Latest Microsoft Patches disables functionality in Bartender Label

[Guest]

Hi there
A few days ago all of our work PC's downloaded and installed automatically a
whole batch of Microsoft patches for Windows XP Pro. The next day users
complained that a program they use to print barcode labels is not allowing
them to enter more than 9 characters of text in a text input box. They can
normally enter hundreds of characters.
The program is called bartender and we are using version 7.51. This program
does not update itself automatically and has not been updated so I guessed
that the problem had to do with Windows as it had affected everybody at the
same time.
I did a system restore on one PC to take it back before the Microsoft
updates were installed and Bartender started to work again.
I have narrowed down the particular update causing this problem which is
KB918118. When uninstalling this particular update Bartender works as
expected.
When uninstalling KB918118 it says that other security updates may stop
working. The list includes:-
KB924667
KB925720
KB926436
KB928090
KB931836

I have a few questions relating to this incident.

1. Is Microsoft aware of this problem and if not can it be reported to
whoever needs to take action. Will I be informed of any update so that a new
patch can be downloaded?

2. In the mean time I would still like our PC's to receive automatic
updates but i wish to uninstall this particular update from our PC's and to
stop it from being re-installed at the next update cycle. How can I achieve
this?

3. What implications are there to my organisation by un-installing this
particular update?

4. When un-installing this update a warning box appears warning that other
updates may stop working. How important is this to my organisation?

Thanks

Kingsley Newman

 

[Guest]

Few points:

1. This is the incorrect newsgroup for WU questions.

2. Microsoft staff don't necessarily read these posts, so it is no use
posting a complaint as such here. If you want to make a complaint with MS you
need to raise a support ticket with yoru local representative - but it will
cost you!

3. I maintain a number of small sites, and am increasingly of the opinion
that Automatic Updates are best left off. They cause as much trouble as they
cure. Opinions on this will differ, of course.

4. Security: More important to security is to have a NAT router for your
Internet connection, NOT a USB modem, and use an alternative browser, NOT
Internet Explorer. Get a decent Antivirus. For which, read anything EXCEPT
Norton or McAfee. You do not need any specialised firewalls, the Windows one
is fine.

5. That, and it's becoming increasingly necessary to make users Limited
accounts, to stop them installing downloaded junk. (which can likewise make
other programs malfunction) Google Desktop, Yahoo toolbars and the like are
becoming a huge nuisance, as are other even less-desirable downloads, too. At
the moment I don't lock users down, but I'm spending so much time on
support-calls removing this crud, I think it's time I started restricting
users' rights.