Jason Pearce

For some reason, I have a difficult time finding the brief descriptions of the nine update classifications that you can use to filter the updates you get from Microsoft Updates, so I thought I’d list them here. The source is Microsoft’s “Using the WSUS 3.0 SP2 Configuration Wizard” TechNet article:

Critical Updates: Broadly released fixes for specific problems addressing critical, non-security related bugs.

Definition Updates: Updates to virus or other definition files.

Drivers: Software components designed to support new hardware.

Feature Packs: New feature releases, usually rolled into products at the next release.

Security Updates: Broadly released fixes for specific products, addressing security issues.

Service Packs: Cumulative sets of all hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates created since the release of the product. Service packs might also contain a limited number of customer-requested design changes or features.

Tools: Utilities or features that aid in accomplishing a task or set of tasks.

Update Rollups: Cumulative sets of hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates packaged together for easy deployment. A rollup generally targets a specific area, such as security, or a specific component, such as Internet Information Services (IIS).

Updates: Broadly released fixes for specific problems addressing non-critical, non-security related bugs.

On Friday, June 25, 2010, I pleasantly used this handy tool to fully uninstall a failed Adobe Reader 9.3.2 installation. To my surprise and great disappointment, the Windows Installer Cleanup utility (MSICUU2.exe) was discontinued over the weekend and is no longer available.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

“Notice: This article previously contained a link to the Windows Installer Cleanup utility (MSICUU2.exe). If you were directed to this article to solve a problem installing a product other than Microsoft Office, please contact your software manufacturer for installation support on the product.”

Naturally, many third-party software manufacturers relied on the Windows Installer Cleanup utility to clean up their own mess. I sure wish I retained a copy of MSICUU2.exe, for it would come in handy today and likely many more times in the future.

Obtaining a single super folder in Windows 7, takes only three steps:

1. Create a new folder
2. Rename the new folder
   “SuperFolder.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}“
3. The folder will change its icon and contain many shortcuts to administer your Windows 7 settings

Prior to last week’s iPhone 3.0 upgrade, I listened to about four hours of podcasts a week; now I listen to twice as many thanks to the x2 playback option. Although playback is twice as fast, the pitch is unchanged so it doesn’t sound like chipmunks. I now consume more podcasts than I watch TV or play video games per week.

On Tuesday, 22 Jun 2009, Microsoft released a beta version of its upcoming free anti-virus product, code named Morro. When I checked the site this morning (24 Jun 2009), the download link had been removed and the following Alert was posted:

Thank you for your interest in joining the Microsoft Security Essentials Beta. We are not accepting additional participants at this time. Please check back at later a date for possible additional availability.

Too bad. My main desire was to test the AV client out on some virtual machines that are running server OSes like 2003 and 2008, which I later learned aren’t supported by Microsoft Security Essentials yet anyway.

If MSE is effective and remains free, I will be likely to discontinue buying third-party anti-virus clients from Symantec, MacAfee, and the like.