Duck, It's a Microsoft Patch

The scoop on Microsoft's latest Security Patch screw up, plus some games that make your brain stronger.

Steve Bass

Steve Bass writes PC World's monthly "Hassle-Free PC" column and is the author of PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer, available from O'Reilly. He also writes PC World's daily Tips & Tweaks blog. Sign up to have Steve's newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.

You think because I write for PC World I'm immune from Microsoft's mishegoss?

Ha! Not likely. They nail me as often as they do you.

I happened yesterday when my wife called me into her office. Her PC was jamming whenever she tried to open or save a Word or Excel doc. I tried the usual stuff: I suggested she first clean out the temp folder, and then scan the drive with ScanDisk while standing in the corner on one leg and whistling a show tune. The standing-in-the-corner routine gave her something to do during the scan.

That didn't help, so I spent 20 minutes Googling around for an answer.

I discovered that Microsoft's MS06-015 patch was the culprit. Among other things, the patch stopped Office apps from opening or saving files that are located in her My Documents folder. The problem occurs because verclsid.exe, a new file included with the patch, conflicts with some HP printers, scanners, and cameras. I followed Microsoft's Registry tweak fix and she's now able to get to all her files.

If you don't want to fiddle with the Registry, you can just uninstall the patch for the time being. Chances are good Microsoft's next battalion of patches will fix the problem. From the Control Panel, open Add or Remove Programs and find the Microsoft entry that looks like this: Security Update for Windows XP (KB908531). Better yet, get a copy of the free MyUninstaller, a much better program for managing installed apps.

Dig This: Feeling stressed? Play Jet Slalom and get even more wigged out.

Dig This, Too: If that didn't get your adrenaline going, try a game of Curveball.

A Microsoft Apology

PC World reported on the problem, and Editor in Chief Harry McCracken talks about it in his Techlog.

Harry links to a message thread with a fix and half-bassed apology from Microsoft's Stephen Hui: "I'm very sorry about the inconvenience this has caused you all; hopefully this will get things back on track."

Oh, and I love how he says the broken update fixes a "critical" vulnerability and you've got to reinstall it to stay secure. Here's another gem: "I understand that this experience has been very frustrating for many of you, but I really must still strongly recommend that you leave Auto Update enabled for your own safety." What, he's going to beat us up if we don't?

Dammit, I don't want your apologies and I definitely don't want to spend my morning researching and then correcting Microsoft errors. (Geez, I almost looked at an ad for a Mac, I was so angry.)

Microsoft (Finally) Issues a Fix

I was working on this column while fuming and cursing at Microsoft. Just as I was about to finish it (the column, not the swearing), Microsoft announced that it's fixing the patch. A new, improved, a maybe even a functional version will be released on Tuesday, April 25. Do me a big favor? Test it out and lemme know if it works.

Keep Your Brain Sharp

I heard that to keep my memory in working order--so I can troubleshoot Microsoft bugs--I have to do challenging things. I've been playing Sudoku a lot, of course. You must have heard of it by now. I put a bunch of links in my last rant about Microsoft.

If Sudoku isn't your thing, though, don't get annoyed at me. I have a bunch of other challenging games to try.

Let's start with Makai Media's Make a Toss. It tests your sense of timing and physics--just be sure to stay behind the rocks.

Then move on to Games for the Brain, where my faves are Counterfeit, Colorama, and Lettermaze.

And finally, you've got to try GlobalSpec's Brain Strainer. You set up items--launch pads, conveyer belts, and other things--to create a pinball-like mechanism for launching a rocket. I spent part of an afternoon lost in this challenging (and time wasting) site and wasn't able to get the rocket to move more than a few pixels. [Thanks to Doug L. for this gem.]

Here's a screen capture video of my first paltry excuse for a machine. (Thanks to Techsmith's SnagIt for this video capture.)

You can play with my dreadful creation, experiment with the excellent machine designed by Kim S., my gloating copy editor, or start one of your own.

One hint: When you get to the "Good Try-- Give It Another Shot!" Screen (and don't worry, you will...), click "Back to Machine" to continue working on your brilliant work of art.