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Archives: Windows

News, tips, add-ins, and other stuff directly related to Windows, with a special emphasis on Windows XP.

Tip of the day: Get to know your power button

It used to be so simple: A power button was an on/off switch, period. But on modern personal computers, things are more complicated. Most PCs built in the 21st Century use a combination of motherboards and power switches designed to cooperate with the operating system. Typically, pressing the power button...

Final version of SyncToy released

I've been using the beta version of SyncToy for a few weeks. The final version is now released. This white paper explains how it works: SyncToy is a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows XP that provides an easy to use, highly customizable program to help copy, move, and synchronize different...

A welcome change in Microsoft licensing terms

For the past few years, OEM copies of Windows and Office have been sold under licensing terms that are just plain silly. Yes, you could buy an OEM copy of either product, at a substantial savings over the retail versions, but you had to purchase a "qualifying non-peripheral computer hardware...

More memories of Windows 95

Alice Hill remembers the creepy moments from 10 years ago....

Memories of a Windows decade

The good folks at Ziff-Davis Internet and eWeek were kind enough to give me some space to severely test my long-term memory about the 10 years that have passed since the Windows 95 launch party. Go read it for yourself: The Windows Roller Coaster: 10 Years of Highs and Lows...

Ten years ago today

I was at the launch of Windows 95. I'd like to say I remember it like it was yesterday, but that would be far from true! Here's the proof that I was there, though. This was a tough ticket! We've come a long way... Update: Raymond Chen has some memories too....

Tip of the day: Fix problems with your default browser

In yesterday's tip, I pointed out how to use the Set Program Access and Defaults utility to change your default browser. When you use this tool, the browser you specify appears at the top of the Start menu and should open whenever you click a link. In theory, that's true....

Tip of the day: Change your default browser

Internet Explorer is the default browser included with Windows XP. If you've chosen to use another browser - Firefox or Maxthon or Opera or Avant, for example - for everyday use, you can tell Windows that you want to use that browser as your default instead. To make the switch,...

What's on your Start menu?

Dwight Silverman wants to start a new meme: If you use Windows XP, and you've not fallen back to the simple, Windows 2000-style theme, your Start menu includes a list of frequently used programs. It's there on the lower left side of the menu, and the default is six items....

Tip of the day: Stop highlighting new Start menu shortcuts

When you install a new program that adds one or more shortcuts to the Start menu, Windows XP highlights the new Start menu shortcuts for a few days. This highlighting, which appears in orange by default, makes it easier to find the new items and makes you aware of added...

Tip of the day: Clear the most recently used files list

Windows keeps track of all the files you open from within Windows (by double-clicking a file in Windows Explorer, for instance). This can have privacy implications, and over time the %userprofile%\Recent folder, where shortcuts to all tracked files are stored, can get cluttered. To empty this folder, right-click the Start...

Tip of the day: Get to Windows management tools faster

In Windows XP Inside Out, we listed a bunch of command-line shortcuts that can take you to useful spots within the Windows interface, usually much faster than the point-and-click method. Instead of drilling down through the Start menu, just click Start, Run, type in one of the following commands, and press Enter. Here are a...

Tip of the day: It's OK to use a blank password

Let's say you have two accounts on your Windows XP computer: An everyday account, set up as a Limited User, and an account in the Administrators group that you use for system maintenance tasks. Your computer is in a secure location, and you're the only person with physical access to...

Tip of the day: Insert special characters anywhere, anytime

You're typing a note on your American English keyboard, and you need to enter a character that isn't represented by one of the available keys. Maybe it's an inverted exclamation point or question mark, used in Spanish, or an accented letter for a French word, or some sort of umlaut or...

Tip of the day: Get a second monitor

Bigger isn't always better. If you're lusting after a 20- or 21-inch monitor to replace the old one on your desk (especially if the old one is a CRT), let me offer a different suggestion: Get two smaller flat-panel monitors instead. The advantages of two monitors are overwhelming. You can actually open...

Windows Desktop Search glitch

The more I use it, the more I like Windows Desktop Search, which is included with the MSN Search Toolbar. I especially like that you can use command line operators to create custom search requests, and you can save searches as Internet shortcuts. I've found a few glitches, including one that's very...

Tip of the day: Keep a clean desktop

Most people find it convenient to dump icons on the Windows desktop for easier access. Files, program shortcuts, downloads, Internet shortcuts. I have five folders and 23 individual icons on my desktop, and I suspect that's less than average. The trouble with all those icons is they're hard to get...

A brand-new Powertoy

The SyncToy v1 Beta is one of the best little free utilities I've ever seen from Microsoft: SyncToy is a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows XP that provides is an easy to use, highly customizable program that helps users to do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization...

Tip of the day: Make a one-click shutdown shortcut

Windows XP includes a command called Shutdown that does much more than its name might suggest. Yes, you can use it to create a shortcut that you can then double-click to turn off your computer instantly. Just create a new shortcut and include this command in it, exactly as typed: shutdown...

Tip of the day: Customize the Places Bar

In most Windows programs, when you choose Open or Save As from the File menu, you see a common dialog box that includes five icons in a vertical sidebar on the left side. The five choices are pretty logical, as you can see here: Click any of those links on...

First reactions to IE7

I installed the IE7 beta on Windows XP SP2 yesterday. First reaction? Eh... Tabbed browsing works fine within the browser itself, except that it's not configurable in any significant way. One huge failure: When you click an external link in Outlook, the link opens in a new window instead of in a new...

No, Virginia, there is no Superfetch in Windows XP

The same yokels who insist on spreading the "clean out your Prefetch folder" BS are now spreading the word that there's a super-double-secret registry setting in Windows XP called SuperFetch that will slice your boot times dramatically. No, there isn't. A commenter asked me about this the other day and I...

Tip of the day: It's OK to enable UPnP

On the Windows XP Inside Out forums, a visitor asked: Does anybody know if there are any problems with allowing exceptions in Windows firewall for uPnP? UPnP is the Universal Plug and Play service. It's useful and perfectly safe. There was a security problem with UPnP that was discovered several...

