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Computerworld: HP confirms XP SP3 endless reboot snafu, promises patch

Computerworld reported yesterday in their story “HP confirms XP SP3 endless reboot snafu, promises patch” that…

“… some users of its AMD-based desktops have had problems after installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), and said it would issue a patch this week to prevent machines from spiraling into endless reboots. HP also told users to delay installing XP SP3 until that patch was released.”

Microsoft is also working on a hotfix for this issue, and will be available after it has been rigorously tested and meets our quality bar for release.

Computerworld also notes that “users impatient with HP’s or Microsoft’s patch plans can instead download a free tool… that detects and fixed PCs that may be susceptible to the endless reboot issue.”

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Bill Gates demos the Touch Wall to CEOs, plus video clip

While waiting for a conference call to begin, a quick post on Touch Wall demo’ed by Bill Gates at the CEO Summit this week in Redmond.

Benjamin J. Romano of the Seattle Times covers today how Bill Gates demonstrated the Touch Wall at the CEO Summit in Redmond this week…

“On Wednesday, he gave about 115 chief executives gathered at his company’s headquarters a sales pitch and a vision of the future of work, complete with a demonstration of the latest computing interface to be cooked up by Microsoft’s researchers.

“Think about the whiteboard in your office becoming intelligent,” Gates said before introducing Touch Wall, a 50-inch touch-sensing screen that he likened to a vertical version of the company’s Surface tabletop computer.”

Crunchgear covered the Microsoft TouchWall in this post, and noted that this alternative to Microsoft Surface could be constructed from just “a few hundred dollars worth of readily available hardware.” And it has a very cool demo below.

Tags: Touch Wall, CEO Summit, Surface.

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There are some really nasty bugs that hang around after a thorough debugging…

Not all bugs are in your code… they’re all over (and around) your computer.  Learn about some new debugging tools that will help keep you healthier…

After typing on my keyboard all day in meeting after meeting, I noticed that the laptop needed a little attention.  And after putting the kids to bed and using the kitchen PC, I noticed that it was similarly ignored… from a cleaning perspective, that is. 

As the family ran through a rash of colds last week, I thought it a good idea to use a kitchen cleaning wipe on the keyboard after I came across a new UK study: it shows keyboards swabbed from a run-of-the-mill office in London was home to more nasty bacteria than a toilet seat.  The survey noted that keyboards harbour harmful bacteria showed that most users clean their keyboard infrequently (if at all)…

In one case, a microbiologist recommended the removal of a keyboard as it had 150 times the recommended limit of bacteria.

That meant it was five times filthier than a toilet seat that was swabbed in the same test.

The main cause of a bug-infested keyboard is eating lunch at your desk, as the crumbs encourage the growth of millions of bacteria.

So here’s a little free advice: clean your keyboard and your mouse after reading this blog post.

Then head over to MSN to read more in the slide show article Where the Bugs Are in MSN Health & Fitness… from Heather Loeb of Men’s Health…

“Is there a more potent symbol of purity than the fluffy white snowflake, wafting from heaven and landing–ping!–on the tip of your tongue? Well, along comes the journal Science to spoil the fun, noting that bacteria called Pseudomonas syringe are lurking at the dark heart of many an earthbound crystal of frozen water. And if Frosty the Snowman is a target, what chance do the rest of us have?

“A pretty good one, actually– if you make note of the places where the bugs lie and swat them before they can do harm. Here’s an updated to-disinfect list for all the surprising places (and people) contagion clings to.”

Tags: advice, health, sick.

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Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) available on Windows Update

As noted on TechNet today off the main Windows XP TechCenter, Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) is now available for download and install via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center.

Windows XP SP3 includes all previously released updates for the operating system, in addition to a small number of new updates. Windows XP SP3 will not significantly change the Windows XP experience.

Get Windows XP Service Pack 3

Subscribers:

Non-subscribers:

Windows XP SP3 is now available to non-subscribers via:

We recommend customers use Windows Update to install the service pack, as it will provide the best experience.

As I noted previously, if you are an IT systems administrator, developer, or if you’re no stranger to installing updates from the DLC, you can update XP systems to SP3 via the SP available on the Download Center (as noted above), or as a download on Windows Update. 

For consumers, you’ll start to see XP SP3 distributed via Automatic Update in early summer.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows XP, SP3, Windows, Service Pack.

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Today’s advice: Stay home when you’re sick

imageUsually, I don’t post during business hours (maybe, on occasion at lunch) but I’m working at home today, recovering from something likely to be a bad cold.  As many companies are beginning to support as an employee best practice, staying at home when you’re sick is a good idea as noted on Live Search.  

As the CDC points out in this article, there are a few things you can do to try and curb the spread of contagious diseases like the common cold, strep throat and influenza…

CDC and its partners urge Americans to fight the spread of infection by taking these three easy steps:

  • Clean your hands
  • Cover your mouth and nose
  • Avoid close contact & stay home if you’re sick

For more information, visit the Speak Up™ website for the following resources:

It is nice that I have the infrastructure and tools that allow me to keep up and work from home.

Tags: advice, health, stay home, sick.