP SP3.

4. Under the shared folder on the network, locate and then double-click the Update folder.

Note The Update folder is located under the i386 folder.

5. Double-click the Update.exe file to install Windows XP SP3.

I experienced this problem too, so set about finding a workaround.  It is advisable to do this through Internet Explorer and your first step should be to open IE, click on Tools and select Windows Update.

There are a couple of solutions to this problem of failed downloads,  turn OFF your firewall and antivirus, which is never recommended, but for the short time it takes it will solve the problem, especially with SP3 for XP, then reboot when download is complete and you protection should automatically come back on.

The other alternative is that when the downloads have finished installing you get a list of failed updates, copy the KB number (keep the KB with it) then go to Microsoft Downloads and enter the KB number and then search for it and download each one individually into a new folder on your desktop and when you have them all, install them one at a time.

The biggest problem is the installation of patches that are 0kb in size and 0mins to download, so you really need to go to Windows Update and check each one, if it is 0Kb in size then there is nothing to download and install, although with Automatic Updates turned on it continues to inform you that new updates are ready to be installed.

Once you have installed SP3 and related patches you can then safely leave Automatic Updates on as the problem should have been solved.

You can find more information from Microsoft on steps to take before installing SP3 by clicking here.

Related Post:
Windows Updates and Zone Alarm Problems

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© Free PC Security 2008

Technorati Tags: Microsoft Update Problems, XP-SP3, Internet Explorer, Windows Update, Free PC Security, Security Patches,

Microsoft's decision to have both Windows XP and Windows Vista available concomitantly on the market was a move that inherently backfired against the company. Comparisons involving the two Windows operating system versions favored Vista very little, being, quite to the contrary, beneficial for XP instead. However, this scenario is valid for XP SP2 and Vista RTM. With the advent of SP1 for Vista and SP3 for XP the situation has evolved. First of all, the barrage of criticism targeted at the latest version of the Windows client has toned down. And with SP1 softening all the rough corners of Vista, its adoption is well above that of Windows XP SP3.

According to statistics made available by Devil Mountain Software, Vista SP1 adoption at the end of July 2008 hit a high of 86%. But even as early as April the uptake rate was 69%, at just one month after Microsoft permitted access to the gold bits of SP1, which was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008.

"There was tremendous pent-up demand for Vista SP1, either due to customer dissatisfaction with the product or because users were convinced of its benefits from all of the media hype surrounding its release. No similar demand existed for Windows XP Service Pack 3, most likely because, overall, the majority of users are quite happy with Windows XP + Service Pack 2 (we found just a handful of users still running Service Pack 1)," a Devil Mountain Software representative revealed.

As far as XP SP3 is concerned, estimates put the adoption rate of the service pack at just 34% in April. This number is unsurprising, as only in April 2008 did Microsoft finally manage to produce the final version of XP SP3. However, by the end of July, only 47% of all XP users had deployed the third and final service pack for Vista's precursor.

"What seems clear from these numbers is that Microsoft’s customers felt Windows Vista was in urgent need of a Service Pack 12-18 months after it was released, while those still using Windows XP were relatively happy with the platform and in no rush to patch it," the Devil Mountain Software researcher added.

Dear readers what do you think of it? Feel free to drop your valuable comments.

[Via: Softpedia News]

Unfortunately, Microsoft removed the Address toolbar with Windows XP Service Pack 3. According to posts in the TechNet forums and a Microsoft KnowledgeBase article, the company made the change “in response to an issue that was raised by a regulatory agency.”

Continue at source

--Glenn

The reason for backing up SP3 is just that it takes a long time to download and install.  If you have it on hand, it's much less time.  And the internet is becoming steadily more dangerous.

Sono già passati un paio di mesi, da quando Microsoft ha rilasciato l'attesissimo Service Pack 1 per Vista, seguito a ruota dal Service Pack 3 di XP, che sanciva la chiusura del suo ciclo da O.S ufficiale (ricordo che il supporto aggiornamenti durerà fino al 2014).

Ebbene, girovagando per il Web o dando un'occhiata ai Pc dei miei amici, sono venuto a scoprire che ben pochi hanno installato i Service Pack sul loro sistema! Male, male, male!

Molti sottovalutano l'importanza dei SP, considerandoli soltanto un pacchetto di aggiornamenti rilasciati già precendentemente su Windows Update; Per cui un utente che ha sempre aggiornato il pc con gli ultimi update, magari si sente sicuro e pensa di non necessitare del Service Pack. Niente di più sbagliato!

Il SP, è si anche questo, ma non solo! Esso contiente anche molti miglioramenti a livello di kernel (cuore del sistema), di velocità e affidabilità di sistema, a volte anche molto visibili!