A must-have download for security geeks

Microsoft has a 311-page PDF-formatted download called Threats and Countermeasures: Security Settings in Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP (registration and Passport account required). This is seriously geeky stuff. It's overkill if all you have is one computer at home, but valuable if you are in charge of a business network....

Tip of the day: Change your picture on the Welcome screen and Start menu

Look at the top of the Start menu in Windows XP. See the picture to the left of your user name? It was assigned by default when you set up your user account. (You won't see a picture here if you use the Classic Start menu instead of the Windows XP-style...

Tip of the day: Customize your System Restore settings

System Restore is one of the most important - and most misunderstood - features in Windows XP. Used properly, it can save you hours of painful reconfiguration if you inadvertently install a bad driver or program. If you don't understand its inner workings, you're at a serious disadvantage. Carl Siechert,...

Tip of the day: Cope with uninstall problems

If a Windows program is giving you problems, one common troubleshooting tactic is to uninstall it, using the Add or Remove Programs option in Control Panel. What should you do if the pesky program isn't in the list of installed programs? Although it sounds paradoxical, sometimes the best solution is...

Tip of the day: Back up files by sending them to a CD

These days, virtually every PC has a writable CD drive. Your drive probably came with software that allows you to create audio CDs and perform specialized functions. If you use Windows XP, you don’t need third-party software to write files to a disk in your CD-R or CD-RW drive. Use this capability to...

Tip of the day: Delete a file permanently

When you delete a file, it hangs around longer than you think, and that can be bad news if your goal is to get rid of truly sensitive information. When you press the Delete key, Windows normally moves the deleted file to the Recycle Bin. You no longer see the...

Tip of the day: Put favorite programs (and more) on the Start menu

In Windows XP, the Start menu is divided into two columns. The left column, by default, contains links to your default browser and e-mail program. You can add shortcuts to this menu as well, giving you easy access to your favorite programs, file folders, drives, documents, and Web pages. To...

Tip of the day: Get the ultimate list of Microsoft keyboard shortcuts

You say you hate to take your hands off the keyboard to click the mouse? Then you'll love this master list of keyboard shortcuts covering a long, long list of Microsoft products, including Internet Explorer 6 and nearly every program in the Office 2000, Office XP, and Office 2003 families. If you use...

Sometimes it's best to just start over

Brian Krebs writes about his experience trying to clean up a PC that was infested with malware: I just spent nearly seven hours doing emergency surgery on a Windows PC that belongs to a dear, longtime friend. The experience was so harrowing that I decided to blog it. Been there, done that....

Tip of the day: Restore a lost window

Every so often, I discover that a window has decided it doesn't want to appear on my desktop anymore. Its taskbar button is still there, but clicking it doesn't bring the window to the foreground, and the right-click menu doesn't do any good either. In my case, this happens most...

Josh Marshall loves his Tablet PC

Last year, political reporter Joshua Micah Marshall asked for advice on whether he should buy a Tablet PC or not. A lot of people (including me) e-mailed him with advice, encouragement, and specific recommendations. Based on that feedback, Josh bought a Motion Computing 1400. Yesterday, with a brief apology to his...

Grass roots versus astroturf

According to ActiveWin, Microsoft has launched a new Windows community site called The Hive: On June 9th, Microsoft, together with key community leaders, announced the beta launch of “The Hive,” an online site dedicated to helping online group leaders, bloggers and other community website owners who focus on consumer information...

Tip of the day: Use the Clipboard for quick, temporary backups

One of the most frustrating experiences any Windows user can have is to compose a lengthy comment in a Web-based form, only to click Send, have the server reject the submission, and lose all that effort. Here's a tip that can save at least some of the pain. Before you...

Tip of the day: Back up your entire user profile

A few weeks ago, I explained how to relocate the My Documents folder. I've had lots of positive feedback to that tip, so it seems like a good time to talk about (in my best Paul Harvey voice) the rest of your data. If you only back up your My...

MSN toolbar adds tabs to IE6

I just installed the new MSN Search Toolbar, which includes an updated version of the Windows Desktop Search utility and adds tabbed browsing capabilities to Internet Explorer 6. First reactions: The search tool absolutely rocks, and the degree to which you can customize it is very, very impressive. For now,...

Tip of the day: Cut the Recycle Bin down to size

By default, the Windows Recycle Bin sets aside 10 percent of the space on each disk partition in your system for storage of deleted files, up to a maximum of 3.99 GB. If you have a 400GB hard drive divided into four partitions, the Recycle Bin could be using up 16 gigabytes of storage....

Tip of the day: Use metadata to organize digital pictures

If you shoot lots of digital pictures, learn how to take advantage of information called metadata to keep track of extra details. Image metadata is nonpicture information that’s captured and stored within a picture file. Most digital cameras use the Exchangeable Image File (EXIF) format to store metadata when saving...

Tip of the day: Automatically resize columns in Windows Explorer

If you regularly use Explorer's Details view, here's a convenient keyboard shortcut you should know about. After opening an Explorer window in Details view, hold down the Ctrl key and press the Plus (+) key on the numeric keypad. This shortcut instantly and automatically resizes each column based on the...

Tip of the day: Download Windows updates or signed drivers

You're doing a fresh installation of Windows XP. Is there a way to download service packs and updates so that you don't have to go through a long, long update process before you can use your computer? Yes. In fact, this method is especially useful if the new computer has...

Tip of the day: Use favorite pictures for a screen saver

One of the options available on the Screen Saver tab of Windows XP's Display Control Panel is the My Pictures Slideshow. It's a great alternative to the bouncing Windows logo. Select this screen saver and click the Settings button to specify which pictures you want to use (hint: it helps to copy your...

Tip of the day: Learn to use environment variables

Environment variables contain information about the environment for the system and for the user who’s currently logged on. Knowing how to use these variables can save you time and keystrokes in batch files and shortcuts and at the command line. In addition, some programs use environment variables to determine where to store...

One more time: do not clean out your Prefetch folder!

