march 2007 progress report

[+theblazingangel MVC]

- done conversion to file based update detection. previously the 'update version fix', but now i've decided to replace registry detection with file based detection on all critical/non-critical (+ some component) updates, so not only to implement the 'update version fix' but also to allow detection of slipstreamed updates. took a while, lets out long sigh... :)

[aNILEator]

I don't want to add any pressure on getting this released, just want to inform possible orderers.

If you want to order now that is fine. Everyone that has ordered since last Friday has been contacted and is waiting for the new version to be released before I ship their CD/DVD's. I figured it was getting close to being released so I contacted them all because I figured they wouldn't mind waiting a week for the new version. So if you are interested go ahead and order, as soon as March is released your CD/DVD will be shipped.

Well it seems we're skipping march and going straight for an April release along with the others so will probably be 3 weeks?

I'd offer your guys a 'free' upgrade to April releases :p

[Angelico_Payne]

Yes go, april full ( not april fool :D )

I have been devasted by chores concerning college so I have been out of loop a bit on AP project.

Q : Can i revert packaged modules to their former .exe state and integrate them via .. say ... nlite in xp setup files directly?

Cause i calculated that approximetly 1-1.5h is lost on AP part of building neo PC, so i want to integrate all that can be integrated in xp installation directly, and apply other soft as sun java and etc on some T-xx stage of installation.

Also i have resolved issues i;ve been having witg validation "subroutine", so now IE7 and WM11 works fine, althought tested on only test comps so far... i will give it hot baptism today on 10+ comps (cause some builders reported having issue even when system is legit)

I noticed better forum organisation of AP section , so my gratz on that....

AP For Ever :)

[Bollywood]

I would like to thank you for the giant amount of time and bandwidth you save us all.

Given that March is ending, no harm can be done by releasing only the April one, and I believe most of us would prefer a full version.

Even if you only released an update version in May or June, I would still be very, very grateful for the effort you put up for all of us to use.

If the world had more guys like you we would be much better off?

Cheers man? excellent work indee:yes: :yes:

[Asmodeous]

Hi, I'm new to this forum! *waves*

I found autopatcher on google and it was the answer to a question I had asked myself many times: "Why cant there be a package of updates?"

I am an autopatcher advocate, thanks for taking action and saving us all (and my download limit hehe)

*thumbs up*

Asmodeous

P.S I agree with BollyWood in the post above: "If the world had more guys like you we would be much better off"

[warp9pnt9]

Heyyy theblazingangel, thanks a lot for all the great work getting this updated. File based & slipstream detection? Awesome! Don't kill yourself man. April will be well worth the wait. Anyone has a problem with that they can see me. *cracks knuckles* :p Maybe I'll order a DVD, it'll be handy.

[Denyer]

Probably the next fun affect-everything-NT5-and-up exploit --

http://it.slashdot.org/it/07/03/30/1311247.shtml

[cme4pc]

- done conversion to file based update detection. previously the 'update version fix', but now i've decided to replace registry detection with file based detection on all critical/non-critical (+ some component) updates, so not only to implement the 'update version fix' but also to allow detection of slipstreamed updates. took a while, lets out long sigh... :)

As to the slipstream detection and other improvements.... OUT-F'ing-STANDING!!!

.... as we southern boys say, the new release sounds like it will be slicker than snot...

Thanks for the good work.... good things come to those who wait

Just a suggestion...

with all these new features in the new release and since there were no March releases from the lords of MS....

when you are ready, you could do a maybe-possibly-sorta kinda do a BETA or RC release, complete with caveats so only the folks that are comfortable toying around with Beta's and release candidates on non-mission critical systems can do any shaking down necessary to see where any wheels may come off prior to doing the official April release based on the new and improved, feature packed, won't rust or collect dust version of AutoPatcher..... people can then proceed to screw things up EXPRESSLY at their own risk and when/if they do, it's with the knowledge they were using a Beta... might keep any griping and/or bad word of mouth to a minimum....

