I want to take a few minutes to give some exposure to a new book by Kathie Kingsley-Hughes (my significant other and my collaborator behind the scenes on "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide" - almost all of the photos in there were taken by her - the remaining few were press shots - and a lot of the layout, presentation and coverage ideas came as a result of collaboration between us - without her, the book would not have been possible).

The book, "Hacking GPS" looks at a number of totally cool things that you can do with a GPS - from hardware and software hacking projects to building your own antennas and power packs.

For more details visit the Hacking GPS website at here and read her blog at here.

This is a superb book (I know, I'm biased but honestly, I think it's great) and if you have a GPS and an interest in getting more out of it, this book (and site) will be of great interest to you!

... and it can go fully live. Some tweaking to the front page graphics and a few things on the inside that I want to figure out and it's ready to go!

It's the second Tuesday of the month and that can only mean one thing - Microsoft Patch Day!

Critical Security Bulletins

MS05-019 - Vulnerabilities in TCP/IP Could Allow Remote Code Execution and Denial of Service (893066)

Affected Software:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1
(Itanium)
- Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003
(Itanium)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based
Systems

Review the FAQ section of bulletin MS05-019 for information about these operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows 98
- Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)
- Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (ME)

Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

MS05-020 - Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (890923)

Affected Software
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1 (Itanium)
- Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 (Itanium)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems

Review the FAQ section of bulletin MS05-020 for information about these operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows 98
- Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)
- Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (ME)

Affected Components:
- Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 3
- Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 4
- Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2 on Microsoft Windows ME
- Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1
- Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (64-Bit Edition)
- Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Internet Explorer 6 for Windows Server 2003
- Internet Explorer 6 for Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems

Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

MS05-021 - Vulnerability in Exchange Server Could Allow Remote Code Execution (894549)

Affected Software:
- Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server Service Pack 3
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 1

Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

MS05-022 - Vulnerability in MSN Messenger Could Lead to Remote Code Execution (896597)

Affected Software:
- MSN Messenger 6.2

Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

MS05-023 - Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Word May Lead to Remote Code Execution (890169)

Affected Software:
- Microsoft Word 2000
- Microsoft Word 2002
- Microsoft Word 2003
- Microsoft Works Suite 2001
- Microsoft Works Suite 2002
- Microsoft Works Suite 2003
- Microsoft Works Suite 2004

Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

Important Security Bulletins

MS05-016 - Vulnerability in Windows Shell that Could Allow Remote Code Execution (893086)

Affected Software:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1 (Itanium)
- Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 (Itanium)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems

Review the FAQ section of bulletin MS05-016 for information about these operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows 98
- Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)
- Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (ME)

Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

MS05-017 - Vulnerability in MSMQ Could Allow Remote Code Execution (892944)

Affected Software:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1 (Itanium)

Review the FAQ section of bulletin MS05-017 for information about these operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows 98
- Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)

Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

MS05-018 - Vulnerability in Windows Kernel Could Allow Elevation of Privilege and Denial of Service (890859)

Affected Software:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1 (Itanium)
- Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003 (Itanium)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems

Review the FAQ section of bulletin MS05-018 for information about these operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows 98
- Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)
- Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (ME)

Impact: Elevation of Privilege
- Version Number: 1.0

For more information visit Microsoft Security home page. To retrieve the updates run Windows Update.

This is a quick Q&A about this site and me based on the most common questions that I've been asked (the ones that I remember anyway ...).