Yet another Web site posted yet another "tip" today recommending that you clean out your Prefetch folder to improve performance of Windows. Arrrggghhh! I've written about this repeatedly (here and here and here, for instance), but the message doesn't seem to be spreading very fast. Maybe this quote from "Misinformation...

Tip of the day: Move your music, pictures, or video folders

In yesterday's tip, I explained how to move the My Documents folder. To move the default folders that Windows XP uses for music, pictures, or video, you use a slightly different technique: Select the folder you want to move (My Music, My Pictures, My Video), hold down the right mouse...

Tip of the day: Move the My Documents folder

The My Documents folder is the default location for your data files. If disk space is at a premium, you might choose to relocate this folder. For instance, if you add a second hard drive to your system, you might decide to use it exclusively for document sgorage. Here's how...

Thank you, Doug Knox!

Earlier today I tried to play a DVD on my Media Center PC and received an odd error message. When I looked in the My Computer window, I found that the icon for my CD/DVD drive had gone missing. In Device Manager, the entry for the NEC ND-3800 DVD-RW drive...

Sometimes there's a reason things are hidden

Marc Orchant passes along a tip from PC Magazine that explains how to edit the registry to add “Send” and “Copy” commands to Windows Explorer and concludes with this comment: After performing this tweak, you’ll have two new context menu commands: “Move to Folder” and “Copy to Folder”. Apparently this stuff...

Microsoft is getting RSS religion

Wow. Thanks to Scoble I just discovered that the Microsoft Knowledge Base now has RSS feeds, organized by category. This is huge news for people like me, who follow Microsoft products for a living and need fast access to new information. There's a good RSS tutorial, too, with a list of Windows-based...

Netscape 8 breaks IE

This would be funny if it weren't so ironic. OK, it's funny. We’ve just confirmed an issue that has started to be reported on newsgroups and forums that after installing Netscape 8 the XML rendering capabilities of Internet Explorer no longer work. To paraphrase the old Microsoft-bashing line: "Netscape ain't done...

Tip of the day: Bookmark your favorite Registry locations

If you expect to be a Windows power user, you must muck about in the registry. (Mere mortals, of course, should avoid the Registry Editor like the plague. Seriously. One slip in the Registry Editor and you can render your system unbootable or worse.) For experienced Windows users, part of...

Tip of the day: Shut down, stand by, or hibernate without a mouse

What do you do if your mouse stops responding? How do you close all open programs and restart Windows without losing any data? The secret is to know these keyboard shortcuts, which bypass the mouse. They also come in handy if you have a notebook computer and want a fast...

Tip of the day: Get details about a program

Trying to figure out what a program file does can be a challenge. That's especially true when the file in question is one of many EXE and DLL files in a folder. When in doubt, right-click and choose Properties. For Windows program files and DLLs, the resulting dialog box contains...

Tip of the day: Move back to the last page

Your hands are on the keyboard and you want to quickly return to the previous page you were viewing in your browser window. Don't move your hand to the mouse - just press the Backspace key, which has the same effect as clicking the Back button on your browser's toolbar. (This...

Tip of the day: Get faster access to common Control Panel options

Some of the most useful Control Panel options have shortcuts that are readily accessible from the desktop or the Start menu, although you'd never know it by looking: Display - To open this dialog box and change any Display options, including screen saver settings and resolution, right-click any empty space...

Tip of the day: Save a tree with Print Preview

I'm on a crusade to encourage every Windows user to remove the Print button from the Internet Explorer toolbar. Why? Because more often than not, clicking the Print button causes you to waste paper by printing at least one more page than you really need. (Invariably, you'll get a blank...

Tip of the day: Stop wasting paper when printing Web pages

Sometimes you want to print just part of a Web page, but clicking the Print button spits out page after page of information you don't want or need. Here's an easy solution that works the same in Internet Explorer and Firefox: Use your mouse to select the text you want...

"Poisoned" media files wrap-up

The other day I mentioned Microsoft’s new Security Advisory service. The first update in the series has been released, and (surprise!) Microsoft Security Advisory (892313) covers the issue of Windows Media files that can serve as vehicles for delivering unwanted software: In March 2005, Microsoft issued an update to Windows...

Keeping files in sync

Thomas Hawk has a legitimate complaint about Windows Explorer: When I try to copy the letter from one drive to my back up, inevitibly (on nearly every letter) I get an I/O device error that stops my copy job. No viruses, no spyware (at least according to MSFT's own new...

Tip of the day: Show hidden files with a simple script

In its default settings, Windows Explorer conceals two types of files: those with the hidden attribute set, and those designated as system files. Some people, including my occasional writing partner Woody Leonhard, think you should always enable the display of hidden files. I don't agree - in general, I prefer...

Tip of the day: A few Task Manager tricks

I've been posting Task Manager tips all week (here, here, here, and here), so I'll finish up with a few of my favorite tweaks and techniques for this valuable utility. First, I keep Task Manager running all the time. From the Options menu, I choose the Hide when minimized option,...

Tip of the day: Identify processes in the task list

Using Task Manager to identify a process that's taking more than its fair share of CPU or memory resources is a start, but what happens when you can't identify the specific process causing the problem? That's likely to occur if a system service starts to spin out of control. In...

Tip of the day: Use Task Manager to track memory usage

Yesterday I explained how to use Task Manager to monitor CPU performance. (For a refresher course on Task Manager, see Get to know Task Manager.) Today I explain how to use Task Manager to keep track of random access memory (RAM) usage....

Tip of the day: Monitor CPU performance with Task Manager

Is your system slowing down mysteriously? Slowdowns have a variety of causes, and you shouldn't jump to conclusions. When you notice performance becoming sluggish, the first thing you should do is open Task Manager and see if a process is using up more than its fair share of your CPU's...

Tip of the day: Get to know Task Manager

If you use Windows, you should know about Task Manager. This essential system utility allows you to keep track of which programs are running, kill a program or process that has stopped responding, monitor your system's performance, and keep track of how your system is using memory. The Task Manager...

Service Pack 3 for Windows XP?

