On the one hand, I am reluctant to start a new thread, with so many already
scattered about. On the other hand, I have something concrete that I
discovered, and it seems to warrant a new thread.
As a background, I found that the "Kb891711.exe" patch caused problems on
one of my computers. Poking around the groups I found a scattered list of
possible causes. Broswers. AV programs. Software firewalls. Processors. In
every case, somebody had a counter example to the claim.
My solution to avoid the crashes was to stop the process with the Close
Programs list; the computer running Windows ME. Then use Add/Remove Programs
from the Control Panel to remove it from the system. This deletes four
registry keys, and two system files; leaving only the folder to which the
system files were written. So there is no need to take super drastic steps;
like System Restore rollback, or Format & Reinstall. Worst case is that you
would have to boot in Safe Mode, I should think.
However, I was curious. Because of the counter examples, I decided to
install the patch on a second, identical computer. Both computers are HP
Pavilion 6745Cs. Intel Celeron 700MHz processors. Intel 82810 graphics chip
set. Windows ME. Kb891711 crashes one computer ("Megumi"), but not the other
computer ("Naomi"). Differences? A few programs in startup; but none on
Megumi that are definitively problematic on every computer with crashes; I
can find a counter example for each program on Megumi, which doesn't cause
crashes on some other computer.
When I checked the driver versions, I notice that I hadn't updated the
graphics drivers on Naomi. As things stood, I had the following:
Megumi:
-------
Intel Celeron 700MHZ processor
Intel 82810 graphics chip set (driver version: 4.13.01.3196)
Windows ME
Naomi:
------
Intel Celeron 700MHZ processor
Intel 82810 graphics chip set (driver version: 4.13.01.3004)
Windows ME
Kb891711 causes all browsers to blue screen on Megumi, but causes no
problems on Naomi.
So I just rolled back the driver update on Megumi; it is now, like Naomi, on
Intel driver version 4.13.01.3004. I just reinstalled the Kb891711 "patch".
Tested launch on all browsers which crashed Megumi before. MSIE6 SP1,
Firefox 1.0.1, Mozilla 1.7.5, Netscape 7.2. No crashes.
It looks, to me, like a graphics driver issue. I don't know if the onus
should be on Intel to provide an updated graphics driver for the 82810
graphics chip set, but I suspect not. Kb891711 is a "kludge", not a "patch".
It does not patch system files, it runs resident from the RunServices key.
The vulnerability that it "fixes" is still present. In my opinion, this
"kludge" needs to be fixed with a true patch; one that won't break the OS
when current graphics drivers are installed.
Now to review the MSFT write up on the vulnerability. It may be that I don't
need to run kb891711.exe; if my default browser, Firefox 1.0.1, isn't
vulnerable, I will just restore things. On Megumi, anyway.
--
Norman
~Win dain a lotica, En vai tu ri, Si lo ta
~Fin dein a loluca, En dragu a sei lain
~Vi fa-ru les shutai am, En riga-lint