Windows Live Essentials 2011 updated to Build 15.4.3555.308

Speed Up My PC

Microsoft has released an update for Windows Live Essentials 2011. The announcement was made by Steven Abrahams,  Lead Program Manager – Windows Live.

“Today, we released an update for Windows Live Essentials 2011 in all 48 languages. This minor release includes numerous updates across all of the programs in the Essential package, including Windows Live Messenger, Mail, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Family Safety, Writer, and Mesh. In the coming weeks, customers on Windows Vista SP2 and Windows 7 will receive a notification prompting them to upgrade to the new version. Since this release contains critical fixes for the Essentials package, in a few months, the update will become required for all eligible customers.”

I earlier had version 2011 (Build 15.4.3538.0513) and this has now been updated to Build 15.4.3555.308.

WLWriterupdtedz Windows Live Essentials 2011 updated to Build 15.4.3555.308

The detailed change log has not been posted yet - but it says that the release includes critical fixes. If I can guess, the updates can be to ensure compatibility with Windows 8 & Internet Explorer 10. We will update this post when the change log or what has been updated are made known.

Because it has critical fixes, this update will be mandatory in a few months for all Windows Live Essentials users.

One can download the update from the Windows Live Essentials website. or from the Download Center. You can also get its English stand-alone installer here.

UPDATE 1 : There were some reports that after this update Mesh is causing unnecessary File transfer. Some Additional Details on Windows Live Mesh provided by Windows Live Mesh Team:-

Yesterday we released an update to Mesh in response to feedback we’ve received from many of our customers. This update addresses many of their top issues – particularly those resulting in a crash or trouble syncing certain files. A side effect of this update is it causes Mesh to rebuild its index of what files need to be synced and where. As a result, it takes a bit of time for this process to happen.

For most users this process takes just a few minutes. But if you sync many GBs of data, this process can take upwards of several hours. Before the index has been rebuilt, Mesh will start to re-sync your files across computers. Once the index has been rebuilt on each computer, Mesh will realize that your files are already present at which point subsequent file downloads/uploads will stop. Then Mesh’s status will appear as “up to date”.

No action on the user’s part is required for this process to complete. It just takes time and patience. If this does not auto-resolve after one day (for extreme cases) please let us know. We apologize for the inconvenience or concern this has caused some customers.  We genuinely care about your experience with our product and will continue to monitor the forum for additional issues.

UPDATE 2: This update improves performance in Windows Live Essentials 2011. 

The following list describes these changes:

  1. Setup:  During installation, the splash screen loads faster after user accepts UAC prompt.
  2. Windows Live Mail:  When users click on photos within Windows Live Mail that are hosted on SkyDrive or Facebook, instead of using the Client
  3. Album Viewer to view the photos, a browser opens the web album viewer for that application.
  4. Windows Live Messenger:   Fixes the Messenger sign-in error “0x84cb000c” and the Messenger crash or hang when accepting/declining a pending invitation. When users click on photos are hosted on SkyDrive or Facebook, instead of using the Client Album Viewer to view the photos, a browser opens the web album viewer for that application.
  5. Windows Live Movie Maker:  Fixes error “80004003” where Windows Live Movie Maker can’t open project files.   Fixes setup failure error “80040705” and error “87260103” or when Movie Maker becomes unresponsive, hangs when adding WMV video files. 
  6. Windows Photo Gallery:  Microsoft updated authorization method required to publish to Flickr and Facebook.  Microsoft updated authorization method to communicate with Bing Maps services for geo tagging.

This update will upgrade customers with Windows Live Essentials 2009 Vista sp2 and higher to Windows Live Essentials 2011. 
Note: Customers with Windows Live 2009 XP are not impacted.
 
The initial update will be optional for a short time, after that initial offering, the update will be required which means the update will need to be installed to continue using Windows Live Essentials applications.
 
For the optional update, you can ignore the dialog and continue using any currently running Windows Live Essentials applications; these applications will not be blocked by the update.
 
For the mandatory update, Windows Live Essentials users will be required to update their current versions. Canceling the update request will continue to block the applications from launching, but running applications will not be blocked.

Have you updated your Windows Live software? How did it go?

Posted by on , in Category Live with Tags
The author is a Microsoft MVP, a Technology Enthusiast and a Mechanical Engineer. He is interested in anything technical and is committed to Microsoft technologies and products. He is actively associated with various Microsoft online communities, forums, Newsgroups and has been actively involved in Beta testing various Microsoft products and bug submissions.

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  • Caleb

    So when will they release v 2012?

  • http://www.facebook.com/romano.martopawiro Romano Martopawiro

    So the mean reason why i personaly installed the newer version is that it’ll be compatible for the coming Internet Explorer 10.
    Personaly not caring that much of Windows 8.

