Windows 1.0 Documents Found

By DustinPosted on

Ray Ozzie, Microsoft’s Chief Software Architect, is back to blogging. His first post includes some Windows 1.0 launch documents. I remember drooling over Windows 1.0 and wanting it. I didn’t get into the Windows game until 2.0, however. Been loving it ever since (although, I did skip over ME and went straight to Win2K), and will continue to use it for many years to come. Sometimes, I really kinda miss the old CGA monitors…

Inside a sealed packet I found a wonderful artifact from decades ago – a folder of collaterals from the Windows 1.0 launch event.  It was possibly handed to me at that time by Pam Edstrom, whose business card was enclosed.

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It’s also a reminder that we’re nearing a key milestone:  November 20, 2010, the 25th anniversary of Windows.

Microsoft Anti-OpenOffice Video

By DustinPosted on

I’ve recommended OpenOffice to several people looking for a free alternative to Microsoft Office. While I wouldn’t use it in an enterprise quite yet, or with any VBA/Macro type environment, it is still a good alternative for basic word processing and spreadsheet duties. For anything more, MS Office is definitely the product to have. It is any wonder that OpenOffice brags about MS Office compatibility and interoperability?! Why would you claim that your product is almost as good as the competition, but not quite? Hmmmm…. Free does have it’s costs.

Chat With Us At Microsoft Technical Chat

By DustinPosted on

Today at 10:00am PST (11:00 MST), meet up with friends, colleagues, and new faces at a Microsoft chat. Up for discussion is Windows 7, Office 2010, and other general discussion. Should be very informative for all! Hope to see you there!

Would you like to learn more about the cool new features in Office 2010 and Windows 7 and what has changed since previous versions? Do you use Microsoft Office but would like to learn tips and tricks to be more productive at home, school or at work? Perhaps you are a new user who has questions on how to get started with Windows 7 or using the Office ribbon? Or would like to learn how to protect your computer from malware and viruses. Or perhaps you are just stuck and need answers. The Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) are here to help! The MVPs are the same people you see in the technical community as authors, trainers, user groups leaders and answerers in the Microsoft forums. For the first time ever we have brought these experts together as a collective group to answer your questions live. MVPs will be on hand to take questions about Microsoft Office 2010 or Office 2007 products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Project, OneNote and more. As well as the Windows 7 and earlier versions such as Windows Vista. In addition to Microsoft Office, the chat will cover Windows related topics such as upgrading, setup and installation, securing your PC, Internet Explorer, personalizing your computer desktop or having fun with Windows Live Essentials to share photos, make movies and more. All levels of experience are welcome from beginners and students to intermediate power users. Please join us for this informative Q&A style chat and bring on your basic and your tough questions!

Is Quality Enough For Windows Phone 7

By DustinPosted on

Neowin attempts to answer the question “Is Quality Enough for Windows Phone 7”? There is no doubt that Windows Phone 7 is any good; it is. Now, it just has to persuade the consumers that they NEED it. From what I’ve seen already, I may look into replacing my Android powered phone. Of course, I need to wait a bit until my apps are able to be replaced (Google Sky Maps, Maps, GPS, etc.). If Microsoft and/or other developers can do that, I will have a new phone straight away! I am already looking into doing a little development on the platform myself. Nothing major, just a few little utilities.

If we could pretend that iOS, Android, and WP7 all came out at the same time, WP7 would be my easy pick for front-runner. Personally, I’m a fan of the Android OS and of open source products in general. However, if they tried to compete with WP7 after a simultaneous release, they wouldn’t stand a chance in the consumer market. Mircosoft’s retail marketing machine would indeed be an extremely difficult opponent to overcome. However, reality is reality, and Google Android has had a huge head start on the market that Apple wasn’t able or willing to gobble up. Android will take a solid hit with the release of a decent competitor, but it will take some serious marketing and industry tactics, both strong areas for Microsoft, to actually surpass Android’s continual chokehold on the mobile OS industry.