Well, this is interesting. F-Secure is covering the launch of National Data Security Day in Sweden, with keynote speaker Steve Ballmer: Mr. Ballmer made some interesting remarks: Microsoft might indeed ship SP3 for Windows XP before longhorn comes out. Also, upcoming version 7 of Internet Explorer should have anti-phishing technology built-in....

Tip of the day: Create custom keyboard shortcuts

It's annoying to have to hunt around on the desktop or drill through cascading menus to find the programs you use every day. Why not assign keyboard shortcuts to those programs? As long as ou follow the rules, these shortcuts can be effective. This technique works only with Windows shortcuts,...

Tip of the day: Instantly maximize any window

Are you tired of trying to hit the tiny maximize/restore button in the top right corner of a window? There's an easier alternative: Double-click anywhere on the title bar. The entire title bar acts as an oversized toggle. Double-click to maximize the window; double-click again to restore the original window...

What do you get when you cross a hard disk with a flash drive?

I spent 90 minutes in the Windows Hardware pavilion at WinHEC last night and saw some cool stuff. Most noteworthy was a hybrid disk drive that incorporates non-volatile flash memory into a conventional hard disk drive. The impact on performance is pretty huge, as you can imagine. This technology is still pretty early, but it...

Tip of the day: Managing saved passwords and form data for Web sites

The AutoComplete feature in Internet Explorer allows you to save form data and user name/password combinations associated with Web pages. Firefox offers a similar feature with some important usability improvements. Today's tip tells you how to work with this feature in IE and Firefox....

Microsoft's "Metro" format aims to replace PDF

One of the most intriguing demos at WinHEC yesterday was a sneak peek at a new document format code-named “Metro.” According to Microsoft’s white paper [in Microsoft Word format] on the new technology, it’s “a complete specification for a fixed-layout document format based on XML that offers ‘electronic paper’ for...

Tip of the day: Apply or OK?

When you open a dialog box to change a setting in Windows or a Windows program, the buttons often include both OK and Apply. What's the difference? It's simple: Click Apply if you want to make the selected change without closing the current dialog box. This is the right choice...

Reporting from WinHEC 2005

I’m here in Seattle at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, where Microsoft is laying out its vision of what sort of technology will be running your office and living room in the coming years. There’s lots of good stuff, including some nicely detailed looks at Longhorn. I’d be sharing all...

Tip of the day: Take charge of AutoPlay

When you insert removable media (such as a CD or a flash memory card) into a drive, or when you attach a removable drive to your computer using a USB or Firewire connection, Windows XP checks its AutoPlay settings to see what to do next. That can be annoying if...

Tip of the day: Troubleshoot programs that start automatically

Windows XP includes a System Configuration Utility, Msconfig.exe, which is incredibly valuable and often misused. It allows you to see most of the programs that run at startup and selectively disable programs for troubleshooting purposes. To start the System Configuration Utility, type msconfig in the Run dialog box and press...

Tip of the day: Create an instant System Restore point

Today's tip is shamelessly stolen from Jerry Honeycutt, author of the definitive Microsoft Windows XP Registry Guide from Microsoft Press: You can script System Restore to make taking snapshots quicker and easier. Wouldn't you like to have a script sitting on your desktop that you can run before making changes...

Why I don't use registry cleaners

Via Matt Goyer, John Hoole offers this cautionary tale: just a note to say if you have Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (probably all versions actually) steer clear of registry clean programs such as Reg Mechanic they go through your registry and delete unnecessary keys..... sounds good but it...

Finally, a (partial) solution for "poisoned" Windows Media files!

Update: The original version of this post contained an error. According to my testing, the most recent version of Windows Media Player 10 does not include all of the fixes referred to in this article. The Windows Media FAQ offers this confusing explanation: "If you installed the latest update to Windows Media...

Tip of the day: Drop a file into an open window

One of the most efficient ways to open a file is to drag it directly from the desktop or an Explorer window and drop it in a program window that's already open. By using this technique instead of double-clicking, you control exactly which program opens the file. But what do...

The Longhorn timetable

Microsoft Watch has some interesting Longhorn tidbits, starting with this tentative schedule: April 2005: Preview/pre-beta release to OEMs and software vendors at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference. Summer 2005 (Microsoft is saying early; we're hearing July/August): Longhorn Beta 1 released to testers. Late 2005 to mid-2006: Interim Longhorn builds (similar to the...

Tonight's dinner special: Longhorn

Wish I could have been at last night's dinner meeting with Jim Allchin. The topic was Longhorn, and attendees got to see an early demo of Longhorn technology. Fortunately, Thomas Hawk and Evan Williams have written excellent summaries of what went on. If you're interested in the future of Windows, be sure to...

Overclocking is bad for your PC's health

Microsoft's Raymond Chen (whose epitaph will no doubt include the words, "developer of the original Tweak UI utility for Windows") put up a fascinating post earlier this week. It's worth reading for two reasons. First, it details how Microsoft engineers really do use the data you submit when your Windows computer crashes. Second,...

A Longhorn insider speaks

Sean Alexander has been a great source of information on Media Center for a long time. Now he's on the Longhorn team, and today he has his first post as a Longhorn insider: There will be a LH build given out at WinHEC.  This will not be Beta 1. This is a driver...

A sneak peek at Longhorn

eWeek sat down with Microsoft VP Jim Allchin, who showed a demo of the next version of Windows (code-named Longhorn) and talked about Why Longhorn Matters. The short version? "Longhorn is going to be a heck of a lot more than just Windows XP Service Pack 3." I'll be at...

Tip of the day: Manage saved passwords

Windows XP provides a secure system for storing sensitive data associated with Web pages you visit using Internet Explorer. This data store includes saved user names, passwords, and Web form data you “remember” using the AutoComplete feature in Internet Explorer. Occasionally, people ask me where this data is stored, assuming...

Tip of the day: Log out in a hurry

Think of this as the 21st Century equivalent of the "boss key." When you hear footsteps and you want to clear the contents of the screen right now, hold down the Windows logo key and tap L. In Windows XP, that shortcut takes you to the logon screen if you...