  • http://www.thewindowsclub.com Anand Khanse

    I received the “Failed to initialize Shared Canvas” Error message as a result of which I was unable to reply or send new messages. Had to reinstall. See http://forum.thewindowsclub.com/windows-live/32880-windows-live-mail-2011-error-failed-initialize-canvas.html for details.

  • http://www.thewindowsclub.com Anand Khanse

    It may also include security or bug fixes, so best to always update.

  • Ed

    I’m with Romano, I’ll update for the security and the compatibility with IE 10, as for Windows 8, Not only is the metro design putrid but I believe it’s going to be a dog so I’ll be sticking with Windows 7.

  • Vasudev

    Romano,Ed !
    There’s no official change log provided, it only says includes critical fixes So cant say about IE10 thing. I was just my guess. And talking of Windows 8, I can say it works wonderfully well on Tablets. You should give Windows 8 on a tablet or any touch device. Its wonderfully fluid. Yes there’s some learning curve. Once you overcome it you’ll say this is more productive than the earlier versions. To unlearn so many years of ‘Start’ button of Windows will take time.

  • Jose Pinho

    Hi,

    While searching on internet for comments on version 308

    I keep receiving the alert from Winows that WL Mail had an update. Installed version 3555.308. When WL mail was restarted, got a message that stated something related to “shared canvas”, and although I could open WL mail, could not create, forward or reply any message.
    Had to go back to a previous system condition.
    Back in August last year had the same issue with what is now my WL mail current version (0153). After 3 months talking and performing tests with Microsoft WLE support, without a solution, I had to install Windows 7 (SP1 + a bunch of updates) and all programs (from zero) to get WLE 0153 to work.

    Any work around for this issue with 308?

  • http://www.thewindowsclub.com Anand Khanse
  • Jose Pinho

    Mr. Khanse,
    I once more updated WLE to 308 version, got the canvas and associated message. Took control of registry key mentioned (had no need to use RegOwnIt).
    The registry key was basically as shown in the picture in the link. I only added (x86) to FriendlyTypeName.
    My system is a 32 bit Windows Home Premium
    So the key is now like this:

    (Default) REG_SZ URL:Mail Protocol
    Edit Flags REG_BINARY 02
    FriendlyTypeName REG_EXPAND_SZ @C:Program Files (x86)Windows LiveMailmailing.dll, -42522
    URL Protocol REG_SZ

    Behavior did not change. I still get the “Failed to Initialize canvas” message.
    Not sure if I am missing something. It seems that the picture indicates making changes also to value WLMail.URL.news. Am I correct?

  • Jose Pinho

    Mr. Khanse,
    Some additional information: when checking permissions for WLMail.Url.Mailto, I found three things:
    1. Owner of the key is SYSTEM (All 3 Permissions “dimmed”)
    2. OWNER RIGHTS permissions for this key has the Special Permissions box checked, but it appears “dimmed”.
    3. JCP (MOC/JCP) where JCP is my name, and MOC is the computer “name”, and Users (MOCUsers) present Full control and Reading boxes checked and bright marks.

  • http://www.thewindowsclub.com Anand Khanse

    Actually, uninstalling WLM and reinstalling it afresh had solved my Failed to initialize canvas error.

    The rest of the things I did (as mentioned in that post) were, because I kept getting the Please wait while Windows configures Windows Live Mail error on every restart.

    Did you try uninstalling and reinstalling Windows Live Mail? That itself should have helped you get rid of the canvas error.

  • Jose Pinho

    You are right, Mr. Khanse.
    I was afrai of doing it because I have done that when the “canvas error” appeared when updating to 0153 from the its previous version. At that time I was not even able to install version 0153 (the online and offline installers could not install WL Mail succesfully, although WL Messenger was working).
    This time, I successfully installed both, Messenger and Mail, using the on line installer of 308 version. And, luckly, I had not the “Please wait while Windows configures Windows Live ” issue. Have already turned off the machine a couple of times, and WL Mail came back fine.
    The registry key WLMail.Url.Mailto presents the same values as I wrote two messages behind this one.
    So far, so good.
    Thanks for all support.

  • http://twitter.com/Hemingray Cliff

    Noticed this last night, running WLM 2009 (14.0.8117.416) on Win7 32 bit. After a quick reshack (better than using compatibility mode), I am once again able to sign in, sans forced update.

  • GDHuber

    Had all of the same errors after latest Windows Live up-date. Downloaded the English stand-alone installer. Uninstalled Windows Live then re-installed. Problem resolved. As Anand Khanse suggested. Thank You Very Much

  • GDHuber

    Had all of the same errors after latest Windows Live up-date. Downloaded the English stand-alone installer. Uninstalled Windows Live then re-installed. Problem resolved. As Anand Khanse suggested. Thank You Very Much