Vista SP2 RC On Its Way

On Wednesday, February 25, Brandon LeBlanc, Windows Communications Manager for the Windows Client Communications Team, posted information to...
Here Comes IE8 RTM!!

One of my best sources for leaked info from Microsoft continues to be Malaysian-based site TechARP. Today's blog is based on some recent reportage from them about the upcoming Internet Explorer 8 release. The latest date for release to...
Vista SP2 Inches Closer to Completion and Release

Last week, Microsoft an RC (Release Candidate) build for Windows Vista/Server 2008 SP2 through the Microsoft Connect program to a select group of pre-qualified beta testers. According to Mary Jo Foley's ZDNet coverage on this topic, the latest build number...
Another Use for WinPE: WinRE UFD To the Rescue

If you've ever messed with the Windows Vista Recovery Environment you know it's helpful, but it can take quite a while for it to appear on-screen on a machine in need of repair or recovery. In fact, the functionality behind this display is a WinPE-based facility that's bundled with the Windows...
XP Downgrade Suit: Legitimate beef or frivolous complaint?

The latest Vista flap originates from a lawsuit filed against Microsoft Corporation stemming from fees assessed to Los Angeles computer user Emma Alvarado for downgrading a Lenovo notebook PC from Windows Vista to Windows...
Clean Up New PCs with PC Euphemism

Actually the name of the program in question is not Euphemism--rather you can read it from the domain name in the URL for the Subscription page http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/node/18 where organizations and companies can license its use for an...
No More “Extras” for Ultimate Versions

Among the litany of complaints against Windows Vista, Microsoft's failures to deliver on its promises to produce and release "Extras" for the Ultimate edition have been held up and railed against repeatedly since that version shipped in January 2007. The idea behind the Extras sounded good: from...
Another key to legacy Windows Apps: Virtual PC 2007

One ongoing and legitimate beef about Windows Vista is that it doesn't support older Windows applications, particularly those written specifically for older Windows versions or that don't follow well-established guidelines for "good behavior" in terms of referencing APIs, interacting with hardware,...
Preview of Patch Tuesday Attractions

Tomorrow, February 11, is the second Tuesday in February--hence, "Patch Tuesday" is once again at hand. Microsoft publishes advance notification for security bulletins each month on the preceding Thursday, so I can tell...
Boot-Land.com is another hidden treasure

If you read my previous blog, you already know that VistaPE isĀ a project that uses WinBuilder to automate the construction of a WinPE 2.0-based bootable image from the Windows...