Chris Stauffer at myITForum.com

I been messing with the blog theme today because we discovred that the blog theme I was using (Lexinterior) wasn't allowing attachments. This theme Photos is working proporly and i was able to change the header bar to look however i want. Well I think I finally got the blog looking like I want. Hope it looks ok.

 Chris <><

http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/c/a/5cab7c25-9dba-4462-a887-1977337e369e/SMS2003SP3SupportedConfigurations.htm 

Ok there have been so many questions about these updates that I decided that I should contact my TAM (Thanks John answers as [JS]). After having a second TAM add his 2 cents (Thanks Scott answers ar [SW]) here is what we came up with.

There seems to be mass confusion on the net because of this update. Apparently there have been issues with SVCHOST toping the CPU at 100%. I have experienced this on my home system and several of my friends and families systems. I have not witnessed it at work and I have not been contacted by any of the agencies for this problem. But I have been contacted by many of them asking what they should do.

Everything I read about the SVCHOST issue says that you need to install KB927891 and the WSUS 3.0 client.

• http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archive/2007/05/15/srvhost-msi-issue-follow-up.aspx
• http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archive/2007/05/22/latest-msi-dll-fix-927891-also-available-to-wu-wsus-today.aspx

Can you please clarify a few things:

1. KB927891 patch was release 2 weeks ago. Now it was re-released yesterday.
• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891

• What changed?  The update does not correct a security vulnerability, but is instead an update for the error conditions that are described in the actual article.  It appears the previous article did not state all the error conditions that this update actually fixed.  So as you can see the executable did not change since the 7^th, just the verbiage on what it corrected. [JS].

• i. Released 5-7-07 WindowsXP-KB927891-v2-x86-ENU.exe
• ii. Released 5-22-07 WindowsXP-KB927891-v3-x86-ENU.exe

• When I click on the link from the KB article above it gives me this:

• i. Note: as you can see it still has the date of 5-7-07 but it is now version 3

Was

File Name: WindowsXP-KB927891-v2-x86-ENU.exe
Version: 927891
Knowledge Base (KB) Articles: KB927891
Date Published: 2/20/2007

Now

2. Documentation I reviewed also said that we should update all systems with this patch for Windows Update version 3.0:
• http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe

• i. I believe this is the KB that goes with it
• 1. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936301

• The problem is that we use ITMU for most of our systems. Do we need this update if we only use ITMU RV3? 

• i. I haven't heard anything back on this one just yet. Although all I have read both internally and externally says it should be applied [JS] (copying Scott as he is checking on this as well).

• ii. ITMU uses both windows installer (the component being updated here) and WUA (component being updated later). I do not believe that ITMU RV3 requires different WI or WUA components so I can't find a reason not to apply it. The only docs I see say to update all OS's where Windows Installer is applicable. Even though you use ITMU, it still uses WI and the update agent (which will be updated at a later time). (SW)

Hope this helps someone

Chris Stauffer <><

• Your system may appear to become unresponsive when Windows Update or Microsoft Update is scanning for updates that use Windows Installer.
• You receive an access violation error in svchost.exe. This access violation stops the Server service and the Workstation service.
• A memory leak occurs when Windows Update or Microsoft Update is scanning for updates that use Windows Installer.
• Windows Update or Microsoft Update scans take a very long time, sometimes hours, to complete.

Not sure why this was re-released again but it was. I installed this about 2 weeks ago, it just showed up in my auto updates at home.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891

here is the official Date and Time.

Thanks Dave W. for the info.

These may come in handy when you setup BDD.

http://www.deployvista.com/Blog/tabid/70/EntryID/18/Default.aspx

good read :-) 

http://www.deployvista.com/Blog/tabid/70/EntryID/36/Default.aspx

Just recieved this: 

Security Bulletin changes

Q:   What changes are you making to the security bulletins?

A:    Customers have told us they are satisfied with the level of technical detail in the bulletins, but they also want to be able to quickly determine the severity of the bulletin and its applicability to their environment. With that in mind, we are making the following changes:

·          Move all applicable decision making information to the top of the page 

 Updated with New directions. I forgot the Secondary and console upgrades in the first Doc 

http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/cstauffer/archive/2007/05/15/sms-2003-sp3-install-directions.aspx

Ok I finally finished my install directions that I was putting together. I decided to share them with the public because there is some useful info in them.

 Enjoy

 Chris Stauffer <><

Updated with New directions. I forgot the Secondary and console upgrades in the first Doc 

Chapter 3

Christian Vacation (worth every penny even the pennies I don’t have)

This was the first cruise that I have ever been on. So I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. I had an awesome time. I think it had a lot to do with the atmosphere on this cruise. PCC is a Christian organization that puts on Christian themed Cruises. As the Name would suggest. My wife and I have been Christians since we where small children and have listened to Christian Music since we where in our teens. I have about 15g of music on my computer at work and this is what I listen to as I work all day. If you have ever listened to Christian Music you know it can be very exhilarating and sometimes calming. I personally like a mix of everything from Rock to alternative and even Praise and Worship.

