March 13, 2018 - KB4088878 (Security-only update) Windows 7

[antioch]

Thank you Brink

Like others I just install the Security only updates. So far this Black Tuesday I have been offered KB890830 & 4088875. I hid 875 and installed the 830.
Last month was a mess. On 4 Feb I got KB4054518 together with 34 hidden updates. After hiding these I then got a series of previous Monthly Quality updates together with other previously hidden non essential stuff.
Finished up with 54 total hidden updates.
On 14 Feb I got all the 54 hidden updates plus 2 more non essential updates.
56 were now hidden
This left me with no further updates on offer and I went ahead and installed the security only KB4074587 on 16 Feb.
After booting and the desktop appeared I immediately noticed that the word and excel documents had strange looking icons and none would open.
So I did a system restore as I had made no changes or additions to my system other than the security update and these icons appeared as normal and opened.
For the moment I have not installed this month's security only update and of course the Feb one 4074587 is no longer installed.
To date I am informed that I have no updates, so fingers crossed I will not get all 56 hidden updates yet again. Feb was the sixth time hidden updates were offered again, since Nov 2016 - why does MS keep digging them out?

Antioch

 

[Brds7t7]

This not listening to users is not endemic to Microslop alone. Just sayin', while waxing nostalgic .

'tis a growing trend in the tech world unfortunately. Force features on people that nobody wants and take away user choices. You're right that it definitely isn't endemic to MS. I'm seeing it a lot more in consumer products. There's a large number of people who just pull something out of the box and use it as is. But, there's also a large number of people who want control over their own devices - which they paid for! You buy something these days and it's more like you're renting it from the company, instead of actually owning anything!

 

[Barman58]

Of course we have always rented Microsoft software and a lot of other software, we may own the hardware, but even a cursory look at the EULA on the Software will show that you are granted a licence that may be modified or even withdrawn at any time.

Also I do not believe that those who want control, and customizability, in anyway approach the numbers that just want a consumer experience like with a TV.

The majority of non business users are just basic switch on and use people, and the Business customers use software, that although is more customisable than the home versions, will be used as a highly controlled set of functionality, set by the systems admin, and directors/owners of the company.

That leaves a small number who do have the needs mentioned, but they are a small minority overall, but obviously a large proportion of online technical forums like ours. which slews the perception of views

 

[Brds7t7]

Wasn't specifically talking about Windows - that's always been a rented software. But it seems more and more things are moving over to the rented/subscription/borrowed service model. Whatever one chooses to call it.

You buy hardware these days and they somehow force you to have smart features on which ties you in to some sort of EULA or licence. I recently took back a TV because you more or less couldn't do anything with it unless it's connected to the Internet - just let me watch the damn TV! I had to change it for another one which has Smart features, but doesn't try to cram them down my throat and force me to use them. I'd prefer to buy one without to be honest, but it'll be hard to find that in 10 years from now.

If I buy hardware (not licenced software) then I should have the right to do with it as I please. I own that piece of hardware which I bought with my own hard earned money. I dread the days when digital products start to fully push out physical products. I'd rather not have to agree to sell my soul or hand over my DNA just to switch a TV on!

Excuse the off-topic ranty stuff! I'll get back in my cage now.

 

[BlueGuy]

Well, I'm skipping the March, aside from the Malicious s/w tool. In the meantime, since I have to look at my budget before building the Blender/Poser 64-bit machine, I may invoke PAE in this one as a compromise. As my initial decision in 2013 was dictated by legacy gear that had no 64 bit drivers, like the MyHD MDP-130 capture card. Since the Sempron 145 that I unlocked to a Athlon II is now toast, replaced by a better AM3 CPU (and man! was that hard to get hold of), when I couldn't get the second capture card to run under Win7, despite an entire thread over at AVS forum on it. The main PVR box runs XP Pro, just to keep things simple. That only affects two functions, DVD playback and playing files over N.A.S. The old thing prefers single cores, but Windows still has the /one cpu switch that you can use in a batch file prior to full booting, just in case Sempron 100 series can't be found anymore. I'm not too concerned about anyone getting into that XP machine because all they'll find are the recorded TV shows and the text files I edit for the channel lists and scheduling reservations, but I did include the old Outpost firewall, which is good enough for blocking unwanted incoming and outgoing signals that one doesn't want. These issues, as Lady F. has pointed out, seems to affect mainly Intel cpu and chipsets. My use of AMD is primarily budget related, yet I do not like their integrated ATI graphics line, preferring the nVidia line, which I've been using since switching from Atari to Windows '98 in that same year, 1998. What P.O. me off at ATI was that they came out with the first ATSC tuner but were not selling it in Canada[at least not for another 2-3 years], despite being a CDN company (before the AMD buyout) then I saw the MDP-130 after a web search one day and was hooked, it has its quirks but so far has been the best PVR solution. I'm getting off topic again, sorry. I'll shut up now..besides gotta go and make supper, be back when there's an email notification.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Wasn't specifically talking about Windows - that's always been a rented software. But it seems more and more things are moving over to the rented/subscription/borrowed service model. Whatever one chooses to call it.

You buy hardware these days and they somehow force you to have smart features on which ties you in to some sort of EULA or licence. I recently took back a TV because you more or less couldn't do anything with it unless it's connected to the Internet - just let me watch the damn TV! I had to change it for another one which has Smart features, but doesn't try to cram them down my throat and force me to use them. I'd prefer to buy one without to be honest, but it'll be hard to find that in 10 years from now.

