“Two patches released in Microsoft’s April batch of security updates are causing system hangs, Windows crashes and the appearance of strange dialog boxes,” Ryan Naraine reports for eWeek. “The problems stem from a nonsecurity modification to Internet Explorer and a critical fix for a code execution hole in Windows Explorer and affect third-party programs from Google, Siebel and Microsoft’s own Windows Media Player.”
“On some consumer-facing programs running Hewlett-Packard’s Share-to-Web software and Sunbelt’s Kerio Personal Firewall, the new binary stops responding,” Naraine reports. “Windows users deploying the MS06-015 update have also complained about problems accessing special folders like ‘My Documents’ or ‘My Pictures.’ In addition, the update is causing Microsoft Office applications to stop responding when Office files are saved or opened in the “My Documents” folder; system freezes when opening a file through an application’s file/open menu; and lockups when typing a URL into IE. According to PatchLink, of Scottsdale, Ariz., the MS06-013 mega-patch, which includes a significant modification to the way IE renders certain ActiveX controls, is also causing workflow issues for its enterprise clients.”
Full article here.
Yet another one for the “Macintosh. Because life’s too short” file.
Note for Boot Campers, as Apple states on their website, “Windows running on a Mac is like Windows running on a PC. That means it’ll be subject to the same attacks that plague the Windows world. So be sure to keep it updated with the latest Microsoft Windows security fixes.”
Obviously, if Microsoft’s security “fixes” also cause your Windows install to crash, hand and/or lockup, you can always boot into Mac OS X to get your work done.
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Related articles:
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
Microsoft: The safest way to run Windows is on your Mac – October 08, 2004
Microsoft Windows patches causing crashes, system hangs, lockups
IOW, the only way to secure Windows is to kill it. Brilliant.
Maybe I’ll theft-proof my car via ruining the engine.
Macs don’t like cheap RAM.
Macs don’t like third-party RAM in general. Which is absurd (and my one big gripe against Apple hardware).
If Apple really wants to take on new markets, they have to make their systems far more tolerant of cheap RAM. Why can’t RAM of a given spec (say PC3200 DDR 400mhz) work from any vendor? Why does RAM have to be “known” as Mac-compatible?
It shouldn’t cost more to max out a system’s ram, than what the system cost in the first place.
OS X is more sensitive to bad RAM than OS 9 was in my experience. I don’t think that it cares about the initial purchase price of the RAM but that it functions correctly.
I am running a B&W G3 which had a bad RAM module that caused kernal panics under 10.2. There was no problem using OS 9. That RAM module was an Apple OEM part. The replacement third party module has been working fine for the last few years.
I had similar experiences with my PM G4 and my Powerbook. Bad RAM can cause problems but good quality Third Party RAM works fine. I had good luck with OWC.
OS X is more sensitive to bad RAM than OS 9 was in my experience
Interesting…
Earlier this year I had purchased a refurbished G5 from the Apple Store, and it came with ECC ram! Very surprising, as that wasn’t in the specs.
Of course ECC is important if you’re mission-critical, but if OS X is a bit sensitive to ram would EEC be something to consider for less-crucial use?
EEC, ECC, whatever.
To Andrew: having plenty of third-party software installed over Windows has nothing to do with MS’ own patches crashing MS’ own software.
You just can not compare it to Mac; period.
LOL! Business as usual at Microshaft! Go ahead folks, install that POS on your Mac!
Teflon,
You’re suffering from “all or nothing” thinking. Just because *you* have experienced trouble with OS X doesn’t mean there’s a flaw with the OS or with every installation of it. I’ve been running Tiger flawlessly on a PowerMac G4 (400MHz) for months without a single problem. I can say the same for Panther on my eMac and iBook, and Jaguar before that
Thanks to all those who tried to help!
My first thought was RAM, and it still might be. But, I did not buy cheap RAM… it’s from Crucial.
I have several Macs, and all but one is trouble-free. If you have a problem it is not fun. Macs and OSX are great, but not perfect. Take a look online or at the Apple store and you’ll see plenty of people with sick Macs.
To all Mac OS X users,
The correct way to INSTALL A NEW VERSION of OS X (eg. 10.3.x Panther to 10.4.x Tiger):
1. Boot from the install DVD (insert DVD and restart holding down the letter C).
2. Once you select the correct language, go to the Utilities menu in the menu bar and select Disk Utility.
3. In the Disk Utility window, click on the drive you plan to install OS X on and then click the Verify Disk button.
4. If errors are found, click the Repair Disk button.
5. Repeat step 3. If errors are still found, cancel the install and use a utility like DiskWarrior to repair the hard drive before returning here. If you don’t have DiskWarrior, back-up the whole drive and re-format it if necessary. (PS: Its possible that the drive may be defective, so bear this in mind too.)