Come esempio possiamo prendere Vista, che all'inizio era mooooolto lento nella copia dei files persino da cartella a cartella (pensate che per un mp3 di 7Mb, poteva metterci anche 10-15 secondi!); ebbene, dopo il Service Pack 1 la velocità generale è davvero migliorata, così come la stabilità (la compatibilità non ne sono sicuro poichè tutti i programmi che possiedo funzionano, altri non ne ho idea).

Paradossalmente, persino i programmi o i giochi scritti per Windows 95 a me funzionano a meraviglia, mentre ho sentito che alcuni giochi di 3-4 anni fa hanno problemi a funzionare....boh..mistero..

Anche in Windows XP le novità non sono poche, magari meno vistose, ma comunque sempre inerenti alla velocità e stabilità del sistema operativo.

Ora vi elencherò in gergo meno tecnico quali miglioramenti hanno introdotto questi 2 Service Pack:

WINDOWS VISTA SP1:

• Aggiornamenti minori già rilasciati tramite Windows Update
• Aggiornamento al Kernel (il "cuore") di Windows, rendendolo molto simile a Windows Server 2008, noto per la grande stabilità e sicurezza in rete.
• La tecnologia "PatchGuard" è stata modificata, permettendo agli antivirus di interagire con il sistema operativo in modo più efficiente
• Prestazioni molto migliorate nella copia ed esecuzione dei programmi
• Modificato il Windows Genuine Advantage: Le copie di Windows riconosciute come Pirata, non vengono disattivate, ma continuano a funzionare (seppur in modalità "copia da attivare" mantiene tutte le funzionalità originali)
• Migliorata la compatibilità con molti programmi e aggiunta di altri (circa 80.000 periferiche compatibili al momento del rilascio del SP1)
• Migliorata la stabilità generale del sistema

WINDOWS XP SP3:

• Migliore stabilità e affidabilità, rendendolo di fatto uno dei S.O. più stabili in commercio
• Il codice seriale per l'attivazione non viene più richiesto
• Le prestazioni aumentano di circa il 15%
• Viene installato Windows Installer 3.1, componente essenziale per le nuove installazioni del programmi, già presente in Vista
• Attivato il supporto per il WPA2, avanzato sistema di criptaggio dei dati di una connessione Wireless
• Aggiunto il supporto NAP, aumentando ulteriormente la sicurezza dei computer in rete
• Aggiunto un potente sistema crittografico dei dati presenti nel pc

Come potete notare, le novità non mancano da entrambi i sistemi.

Chi non ha un Pc abbastanza performante per utilizzare Vista, potrà comunque utilizzare XP, ora ancora più veloce e sicuro.

Quindi fate attenzione, poichè i SP sono davvero molto importanti per la sicurezza e la durata vitale di un sistema operativo.
LINK per scaricare il SERVICE PACK 3 per Windows XP (sito ufficiale Microsoft)

LINK per scaricare il SERVICE PACK 1 Per Windows Vista (Sito ufficiale Microsoft)

About

This is Windows XP Professional Corporate SP3 Final Which includes all Updates till July 2008.

It does not requires any cracks or tools to pass the validation. This is an untouched version of Windows XP Professional. Service Pack 3 includes all hotfixes/patches from 2001 to July 2008

Notes:

-No Password.

-Proceed to burn this .iso file to a blank CD using iso recorder (free download: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/ )

-This is Windows XP -Professional Corporate SP3 Final Which includes all Updates till July 2008.

-It does not requires any cracks or tools to pass the validation. This is an untouched version of -Windows XP Professional.

Download Link

Download XP_SP3.iso Click Here

Curieuse tentative avortée in extrémis : Microsoft a mis en téléchargement ces deux derniers jours le Service Pack 3 de Windows XP.

Cet OS n'était plus sensé évoluer, étant donné que sa distribution doit être stoppée le 30 juin. Mais devant la pression, notamment des constructeurs, Redmond a du consentir à plancher sur ce SP3. Il a été question d'une sortie officielle le 29 avril, mais au dernier moment ... désistement de MS qui prétexte un souci de compatibilité entre le SP3 et le système de gestion dynamique de vente au détail, pour retarder indéfiniment sa sortie.

Cependant, si vous ne travaillez pas dans ce secteur et que vous ne pouvez pas attendre, Softpedia et Lifehacker le proposent en téléchargement, en conseillant toutefois de prendre les précautions nécessaires lors de l'installation. Globalement, ce pack regroupe quelques fixes de bugs mineurs, associés à quelques nouvelles fonctionnalités issues de Vista, mais somme toute rien de très révolutionnaire pour l'utilisateur. Il est intéressant de noter que Dell, HP ou Lenovo ont l'intention de continuer à vendre XP après le 30 juin, en exploitant une faille juridique permettant de downgrader la version.