Upcoming Windows Phone 7 Games

By DustinPosted on

Sure, we all use our phones to call people. But, anybody can make a phone that does that. Where they really shine is when you are sitting in a waiting room for an hour or two, bored, and wanting to waste some time. Most phones have internet browsers, but what most people want are the games! Microsoft has a decent lineup of upcoming games to be available when the phones are finally going out the door. Judging from the videos, these phones are going to be beasts and should be pretty darn good in the graphics department. Of course, I don’t get the whole Zombie appeal these days. What’s with that? Now, just as with the phone, there begs the question: Will they be any good?

Microsoft is pushing games as a big reason to buy the phones. At a press conference Monday morning, the company showed off some titles gamers can look forward to from Electronic Arts and others, and previewed the way the phones will integrate with the Xbox Live online gaming service for Xbox 360. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of NBC Universal and Microsoft.)

Change Power Button Behavior on Start Menu

By DustinPosted on

If you want to change your power button on the start menu to actually shut off your PC, rather than put it to sleep, here’s how.

The default for the power button on the Start Menu is putting the computer to sleep. If you would rather have your computer shut off the power when you hit the power button, follow these few steps to change the setting.

1. Click on the Start Menu | Control Panel | Power Options | Change Plan Settings

2. Click on Change Advanced Power Settings.

3. Browse to “Power buttons and lid”. From there, you can change the “Start menu power button” setting to “Shut down”. Also, you can change it to “Hibernate”. You also have the option to change the default behavior for the case power button.

4. Click ok, and your start menu power button will now shut off your computer.

Force ReadyBoost on a USB Device

By DustinPosted on

Some USB keys are fast enough for Ready Boost, yet Windows Vista will tell you otherwise. If you want to brave it and force Windows to use your USB key with Ready Boost, try these few steps.

1. Insert your USB Key. Right Click the USB key in “My Computer”. Click on ReadyBoost tab.

2. Check the box “Stop retesting this device when I plug it in”.

3. Unplug your USB Key.

4. Go to Start | All Programs | Accessories | Run. Type “regedit” without quotes.

5. Navigate to HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionEMDMgmt

6. Select the key related to your USB Device

7. Change the Device Status to 2, ReadSpeedKBs to 10000000 and WriteSpeedKBs to 10000000.

8. Plug the USB key back in, right click on it in “My Computer”, open the Properties page, ReadyBoost Tab, and

click “Use This Device”.

Install Master Control Panel (GodMode)

By DustinPosted on

Windows Vista, as well as Windows 7, has included a “Master Control Panel”. Problem is that it’s not enabled by default. Here is how to gain access to all your Control Panel items, and their child options, and put the icon on your desktop or your Start Menu.

First, create a new folder on your desktop by right clicking on an empty spot on your desktop. Go to New Folder. And the left click.

This will create a new folder on your desktop. Rename the folder with the name:

Master Control.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

You will notice that the icon changes to something different:

You can then access the Master Control Panel and all it’s goodness.

You can move it to anywhere on your hard drive (a separate folder on your drive, your Documents folder, etc.), make a shortcut and drag the shortcut to your Start Menu for easier access. If you are going to make a shortcut on your desktop, it may be counter productive as the Master Control is just a single icon anyway.

Microsoft Addresses Zeus Malware in Latest Update

By DustinPosted on

Microsoft has updated their Malicious Software Removal Tool to include the new Zeus malware. This comes two weeks after law enforcement officials busted up the gang responsible for the malware infection.

On Tuesday, Microsoft started detecting Zeus with its Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) — a widely used virus removal program that’s free for Windows users. That should make it harder for the many criminals who use Zeus to keep running their software on computers that don’t have antivirus software installed — often an easy target up until now.

Hide Computer in Network Browser

By DustinPosted on

Sometimes, you are on a local area network, and want to hide your computer from prying eyes to others on the LAN. Here is a quick command line tip to do just that.

1. Open a command prompt (Start, type CMD and press enter).

2. To hide your computer from the Network Neighborhood or Network browser, type net config server /hidden:yes.

3. To un-hide your computer, just type net config server /hidden:no