Debunking yet another bogus Windows tip

Updated 25-May-2005: Finally! Some authoritative input on this issue! Ryan Myers, a developer on Microsoft's Windows Client Performance Team, wrote a very informative blog post, "Misinformation and the Prefetch Flag," that clears up several of these issues. I've revised some remarks below in accordance with his entry. In today's tip...

Tip of the day: Don't clean out the Prefetch folder

At least once a week I run across some well-meaning soul who passes along a dubious tip designed to enhance the performance of Windows XP. According to these folks, you should clean out the Windows Prefetch folder regularly to improve your system's performance. They're wrong, because they don't understand how...

Tip of the day: Get to the root of an Explorer window

Normally, when you open Windows Explorer, the window opens in your My Documents folder, with all other drives and folders visible in the Folders pane on the left. But if you just want to work with the files in a single folder (with all its subfolders), don't forget the trick...

Tip of the day: Quick-pick files in Windows Explorer

When it's time to clean out a crowded directory, learn these file selection shortcuts for maximum efficiency: Hold down the Ctrl key and click to select or unselect files one at a time. Select one file, then hold down the Shift key and click on another file to select all files...

Tip of the day: Tweak your windows settings

The best of all Windows customizing utilities is free - and it comes from Microsoft. Tweak UI lets you adjust dozens of tiny settings without having to mess around with the registry. Microsoft has released several versions of Tweak UI through the years. The most recent one is version 2.10,...

Got a Tablet PC? Get this add-on

Scoble points to the Experience Pack for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, which was just released today. I've just upgraded the hard drive on my Toshiba Portege 3500 to 80GB (up from 40GB), so I'll have enough room to bring along some recorded TV from my Media Center when I travel, so this...

Tip of the day: Give your taskbar twice as much room

This is one of my all-time favorite Windows tips, and it's one of the first customizations I make on a new computer. After you open more than three or four programs, you'll have trouble seeing which file or program goes with each taskbar button. Here's a great solution: increase the...

Tune up your screen fonts

Last October, the Microsoft Typography group released a ClearType Tuner PowerToy. Don't assume that this is just for notebooks. Tweaking these settings in Windows XP really can make your screen more readable. There's a downloadable version, or you can use the online ClearType Tuner (because it uses an ActiveX control, the online version works...

How to troubleshoot the Blue Screen of Death

Trying to figure out what’s causing a Windows STOP error (more commonly known as the Blue Screen of Death, or BSOD) can be a challenge. One likely candidate is bad hardware; if the error messages are random and the shutdowns appear unpredictably, you should suspect a faulty power supply or bad RAM. Another common BSOD cause is a faulty device...

Internet Explorer Compatibility Evaluator

Microsoft’s browser development group has released a new Internet Explorer Compatibility Evaluator: IECE is designed to help IT professionals evaluate changes in behavior of web applications and web sites caused by the new security features in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) and test for compatibility when moving from Windows XP to...

What's coming in IE 7.0?

Microsoft Watch has some juicy rumors....

A new must-read Windows blog

Mark Russinovich of Sysinternals.com has just started a new blog. If you’re a Windows geek, this has to be in your reading list. His first and second posts are on Google Desktop Search. (Verdict: “Time to uninstall and evaluate other desktop search solutions...”)...

Windows Media Player updates available

A new Knowledge Base article identifies Updates for Windows Media Player 9 Series and for Windows Media Player 10. Curiously, the update doesn’t include the fix Microsoft promised last month for the “poisoned” Windows Media file issue I’ve been writing about since the New Year....

Six new fonts for Longhorn

Here’s something to look forward to – The Design Desk at Poynter.org has a preview of six new Windows fonts: Beginning in 2006, Microsoft says it will ship with its operating system and other software products six brand new typefaces created especially for extended on-screen reading. The new ClearType Font...

IBM invents "jumper cables" for BSOD rescues

Amit Singh talks about a cool new tool that his group at IBM Research demonstrated at a trade show earlier this month: [It’s] a "personal jumper cable" to counter the "Blue Screen of Death" on PCs. In a pinch, the Linux-based technology "transforms" a personal device, such as an MP3 player, a...

No security patches next Tuesday

The second Tuesday of each month is when Microsoft releases its security patches. Last month, there was a bumper crop – 11 in all. This month? None. That’s good news....

Microsoft finally clarifies Product Activation story

An Israeli blogger named Aviran Mordo gets a letter from Alex Kochis, Senior License Compliance Manager at Microsoft Corp. with “clarifications of the Windows XP Product Activation changes and how it will affect end users.” (I wonder why I didn’t hear from Alex?) In brief: Users of genuine Windows will experience no...

An update on the Windows Media Player security snafu

eWeek’s Ryan Naraine has an excellent update on the “poisoned Windows Media files” controversy that I’ve been covering here for the past few weeks. (See this post for a roundup of the confusion over the WMP10 update; and see “Someone at Microsoft doesn’t get it,” which I posted on January 14, for...

Why is IE7 such a big freakin' secret?

The Internet Explorer team has a weblog, but unlike so many of their counterparts in other Microsoft product groups they seem allergic to actually using it for more than teasers and marketing doublespeak. Yesterday’s post on IE7 Platforms and Outlook Express is unfortunately typical: We currently plan to make IE7 available for Windows...

Windows Product Activation: The FUD continues

Geek News Central writes this morning: Customers who purchase a computer from 20 of the industry's leading manufacturers will have to phone home to Microsoft and announce their intention to use the operating system that came with the computer they just bought. No, they won’t. Details here and here. Likewise, ComputerWorld...

Everything you always wanted to know about Windows Product Activation

Last week I explained why Microsoft’s changes to Windows Product Activation (WPA), which take effect today, are no big deal for most Windows users. Sadly, the FUD about this issue is spreading through the Internet without much regard for the underlying facts. In addition to Betanews and Slashdot, the story has been picked up...

Dwight Silverman gets it

At last, someone who understands how Windows Product Activation works. There’s an RSS feed now, too. (Not full text, but it’s a start.)...

