Yesterday i read this on some sites: Windows Live Messenger is blocking sites like YouTube and Deviantart, among others…

People went crazy on this because many thought that Microsoft was behind this “censorship” of website url being sent in Windows Live Messenger. You can imagine all the complains that were posted on major news sites and forums.

Just a few minutes ago i went to the official Inside Windows Live Messenger blog and learned that this was just an error and it wasn’t Microsoft’s fault. Instead, they posted that a third-party partner of them handles the blocking system.

According to them, the problem is now gone.

As some of you noticed, we had a problem from Friday night to Saturday morning where our Messenger service was incorrectly blocking some legitimate IP addresses. We sincerely apologize for any difficulties this caused our users. And we want to thank those of you that reported this problem to us so that we could quickly fix it. Because of your help, the incorrect block was only in place for a few hours. [...]

Source: URL Blocking: Problem now fixed

If you want to use third party themes in Windows Vista, you have to modify some system files before you can use those themes. That is because Vista, as well as XP, accepts only themes that are digitally signed.

For unsigned themes, you have to modify three files in system32 folder. Here’s a link to those already modified files. You just need to take ownership of those files before you can replace them.

For an easy to way to take ownership of file, you can use VistaTweaker and check the option that puts a Take Owneship entry in the righ-click context menu. You can search the internet for  instructions on how to do that manually.

Download Modified Files

Since Microsoft released XP back in 2001, they don’t allow third party themes to be used because they must be digitally signed, making tons of great themes useless just because of this limitation.

But there’s a way to enable the use of unsigned themes. There are some files that must be patched (changed), a thing that is as easy as it can get. Back in those days, a little patched called UxTheme Multi-Patched was used to modify the requiered files.

Now you can use them in unattended installations, because the patched files are freely available in the internet, Also, a new patched for the latest SP3 can be downloaded, making the process easier for non-tech users of windows XP.

Note: If you want to use the modified file, just replace it in Sytem32 folder.

Download SP3 UxTheme Patcher | Patched Files

Microsoft has the Windows Ultimate Extras Sound Schemes on their Windows Update site. People can get them via Automatic Updates on Vista or directly from Microsoft via the download links at the bottom at this post.

I think this sound schemes can be installed in other versions of Vista or even XP, as they were released using Microsoft standard installer.

You can try them if you don’t have Vista Ultimate or give them a run in XP. Comment your findings…I will try them in a few days on XP (i’m making an unattended setup of SP3 now).

Download x86 | x64

For those of you that like me, are running Vista Ultimate, Microsoft has released two new Sound Schemes and a third set of Dreams for Dream Scene.

The new sound schemes are called Glass and Pearl. I just read that some users are making this sound schemes available for download in other sites for users of non-Ultimate Vista can install them. Try to google for them.

You can get them via Windows Update. I have them already.

More Info

Today Windows XP Service Pack 3 has been released to manufacturing (RTM).

The news are already spreading all over, but we have to wait a little longer. As of now, even subscribers of TechNet/Connect can’t get it because is not posted yet.

Quote from Microsoft TechNet Forums:

Today we are happy to announce that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has released to manufacturing (RTM). Windows XP SP3 bits are now working their way through our manufacturing channels to be available to OEM and Enterprise customers.

We are also in the final stages of preparing for release to the web (i.e. you!) on April 29th, via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. Online documentation for Windows XP SP3, such as Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and the Microsoft TechNet Windows XP TechCenter, will be updated then. For customers who use Windows XP at home, Windows XP SP3 Automatic Update distribution for users at home will begin in early summer.

Thanks to everyone here who installed the public betas – you not only gave us detailed feedback but also helped each other out with timely troubleshooting. Through the beta program we found several important issues and were able to confirm some essential fixes. We couldn’t have done this without you.

We will still be monitoring this forum during the next few weeks in case you have more feedback about the release of Windows XP SP3.

On behalf of myself, Shashank Bansal and Windows Serviceability, many thanks.

Chris Keroack
Release Manager, Windows XP Service Pack 3
Windows Serviceability

Earlier this month, Microsoft released the Windows XP SP3 Overview, a document that contains the highlights and most notable changes in the upcoming service pack.

Today, Neowin got its hands on the internal schedule planned for SP3. Here are the expected dates in which SP3 will be released:

• April 14, 2008: Support is available for the release version of Service Pack 3 for Windows XP

• April 21, 2008: Original Equipment Manufacturers, Volume License, Connect, and MSDN and TechNet subscribers

• April 29, 2008: Microsoft Update, Windows Update, Download Center

• June 10, 2008: Automatic Updates

Source: Neowin

Microsoft released Windows Search 4.0 Preview. This is an improved version which has been optimized for better performance, includes a few more options and replaces the search engine that comes with Vista (it includes Windows Search 3.0 engine from factory).

For Windows XP users, thie release will upgrade their Windows Seach 3.0 installation if they have it installed. If not, Windows Search will install completely with all features.

For Vista users it will replace the default engine that shipped with Vista, according to the Windows Vista Team Blog. It also addresses bugs that users had reported before. You need Service Pack 1 installed before installing this release.

Microsoft published a KB (Knowledge Base) article regarding this release. Read it to find out more about it.

Download XP | Vista