The solution appears to be resetting IE once the XP SP3 slipstreamed installation is performed.  To reset IE:

Select Tools - Internet Options - Advanced.  Click the Reset button, and restart Internet Explorer.

He was using a volume license key in an answer file, but when the slipstreamed CD got to the point where it would read the file for the license key, the unattended installation kept asking for a valid key.  Even after a valid license key was entered manually, the installer kept prompting for another key. 

The problem was solved by performing the slipstream process from a Windows XP machine, rather from the Vista box.  Apparently all types of license keys are affected, not just volume license keys.

For one of the PC's I did a reset on, and RWW/RDP is working. . .the key under HKLM in 'Operation 1' is NOT  there (looking for "{7584C670-2274-4EFB-B00B-D6AABA6D3850}" and NOT "ClsID"). The key IS there under HKCU as described in Operation 2'.

Note the "Key name" is "{7584C670-2274-4EFB-B00B-D6AABA6D3850}" and not "ClsID". . .

. . . this is a known issue which hasn't been fixed. However, you can check if the following workaround can be applied to the workstation:

1. Click Start-> Run  type Regedit  Then open register list.
2. Follow the below operation 1 or operation 2 to modify the register: ClsID: {7584C670-2274-4EFB-B00B-D6AABA6D3850}

Operation 1. two Methods to enable the "TS Component" displayed in "Add-on Management" list.
==================
a. Add Key Under:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\PreApproved
The Key name is ClsID.

b. Add Key Under:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats
The Key name is ClsID,
and then, add subkey, "iexplore"
and then, add "DWORD Value" in "iexplore" key, value name "Flags", set value to 4

Operation 2. Enable the component could be used in IE7, delete key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\ClsID
==================
1. Close the register.
2. Open website. Direct to the Remote web workplace.
3. click Connect to Server Desktops . It will show a warning, then click OK button.
4. On the right-below of web, there will occur a little-image of warning, move cursor on it, it will show Manage add-ons
5. Double click the little-image, show a dialog Manage Add-ons
6. Confirm the Show: items is add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer
7. On the Disabled item, click Microsoft Terminal Services Client Control (redist) 
8. On the Manage Add-ons  dialog down, in Settings scope, choose Enable  it will pop a dialog, click OK button
9. Click OK button.

Numerous registry keys are added when you upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 3 or Windows Vista Service Pack 1 with a Norton product installed. Because of these registry keys, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Windows Device Manager is empty

• Missing Wireless network adaptors or other hardware devices

• Unable to connect using a wireless adapter

Solution:

Download the SymRegFix.exe file. To fix the problem.

It is located here: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/sharedtech.nsf/docid/2008061807392313 Step 4. This goes to an FTP. May be slow.

The direct link is ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/tutorials/

June 30 news release a security firm Symantec repaired by the Windows XP SP3 impact of the free tools Jin Sanzhou PC, Microsoft released a patch to help users to re-establish the loss of the Internet and wireless connectivity.

According to foreign media reports said earlier last week, Microsoft released a patch to help users repair the installation of Windows XP SP3 after emerging issues. Symantec's consumer security software users that the PC will upgrade to XP SP3, a defect "Clear" of the Windows drivers, to delete the network connection.

Although Symantec's initial condemnation of Microsoft caused this problem, but it was later admit that he also has certain responsibilities. 5 recognition of the end of Symantec, Microsoft's upgrade and Norton security software in a feature "collusion" in the Windows registry to insert a ━ ━ hundreds or even thousands of counterfeit and the destruction of the keys. Symantec was known as "SymProtect" of the security features through the protection of the registry will not be subject to unauthorized changes and the protection of Symantec's security software.

Microsoft had no comment on this issue too, but the company along with this software patch issued a document in support of the "directed at" Symantec's software. Microsoft said the installation of Windows XP SP3 Fixccs.exe call during the process, the issue will appear. Fixccs.exe process will create some temporary button, and then it will delete these keys. However, in some cases, some anti-virus software will not remove these Fixccs.exe it to create the temporary bond.

Microsoft in supporting documentation that the patch will be installed in the system upgrade Fixccs.exe, but only applies to users start Windows in safe mode.

Symantec said that with the registry changes to the monitoring functions of other security software will also upgrade to Windows XP SP3 users of similar problems, but Microsoft's support forums, almost no such report. However, Microsoft hinted that the cause of the problem may be not only a Symantec software, used in the document "some antivirus applications" such a word, and did not specify what a security software, but also a number of Security software.

Users can download from Microsoft's site this patch.

