Enable or Disable Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program

By DustinPosted on

Microsoft includes a component in Windows 7 called the Customer Experience Improvement Program that sends back usage data along with error information you may encounter. Microsoft has dedicated a page to answer any questions and details what the program is all about. Some people, however, would rather keep any and all information on their PC without sending anything back to Microsoft. Personally, I take part in these programs to help with future versions and updates to the software. For those that want to disable it, here is how.

1. Open the Start menu, and type Customer Experience Improvement Program. Click on the first entry (it may appear before you finish typing).

2. Select “No, I don’t want to participate in the program.”. Then click “Save Changes“.

Thats it. To enable or re-enable the feature do the same thing, but select the first option.

Windows 8 About 2 Years Away

By DustinPosted on

WinRumors, NeoWin’s Tom Warren’s new website, has brought some new information on the release of Windows 8 which pins it “about 2 years away“. I really don’t care if it takes 6 months or 6 years, as long as it is a nice, polished end product with very little bugs. There are a lot of rumors going around with Windows 8, many of which are from supposed “leaks” in Microsoft. Whether or not they are true, it is still fun to read about. WinFS, the new file system that was to be included in Windows Vista ended up being dead in the water, but it was a great rumor and would have been a nice addition!

Microsoft has been extremely tight lipped about Windows 8 availability but a posting on Microsoft’s dutch news site hints at a two year wait for the next version of Windows.

“Furthermore, Microsoft is on course for the next version of Windows. But it will take about two years before “Windows 8 ‘on the market,” said a posting celebrating the first birthday of Windows 7. This confirms that the software giant isn’t planning to rush the next version of Windows out of the door. Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, recently admitted that the next version of Windows will be the software giants riskiest product yet.

Let Me Bing That For You

By DustinPosted on

Some clever designer created “Let Me Google That For You” in an attempt to help others help themselves, or just to be cynical. Now, it comes to Bing. Let Me Bing That For You is the newest edition of the sending a search query to someone else, especially if there results are on the first page. It always makes sense to look for an answer yourself using simple means than to go and ask in a forum that may or may not update frequently.

Windows Phone 7 Review: HTC HD7

By DustinPosted on

There is finally a decent, thorough review done on a Windows Phone 7. While the phone isn’t perfect, it is a lot better than the previous offerings from Microsoft, with a lot of room for improvement via third party apps, and updates from Microsoft. A great platform for just being released.

That is to say, it’s had quite a lot of wickedness added (especially compared to its forebear), but there are areas where it hasn’t quite got the idea. Some of that is inherent in the interface, which means that you’ll simply have to accept that that’s how it works; others are tweaks that can be, well, tweaked by Microsoft at some point in the future so that the overall user experience improves. It needs apps, it needs to have YouTube included, it needs copy/paste, it needs multitasking, and it needs dozens of apparently small but actually important details to be corrected to put it truly on the top level.

Barrage of Kinect Commercials Coming

By DustinPosted on

Microsoft, even with the shortage of Kinects this holiday season, are feeding the hype machine by putting out several commercials as part of a $500 million ad campaign. I do want one, but I am going to wait until the hype dies down, and they go for less than retail on Craigslist or eBay. No sense paying 4 times as much as retail just to have it before the neighbors.

“The key challenge for Microsoft Xbox at this point in the console lifecycle is to reignite stagnating Xbox 360 sales and that is easiest done by expanding and extending the Xbox footprint beyond the hardcore gamer segment,” wrote Martin Olausson of Strategy Analytics this Summer when the Kinect was unveiled. “Hence it is focusing on the social gamer segment with the Kinect platform. Strategically we believe Xbox has made the correct decision in focusing on non-traditional segments with Kinect (while at the same time strengthening the roster of hardcore games to appease the traditional segment) as this approach has the greatest potential for expanding its console footprint.”

Beware Fake Microsoft Security Essentials

By DustinPosted on

F-Secure has posted a new alert for a virus in the wild. It looks like a Microsoft Security Essentials virus alert, and says it cannot remove the virus and directs you to download and purchase one that can. Do not fall for it, as it is definitely a fake. Microsoft lawyers are probably more pissed that they are using the MSE trademark instead of the malware aspect!

And not only does this fake tool steal Microsoft’s brand, it also features a bizarre matrix display of 32 antivirus products, offering you to locate a tool that would be capable of fixing your machine as “Microsoft Security Essentials” can’t clean the malware it found. In reality, this is all fake, and the tool has not found an infection in the fail it claims.


No More Windows XP On Preloaded Machines

By DustinPosted on

Yesterday marked the one year birthday of Windows 7, as well as the end of XP as we know it being preinstalled on OEM machines, including Netbooks. This comes as no surprise as Windows 7 is quickly becoming the defacto installation on most new PC’s. Businesses, consumers and hobbyists have quickly jumped on the Windows 7 train and have loved it. I have seen very little negativity towards Windows 7, especially compared with Windows Vista. One person even went as far as to say “Since Windows 7 came out, I’ve been telling clients that it took Microsoft 24 years to get it right — and it finally got it right with Windows 7.”. XP was a great operating system, and it served its purpose for many years, but it is time to move on. Times have changed, security threats have moved on, it is definitely time for the OS to move on.

Netbooks were the last category of PCs on which Microsoft was still allowing XP preloads at this point. Back in April 2008, Microsoft told OEMs that October 22, 2010, would be the day that no more XP Home would be permitted to be preinstalled on new netbooks.

Update: XP preloads are done, but XP downgrades are not, by the way. Best any of us Microsoft watchers can tell, it looks like XP downgrades will be allowed up until 2015. (Microsoft won’t confirm or deny that date.)

Microsoft Security Essentials Notifier (MSEN) Add-In Released

By DustinPosted on

For those running Windows Home Server, a fellow called “TheWiz” has created a new add-in that works with Microsoft Security Essentials. Very nice add-in, and will come in very handy! Thanks, TheWiz!

Microsoft Security Essentials Notifier is an Add-In designed for Windows Home Server. Its purpose is to enhance the user experience of those using Microsoft Security Essentials to protect their server. With the new 2.0 beta of Security Essentials running on WHS v1, this Add-In allows you to receive notifications to your client computers of definition updates, scans on your hard disk, and detected malware.

Microsoft Sells 30 Copies of Office Each Minute

By DustinPosted on

Microsoft has stated that they are selling 30 copies of their very popular Office suite every minute. Being the required software in a lot of college courses, as well as a LOT of businesses and homes, it comes as no surprise. Another awesome sales statistic from Microsoft this week. They have definitely gotten over the PR error that was Windows Vista.

Microsoft Office is a staple product that dominates the landscape. Nearly every major corporation uses the productivity software to get its business done fast and effectively. According to a Microsoft PR email, Office 2010 now ranks as the fastest-selling consumer version of Office in history. To date, more than 6 million copies have been sold which averages out to 30 copies sold every minute.

Riskiest Product Bet For MS: Windows 8?

By DustinPosted on

Steve Ballmer has said in an interview that the next version of Windows will be their riskiest product yet. Let’s hope it is as revolutionary as they claim. I’ve been waiting!

But when we saw the leaked Windows 8 slide deck which looked to be from Microsoft (dated April 2010), the supposed early feature set concepts for Windows 8 looked solid, but weren’t anything I’d call “risky.” Fast startup, facial recognition as a security option, better support for slates, a possible app store — all good, but not amazing. The one feature on the list that might be considered remotely risky (mostly in terms of the ability of Microsoft to deliver it)? Push-button reset, which allegedly would reinstall Windows while maintaining all of your personal files, applications and settings.