At last the moment you've been waiting for. Microsoft wants to hit your version of Windows with an update, and this time you don't have to go rummaging around the internet to find it: just fire up Windows Update and let Microsoft do all the work. After a few false starts XP users get the much-anticipated SP3 update, which promises speed boosts and some of the fancy security features found in Vista. If you're a Vista user you're also in luck, since Microsoft has restarted its Vista SP1 distribution after some compatibility problems with Microsoft Dynamics RMS. Sounds like a party.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Microsoft kicked up a bit of a stir recently, when it began what appeared to be a practice of updating files on individuals' computers even when they had turned off the automatic update feature in Windows XP and Vista. That first came to light courtesy of the folks at the "Windows Secrets" newsletter, which found that nine files in XP and Vista were changed on or after August 24th, with no notification of the changes in Windows whatsoever. That was later confirmed by ZDNET's Hardware 2.0 blog, which tracked down the affected files and also pinpointed the update date as August 24th. Now, Microsoft has come out and explained itself, saying that the updates weren't really updates for Windows, but rather updates for Windows Update itself, which apparently didn't merit a notification. The company does admit that it could have been more "transparent" about the matter, however, and says it's now "looking at the best way to clarify" the behavior of Windows Update.

[Thanks, Robert J]

Read - Computerworld, "Microsoft changes Windows files on user PCs without permission"
Read - ZDNet Hardware 2.0, "Confirmation of stealth Windows Update"
Read - ITWorld, "Microsoft: 'Secret' updates were for Windows Update itself"

Let's face it, even those who do like using Windows (us included) aren't too fond of Windows Update -- and don't even get us started on what sysadmins have to go through keeping Windows boxes up to date (yeah, we used to do that too). Which is why we're so glad there's always a healthy 3rd party ecosystem in place to help fill in the gaps and get users get what they need and how they need it. Like AutoPatcher, the popular Windows Update substitute that's been around for the last four years. Well, kiss it goodbye. The AutoPatcher team is reporting that Microsoft has laid down the smack on them and their ops, demanding the immediate shutdown of the service. We understand it's kind of dubious (if not outright illegal) to redistribute Microsoft's code (in the form of Windows update patches), but try though we might, we just can't see what damage these guys are doing to Microsoft -- only good -- so we've got our fingers crossed the AP guys can figure out a way to re-enable service without future infringement. Won't someone please think of the chil -- sysadmins?

Read - AutoPatcher sounds like it's calling it quits
Read - The takedown notice Microsoft sent to the AutoPatcher team

While iTunes 7.1 claimed to play nicer with Windows Vista, there was still reason for avid iPod users to hold back on upgrading, and now it looks like those final issues have been ironed out. Starting today, Vista users can download a software update that purportedly solves the problems some users were having as their iPod became corrupted when "ejecting them using Windows Explorer or the Safely Remove Hardware function in the system tray." Of course, those of you who got burned by this aren't as apt to become guinea pigs in finding out just how well (or not) the patch actually works, but for those mettlesome folks out there, feel free to hit the read link and commence downloading.

[Via WindowsVistaBlog]