• Who are you?
  My name is Adrian W Kingsley-Hughes. I am a tech journalist, technical consultant and author based in the UK. I have been around (and inside, on top of and beneath) computers for coming on two decades.
  I live in the UK with my wife Kathie (who is also an author) and my fantastic children.
• How did you get involved in writing?
  Around ten years ago I became involved in IT training and wrote over 50 technical manuals used by a variety of training companies and Fortune 500, 100 and 50 companies. One day, out of the blue, this lead to my first publishing contract with Wrox Press.
  Things took off from there!
• Are you writing now?
  Yes, and I'm working on some exciting things, however I'm moving away from the traditional dead-tree printed book format for a variety of reasons (the time it takes, the hassle, the cost, the delays, the slowness of updating material ... the list goes on and on) and doing much more on the web.
• What are your areas of expertise?
  My main areas of expertise include:
  - Microsoft operating systems and applications (desktop and enterprise)
  - PC hardware
  - Programming (C++, Visual Basic)
  - Web development (ASP, PHP, scripting)
  - IT security
• What systems do your run?
  I live in a very mixed ecosystem of Windows, Mac and Linux. I don't get particularly worked up about any particular platform because I have a life ouside of tech.
• Can I hire you?
  Maybe ... depends. I'm pretty busy most of the time, but I might be able to accomodate. Get in touch with me here.
• I wrote you an email and didn't get a reply!
  Yeah, sorry about that. I get a ton of email a day (and it's increasing weekly) and can't possibly respond to all of them individually. I do read all the emails I receive and use many as the basis for posts on this site. If you asked a question, check back soon - I might have answered it in a post!
• Can I subscribe to your blog?
  Yes! There are two ways:
  - Subscribe to the RSS web feed (don't know what an RSS web feed is, check this out)
  - Subscribe to the FeedBlitz daily email.
  Enter your email to subscribe:

  Powered by FeedBlitz

• Where did the "PC Doctor" name come from?
  It was a name that was applied to me about 12 years ago and at the time I thought it was kinda cute but nothing more.
  Then, a few years ago I wrote and then subsequently taught a class at Barnes & Noble University called "Be your own PC Doctor" (now renamed to "Caring for your PC") and afterwards wrote "The PC Doctor's Fit It Yourself Guide" and I got associated with "The PC Doctor" moniker and the name stuck. Now I quite like it!
• Why do you run this site?
  Interesting question. I guess that when I started to write and started getting feedback from readers I realized that what I was doing was helping to make someone's day a little easier. That's quite addictive and started looking for ways to reach more and more people - the web seemed like the obvious place!
  Now I have thousands of visitors every day and get tons of feedback so my goal of reaching more people and helping them has been achieved. Don't worry though - with that goal accomplished I'm not going to pack up! I have plans for making this site bigger and better in 2007 and beyond!
• Why do you have a blog rather than a traditional website? A blog is so much easier to update and a lot less hassle!
• How come it took you so long to start blogging?
  This blog was started in April of 2005 but the idea goes back to maybe April 2004, but at the time I was caught up in a project that took up way too much of my time. I got unhooked from that and the plans for the blog took off.
• Why WordPress and not XYZ?
  Because I believe that WordPress is the best blog software available.
• Do you draw the cartoon cards that appear on the site?
  Yep! Guilty! I find cartooning relaxing and fun!
• Do you blog elsewhere?
  Yes, I have a blog over on ZDNet called Hardware 2.0.
• What's your favorite website?
  Tech - Ed Bott's blog, Microsoft, BBC News and ProBlogger
  Non-tech - Dilbert Blog, Savage Chickens
• What are you working on next?
  That's top secret! However, I'll give you a little clue ... Mastering Windows 7 ...
• What are your hobbies?
  I enjoy the outdoors, photography, reading, computer games, playing the didgeridoo (yidaka), growing (and killing ... ) carnivorous plants and taking things apart!
• What's your favorite color?
  The color of money.
• What's your favorite food?
  Pizza ...
• What's your favorite game?
  Resident Evil 4 on the Wii

You want to get in touch with me? Cool! That's great! Type your comments/questions/queries out below and click "Send Email". (Please type in the Verify code which appears in the box on the right. This helps prevent spam. It is not case sensitive.)

I read all comments but don't have the time to answer them all. If you asked a question then there's a good chance that I'll come around to answering it here in a few days (so remember to call back!) and if you send in a tip, trick or PC repair story I will give you full credit for it. If you are submitting an idea for a news story, please be assured that I won't divulge your contact details, but that for added security I suggest you use a disposable, non-tracable email address.

I look forward to reading your comments!

For tips on how to increase your chances of getting a reply, see this post.

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