From: Mike '/m' 


http://news.com.com/Critical+Windows+patch+may+wreak+PC+havoc/2100-1002_3-58960
41.html?tag=nefd.top

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A Microsoft patch meant to fix critical security flaws in Windows 2000,
Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 is causing trouble for some users, the
company said Friday.

The patch was released Tuesday to fix four Windows flaws, including one
that experts predict will be exploited by a worm in the coming days. The
flaw, tagged "critical" by Microsoft, lies in a Windows component
for transaction processing called the Microsoft Distributed Transaction
Coordinator, or MSDTC.

Installing the patch can cause serious problems, Microsoft said in an
advisory posted to its Web site Friday (
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909444 ).

The patch could lock users out of their PC, prevent the Windows Firewall
from starting, block certain applications from running or installing, and
empty the network connections folder, among other things, the software
maker said.


The trouble appears to occur only when default permission settings on a
Windows directory have been changed, according to Microsoft. The software
maker has received "limited reports" of problems from customers
but is still investigating the issue, a representative said.

Even if users experience PC trouble after installing the patch, they will
still be protected against any attack exploiting the Windows flaw, a
Microsoft representative said. The patch was delivered with Microsoft
security bulletin MS05-051.

To resolve any problems caused by the MS05-051 patch, users should restore
the default permissions for the Windows folder and the COM+ catalog. A
guide is available on the Microsoft Web site, and steps start with changing
the permissions on the "registration" folder in the Windows
directory.
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  /m

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