"Help and Support" feature is missing after you install Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2 on a computer that is running Windows Small Business Server 2003

SYMPTOMS

After you upgrade a Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003-based (Windows SBS) computer to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2), the Help and Support feature is not available when you click Start.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;937231&sd=rss&spid=3208

Well I guess late is better than not at all but geeze talking about taking your time in putting up a KB for something MS broke with a Service Pack nearly two months ago. Not only that but the fix is manual or a Hotfix instead of a Patch.

If you haven't been paying attention to congress (US) they are at it again, trying to create rules for the Internet with little understanding of what the technology is (it's tubes according to Senator Stevens). Paraphrasing the rules here so go read them yourself and try to understand the ifs, shalls and what not.

HR 964:

Possible Violation

By default IE calls home and checks for updates. In doing so it replaces the users preset Home Page with the Windows IE Update page.

Proposed Law

Sec. 2(a) Sub 2(a) It is unlawful for any person to alter the web page that appears when the user launches the Internet Browser.

Possible Violation

Going on it would also appear that WGA is a violation of this Bill. WGA installs and identifies the system it is on and can change the computer settings such as when WGA fails.

Proposed Law

Sec. 2(a) Sub 5(a) Inducing the owner of a computer to install software without reasonable efforts to allow the user to opt out or cause reactivation.

Possible Violation

Do you have a web site with any banner ads, Google Ad words, etc? Apparently it's a violation for any website to relay to a third party any information which identifies the visitor (cookies). Only the web site being visited may collect information.

Proposed Law

Sec. 3(b) 2(c) Personal indentifying information may only be used to identify the user to the website visited.

There are some exceptions listed but they are too vague to say they would allow WGA, IE update page redirection or even MS activation. It certainly appears by a layman's reading that Google AdWords, Microsoft's AdCenter and Yahoo's Ad Solutions all of which deliver targeted ads based on user identity cannot comply with this proposed bill.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c110:1:./temp/~c110K06BEI:e1412: