mynetxWindows 7

How-to: Get rid of Reboot prompt after installing Windows updates

Klaus Neumann — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 19:37:00 +0000

You are using installing updates for Windows 7, and Windows always asks you to reboot your computer afterward? Normally you can only delay the prompt by four hours or shorter. However, you can turn off the repeated reboot prompt.

This way, Windows does not continue to ask when you want to reboot your computer. This is how it works:

Press the keyboard shortcut Win+R.
Enter the following command: gpedit.msc, and press OK. The editor for local group policies appears.
Switch to the folder Local Computer Policy > Computer configuration > Administrative template > Windows components > Windows Update.
In the right window, double click Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations, select the Disabled setting, and confirm by clicking OK.
Windows will no longer annoy you with repeated reboot prompts after installing Windows updates.

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Windows 7: Search the web directly from your taskbar

Klaus Neumann — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:07:00 +0000

Windows Vista offers you the option to “Search the Internet”, directly above the search box in your start menu. The new Windows 7 does not contain this shortcut anymore, Microsoft has removed it from the start menu. If you like to, you can re-integrate it.

To re-add the fast web search into your start menu, do the following steps:

Press the keyboard shortcut [Windows key] + [R] to open the Run dialog box.
Enter the regedit command, and confirm with OK.
In the Windows registry editor, navigate to the following folder:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Policies/Microsoft
Then, right-click the sub-folder Windows and choose the option New > Key. Overwrite the default name New key #1 with the label Explorer.
Then, right-click the new sub-folder Explorer and choose the option New > DWORD value. Replace the text New value #1 with the following name:
AddSearchInternetLinkInStartMenu
Confirm your entry with OK.
Now, double-click AddSearchInternetLinkInStartMenu, enter the value 1, then confirm with OK.

You’re done. After your next reboot, the new command “Search the Internet” will appear when you enter a search term into your start menu search box.

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Windows 7: Cancel command line operations

Klaus Neumann — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:58:16 +0000

Some DOS commands take a while for running through. Especially recursive commands, often called with the /r switch, often require you to have much patience. If you don’t want to wait until the command has finished running, you can cancel it.

Canceling a running DOS command however does not work with the ESC key, unlike often supposed. On the contrary, most DOS commands ignore the ESC key. For canceling a command running in the Command Prompt, you have to press Ctrl + C.

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How-to: Get rid of Reboot prompt after installing Windows updates

Windows 7: Release Candidate starts nagging soon

Klaus Neumann — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:47:02 +0000

Some users are probably still using Windows 7 Release Candidate. In the coming weeks and months though, these preliminary OS versions will stop working, according to a reminder issued by Microsoft TechNet.

Starting from 15 February, you will see a warning message once per day, notifying you that Windows 7 RC will expire soon. After 4 hours, you get another notification, followed by more notifications once per hour. The operating system can still be used normally.

From 1 March 2010 onwards, the system will reboot automatically every 2 hours, besides the task bar notification. However, you can still use the operating system.

Starting from 1 June 2010, Windows 7 Release Candidate expires fully. The operating system only displays a black desktop. You will see an activation message telling you that the used system is not genuine. Windows will reboot every 2 hours.

More information: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971767

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Windows Live tips in the upcoming Release Candidate

Windows 7 SP1: Internal Testing

Klaus Neumann — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:05:55 +0000

According to a report by the US magazine ZDNet, Service Pack 1 for Microsoft’s current operating system Windows 7 is already tested internally. It might thus be available earlier than expected. Unofficial rumors consider September 2010 as possible release date, but a different source talks about early November 2010. Partners will receive Windows 7 SP1 a month before its public availability; at the same time development of Windows 7 Service Pack 2 will start.

The Ukrainian portal IT-Chuiko reports that Microsoft is going to make a Windows 7 Service Pack 1 prerelease available in June 2010, while different rumors talk about the second week of April for a public SP1 Beta. Its build number is likely to be 6.1.7601.

Service Pack 1 will mostly contain patches and bugfixes that have already been published one by one. Furthermore, Windows 7 SP1 is going to introduce some newer technologies, like USB 3.0, or an update to the Windows Bluetooth functionality.

With a faster release cycle, Microsoft is primarily aiming to companies, as they often wait with migrating until the first Service Pack has been published.