            Some of my favorite Musicians are:

·        Michel W Smith

·        Barlow Girls

·        Third Day

·        Big Daddy Weave

·        Caedmon's Call

·        Kutless

·        Steven Curtis Chapman

·        tobyMac

·        DC Talk

And the list goes on.

I was listening to the radio one day and heard about another PCC called the Klove cruise. I knew that my wife and I where looking at going on a cruise for our 10 year anniversary but we hadn’t decided on any thing yet. I went to the site and discovered that the cruise was sold out and it was to soon anyway.

While I was there I discovered “The Music Boat”. After reading about who was going to be on the cruise I knew my wife would want to go.

Some of the Artist would be:

http://www.pccmusicboat.com/index.php?page=artists_and_speakers

 So after we talked about it we book it. I am so glad we did. We sent most of the days relaxing and enjoying the break from reality. And spent the evenings attending concerts that we would either not be able to afford or at least not been able to get the seats that we had.

Here is who we got to see:

Monday Night

Barlowgirls 

Aaron Shust 

Tuesday Night

Thirdday

Wednesday Night

Comedy Tour

Thursday Night

Shaun Groves

Mark Harris

Nicole c Mullen

sonicflood  

Shaun Groves 

tree63

Aaron Shust 

Salvador 

There where several other concerts that we peaked in on but I can’t remember what nights they where. We also got to go to one of the artist signings. My wife was happy because she loves Aaron Shust and she got to get her picture taken with him and got his autograph. I wanted to go tot the thirdday signing but they closed the doors because of how long the line was before we could get to it L

            It was a great cruise. It isn’t everyday that you get to eat lunch or stand 5 feet from a Dove award winner while they are enjoying vacation along side of you. I never expected to stand next to Mac Powel from Thirdday as he sang along with 300 fans in a small Packed room for the Aaron Shust concert (Standing room only). That was cool.

These are not our photos but I have lots like them.

http://www.premierchristiancruises.com/slideshow/tmb-07/

On Wednesday we Docked in Ocho Rios Jamaca. We went on an excursion that took us sailing, snorkeling, and to Dunns River Falls. We had a great time, Until it was time to come back to the Ship and got stuck in a rain storm. It rained so hard that it felt like hail on the skin. It only lasted about 20 min and then it stopped which meant we didn’t have to spend the rest of the time Shopping in the poring rain.

Over all it was a great trip. We did need to come home though cause we missed the kids.

If you are looking for a great vacation I would recommend PCC any day.

Chapter 2

How not to fly

Sorry So long but you will see why if you read the whole thing.

We decided to fly to Miami from Philadelphia the day before the trip just incase we had any delays. This way we wouldn’t have to worry about missing the boat because of a cancelled flight. This was the first time my wife ever flew anywhere so it was very exciting for her. So my Mom dropped us off at the airport at 11:30 am, our flight was scheduled for 1:30pm. I called to verify the flight at 11am and it was on time. We figured that this would give us enough time to get though security and relax before the flight. I hadn’t flown since 1999 so we had not been though the new checkpoints yet and didn’t know what we might be in for. We checked in our baggage at the curbside and were informed that the flight was delayed till 1:50pm. We though oh this is going to be fun already. We haven’t even gotten in the building and the fight is delayed. The security check point was a breeze. We were though security and at the gate for our fight in 15 minutes. When we got to the gate the message board said that the flight had been delayed till 2:30pm it was 11:45am. I thought “Great now it is over an hour behind”. We figured well since we have time to kill “lets go get some lunch”.

            So we went to lunch at TGIF and went back to the terminal. It is now 1pm. We went to sit down and noticed a long line forming at the ticket counter. I asked one of the people standing in line “What’s the line for?” He said the flight was CANCELLED, only after they had delayed it a 3^rd time to 3pm. We were told that we could stand in line or we could call the number on the desk for assistance. I had my cell with me so I opted to call the number. I was on the phone for over 90 min and finally got us on a fight to Charlotte, North Carolina at 6pm with a connector to Miami at 9pm. We where suppose to be flying on American Airlines and the new Flight was going to be with USAIR. This would get us into Miami at 11:00pm, so much for taking my wife out for dinner in Miami. The woman that I talked to said that they found our bags and that they would be on the flight with us to Charlotte. We called the hotel to make sure they knew we would be in late. They noted it on our room and told us that the (Free) Shuttle ran till 1AM. So we figured great we have plenty of time once we get to Miami.

