Some users have reported that Microsoft’s recent security updates have crippled their Windows XP computers with the notorious Blue Screen of Death

The patch, part of Februarys update and listed under MS10-015 , dealt with a problem caused by the switchover from 16-bit to 32-bit systems back in 1993. A 16-bit emulator introduced with Windows 3.1 and present ever since turns out to run the risk of running a bogus application which allows access to the system’s kernel.

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If you are looking for some useful Windows 7 guides Microsoft have provided several links to using deployment tools, which I have outlined below:

• Preparing an Image using Sysprep and ImageX
• Deployment Image and Servicing Management
• Deployment Workbench in Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010
• Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration

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Microsoft is now providing an online resource called the Microsoft Automated Troubleshooting Services designed to diagnose and repair Windows operating systems, including Windows Vista SP2 and Windows XP SP3. Both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 include the automated troubleshooting services by default.

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The European Union have finally agreed to a settlement in the row over bundling Internet Explorer with Windows.

The settlement announced on the Microsoft Press Pass Website confirms that new Windows machines sold from March will contain a set-up screen listing the five major web browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, and Opera (with another seven available by scrolling horizontally), with users picking as many or as few as they like to install.

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Since the release of Windows 7 market shares of both Windows XP and Windows Vista have started falling, with more users deciding to upgrade to Microsoft’s latest Operating System.

Although Windows 7 grabbed over 5% of the OS market, according to Net Applications, Windows XP is still the most used platform worldwide with a share of over 69%, with Vista at 18.55%.

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Microsoft is planning another security patch Tuesday on the 14 July. Half of the security bulletins coming next week target the Windows client and Windows Server platforms with a severity rating of “Critical”.

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Numerous readers of the popular Windows Secrets newsletter have reported that they have watched their computers install updates from the 9 June set of security patches as they have rebooted or when they have turned on their machines even though they have set options in Windows Update (WU), the operating system’s default update service, to require their okay before installing patches, or before downloading and installing updates.

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Microsoft has issued a security advisory (971778) warning that hackers are exploiting an un-patched critical vulnerability in Windows DirectX used by Gamers and for streaming video from Web sites.

Hackers are using malicious QuickTime files (Apple’s default video format) to hijack PCs, in the advisory Microsoft said. “The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if the user opened a specially crafted QuickTime media file … Microsoft is aware of limited, active attacks that use this exploit code.”

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