Simply security improvements that Microsoft has not done

Microsoft has took big step in the right direction with the release of
Windows XP SP2, but what I don’t understand is why they continue to make it
so difficult to keep your system upto date.

Windows update & the .Net framework v1.1
-----------------------------------------------------
If you download files from Windows update I expect to have the latest
version so why should we need to run windows update 3 times and reboot 3
times to get the .Net 1.1 framework.

Users with a dialup modem are unlikely to do this because of the download
size so having 3 downloads doesn’t help.

Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.1
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1
Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework, Version 1.1 Service Pack 1
(KB886903)

Developing programs that run under the .Net framework 1.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Setup projects in Visual Studio .NET 2003 can be used to install the .NET
Framework with your application, but only if you have installed the optional
Visual Studio .NET Framework Bootstrapper Plug-in on your development
computer.

The problem is that this Bootstrapper Plug-in
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/do.../bootstrapper/) only
includes the basic .Net framework 1.1, so you still need to install the
service pack and other updates from windows update. I don’t see why this
bootstrapper can not be updated to at very least include SP1, resulting in
each computer that has your software installed being upto date.

General Security Updates
-------------------------------
After installing a fresh copy of Windows XP Pro and then installing SP2 I
would expect there to be only a few of recent updates, e.g. a security rollup
package and any updates that were just release this month. This would result
in far fewer patch’s being downloaded from windows update.

"_Buzz,"

While I understand your concern, the answer to this has to do with the amount of
time available to test each fix. It is impossible to predict with any certainty
if more bugs will be found with any given update, and each fix has its own
detection "logic," if you will. Because of this new updates are designed and
tested to deal with specific issues, either on a former update or the operating
system.

The quickest path on any operating system is to find the latest service pack for
that platform (which you can find here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lif...vicepacks.mspx) and then use
Windows Update to find the latest updates.

Sincerely,

Pat Walters [MSFT]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. Use
of included script samples are subject to the terms specified at
http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.htm"

"_Buzz" <_> wrote in message
news:14AF45FF-1300-4F1A-86C5-...
>
> Microsoft has took big step in the right direction with the release of
> Windows XP SP2, but what I don't understand is why they continue to make it
> so difficult to keep your system upto date.
>
> Windows update & the .Net framework v1.1
> -----------------------------------------------------
> If you download files from Windows update I expect to have the latest
> version so why should we need to run windows update 3 times and reboot 3
> times to get the .Net 1.1 framework.
>
> Users with a dialup modem are unlikely to do this because of the download
> size so having 3 downloads doesn't help.
>
> Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.1
> Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1
> Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework, Version 1.1 Service Pack 1
> (KB886903)
>
> Developing programs that run under the .Net framework 1.1
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Setup projects in Visual Studio .NET 2003 can be used to install the .NET
> Framework with your application, but only if you have installed the optional
> Visual Studio .NET Framework Bootstrapper Plug-in on your development
> computer.
>
> The problem is that this Bootstrapper Plug-in
> (http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/do.../bootstrapper/) only
> includes the basic .Net framework 1.1, so you still need to install the
> service pack and other updates from windows update. I don't see why this
> bootstrapper can not be updated to at very least include SP1, resulting in
> each computer that has your software installed being upto date.
>
> General Security Updates
> -------------------------------
> After installing a fresh copy of Windows XP Pro and then installing SP2 I
> would expect there to be only a few of recent updates, e.g. a security rollup
> package and any updates that were just release this month. This would result
> in far fewer patch's being downloaded from windows update.