Newsletter Archives

• Botched Windows USB driver patch KB 2862330 triggers BSOD 0x000000D1 or 0x000000CA

  Posted on November 5, 2013 at 19:54 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  This is the problem I warned about in the MS-DEFCON 3 update, with quite a bit of supporting detail.

  InfoWorld Tech Watch

  Windows Patches/Security Botched patch, KB 2862330, October 2013 Black Tuesday

• MS-DEFCON 3: Patch, but avoid KB 2862330

  Posted on November 4, 2013 at 20:43 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I hate to make you folks search through your patches, but this month Microsoft leaves me no choice.

  In general, the October patches are now working pretty well, but there is one exception:

  KB 2862330 doesn’t install properly on many Windows 7 systems. Microsoft has a long, convoluted series of steps in the KB article that should help you resolve the problem — but the fact is that the cure is worse than the disease. At this point, KB 2862330 is listed on the Automatic Update list, but it isn’t checked — which means it won’t install unless you specifically check the box and tell Windows Update to install it.

  Solution: don’t go checking anything that isn’t checked, even if it appears on Microsoft’s list of “Important” patches.

  The same patch has been blamed for endless installation repeats, on Windows XP systems.

  I’m moving us to MS-DEFCON 3: Patch reliability is unclear, but widespread attacks make patching prudent. Go ahead and patch, but watch out for potential problems.

  Windows Patches/Security October 2013 Black Tuesday

• MS-DEFCON 2: New patches are out, make sure you’re protected

  Posted on October 9, 2013 at 06:58 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  The October 2013 Microsoft patches are out, and it’s a motley crew.

  If you’re using Internet Explorer, stop using it – or if you absolutely must use it, apply the Fixit I discussed on October 2. 

  Let’s see what kind of problems this crop brings.

  I’m moving to MS-DEFCON 2: Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don’t do it.

  Windows Patches/Security October 2013 Black Tuesday