More on product activation

If you’re a visitor from Betanews or Slashdot (see specific comments here) looking for my post on product activation, click here. There’s a remarkable amount of misinformation on this topic, just as there was when WPA was introduced in 2001. That temperst turned out to be a FUD-filled non-issue, and I predict this...

More FUD about activation

This little bit of nonsense from Mac-centric freelance writer Ian Betteridge plopped into my RSS reader this morning: Activation becomes more annoying. My eWeek colleague Mary Jo Foley takes a look at Microsoft's decision to change Windows activation so that you will have no longer be able to activate via...

Why was Media Player updated?

Updated March 2… eWeek is out with a news story headlined “Microsoft Updates Media Player to Thwart Spyware Threat”. As far as I can tell, this story is almost completely inaccurate. Microsoft Corp. has released an update for its flagship Windows Media Player to protect users from a known threat...

Dear Microsoft, what's in this new Media Player version?

Dear Microsoft, When you release a new update to Windows Media Player 10 like the one that mysteriously appeared in the Microsoft Download Center yesterday, it would be nice if you also included some documentation on what sort of changes are included. I noticed a “Music Assistant” flash past as the...

Will new Microsoft add-ons trigger new antitrust charges? No.

In a comment on another post, Thomas Brock asks: So... Will these additions to AV services, the anti-spyware services, the media playsforsure services and the internet and desktop search services add to the monopoly charges? Short answer: No. Everything Microsoft does with Windows has to be cleared by the Department...

More stuff I saw at DEMO

Here are a few interesting products I saw yesterday at DEMO. Cloudmark (formerly SpamNet) showed off a browser add-on called SafetyBar for Internet Explorer. It’s a logical extension of their SafetyBar for Outlook and Outlook Express, which uses a community-based filtering system to very effectively block spam and viruses. The idea behind the SafetyBar...

IE is about to get a major update

I was as surprised as anyone to see today's announcement that Microsoft is getting ready to release a new version of Internet Explorer. Gates announced Internet Explorer 7.0, designed to add new levels of security to Windows XP SP2 while maintaining the level of extensibility and compatibility that customers have...

Protect yourself at hotspots

The Security Mentor has some interesting comments on the Windows Firewall that’s included with Windows XP SP2. He notes that, unlike the Internet Connection Firewall in SP1 and earlier, the Windows Firewall assumes that you want to trust all computers on your local network: So the built-in Windows firewall hides file...

Mac OS X on a PC?

Kent Pribbernow is trying to stir up trouble at Digital Media Thoughts: In a recent interview with Forbes Magazine, Steve Jobs makes the surprising claim that three of the top PC makers are asking him to license OSX for use on their PCs. Hmmm. That might have been a smart...

Another pointless Mac vs. PC debate

UC Berkeley professor Brad DeLong says, “Get a Mac!” Prof. DeLong, normally a smart and witty analyst, needs to go back to school on this one. His argument is based on a third-hand quotation from Robert Scoble (via Owen Thomas’s Ditherati, which in turn took the quote from the snarky and entertaining but...

Longhorn beta will arrive by June

ZDNet has the first official confirmation that a Longhorn beta will be out in the first half of this year: Microsoft is on track to release the first full test version of the next major Windows release by the end of June, a Microsoft executive told CNET News.com on Monday.The...

The history of the Windows PowerToys

Raymond Chen wrote the original Tweak UI for Windows 95. In a post on his most excellent blog, The Old New Thing, he tells the history of the Windows PowerToys. It’s fun reading, especially given that this is the 10th anniversary of Windows 95. But I’m linking to it here...

Wired News conducts a clinic in bad journalism

Wired News published a horrible story this morning. In Hide Your IPod, Here Comes Bill, author Leander Kahney writes: To the growing frustration and annoyance of Microsoft's management, Apple Computer's iPod is wildly popular among Microsoft's workers. Now read the story. Read it carefully. (I’ll wait.) Note that the entire...

I want a Windows Home Server!

Rick Hallihan has a vision of how a new Windows Server, Home Edition would look: This would be a scaled back and customized version of Windows Small Business Server, running on specialized hardware, and it would simplify home networking to the point where everyone could enjoy the benefits of modern network...

The impact of antitrust on Microsoft

An interesting tidbit in this eWeek story about Microsoft’s decision not to bundle desktop search with Windows: Speaking on a panel on search technology at the Harvard Business School's Cyberposium, Mark Kroese, general manager of information services and merchant platform product marketing for MSN, said the federal antitrust battle Microsoft waged with...

Bold proposal, bad idea

Jake Wilcox has posted what he calls A Bold Proposal: Microsoft should release Windows 98 as freeware. He’s getting lots of publicity after asking Robert Scoble to jump on the bandwagon. My opinion? This is a terrible, terrible idea. Windows 98 was a worthwhile operating system in its day, but encouraging people to...

Is that Internet Explorer add-on safe?

Internet Explorer supports all sorts of add-ons and extensions. The most popular are Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), browser extensions, and toolbars. If you run Windows XP Service Pack 2, you can view a list of all installed add-ons by choosing Tools, Manage Add-ons. From this dialog box you can enable, disable,...

Microsoft to expand Genuine Advantage program

This story in today’s Washington Post is confusing: Microsoft to Launch Anti-Piracy Initiative: Microsoft Corp. will combat piracy of its flagship operating system by requiring Windows users to verify that their copy of the software is genuine in order to receive timely updates and security fixes, the world's largest software maker...

Windows without the Media Player

After arguing for years that Windows Media Player was inextricably linked with the operating system, Microsoft is about to release a version of Windows without Media Player: Microsoft is giving European computer manufacturers the choice of buying Windows with or without the company's favored Windows Media Player, which lets computer...

I remember Bob

The pictures of Chairman Bill were a huge hit, so I thought I would follow them up with this video tour of the legendary Microsoft Bob (clip circa March 2001, via The Screen Savers). I once had a copy of the software, but alas it has been lost to the ages, and...