6. Once no errors are found, if the drive already has OS X installed, click the Repair Disk Permissions button.
7. Quit Disk Utility.
8. If the drive already has OS X installed, continue the install process till you see the Options button. Click the Options button. If OS X is not already installed, bypass this step as well as step 9 below.
9. Select “Archive and Install”. Leave the “Preserve user…” checkbox checked (unless you specifically want to lose your account settings).
10. Continue the install process till you see the Customize button. Click on the Customize button.
11. Examine the customization options and select/deselect those you want.
12. Complete the install process.
The correct way to UPDATE AN EXISTING VERSION of OS X (eg. 10.4.3 Tiger to 10.4.6 Tiger):
1. Open Disk Utility (its usually found in /applications/utilities).
2. Select the OS X volume you are updating and click the Repair Disk Permissions button.
4. Quit Disk Utility.
4. Launch and run the updater package.
5. After restarting, re-open Disk Utility and repair disk permissions again.
I run a small Mac repair service and see a lot of different model Macs. I’ve never had a problem after installing/updating OS X when I follow these steps. Just don’t be tempted to “short-cut” any of them.
“…and the appearance of strange dialog boxes,”
Dialog boxes say – Get a Mac
“Don’t crow too loud, because OSX is no where near perfect, and sometimes it’s downright dissapointing. When I started having problems I started reading the blogs and found that I had plenty of company.”
OK if I hear this G*****N argument one more time someone is going to experience a VERY personal kernel panic of their own.
Of course going to user forums at MacFIXIT and the SUPPORT section of the apple site willl reveal tons of “my mac doesn’t work right” stories. That’s because not one person ever hops on those boards and says “My Mac is running just fine. Just thought I would let you know.” Look at the install base of OSX and look at the number of individuals posting in those forums, then AND ONLY THEN can you make a FAIR comparison of the problem with ANY OS or HARDWARE manufacturer.
We have 7 Macs at my work ranging from G4 towers to G5 imacs, I have an iMac, and ibook and a dual G5 running at home. I have been using macs for years, and I have only had a serious problem with 2 macs. One was an iMac that my boss had screwed by mucking in parts of the OS she had no business touching. I reinstalled the OS and locked her out of the system folder, got her a font management program and it has never so much as hiccuped since. The other was a G5 imac that had been bad since the day we got it out of the box. After a couple of admittedly frustrating trips to the apple store and I finally got them to repplace the logic board. And since then, nothing. Runs like a dream.
I have also been a computer user since 1982 and have owned and used MANY a different machine and OSes (sp?). Commodore 64, Vic 20, Wang, The Atari with the hard mustard colored keys, Amiga, Zenith PC Clone, Dell, Gateway and I have used almost EVERY Windows OS since 3.1( admittedly I skipped ME because that was a POS even for Microsoft.) I even still have a Windows box running in my home.
And my opinion based on countless hours of computer use, abuse, and maintenance is that OSX is the most stable, problem free, just works, easy to use OS that I have EVER used. With OSX I spend more time working WITH my computer and less time working ON my computer.
END RANT
I just go the Mac Mini and I love it, but I also play Dungeons and Dragons Online, no Mac Version for this,and I use Remote Desktop for work which is why I have boot camp and run XP Pro and Mac 10.4.6.
I have only had my Mac for less than a week and have had Garageband and Iphoto applications lockup where I had to do a force quit on them. Life is not perfect on either side of the world, that is just the way it is.
I have been Mac curious for years going way back, but never made the jump because my life at work is Windows and I need a Windows PC to remote desktop into work. Most of the games I play come out for windows first then maybe mac later, so I have always been a Windows PC person. Now I get both in one box and it is wonderful, I can play my Dungeons and Dragons online, do my job and my wife can do her work with powerpoint presentations and such for her work at home as well. We can just do a quick 30 second reboot to MAC and my kids can do there Imovie, Idvd, Iphoto, Itunes and garage band just like at school and I get something else to play with.
I am new to MAC and I am just scratching the surface, but there are bullet points for both OS’s in most of our lifes and I am glad to be a new owner of a MAC.