Main/News >> News Archives > The week of June 17 (2007) (you are here)

MSN custom colors for your font! MSN Emoticons list overview! Find a Date for online chats! Quality Hosting specials for Messers! free msn games

 Updated: Mess Patch for Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1238.0601
Updated: Mess Patch for Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1238.0601

Rolando says ( 23 Jun 2007 ):

 

It doesn't matter whether you (perhaps unwillingly) updated to the new 8.5 beta or stuck with the previous one, because Mess Patch has just been updated to work with both 8.5.1238.0601 and 8.5.1235.0517! This update is also multi-lingual, speaking 15 different languages, and adopts a new Always on top button for Windows XP users (thanks to messer Poom).

>> Download Mess Patch for Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta.



 WLM 8.5 Beta exposes users to svchost.exe bugs
WLM 8.5 Beta exposes users to svchost.exe bugs

dwergs says ( 22 Jun 2007 ):

 

As we've cleary seen with the release of 8.5.1238.0601 yesterday, Microsoft is appealing to Microsoft Update for simplifying the Windows Live Messenger update procedure. And unless you carefully read the Terms of Use acceptance dialog when you installed the first 8.5 Beta a few weeks ago, you might have not noticed that it indeed automatically enables Microsoft Update with no choice for opting out.

The downside is that this potentially exposes all Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta users to a number of issues related to svchost.exe, which handles processes executed from DLLs, and caused by the service that provides Automatic Updates. The most common problem is CPU and memory hogging which manifests in a serious system slowdown. Just check the CPU column next to svchost.exe in your Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to see if you're affected. Simply ending this process will not fix the problem and will likely cause other important services to fail. There's a two-part fix which we've found here:

1) Patch msi.dll: Users need to replace the msi.dll file (the Microsoft Installer DLL) that svchost.exe controls. To do this, download and install the patch from Knowledge Base article 927891.

2) Update Windows Update: Users also need to get the latest Windows Update client, which is version 3.0. Links to the 32- and 64-bit versions can be found at the Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) Product Team blog.

It's a bit inconsiderate of Microsoft to rely on Microsoft Update for updates to the popular Windows Live Messenger Beta prior to providing the patches that cope with performance problems. And even with the currently available patches installed, svchost.exe can still use up to 100% of CPU at times.



 Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta Update via Windows Update
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta Update via Windows Update

dwergs says ( 22 Jun 2007 ):

 

Last night Microsoft issued a first update to Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta but instead of pushing it to its users via the software's built-in auto-updater, the 8.5.1238.0601 build is distributed through Windows Update. This way of updating has been on the Messenger team's to do list for quite some time and it's actually the only reason why this build is out. There aren't any further changes, but it does break our previous version of Mess Patch for Windows Live Messenger 8.5 so don't upgrade just yet if you rely heavily on our patch. Messenger Plus! Live is said to be compatible.

"This update is being used to test how Microsoft Updates are distributed for Windows Live Messenger. While there are no actual changes to Messenger at this time, it's important for Messenger Beta testers to receive this update. Thanks for helping test Messenger."

Some screenshots of Windows Update sent to us by Messers R3LOADED, Michael C. & NeKroSoft13: #1, #2, #3.

[Reported by: Rssfed23, Producer, deAd, warmth, GT Dice ELITE, Larney, Skatz, bmagera91, EnmanuelMC, NeKroSoft13, Tat Wei, Robert, PacĪrT, ahhungchai, Mant, Ste, mooseattack, Rix, E_Surge, R3LOADED, Michael C. & gunsmith]



 Free WeeMees (but not for Canadians & Yankees)
Free WeeMees (but not for Canadians & Yankees)

dwergs says ( 20 Jun 2007 ):

 

free dynamic weemeesOfficial Messenger content provider WeeMee, which was first launched in 2003 as a static avatar generator, is since the beginning of May dealing out its Dynamic Display Pictures completely free of charge. With this move, it is following suit of Kiwee Canada but then oddly enough that's exactly where they still cost money. So at the welcome page, click any flag except that of Canada or the U.S.A. Weird, weirder, WeeMee... I guess! Winks unfortunately are not included in the everlasting free deal.

>> Get your free personalized WeeMee here.

PS: As you can see I'm back after a 10-day trip. Big thanks to Inky once again for blogsitting! Now let's see what else has been happening in the world of Messenger while I was gone...

[Reported by: Twinnee]



 Beware of scammers using fake Windows Live IDs
Beware of scammers using fake Windows Live IDs

Inky says ( 19 Jun 2007 ):

 

A flaw in the Windows Live ID sign-up system allowed scammers to create fake addresses and use them on Windows Live and MSN Messenger. The fake addresses did not show the usual "Address Not Verified" warning, PC World reports. From the article:

"An attacker could use the flaw as part of a social-engineering ploy, where users are tricked into doing something that puts their machine at risk. For example, victims could receive an instant message from someone who appears to have their boss's e-mail address.

At that point, victims could be tricked into thinking they are communicating with their boss. The hacker could then send a link to a malicious Word document, for example, that could install a keystroke logging program on a machine."


What is more disturbing is that the addresses created using this flaw have not yet been disabled by Microsoft, which might be due to the fact that the company does not track every action a user performs.

So if someone has recently added you, and you are not sure the person really is who they say (for example a colleague or distant relative), try to confirm their identify via e-mail or phone. Of course, you should never accept random file transfers from unknown people or click on suspicious links.

>> Article on PC World



Click Here!

Back to the News Archives