Regrettably, the floppy disk is not dead

I used to have boxes and boxes of floppy disks. Today, I think I have maybe a dozen disks in all, and I would have to do a pretty thorough search to find them all. For the most part, floppy disks are completely unnecessary. I can boot from a CD...

Longhorn to ship in May 2006?

Neowin has details on the current Microsoft internal schedule for Longhorn, the next major release of Windows. Their report says the first beta release is due on May 25, with a second beta on October 12. The internal schedules say the product will release to manufacturing on May 24, 2006, almost exactly...

Misplaced criticism

Joe Wilcox at Microsoft Monitor is unhappy about Microsoft’s attempts to steer people to its paid services. They’re practically guilty of shipping spyware themselves, he concludes, based on this experience: I started up the Averatec 6100H this morning and got a warning that http://www.averatec.com was trying to change the default home page...

How often should you reinstall Windows?

John J. Fried is a syndicated columnist for Knight-Ridder. In his most recent column, he offers a piece of popular advice that I think is completely misguided. In response to a question from a read who complains that his computer is slow, he writes:  Even if you treat your PC...

Gates at CES: a wrap-up

I watched the Bill Gates keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show last night. Well, most of it, anyway. The high-speed feed had a little trouble keeping up with the demand, so I occasionally lost the picture. But I saw a few things I liked, and Conan O'Brien was a good...

Sure. Macs are easier. Uh-huh...

As long as I'm sticking my toe into the Mac waters... I ran across this post from Jeffrey Zeldman today, which explains how users of Mac OS X can safely update to the latest version of their OS. (In other words, install the latest Mac service pack.) Apple's 10.3.6 update...

The itsy-bitsy Windows XP boot drive

Over at eHomeUpgrade, Will Wagner indulges in a little science project: How-To: Boot Windows XP Off a Compact Flash Card. This article describes how I was able to get BeyondTV Link, a .Net application, running Windows XP Home using an inexpensive compact flash card. As a disclaimer, please note that...

Integrating SP2 into a Windows XP CD

If you set up multiple PCs regularly, it's useful to have a single CD that can install Windows and the most recent service pack. The Elder Geek has crystal-clear instruction on how to create your own Slipstreamed Windows XP CD Using SP2. Works like a charm....

New PowerPoint Viewer

PowerPoint presentations are a popular way to pass around information. I know quite a few people who use PowerPoint to create amusing photo slide shows, for instance. How do you view a presentation if you don't have a copy of PowerPoint installed? Use the free PowerPoint Viewer 2003. This is...

Blind faith in Apple

Brad DeLong is a wicked-smart economist. But when it comes to PCs, well... He thinks Microsoft Is Evil: Memo to self: warn all family members that just because Microsoft Internet Explorer can *display* .pdf documents is no reason to expect that Microsoft Internet Explorer will be able to *print* them....

More about the Administrator account

In a comment to the previous post, Hellsbellboy (great name!) asks: What's the difference between Computer Administrator (which I run under) and just plain ol Administrator? I have 1 account on my Windows XP Pro, which I name Hellsbellboy, but if i go say into Safe Mode I get a...

Free replacement of counterfeit Windows

In the UK, Microsoft has launched a fascinating new program under the Genuine Product Verification label. If you purchased a computer that was pre-loaded with a counterfeit copy of Windows, you can send them the CD and a statement showing where you purchased the computer. Here's what happens next: If...

Outlook Express Expertise

Tom Koch has forgotten more things about Outlook Express than most Windows experts ever learned. When I have to deal with an Outlook Express issue, I always turn to his superb Inside Outlook Express site first. So I was particularly excited to see a new article from Tom on Microsoft's...

SP2: no performance problems

I often grit my teeth when I read "expert" advice on performance that has no relation to external reality. That's why I was very happy to see one Web site perform a comprehensive set of system benchmarks aimed at answering the question, "Does Service Pack 2 slow you down?" They...

The amazing hidden backup program

My brother-in-law is never afraid to ask a question. This week, he's concerned that his copy of Windows XP Home Edition is missing the backup program. Where is it? It’s on your Windows XP CD. From Windows XP Inside Out, Second Edition: If you're running Windows XP Home Edition, you...

Windows Validation?

My RSS feed just passed along news of a Critical Update for Windows XP. When I clicked the link, it took me to this page: Download details: Critical Update for Windows XP (KB887822). So far, perfectly normal. But then I saw a yellow box in the center of the page,...

SP2 troubles? Some help...

I've heard from several people about problems they experienced when trying to install Service Pack 2. These are the two most common problems: Your computer freezes while trying to install SP2. This seems to be caused by a specific hardware problem, which is described in this Knowledge Base article: Your...

SP2 problems

In response to my recent post asking why people are waiting to install SP2, Steve Smith writes: On my home system, I installed SP2 not too long after it came out (which has been my practice in the past for other fixes and updates) The install proceeded uneventfully, I rebooted...

SP2: Why haven't you installed it?

You probably already read the story I posted a few days ago, about the woman whose computer was taken over by some piece of spyware and then was further damaged by the software that was supposed to get rid of the infection. I exchanged a few e-mails with her, and...

"Lighter" Windows on the way?

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required, so no link) reports: Microsoft Corp. said Monday it is ready to put a stripped down version of Windows on the market if it fails this week to persuade a judge to suspend a landmark European Union antitrust decision. It wouldn't surprise me of...

Gee, few problems with SP2

CNET News.com reports: A new study released this week from consultant AssetMetrix found that the typical company can expect at least some SP2 compatibility issues on about 10 percent of its machines that run the software. "There will be some, what I would consider, transitory issues," said Steve O'Halloran, managing...

Q&A: SP2 and performance

Reader Mark Roberts asks: "does sp2 make winxp boot slower. I think i am experiencing same. " Mark, I've read hundreds of first-person reports on SP2, and I have not seen any reports of performance problems. In fact, a few people say they think some things are actually faster, and...

Longhorn wish list

You haven't read much about Longhorn (code name for the next version of Windows) here. I've been to plenty of public demonstrations and discussions of Longhorn, along with a few private briefings. Most of what I saw was interesting but obviously very early and unfinished. I've installed and experimented with...