If I buy hardware (not licenced software) then I should have the right to do with it as I please. I own that piece of hardware which I bought with my own hard earned money. I dread the days when digital products start to fully push out physical products. I'd rather not have to agree to sell my soul or hand over my DNA just to switch a TV on!

Exactly.

Here's another example:
John Deere makes insane claim that farmers don’t own their tractors in bizarre twisted view of ownership

This guy's comment sums it up:

All according to plan. Welcome to the future were you don’t own anything. Please see the article “Welcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better“ for more details.

How do they prevent you from owning anything? By using software to control all of your stuff remotely. If you don’t endlessly pay or have the wrong political opinions or annoy the wrong person or the Artificial Intelligence systems decide that you are unworthy for whatever reason all of your stuff gets remotely shut off. Your refrigerator, your car, your tractor. EVERYTHING. You might still possess it but it will be useless to you. In other words, we are all to be renters. Except the elite, of course.

By the way, any type of “smart” appliance already has this built in. Plus, the money to endless pay for things but never own them is automatically taken out of your bank account. That is why they want a “cashless society” so they can take all your wealth in an instant.

Welcome to the Corporate version of "1984".

 

[Painter]

The Microsoft description page for both the March monthly update and the security only update was updated today. I do not know what was specifically updated though - possibly the script that is a perquisite for the pci.sys file. I checked my version of the pci file and it is an older version than the one they specify, but I have absolutely no idea if I am supposed to run that script or not. What happens if I do not ?

I install the security only updates, but I am hesitant to do so with the March offering. This prerequisite is not well explained.

Microsoft could do a roaring business in planning the ultimate hedge maze.

 

[Brink]

Thank you Painter. First post updated.

 

[Brds7t7]

Thank you Painter. First post updated.

Thanks for the update Shawn.

I have the Security-only update installed and haven't noticed any network issues within VMs. But, I wonder if I should uninstall the update, apply the vbs script and then reinstall the update, in case it causes any issues in future?

 

[Painter]

Thanks for the update Shawn.

I have the Security-only update installed and haven't noticed any network issues within VMs. But, I wonder if I should uninstall the update, apply the vbs script and then reinstall the update, in case it causes any issues in future?

I ran the script. Curiosity got the best of me.

I received one of the return messages that is built into the script....
SlotPersistentInfo keys still exist under HKM etc....PCI. Manually delete the keys, and then install the update.

I am not sure what keys they are referring to. The Enum key?

I hope you run it - tell me what message you get.

The update is becoming more important as Microsoft is closing a major vulnerability in W7/64 created in the January and February security updates for meltdown. MS have allowed access to the kernel memory - the March update closes that hole.

Windows 7 Meltdown Patch Caused Another System Vulnerability

 

[lehnerus2000]

Has this update been repaired?
Should I download it again?


Reading this article I get the impression I should re-image my PC using my December 2017 Backup:
https://blog.frizk.net/2018/03/total-meltdown.html

Based on MS' track record, only an idiot would use their IoT stuff:
https://blogs.microsoft.com/iot/201...ons-vs-reality-of-using-iot-in-manufacturing/

 

[Painter]

I checked several sites that follow MS updates very closely and according to them the original is still being offered in the MS Catalog.

The change that was made on March 27 was to the mystery script. Apparently it was ineffective - I think it needs elevated privileges to do what it is supposed to do.

Edit ...
The Mystery Script - solved. The script is recommended to be run on machines with static IPs, otherwise it is not required.

 

[BlueGuy]

Has this update been repaired?
Should I download it again?
Reading this article I get the impression I should re-image my PC using my December 2017 Backup:
https://blog.frizk.net/2018/03/total-meltdown.htm

"Only Windows 7 x64"

I get it now, after reading the article, was soo...confused there for the past month, but my next build will be 64-bit. Since shopping around that 4 more GiB of RAM would cost 80-100 bucks, world rather save that for a new machine, so I won't be bothering with PAE on this one.

 

[wutangdoge]

Need advice.... With all the issues and such should i uninstall the updates dating from January 2018 to February 2018? Or leave them be and just install the latest update from this one? KB4100480 Windows kernel update for CVE-2018-1038 for Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

As for the March 2018 updates i already uninstall those because it slows down when booting up from a cold boot.

 

[Brink]

KB4088878 article in first post updated.

 

[ThrashZone]

Has this update been repaired?
Should I download it again?


Reading this article I get the impression I should re-image my PC using my December 2017 Backup:
https://blog.frizk.net/2018/03/total-meltdown.html

Based on MS' track record, only an idiot would use their IoT stuff:
https://blogs.microsoft.com/iot/201...ons-vs-reality-of-using-iot-in-manufacturing/

Hi,
Yeah read that one posted on oc.net and indeed last known good rollup was december 2017 which I'm still on never installed any others
But even it sort of bites but at least no bsod....
I've lost faith in MS personally they have no interest in win-7 at all


If I read that right though most of the issues were with servers crashing though.
https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/co...otal_meltdown/

https://www.reddit.com/r/programming..._patch_allows/

 

[lehnerus2000]

Hi,
Yeah read that one posted on oc.net and indeed last known good rollup was december 2017 which I'm still on never installed any others
But even it sort of bites but at least no bsod....
I've lost faith in MS personally they have no interest in win-7 at all

I rolled my PC back to my pre-January Updates Image.
It actually seems to run smoother.

I guess I'll have to rely on my Backup Images for security (just like my XP install & VM).

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I rolled my PC back to my pre-January Updates Image.
It actually seems to run smoother...

Mine ran one heckuvalot faster and smoother when I did that. MS has risen almost to the top of my Specialized High Intensity Training List.