Windows Internet Explorer 8 for Windows Vista (final release)

Applies to:
Windows Vista

Requirements
Windows Vista


Description
Windows Internet Explorer 8 (also called Internet Explorer 8 or simply IE8) is the next browser from Microsoft. This version of Windows Internet Explorer 8 will only run on Vista. It works on Vista with SP1 or without SP1 - it doesn't matter. There is a separate download for Windows XP - see the Windows section of this site (top left of this page).

According to Microsoft, Internet Explorer 8 features:
Activities: these are contextual services that provide quick access to external services from any webpage. These are "Look up" information related to data in the current webpage and "Send" content from the current webpage to another application.
WebSlices: this option can expose portions of a page as a WebSlice that users can subscribe to and bring that content with them on their links bar wherever they are on the web. Users receive update notifications when the content changes.
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 will ship in standards mode by default. However, three different rendering modes that may be set using the X-UA-Compatible header:
Quirks mode which supports Internet Explorer 5 and legacy browsers
Strict mode which supports Internet Explorer 7 and is accessed through the emulate Internet Explorer 7 button
Internet Explorer 8 standards mode
Cascading style sheets 2.1 compliance
Cross-browser inconsistencies have been fixed
Enhanced protection from deceptive websites and phishing
Domain Highlighting - a technology that highlights the top level domain in the address bar, allowing users to quickly confirm that the website they are visiting is the site they intended to visit. The domain name is in bold and black font, standing out from other characters in the URL which are gray.

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(Direct Link)

Windows 7 64-bit, Vista (32-bit), Vista (64-bit) and Windows Server 2008 Security updates and patches for 2009

Applies to:
Windows 7 64-bit, Windows Vista (with SP2), Windows Vista 64-bit (with SP2) and Server 2008 (with SP2).

Requirements
Windows 7 64-bit, Windows Vista (with SP2), Windows Vista 64-bit (with SP2) and Server 2008 (with SP2).
Note: these update packages can also be used for other Operating systems - see below.

Author/Supplier
Microsoft


Description
These downloads are Microsoft's 2009 monthly security updates for Windows 7 64-bit, Vista, Vista 64-bit and Windows Server 2008 (plus other Windows Operating Systems if needed - which is very handy if you have to update different releases across a network). The list starts from the most recent release and goes backwards down the page. Each item includes the official Microsoft security update package in .ISO format. The downloads are quite large as they contain every patch released in a particular month for all supported Microsoft operating systems - including Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player updates (the smaller individual patches for Windows XP 32-bit and Windows 7 32-bit are available in the Windows section).

The files are in ISO format and can be burnt to a CD/DVD, virtually mounted or opened with an ISO viewer. If you have no experience with ISOs, Google can answer most questions. The ISO's have the advantage that they can be used on all Operating Systems from Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7 right through to Server 2003, 2008 and 64-bit releases. The disadvatage is that they are huge (typically ranging from 500-1500+MB for each month). The objective of this page is to help users of Windows 7 64-bit, Vista, Vista 64-bit and Server 2008 keep their Operating Systems updated - hence only ISOs from June 2009 onwards are included (Service Pack 2 for Vista and Server 2008 included all patches prior to June 2009 and Windows 7 was release in October 2009).

Security Updates: December 2009

December 2009, 402MB (Part 1)

December 2009, 2730MB (Part 2)

Security Updates: November 2009

November 2009, 417MB*

Windows Vista 64-bit and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (final release)

Applies to:
Windows Vista 64-bit or Windows Server 2008

Requirements
Windows Vista 64-bit (32-bit versions) with Service Pack 1 installed or
Windows Server 2008 with Service Pack 1 installed

Description

Windows Vista 64-bit Service Pack 2 (also called Vista SP2) fixes a range of bugs in Windows Vista discovered since the release of Vista Service Pack 1. The download provides enhanced security measures that will improve Vista's defences against viruses, worms and hackers, along with increased stability and, fingers crossed, an improved experience for users.

Windows Vista 64-bit and Server 2008 Service Pack 2 is a large download and can be applied to any 64-bit version of Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, provided Service Pack 1 has already been installed. You can download SP2, burn it to disk and use it on multiple PCs.

Important notes:

This is the final version released in May 2009.

Service Pack 1 is a pre-requisite for installing Service Pack 2.

This service pack can also be applied to Windows Server 2008 (The operating systems already shipped with Service Pack 1)

To download Service Pack 1 - which is needed before you can install for SP2 - head to the Windows section of this site (see the menu on the left).

The file will download directly from Microsoft's servers.

