Screen Panic

Microsoft has denied speculation that recent security updates to the Windows 7, Vista and XP applications are responsible for the recent surge in “black screens of death”. “Microsoft has investigated reports that its November security updates made changes to permissions in the registry that are resulting in system issues for some customers,” Christopher Budd, security response communications lead member for the company told MSNBC. “The company, Budd said, ‘has found those reports to be inaccurate and our comprehensive investigation has shown that none of the recently released updates are related to the behavior described in the reports.’ Windows users are familiar with the ‘blue screen of death,’ when their computers essentially shutdown because of an operating system problem. The new “black screen of death” appears to occur when the computer is first turned on, then shuts down.”