Free advice and you get what you pay for.....

[+theblazingangel MVC]

@cme4pc, i don't think theres any need for beta releases, it's not like i'm writing software here, the autopatcher exe is pretty small and has been tested already, the reset is pretty harmless, theres just no need, and a huge waste of effort.

@everyone, these last component modules are really slowing me down, but i'm getting there

[MazX_Napalm]

Shhhhhh!!!! theblazingangel @ work. Every minute he spends reading posts (like this one, especially. HEY STOP READING THIS) is a minute he looses in AP.

[+theblazingangel MVC]

^ :D

[cme4pc]

^ :D

@blaze = really no intent to cause extra effort... just a matter of labeling

@ max = Far be it for me to toss junior mints into the body cavities of patients while brilliant surgeons do their work....

Quick note, hot of the MS Security Release Advanced Notification system.... an unusual non-patch tuesday release scheduled for Tuesday April 3 of

"One Microsoft Security Bulletin affecting Microsoft Windows. The highest Maximum Severity rating for these is Critical"...

details being withheld until release, but my guess is this is a fix for the .ani cursor vulnerability.... the chinese hackrats are starting to ramp up attacks via this exploit.... maybe sneak in last minute AP add?....

Edited April 2, 2007 by cme4pc

[aNILEator]

also new java release :)

[RicaNeaga]

Blaze, can you tell me a probable date of release? I'm waiting to reinstall my windows xp...

Also, thank you for your work. It surely makes my reinstalls a lot easier.

[glutton4sw]

@aNILEator thanks...iv'e just done a windows clean install. i'll skip the next release of AP.

@RicaNeaga MS release security updates on tuesday april 10th. there is one update due to be released before that date though...to fix an animating cursor handling error causing a crash-restart loop on vista and other versions of windows.

[sjh220]

direct x 9.0c april now releasesd

[+theblazingangel MVC]

@sjh220, the directx 9.0c downloads were too large to perviously include in the main releases, however i will seriously consider an addon pack for this now, thanks for reminding me ;)

[Mocko2]

So will be March full release or not?

[+theblazingangel MVC]

@mocko2, no were skipping march and going for april since it is now april after all. april will be a full release for definite!

[RicaNeaga]

Please excuse me Blaze if I bother you :rolleyes: ... but when in April?

[+theblazingangel MVC]

@RicaNeaga, it's pretty difficult to put an estimation on it... :/

[+M2Ys4U Subscriber¹]

I think "When it's ready" is a good estimation :)

[RicaNeaga]

Then maybe you will also be able to update the Animated cursor patch that doesn't mess up with the Realtek HD Audio Control panel.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935448

[+theblazingangel MVC]

935448 will be included, don't worry ;)

[David McMahon]

935448 will be included, don't worry ;)

Just read an article in Micro Mart (British weekly mag) that makes the point that it is difficult to secure a computer before going on the Internet. Due to having to download patches whilst "live" on the Internet!

We know that Autopatcher solves this problem and as a system builder my life would be worse without it.

Good luck with the 5.6 conversion.

A few ideas;

I wonder if any other developers out there want to contribute?

Perphaps other security apps can be optionally downloaded

Further Reg tweaks to improve security/speed

Perhaps after the install has finished a IE link to take you to Windows update / MS Update page (with tick box?)

Maybe MS update can be installed under optional components so people can also get Office etc updates

Maybe new version of Autopatcher for MS Office(s) (Office 2k3SP2 is over 100MB)

Autopatcher to restart automatically on reboot to install patches on patches (for example the IE7 patches on reboot after IE7 installed)

maybe a basic malware scanner to prevent misinstallation of patches?

Maybe option to install updates before dekstop appears (like what Spybot Search and destroy does when it cant clear an item immediatly)

Maybe E-Mail reminders when new version of autopatcher is availble.

perhaps intergration with nlite to prepare XP media with updates pre-installed?

Just ideas bet you have thought of them anyway!

Will donate when my Busniess takes off!