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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Windows flaw 'not due to update' | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Microsoft says that a problem with its Windows operating system, dubbed the 'Black Screen of Death' is not due to its latest security update. | |
| The error means that users of Windows 7 see a totally black screen after logging on to the system. | The error means that users of Windows 7 see a totally black screen after logging on to the system. |
| Security experts have suggested that the firms latest security update, issued on 10 November, was the cause of the problem. | |
| Reports suggest the flaw also affects Vista, XP and other systems. | Reports suggest the flaw also affects Vista, XP and other systems. |
| In a blog posting on its security site, Microsoft said that it had investigated the claims and "found that our November Security Updates are not making changes to the system that these reports say are responsible for these issues". | |
| The firm said that the behaviour was associated with malware, such as Daonol, and that this was probably the root cause. | |
| Software firm Prevx, which has issued a fix for the problem, says "millions" of people may be affected. | Software firm Prevx, which has issued a fix for the problem, says "millions" of people may be affected. |
| "Users have resorted to reloading Windows as a last ditch effort to fix the problem," the firm's David Kennerley wrote in a blog post. | "Users have resorted to reloading Windows as a last ditch effort to fix the problem," the firm's David Kennerley wrote in a blog post. |
| "We hope we can help a good many of you avoid the need to reload." | "We hope we can help a good many of you avoid the need to reload." |
| Unknown problem | Unknown problem |
| The firm said its fix did not work in all cases. | The firm said its fix did not work in all cases. |
| "There can be many causes," said Mr Kennerley. | "There can be many causes," said Mr Kennerley. |
| "But if your black screen woes began in the last two weeks after a Windows update or after running any security program (including Prevx) to remove malware during this time then this fix will have a high probability of working." | "But if your black screen woes began in the last two weeks after a Windows update or after running any security program (including Prevx) to remove malware during this time then this fix will have a high probability of working." |
| Mr Kennerly said the firm had identified "at least 10 different scenarios which will trigger the same black screen conditions". | Mr Kennerly said the firm had identified "at least 10 different scenarios which will trigger the same black screen conditions". |
| "These appear to have been around for years now," he said. | "These appear to have been around for years now," he said. |
| The firm reports that the problem affects editions of Windows 7, Vista, XP, NT, and Windows 2000. | The firm reports that the problem affects editions of Windows 7, Vista, XP, NT, and Windows 2000. |
| Microsoft said that people who are affected by the problem should contact its customer service line. | Microsoft said that people who are affected by the problem should contact its customer service line. |
| The "black screen of death" moniker is a play on the "blue screen of death", which appears when Microsoft operating systems crash. | The "black screen of death" moniker is a play on the "blue screen of death", which appears when Microsoft operating systems crash. |