NEWS Microsoft is currently taking orders for its security CD, which will contain all the patches and critical updates your PC could want - delivered to your door for free.
As well as code Polyfilla for those security holes, Microsoft will be covering its back with some additional antivirus software and a firewall trial included on the CD. While the Redmond behemoth is taking orders now, you can get yours from Microsoft's website Users preferring a CD will have to wait an additional two to four weeks for the CD to be delivered.
The CD will cover Windows XP, Me, 2000, 98, and 98 Second Edition and will be available to a range of countries, including the US, UK, Japan and India, with more languages and countries to be made available during the next few days.
The CD is aimed at those who have slow dial-up connections or trouble connecting to the internet, allowing them to download and install all the updates in one go without keeping the phone line busy.
Paul Randle, Windows XP product manager, said that the idea for the CD had arisen through requests after the MSBlast virus from customers with narrowband connections who wanted help with patching.
"There were a lot of people with dial-up connections who had never patched their machines. It's a lengthy process to get their computers current." However, the CD includes only the security updates posted up to 15 October last year - leaving users without several months of critical updates.
Randle said that the five-month gap was due to the design and production time needed for the CD. "Unfortunately it takes that time... This is a step up on the ladder to getting up-to-date. It gets users over the initial barriers," he told silicon.com.
Randle added that Microsoft wasn't expecting huge demand for the CD.
Comments
There are 4 comments. Join the discussion
1. David Anderson
If the CD can be downloaded from the website, then there is no reason why MS cannot put a "rolled up to date" file for each operating system.
They are the first to blame home users, but do absolutely nothing to help them.
The CD will be 5 months out of date when it is delivered - pathetic!
2. Stuart Guthrie
Slave To The Machine
I Run Windows Me And Have Had Less Problems Than My Friends That Run Xp And Other Versions.
But I Have Relied On Patches And Updates Regularly From The First Time I Booted It Up.
I Have Dsl And I'm Not Able To Download From Ms Update At All This Time, The Screen Locks When I Go To Update.
I Was Able To Find The File I Needed Myself And Down Loaded It Manually.
I Clicked On It,it Started To Install And Then Nothing------- Out Of Desperation I Sent For The Cd But I Don't Think It Will Include The File I Need.
But What Can I Do. Its Like Talking To The "wall With A Busted Window" And Asking It To Fix It Self.
3. Alfred Reading
I don't trust Microsoft Passport. Why should I give personal details to an insecure system just to get a cure for problems caused by the insecurity of the systems produced by Microsoft.
4. anonymous
Microsoft should do this on a regular (at least quarterly) basis and then let the PC magazines distribute them as cover CDs.
This way everyone would be able to get an up-to-date baseline and Microsoft would have to develop a reliable patching mechanism.
Once the process was established it would be easy to move to more frequent updates and it would be easy for everyone to keep their PCs up to date.