Critical update for Intel Core 2 CPUs is out

I don't know if it's been posted already:

Critical update for Intel Core CPUs is out

"In the mobile world, people with the Core 2 Duo T5000 and T7000 need to visit Microsoft's site":

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=936357

 

Does anyone know the details? What exactly does this affect? I haven't heard horror stories about crashes or corruptions on the T7000 series so why is this so urgent?

 

Details would be great.

 

I don't know what the update is for, but the Microsoft update is only for systems that don't already provide a BIOS update. ThinkPads already have this BIOS update since a few weeks ago so you don't need to install the software update, unless you didn't update the BIOS.

 

Does Lenovo's update file include this MS update?

 

maybe some flaws in core 2 duo?

 

I just went into the ThinkVantage systems update, and there was a critical patch from Intel in there. Just finished updating it.

 

The Inquirer is not my go-to source for tech advice, so take it with a grain of salt.

This Thread on the Hardware Analysis Forum has some mixed info (have not thoughts on their reliability).

There have not been any widely-reported problems with the CPU, or is it a critical patch. So, I'd only recommend it if you were having problems. Oddly, MS's page gives little info on what it is meant to fix or what symptoms might be fixed by the fix.

 

Interesting thread. The majority of the forum members arent going to update right away.

I checked my Update History under ThinkVantage and the two critical updates are:

1. Intel Chipset Support 6 for Windows 2000/XP/Vista Version 8.2.0.1012
2. Critical patch for Rescue and Recovery 4.0 for Windows Vista Version 1.01

 

Why is this update so mysterious? It's almost feels like they're trying to push something on us that helps them and hurts us. What? I don't know but it's kind of suspicious.

 

It's not like the Inquirer's posted the fix.
They just redirect to the MS's own website.
What kinda grain of salt are we talking about?

 

it probably won't be the last critical update. today on the openbsd mailing lists, the operating system's leader theo de raadt warned readers that core 2 duo processors have dozens of bugs. most will eventually find workarounds, but he bets a few have serious exploit potential. he recommended readers to stay away from core 2 duos.

a respondent said that core 2 duos would probably be okay for a desktop and even some servers. check out the developing discussion here: http://marc.info/?t=118296457100003&r=1&w=2

this makes me wish someone in the u.s. made a decent via c7-m machine.

 

It's "mysterious" because this CRITICAL SECURITY FLAW will allow anyone with the proper exploit data to stealthily run a process at the kernel level (root-kit style). This process will monitor your memory usage for any and all sensitive data access, grab it, and send it out to the attacker over TCP. It utilizes the very latest exploit technology that includes a new "masquerade technique" that disguises the compromised data as "normal" network activity, then it blends it with other legitimate data flowing through your commonly used ports, out to the attacker!

They don't want the news of this to get out to the public for obvious reasons.

OOPS! Guess the preverbal cat is out of the bag now, isn't it!


PATCH NOW!!!

 

Um. No.

The possible chip-level exploits are set forth in the link bradmw provided.

Nothing in the wild and nothing that most users would have to worry about. While it's something to keep an eye on, no reason to go all Paranoid Pete on it.

 

"A microcode reliability update is available that improves the reliability of systems that use Intel processors".

I'm confused, what is this patch supposed to do/fix? Yeah, it's mysterious. Microsoft shrouds us in the dark.

 

the irony of your avatar kills me.

 

The Inquirer has posted more about this here.

 

Slightly more detail and some resources available from This ZDNet Entry.

Definitely worth reading before making any decisions to install the patch from MS, as a BIOS update may have already taken care of it.

 

my sager9260 just gave me my first BSOD. It happend when i exited Elder Scrolls Oblivion. I didnt know what the message said but i sent it to microsoft and i got to a web page that said this.

Problem type


Windows stop error (a message appears on a blue screen with error code information)

Solution available?


No.

What does this problem mean?


Windows has encountered a problem it cannot recover from and it needs to be restarted

Cause


Unknown

Computer symptoms


A message appears on a blue screen with error code information (for example: 0x0000001E, KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED)

Additional steps for you to take


Please continue to send problem reports so analysts at Microsoft can study and try to correct the problem as quickly as possible

Should i download and install that intel micro-code reliability update still? I find it very strange that im getting these rare problems on my laptop. Something similar like this happend to me when i was playing Supreme Commander. It just restarted on its on a while into the game. Though that time i didnt get a blue screen. I dont think its a over heating issue as this laptop is very new and i have been monitoring the temps. Im wondering if i should apply that intel microcode update because this is beggining to creep me out a bit...any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: On a side note i decided to reload the game(Elder Scrolls Oblivion) and when i loaded it started with a tottally differnt charecter. I had one of those Lizard men as my charecter and now its a human after i got the BSOD...Im seriously considering that fix now lolz. But yea if you guys have any advice please let me know. Does my system sound unstable? If so that means i should do that micro-code update. But im afraid of it doing more harm than good. What do you guys think?

The Sager 9260 comes with a intel core 2 E6420. Is this microcode updat for me?

 

Yes, get all updates on drivers as soon as possible, for some reason there are a lot of these errors with Lenovo. You get more blue screens unless you update. When I first got my computer I didn't know about the software installer and system updater and I got a lot of blue screens, now I rarely get them.

 

ok im definatly doing this for my intel core 2 duo on my sager 9260 then! Tired of seeing blue scren and freezes that are random!