            So we are now sitting in the Philadelphia airport trying to make sure that we are on this new flight. At 3pm I decided we better check at one of the counters and make sure we don’t need boarding passes to get on the flight. We went to the counter and the woman at the counter told us that she didn’t have any information on us in the computer and that she wouldn’t have anything until 5pm and even then she couldn’t print out boarding passes for us. She said that we should go to the ticket counter to get new boarding passes so that we wouldn’t have any issues. So we figured ok no big deal. What she didn’t tell us was that we would have to go back outside the security zone to get those passes. So we go back out of the security zone to get in line (45 min wait) to get the new boarding passes. We got the new boarding passes and have to go back though security again. That took 15 min, again faster then expected. It is now 4ish. So we go back to the terminal and waited for the flight. The fight was on time and we even landed in Charlotte about 15 min early. We figured cool as long as the flight to Miami is on time we are doing good. We had to hike about 2 miles to get to our transfer flight. Luckily they have those walking escalators that make the hike shorter.

So we get to the new gate at about 7:30pm. We decided to go get something to eat but this time we are going to bring it back to the gate and eat it there so we don’t miss any announcements. We ate our dinner and everything was going good. About 8:30 the Desk attendant announces that the flight was delayed in DC and that it would be arriving in about 15 min and that we would board as soon as the passengers get off. So the fight was delayed for boarding to 9:10pm. Well 9pm came and went and the flight was still not at the gate. So at 9:10 she announces that the flight was on the ground and that it would be in the gate at any moment. The flight was now delayed to 9:25pm. At 9:30 the attendant announced that the fight was being cleaned and that it was going to be a few more minutes. So now the flight was delayed to 9:45.

At 9:40 the attendant (looking very scared) announces that the flight was almost ready but that it would be 10pm before we can board. See where this is going L. At 10:05 she gets on the speaker again and announces that the flight had been grounded due to maintenance issues but we have another Plane that we can use. The only thing was we had to go to a different gate. You guessed it we had to go back to where we first landed 3 hours before on the other side of the airport. So we walk back the 2 miles to the new gate. After arriving at the gate we are told that the fight would be leaving at 10:25. At 10:30 the same desk attendant announces that the plane is being cleaned because it was suppose to sit over night so it would be a few more minutes. It is now suppose to leave at 10:45. The plane finally begins boarding at 10:50.

            So we get into the plane and get ready to pull away from the gate. The back of the plane if full of Cubans (no not the cigars), they are carrying on about not being able to site with there family. The Captain comes back and threatens to take the plan back to the gate and remove the woman if she doesn’t sit down and shut up. She mouths off a little bit but, shuts up and sits down. It is now 11:20pm and the captain announces that the flight will take 2 hours. So guess that means that we will miss the free shuttle to the hotel.

            We finally arrive at 1:15am. We go to the baggage claim and wait 20 min for our luggage that never comes. That is right I said our luggage is now lost in Miami at 1:40am. We go to the baggage claim desk at USAIR and the attendant say that it is probably over at American Airlines on the other side of the parking lot. So we walk across the parking lot which was about a ½ mile. We get to the AA baggage desk and the attended (that barely spoke English) tell us that they do have our luggage that we need to go to the end of the hallway and meet her supervisor and that she would give us our bags. You guessed it another 1/2mile walk. So we get to the end of the hall and NO ONE is there. We wait 5 min and head back to the desk. NO ONE is there at the desk. We walk back down the hall it is now almost 2AM. Again NO ONE is there. So we walk back to the desk one more time because it is 2AM and we don’t know what else to do. As we walk back to the desk there is a woman walking in front of us in an AA uniform like the one at the desk. We get back to the desk and this woman is locking everything up. I say “excuse me we are looking for a supervisor that was suppose to meet us at the storage room for our baggage”. She says “yeah that is me but we are now CLOSED come back at 5am and someone will help you”. I said “What!!!!” as she speedily walks out the door. So now it is 2:15 am and we are stuck at the airport without our luggage and we can’t get it till after 5am. So we decide maybe we can catch a cab to the hotel. We catch a cab to the hotel and get checked in. It is now 2:35am. We figure we will sleep till 7 am and then get up and go back to the airport and get our luggage.

            Well sleeping till 7am wasn’t going to happen. We go to bed and realize that the pillows and the comforter are both Down. I wake up at 6 am with an allergic reaction to the down and I’m pucking and everything like I just went though a CS gas chamber. (military guys will get that one). We get up and got to the airport. It takes us all of 2 min to get our luggage. Just think if the %^%$%$*%$ at 2am had been nice that is all the longer it would have taken. We go back to the hotel and check in to the Cruise. They had an early check-in for anybody that stayed at the Marriott. This saved us about 90 once we got to the dock.

So the moral of the story is Always fly the day before because you never know what is going to happen.

Chris Stauffer <><