MS Windows updates

[C. Moore]

Last week I did an update from MS update site. It loaded about 9 or so
"critical" security patches. One of the patches turned on security settings
I did not want and couldn't get rid of. Started with a "Welcome Charles"
page with my name and a flower button that I had to click to proceed. In
trying to eliminate this annoying page (it wasn't there before I got to a
state where I had a window that demanded a password. I have never set a
password on this machine, don't need it and don't want it. I had to take the
machine to a local shop to regain access to it. He said he had to remove two
MS updates.
To prevent this happening again, can someone tell me which updates did the
dirty deed so I can avoid installing them again?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Last week I did an update from MS update site. It loaded about 9
or so "critical" security patches. One of the patches turned on
security settings I did not want and couldn't get rid of. Started
with a "Welcome Charles" page with my name and a flower button that
I had to click to proceed. In trying to eliminate this annoying
page (it wasn't there before I got to a state where I had a window
that demanded a password. I have never set a password on this
machine, don't need it and don't want it. I had to take the
machine to a local shop to regain access to it. He said he had to
remove two MS updates.
To prevent this happening again, can someone tell me which updates
did the dirty deed so I can avoid installing them again?

Removing the two patches was unnecessary.

There are many things that could have happened - more than likely it was a
..NET FrameWork installation. In any case, the removal of the patch that
caused you to have to utilize the Welcome screen versus an automatic logon
seems to be hasty.

Install all your high priority Windows XP patches (and any Optional Software
updates you desire) and change it so your user account has a password and it
automatically logs on at startup.

Automatic Logons:
------
Microsoft method:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315231
(Essentially the same... but different place:
http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/13/ )


Microsoft Method 2:
TweakUI from:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx


control userpasswords2 method:
1) Go to the Start Menu and the Run box.
2) Type in the following:

control userpasswords2

now click OK
3) In the new Windows that appears select the account you wish to make the
primary logon.
Now uncheck the "Users must enter a username and password..." box.
4) Hit Apply and a dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the selected
users password.
Click OK when you are done...
------

Hopefully that gets you where you are wanting to be.

It is a *good* thing in the user arena to:
1) Have strong passwords.
2) Have more than one administrator level account (with strong passwords).

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Last week I did an update from MS update site. It loaded about 9 or so

"critical" security patches. One of the patches turned on security settings
I did not want and couldn't get rid of. Started with a "Welcome Charles"
page with my name and a flower button that I had to click to proceed. In
trying to eliminate this annoying page (it wasn't there before I got to a
state where I had a window that demanded a password. I have never set a
password on this machine, don't need it and don't want it. I had to take the
machine to a local shop to regain access to it. He said he had to remove two
MS updates.
To prevent this happening again, can someone tell me which updates did the
dirty deed so I can avoid installing them again?

Leave the security update and go to Control Panel > User Accounts >
click Change the way a user logs on or off > at Select logon and
logoff options, uncheck both boxes, apply options. Restart. See if
that takes care of it.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Frank-FL]

message

Last week I did an update from MS update site. It loaded
about 9 or so
"critical" security patches. One of the patches turned on
security settings
I did not want and couldn't get rid of. Started with a
"Welcome Charles"
page with my name and a flower button that I had to click
to proceed. In
trying to eliminate this annoying page (it wasn't there
before I got to a
state where I had a window that demanded a password. I
have never set a
password on this machine, don't need it and don't want it.
I had to take the
machine to a local shop to regain access to it. He said
he had to remove two
MS updates.
To prevent this happening again, can someone tell me which
updates did the
dirty deed so I can avoid installing them again?

I wonder how much malware is on a no password protected
system????

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I wonder how much malware is on a no password protected
system????

Unlikely anymore than on the average one protected with a password for user
logon.

The password for logon is not going to prevent malware from installing on a
Windows XP system. Malware usually gets on a system due to the end user
doing something active - meaning they are already logged in, surfing the
internet, reading their email, etc.