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(Direct Link)

ActiveSync 4.5

Applies to:
Pocket PC or SmartPhone

Requirements
Pocket PC or SmartPhone (English)


Description

• Microsoft's ActiveSync is the latest sync software for Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs and Smartphones. All the significant improvements of previous versions are included in this package - if your current version is older than 3.5, this update will also increase compatibility with Microsoft Office XP and Windows XP. This version of ActiveSync also contains the following:
• Faster transfer of data files including media
• Ability to sync photos assigned to contacts from Outlook on the desktop
• ActiveSync 4.2 supports PC sync via USB cable, Bluetooth or infrared connection.
• Improves USB driver to increase connection stability and avoid crashes
• Better detection of cradled devices
• Fixes bug with ActiveSync falling into guest mode repeatedly
• Fixes bug where desktop fails to detect cradled device
• Fixes bug where device and desktop report different connection states and sync does not start
• Improves the reliability of large file transfers
• Enhances Desktop Connection Wizard UI to make connection setup easier
• Improves stability to reduce application level crashes

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(Direct Link)

Java Virtual Machine (JVM) Build 3810

Applies to:
Windows 95/98/Me/NT/XP
Do not apply this to Windows 2000

Requirements
Windows 95/98/Me/NT/XP
Internet Explorer 4, 5.01, 5.5 or 6


Description
This download fixes known security issues with Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and can be applied to Windows 95, 98, Me, NT or XP (but not Windows 2000). Please note that even though JVM was not included with the original release of XP, it is now part of Windows XP SP1. However, the XP SP1 version (3805) has since been found to have many security flaws. Likewise, the earlier versions of the JVM that were included with Internet Explorer 4.0 and 5.0 also contain many security holes (Internet Explorer 6 did not have the JVM included in the setup, but it is still needed by the browser in some circumstances).

Depending on your current version of Microsoft Virtual Machine, there will be many other important fixes. This latest release will fix a security vulnerability that allows a malicious Web site operator access to files on a user's computer and intranet content. It also fixes a hole that may allow script code in a Web page or HTML-based e-mail message access to ActiveX controls that should not be available in those contexts; and another one that could enable a malicious user to use an unsigned applet to read Web content behind a firewall.

Note also that Microsoft has changed the name of Java Virtual Machine to Microsoft Virtual Machine or Microsoft VM. However, most people (and Windows) still refer to it as Java Virtual Machine or JVM for short.

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(Direct link)

Microsoft .NET Framework runtime files 3.5

Applies to:
Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003 or Server 2008

Requirements
Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003 or Server 2008


Description
The .NET Framework 3.5 Serice Pack 1 (SP1) runtime file package includes everything you need to run applications developed using Microsoft's .NET Framework programming tools (eg Visual Studio 2008). What does this mean for the average user of a computer? If a software author uses .NET Framework to write programs, then you will need this runtime package in order to install and use the software. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to know whether a program needs these files because often an author fails to mention it in the help files or documentation. Typically the way you find out is that you run the program and an error message appears 'This program requires .NET Framework', 'Runtime error' (caution, this error has lots of different causes) or '1645 Error Installing Microsoft .NET Framework, Return Code [followed by four numbers].' You may even get the wonderfully frustrating 'Setup Failure - unknown reason.'

With a little luck, this latest version of the .NET Framework runtime files should get you up and running. Microsoft advise that anyone with an earlier version (eg 1.0, 2.0, 3.0) should also upgrade.

According to Microsoft the .NET Framework 3.5 service pack 1 (SP1) 'contains many new features building incrementally upon .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0, and includes .NET Framework 2.0 service pack 1 and .NET Framework 3.0 service pack 1.' In other words, this download will update any previous release. The one downside is that you will need to be online while it checks what various bits and pieces of .NEt Framework needs to be updated.

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(Direct link)

Security Essentials

Applies to:
Windows Security
Category:
Anti-Virus
Requirements:
Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7


Description:

This download installs Microsoft's Security Essentials free Anti-Virus.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free security suite that protects your PC from viruses, spyware and other malicious software. Through a simple to use interface, it keeps all the signatures updated using the Microsoft Update Service whilst integrating with the Opera ting System for a seamless user experience. It uses the popular green-yellow-red icon notification to keep you updated of your system's health without the obstructions traditionally associated with Anti-Virus. This is a must-install for any PC.

PC security does not stop with an Anti-Virus

PC security is a cycle of best-practices that involves taking care of a few basics. Whilst not all of us might feel comfortable updating and tweaking this essential piece of hardware, a number of tools exist that takes away all the hard work making PC maintenance a breeze.
Drivers are software programs that let Windows communicate and operate the hardware. Drivers may be released with security holes and bugs that lead to system crashes and security breaches. Leave the hard work to us by downloading our very own, newly released DriverScanner. At the click of a button, DriverScanner scans and updates your drivers to the latest versions released by manufacturers, making sure your system is up-to-date and safe to use.

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(Direct Link)