Microsoft releases patch for SP3 restoring internet connections

by Steve Ragan - Jun 30 2008, 11:18

The problem with lost internet connections and wireless internet connections caused by Service Pack 3 installations on Windows XP has been fixed. Microsoft has released a hotfix that will correct the problem, which is linked to “when an antivirus application is still running during the installation of Windows XP SP3.”

Microsoft releases hotfix for networking issues discovered in SP3. (IMG:J.Anderson)

“This problem occurs when the Fixccs.exe process is called during the Windows XP SP3 installation. This process creates some intermediate registry subkeys, and it later deletes these subkeys. In some cases, some antivirus applications may not let the Fixccs.exe process delete these intermediate registry subkeys,” is how Microsoft describes the issue.By now it is clear the anti-Virus is Symantec’s Norton line. Symantec products Norton Internet Security 2008, Norton SystemWorks 2008, Norton 360, or Norton AntiVirus 2008 all have one thing in common; SymProtect. This feature created a problem for users who went and installed Service Pack 3 for Windows XP that essentially turned their systems into big paperweights. Symantec blamed Microsoft for the issue and released a fix.“After a lot of testing, we’ve reproduced a number of different cases where applying the XP SP3 upgrade adds additional registry keys within already existing Symantec registry keys. The Symantec keys affected vary from machine to machine and the effects of these added keys vary as well. We are still trying to understand why the upgrade is adding these keys. We have determined that the SymProtect feature is involved, though this issue is not exclusive to Symantec customers,” Reese Anschultz, Sr. SQA Manager of Symantec Corporation said in a post on the Symantec support forum.“When this problem occurs, certain applications, such as Device Manager and Network Connections, may be unable to enumerate the device or the connection instances. These applications will report a blank status even though devices and connections still function as expected,” Microsoft added in their explanation.To use the Microsoft hotfix, you need to have installed Service Pack 3. The download is here: http://tinyurl.com/3jgjapThe Symantec tool to correct the issue is here: http://tinyurl.com/6fgjqz

Comment on this Story

Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group
Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter

Comment on this Story

Note our older Talkback system is still running below. We hope to import existing comments into the new system shortly. Guest posting is still allowed, however, you can now login with any number of social network accounts.

Talkback

Add your comment (no registration required)

page: 1

AndyJul 15th, 2008 - 00:15:16

Well thanks a ton Symantec. Nice to know you can spend that kind of money ona product thats suppose to be compatable with windows and have your whole ability to get online blown right out of the water. Lost their ability to get online and therefor can't download the patches. Nothing like trying to help your retired folks in a remote place try to get back online some 1000+ miles away. What a complete joke, and the added incured cost of having to take the pc to someone and pay to have the work done short of the only other solution from Dell being a complete reinstall of os as it was factory shipped. I wont use your product again and no matter what you say its screwed up my folks machine enough that there is no normal function!!

Report this comment

page: 1

Add your comment (no registration required)

Security

Microsoft releases patch for SP3 restoring internet connections

Comment on this Story

Talkback

Latest

Latest Articles on Monsters&Critics

In The Tech Herald

Site

The Fine Print