Re: belarc advisor hotfix message

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Shenan Stanley, I am interested in you comment about the hosts file, in
particular that you say "It really only should have one line"

I use a hosts file from
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

It was my [mis?]understanding that using the hosts file will help protect me
against malicious web sites. Is that untrue?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share on the hosts file.




"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

Dallas wrote:
i ran belarc advisor & got this:"

Missing Microsoft Security
Hotfixes
Critical(details) These required security hotfixes (using the
01/13/2009 Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary) were not found
installed. Note: CIS benchmarks require that Critical and Important
severity security hotfixes must be installed.
Q928365

i then click on details & get this but as always, i don't
understand - here's the link to the page:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q928365

should i install this ?

thanks very much

Shenan Stanley wrote:
Don't depend on a third party product to tell you what your
installation of Microsoft Windows XP needs in terms of updates for
Windows XP itself.
Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and install whatever it
asks to get to a screen where you get to choose between "Custom"
and "Express" and choose "Custom". Let it scan your computer and
then you can look through the list of High Priority and Optional
Updates yourself. I suggest *always* ignoring the Optional
Hardware Updates and I personally do not recommend the "Windows
Search" ones from the Optional Software Updates. However - the
choice is yours.
Also - uninstall Belarc Advisor, reboot, download and install the
latest version - just to be sure you are running the latest (if you
plan on continuing to use it to second-guess the built in features
of Windows XP. ;-) )

To answer your question directly:

Description of the security update for the .NET Framework 2.0 for
Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000: July 10, 2007
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928365

If you have .NET Framework 2.0 installed - you should keep it
updated by installing this patch. Whether or not you are utilizing
.NET Framework 2.0 in any way - that is a different matter
entirely. Might be, might not be.

Rick Merrill wrote:
Doesn't work! My DNS may be fried, but I see a google page no
matter what I do!

Rick,

Your problem and that of the original poster (unless you happen to be
"Dallas") seem to have little in common. I suggest you start a post with
your issues.

Just going by what little you have given (assuming you are *not* Dallas) -
here's what I suggest:

First:
Check your DNS settings. I will assume you connect to a high speed Internet
(DSL, Cable Modem, etc) with a network cable. I'll also assume you are
doing this using DHCP. I'm assuming a lot because you have given so little
at this point.

Start button --> RUN --> type in:
control ncpa.cpl
--> Click ok.

When the "Network Connections" window opens, find the "Local Area
Connection" and right-click on it. Choose "Properties".

This should open the "Local Area Connection Properties" window. Make sure
you are looking under the "General" tab (top of that window.)

In the "This connection uses the following items" area - left-click (normal
click to select) on the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and once that is
selected (highlighted) - click on the "Properties" button.

In the new window - "Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically" should be
selected. If not - select it.

Click OK on everything you can to get out, close all windows and open
applications and reboot the computer.


Now we need to check your HOSTS file.

Start button --> RUN --> type in:
notepad %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
--> Click OK.

Any entries in it? It really only should have one line (other than
comments) by default:

127.0.0.1 localhost

You can edit it so that's all that's there if needed. Save it - no
extension.


You should also scan for malware/spyware at this point.

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.

Reboot.


You might want to ensure your Windows Update is installed properly...

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\net stop wuauserv
--> Click OK.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\regsvr32 %SystemRoot%\system32\wups2.dll
--> Click OK.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\net start wuauserv
--> Click OK.

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer Windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.


Come back with some details...

- Specific Operating System and Service Pack level
- What you are talking about. ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html



.

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