Black Screen of Death for XP SP3 and Vista SP1

Microsoft has warned end users that performing Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 upgrades from copies of XP SP2 and Vista RTM, respectively, that have Onekey Recovery 5.0 installed will cause the operating systems to display a black screen following reboot. According to the Redmond company, the issue is generated by an incompatibility between the two service pack releases and Saming OneKey recovery software driver Safnt.sys.

This means that deploying SP1 on top of Vista RTM, or SP3 on top of XP SP2, with Onekey Recovery 5.0 also installed, will result in a black screen of death. Microsoft revealed that this scenario would happen whether the service pack upgrade is performed from Windows Update or through any other method. “This issue occurs when the computer contains Onekey recovery software that is earlier than version 5.1. If the computer uses the Onekey recovery software version 5.1 or later versions, this issue does not occur,” the company revealed, explaining that “Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP2 are incompatible with Onekey Recovery 5.0.”

Users affected by the problem can access updates from Microsoft that will help them deal with the incompatibility. There are releases available for both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Vista RTM and SP1, and only for the x86 variants of XP SP2 and SP3. Additionally, the software giant explained that in order “to avoid this issue, use one of the following methods: use the Windows Update Web site to install the hotfix before you upgrade the operating system or upgrade to the newer one-key recovery application before you upgrade the operating system.”

Indeed, Microsoft has applauded the reaching of a new apex of compatibility, especially with the availability of Service Pack 1 for Vista, but exceptions do exist, and the Onekey Recovery 5.0 problems are an illustrative example in this context.

The updates are available for download via the links below:

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Tags:32-bit, 64-bit, application, Computer, download, hotfix, Microsoft, reboot, rtm, service pack 1, service pack 3, SP3, system, upgrade, vista rtm, Web, Windows, windows vista, windows xp, windows xp service pack, xp sp3

5 Tips For Upgrading To WPA2 Security

Why upgrade? Chances are you have bought something online with a credit card, used internet banking, or dealt with confidential information on your computer. If you use a wireless router with anything less than WPA2 encryption, your information may not be as secure as you think.

“WPA2 security is definitely worth the modest amount of effort required to set it up. The original WPA security standard can be cracked with relative ease unless you use a passphrase that is longer than 20 characters and is not merely composed of words that can be found in a dictionary.” [Quote from the PC World article: Wireless Tips: Your Wireless Network Needs a Security Update]

1. Check current devices for compatibility. Your router and wireless network card may already support WPA2; Google your devices and find out. If they do, download the latest drivers for your wireless network card and update the firmware on your wireless router (very easy to do, but follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully).

If your devices don’t support WPA2, and the security of the information transferred over your network is important to you, consider buying a wireless network card and router that support WPA2. Most recent wireless devices have WPA2 as standard.

2. Download the WPA2 Hotfix for Windows XP. This threw me when I was setting up my network. You need to download this hotfix or WPA2 will not work. It’s that simple. The hotfix is #KB893357 available from the Microsoft Web site.

3. Set a strong password for both network key and wireless router. What’s the point of all this if you set a one word password? So make it greater than 20 characters, consisting of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and obscure characters such as @ and &. Randomize it — be creative. Get your pets to walk on your keyboard. Just don’t be predictable. Pretend you’re Jack Bauer and this is a matter of national security.

4. Don’t bother with MAC filtering or Hide SSID. They add little or nothing to your security. Unless you have a specific reason for doing so, activating them generally only makes your life more stressful.

5. Use TKIP & AES encryption when selecting the encryption settings on your wireless router and on your computer; select WPA2-Personal with TKIP & AES encryption. This is a very high level of security for today’s standards.

HOT TIP: WPA2 Personal is the one to use unless you run a large enterprise.

BONUS TIP: Use the Windows Wireless Assistant built into Windows rather than the one your wireless network card came with. It generally works with less conflict and generally uses less system resources. It’s one less “Yet Another Program That Wants To Load At Startup.”

Tags:compatibility, Computer, google, hotfix, Internet, Microsoft, Network, Security, Web, Windows, Wireless, wireless router, wpa, wpa security, wpa2

Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate RC2

Holding your breath while waiting for the final version of Windows XP Service Pack 3 won’t do you any good. In fact, you can go ahead and exhale now, because Microsoft is by no means in any hurry to make available the third and final service pack for Windows XP. However, the Redmond company is indeed hammering away at XP SP3, having released a new build of the service pack. While the gold bits of XP SP3 have failed to take a consistent contour on the immediate horizon, although it seemed that Windows Vista SP1 RTM would be synonymous with the releasing to manufacturing of the third service pack for XP, Microsoft confirmed a new development milestone. (more…)

Tags: Candidate RC, hotfix, Microsoft, Operating system, service pack 3, SP1, SP3, Windows, windows vista, windows xp, windows xp service pack, xp sp3

Increase the Performance of Yahoo Messenger for Windows Vista

Microsoft is offering a way for users of Yahoo Messenger for Windows Vista to enjoy a consistent boost in performance of the instant messaging client. After it was announced at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas the last year, Yahoo Messenger for Vista took approximately a whole year to come out as a public beta. Back in December 2007, Yahoo delivered the first taste of Yahoo Messenger for Vista, with versions for both the 32-bit and 64-bit flavors of the latest Windows client. Once the 2008 International CES was out of the way, an update was introduced to the preview version of the IM client this January. (more…)