Order SP2 on CD

You can now order the Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD. I recommend that you get one of these CDs, even if you already downloaded SP2 and installed it yourself. You can use the "official" CD to install the upgrade on computers belonging to friends and family members who...

SP2 now on Windows Update?

According to Brian Johnson, Service Pack 2 is now available via Windows Update. If you've been waiting, this is your opportunity. Unlike the full download, the Windows Update version is tailored to your Windows version. It's still large, but it is considerably smaller than the full download. Update: I just...

SP2 rollout delayed

Mary Jo Foley says Microsoft Pushes Back Automatic Delivery of SP2: August 16 was set to be D-day for the automatic delivery of Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). But at the last minute, the Redmond software vendor decided to push back by at least nine days the Windows...

"You need to install SP2. Period."

The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro calls SP2 a Must For XP Users: Individual Windows users bear the same responsibility: If you run XP, you need to install SP2. Period. Loading a system update this big is never risk-free, but the far bigger risk is to keep stumbling along with an...

SP2 links

Leo Nelson has 10 FALs (Frequently Asked Links) on Windows XP Service Pack 2. FAL? That's a new one on me! The links are useful, though. Note to Leo: The page looks fine in IE, but it looks just awful in Firefox. Ironic, given the Word of Firefox logo on...

SP2 and raw sockets

According to security expert Dana Epp, Windows XP SP2 no longer supports "raw sockets": Ok, now this just sucks. One of the 'security additions' added to XP SP2 is the fact that raw sockets are no longer available. Result? Tools like nmap no longer work in their current form. The...

XP Lite unveiled

Finally, some details about the "lite" version of Windows XP that's about to debut in Asia. This story in the Washington Post provides some details: The new software, officially called Windows XP Starter Edition, is "a low-cost introduction to the Microsoft Windows XP operating system designed for first-time desktop PC...

BitTorrent and SP2

A note to new arrivals: This is one of the most popular pages on this site, for some reason. At any rate, if you came here looking for links to download SP2, try this one (or this one, if you prefer a simpler approach). The following is the original post...

How big is SP2?

Samson Joe sends along an excellent question: How big is the SP2 file and how long will it take for me to install it using a dial up connection? When I downloaded SP1, it took me about 2 hrs. If I have my PC set to auto updates and the...

More SP2 reviews

Dwight Silverman of the Houston Chronicle has an excellent Windows XP SP2 guide. His conclusion: "Although downloading and installing an upgrade of the magnitude of Windows XP SP2 is not trivial, it's worth it. The result will be improved peace of mind, and using the Net may actually be a...

More SP2 info

Scoble asks: So, how is Windows XP Service Pack 2 working for those of you who've gotten it? I just installed the final version and my machine got better and Cleartype seems to work better too. I've upgraded four systems here, and a fifth has Automatic Updates enabled so that...

SP2: Thumbs up

Gee, maybe there's something to this "trustworthy computing" thing after all. ZDNet reports: Security company F-Secure has reverse-engineered SP2, a process the company compares to taking apart a virus or worm to see how it functions, and the company's initial reaction is very positive. "They have implemented it very well,...

SP2 now available for download

The full English-language version of Windows XP Service Pack 2 ("for IT Professionals and Developers") is now available for download. It's huge -- 266 MB, so make sure you have a fast connection to get it. This includes every update for every version of Windows XP. If you have a...

SP2 release notes

835935 - Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 2 Good reading while you wait for the downloads....

SP2 is released

The official notice: Microsoft Releases Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies to Computer Manufacturers: Microsoft Corp. today announced the release to manufacturing of Windows® XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies. This free service pack delivers the latest security updates and innovations from Microsoft, establishes strong...

Still waiting...

No Windows XP SP2 yet. Apparently there was a last-minute glitch that needed to be fixed. Meanwhile, I recommend you check your Automatic Update settings, and make sure it's set to automatically download all Critical Updates. Windows XP will automatically download this big update in the background, without disturbing your...

SP2 Q&A

I'm collecting all my SP2 questions and answering them on this site. Got a question? Send me a note. I'll try to answer the most interesting questions here. Ken Gardner asks: What is the difference between "automatic download" available on August 4 (today) and SP2 being available on August 25...

XP SP2 here soon?

Well, well, well. Microsoft has removed the beta versions of Service Pack 2 for Windows XP from its Web site. The note on the site says they've been removed to make way for the final release. That must mean that Neowin.net was right in its report that the service pack...

Windows XP Starter Edition?

OK, I'm confused. AP reports that Microsoft plans to offer a "starter" version of Windows in Asia later this year: Microsoft Corp. plans to offer a version of its Windows operating system geared toward beginning computer users in Thailand and Malaysia starting this September. The offering, dubbed Windows XP Starter...

I love my Tablet PC

Scoble asks: Who else loves their Tablet PC? Me, me, me! I took my Toshiba 3500 to WinHEC last week (more about that a little later) and used it in every meeting. The key is that I've installed the latest build of Windows XP Service Pack 2, which updates the...

Fabulous freeware

Jim Eshelman's Windows Support Center is an absolutely top-notch source of reliable information about every aspect of every version of Windows. I particularly like his Favorite Freeware list, which contains up-to-date links to free and useful programs. Highly recommended....

Outlook Express Expertise

For years, I've been a fan of Tom Koch's Inside Outlook Express page. Although I don't use Outlook Express, just about everyone I know does, and this site has answers to questions you probably didn't even know to ask! Case in point: A friend called a few days ago. He'd...

Save a buck or two on Windows

According to The E-List News - A Windows Support E-Letter, Microsoft has dropped the price of extra licenses for Windows XP. If you already own a copy of Windows XP, you can buy up to three additional licenses directly from Microsoft for a 15% discount. That cuts the price of...

Recover a missing Windows or Office product key

PLEASE READ THIS NOTE CAREFULLY: If you are looking for someone to provide you with a product key for Microsoft Windows or Office, because you're using a pirated copy or you lost the key that came with your legally purchased copy, I CANNOT HELP YOU. I've locked this entry for...