para sa mga namamali ng landas, alamin kung bakit kailangan natin ang mga updates and hot-fixes, hindi para sa kulay or GUI ang updates and eto ay para sa consumer hindi para sa microsoft.

kung kulay lang ang gusto niyo mag-install na lang kayo ng themes....

Introduction

Service packs, hotfixes and security patches are updates to products to resolve a known issue or workaround.

Moreover, service packs update systems to the most current code base. Being on the current code base is important because that's where Microsoft focuses on fixing problems. For example, any work done on Windows 2000 is targeted at the next service pack and hotfixes are built against the existing available base.

Individual hotfixes and security patches on the other hand should be adopted on a case-by-case, "as-needed" basis. The majority of security updates released are for client side (often browser) issues. They may or may not be relevant to a server installation. Evaluate the update, if it's needed, then apply it. If not, assess the risk of applying or not.


Security Patches

Security patches eliminate security vulnerabilities. Attackers wanting break into systems can exploit these vulnerabilities. These are analogous to hotfixes but are deemed mandatory if the circumstances match and need to be deployed quickly.

The majority of security updates released are for client side (often browser) issues. They may or may not be relevant to a server installation. You need to obtain both the admin patch and the client patch as the client patch will retroactively update your client base and the admin patch will update your client build area on the server.

Service packs

Service packs correct known problems and provide tools, drivers, and updates that extend product functionality, including enhancements developed after the product released. They get you up to our current code base. Being on the current code base is important because that's where we fix the code.

Service packs keep the product current, and extend and update your computer's functionality. Service packs include updates, system administration tools, drivers, and additional components. All are conveniently bundled for easy downloading.

Service packs are product specific, so there are separate ones for each product. Being product specific does not however, mean that they are SKU (Stock-Keeping Unit) specific. For example, Windows NT 4.0 Server and Workstation will use the same service pack.

Service packs are cumulative - each new service pack contains all the fixes in previous service packs, as well as any new fixes. You do not need to install a previous service pack before you install the latest one. For example, Service Pack 6a contains all the fixes in SPs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Hotfixes or QFE's

QFE (Quick Fix Engineering) is a group within Microsoft that produces "hotfixes" - code patches for products that are provided to individual customers when they experience critical problems for which no feasible workaround is available.

Hotfixes are not intended for general installation, since they do not undergo extensive beta testing when they are created. Microsoft targets hotfix support toward enterprise-level customers and designs it to provide an extra level of security for mission-critical software systems.

Groups of "hotfixes" are periodically incorporated into service packs that undergo more rigorous testing and are then made generally available to other customers.

They are not regression tested. Hotfixes are very specific - you should apply one only if you experience the exact problem they address and are using the current software version with the latest service pack.

General criteria to meet in order for an issue to be evaluated for a potential bug fix are:•
Excessive loss of work or revenue to the customer
•
No reasonable, Customer accepted, workaround exists
•
Priority given to Premier accounts


Microsoft offers full n-1 QFE support. This means that we will support the current shipping version of a product and its predecessor. "Version" is defined as a new release with some added functionality and does not include "A" level releases, which are considered strictly maintenance releases. For example, if version 3.5 is superseded by version 3.5A, bug fixes will not be done on 3.5 since 3.5A is a maintenance release. On the other hand, if version 4.21 is superseded by version 6.0 (a functionality release), bug fixes will continue to be done against 4.21 until another version ships. If there is not an update to a product, (ex: LAN Manager) then we will continue to do bug fixes until such point when volume has significantly slowed. We will apprise our Customers at least 6 months in advance of us discontinuing QFE support.
Security Patches

Security patches eliminate security vulnerabilities. Attackers wanting break into systems can exploit these vulnerabilities. These are analogous to hotfixes but are deemed mandatory if the circumstances match and need to be deployed quickly.

The majority of security updates released are for client side (often browser) issues. They may or may not be relevant to a server installation. You need to obtain both the admin patch and the client patch as the client patch will retroactively update your client base and the admin patch will update your client build area on the server.

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credit goes to: "Dream*Walker"