Microsoft Windows has not yet passed the "automatic update" feature to provide users with Windows XP SP3, can prevent some specific security software installed to receive the PC, install the software. This practice has to stop targeting AMD's PC processors installed XP SP3, prevent the system repeatedly restart.

Much to our chagrin, as we integrated the new Vista systems into the existing SBS 2003 / XP SP3 network we realized the client has a old DOS inventory management program that failed with Vista SP1.  Onsite tried several workarounds; however the inventory management app was incompatible with Vista.  The only solution to allow our client to use his inventory tracking program was to downgrade the new Vista SP1 PCs to XP SP3. 

The process of downgrading and reconfiguring from Vista to XP required about four hours.  The business owner is a wonderful client who understood the incompatibility of his dated ap, so we agreed to split the cost of the downgrade.

The moral of this story is simple:  before considering an XP to Vista upgrade, carefully examine any potential Vista incompatibilities with older applications.  When there are any questions regarding incompatibilities, Onsite is recommending XP SP3.

If you're searching for New Orleans computer service or repair of your Microsoft based system or network, then call the Microsoft specialists at 504-469-6991. Onsite Computer Services, Inc. in New Orleans

You may also be interested in Onsite Computer's Blog.

This New Orleans On-Site Computer Service post was provided by Eli Lucas. Eli can be reached at eli@onsitenola.com. Onsite Computer serves the Microsoft computing needs of small businesses throughout the Greater New Orleans area including Uptown, Lakeview, Broadmoor, Mid-City, Metairie, Jefferson, Kenner, Westbank, French Quarter, and the Warehouse District. Please visit our website for New Orleans Computer Service.

Onsite Computer Service in New Orleans is recommending our clients install the Office 2007 SP1 as a part of their automatic download from Microsoft.  Generally, the first service pack for Microsoftproducts addresses SNAFUs that were discovered in the initial release of a software publication.  Onsite techs have not reported any problems as a result of installing this important service pack.  Onsite is recommending Office 2007 users install this update as soon as convenient.

If you're searching for New Orleans computer service or repair of your Microsoft based system or network, then call the Microsoft specialists at 504-469-6991. Onsite Computer Services, Inc. in New Orleans

You may also be interested in Onsite Computer's Blog.

This New Orleans On-Site Computer Service post was provided by Eli Lucas. Eli can be reached at eli@onsitenola.com. Onsite Computer serves the Microsoft computing needs of small businesses throughout the Greater New Orleans area including Uptown, Lakeview, Broadmoor, Mid-City, Metairie, Jefferson, Kenner, Westbank, French Quarter, and the Warehouse District. Please visit our website for New Orleans Computer Service.

Upon closer examination and research the problem seems to originate from an incompatibility with a Symantec component and a Microsoft process.  Although Symantec posted a utility to repair the corrupted registry, Symantec's utility only addresses the problems caused by their product.  Registry corruption caused by non-Symantec processes are not addressed with the Symantec utility.

Onsite used the utility to clean a client's XP SP3 registry and found the Symantec utility removed many of the thousands of bogus registry entries.  The client's XP PC now experiences faster reboots as many of the false registry entries were removed. Microsoft support documents, KB893249 and KB914450, further address the problem from Microsoft's perspective.

If you're searching for New Orleans computer service or repair of your Microsoft based system or network, then call the Microsoft specialists at 504-469-6991. Onsite Computer Services, Inc. in New Orleans

You may also be interested in Onsite Computer's Blog.

This New Orleans On-Site Computer Service post was provided by Eli Lucas. Eli can be reached at eli@onsitenola.com. Onsite Computer serves the Microsoft computing needs of small businesses throughout the Greater New Orleans area including Uptown, Lakeview, Broadmoor, Mid-City, Metairie, Jefferson, Kenner, Westbank, French Quarter, and the Warehouse District. Please visit our website for New Orleans Computer Service.

WHAT'S NEW IN VERSION 1.2:
Version 1.2

• prerelease version
• This fixes the restricted accountbug.
• Minor fixes

* Language independent

* Better detection of patched or unpatched file.

* More safety checks

* "Lost hope" key to restore the original file

Download:

UXTender 1.2

Mirror

This portion of the Remote Web Workplace requiresthe Microsoft Remote Desktop ActiveX Control.  Your browswer's security settings may be preventing you from downloading ActiveX controls.  Adjust these settings, and try to connect again.

This error is a result of a disabled Microsoft Terminal Service ActiveX control Add-On.  To fix the problem:

1. Within Internet Explorer, open Tools - Internet Options - Programs tab - Select Manage add-ons
2. Highlight the Microsoft Terminal Service ActiveX control, which will be set to disabled. 
3. Select Enabled - OK
4. Restart Internet Explorer.

 You can also create a GPO to enable the ActiveX control.