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Windows 7: Don’t minimize all windows

Klaus Neumann — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:26:26 +0000

Freeing your desktop and minimizing all windows is no problem with Windows 7. One click at the right-bottom edge of the taskbar or pressing [Win]-[Space] will do. But what if the currently active window should stay open? Windows 7 Aero Shake helps.

With Aero Shake, you can close all windows except the currently active one. Some shaking is enough: Just click in the window title bar, keep the mouse button pressed and shake your mouse (while keeping the mouse button pressed). The result? All other windows will hide from your desktop. To get them back, just shake the window again.

More info: www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/shake.aspx

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How-to: Minimize Windows Live Mail to the “tray”

Ten reasons for Windows 7

Klaus Neumann — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:02:14 +0000

Get quicker access to all of your stuff—use Pin and Jump Lists to keep the programs and files you use the most right at your fingertips.
Manage open windows easier—resize and arrange windows simply by dragging their borders to the edge of your screen.
Quickly find what you’re looking for—use Windows Search to find a specific file, program, or e-mail in a few seconds.
Share files and printers among multiple PCs—from one Windows 7-based PC to another, you can share files, music, photos, and even printers across your home network.
Stay entertained effortlessly—with Windows Media Center you get one place to enjoy your photos and music, watch and record live TV, and watch free Internet TV.
Easily create and share movies—create great looking movies and slideshows and share them on YouTube in minutes.
Connect to networks easily—view and connect to any available wireless network in as few as three clicks.
Do more and wait less—improvements that can accelerate sleep and resume and make your PC more responsive help you get more done.
Touch and tap rather than point and click—Windows 7 makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.
Manage devices more easily—manage printers, cameras, music players, and other devices from a single, consistent, place.

Source: www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/compare/top-ten-reasons.aspx

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Windows 7 is out. What now?

Klaus Neumann — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:35:28 +0000

Windows 7 is generally available since yesterday. Never have the expectations for a new operating system been as high as this time, as we as end users have never been integrated into finding ideas for a new Windows, like we have this time. On top of that, Windows Vista has moved to the storage siding and is called a big flop by some people. Surely expectations climb up then—can Windows 7 embrace them?

Comparing the editions

What should run with Windows Vista is also suitable for the new Windows. That is because the system requirements have not been elevated, like normally. The lights are green for programs as well: Either a software runs directly, or you can convince it to run with the integrated Windows XP. Just in case. That’s called “Virtual XP Mode.”

But not every Windows 7 edition contains this mode. Which versions exist, and what are their differences? The editions important for us are Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate.

Windows 7 Home Premium

The successor of Windows Vista Home Premium will be the version sold most. It is preinstalled on PCs by manufacturers, and includes all features necessary to work and play.

Windows 7 Professional

The professional edition can do everything that Home Premium can, and additionally supports Windows Virtual PC as well as data backup and restore on network places.

Windows 7 Ultimate

The high-end edition has all that and on top of it, the BitLocker encryption. Furthermore, you can install more language packs here and for example use your Windows in German—without any reinstall, just a logoff/reboot is required.

Other versions

Thanks to the European Union, there are the “N” variants, coming without Windows Media Player and more media features. They cost the same as the normal versions, so rather don’t touch them.

Windows 7 Home Basic, Starter and Enterprise remain, where the first 2 are only interesting for developing countries and the last one is only offered to companies that can take advantage of extended network features.

Buy Windows 7

What does Windows 7 cost?

That depends totally on your home country. Sorry… =)

All editions are also available as OEM versions. These are normally only meant for computer manufacturers, but depending on your local laws, they might also be sold independently of hardware. You have no right for support by Microsoft, in exchange, the OEM versions are much cheaper than editions in the colored boxes.

You’re a student? Even better. If you have the corresponding legitimations, you can get Windows 7 for as low as $29.99 USD. More info on this special offer at www.win741.com.

Is my computer ready?

You can find out if your computer is ready to run Windows 7 with Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. This is a free program that checks your system for known problems. If something is found, you get a notice. This way, you know where problems might arise even before you install Windows.

Some update tips:

Please take some minutes for backing up your data. If you don’t and something goes wrong, you’re going to have a problem. (We don’t want to hope, but who knows.)
You are using Windows Vista: Upgrading to Windows 7 is possible.
You are using Windows XP: You cannot upgrade to Windows 7 directly. The system must be reinstalled.
You want to take your settings and data with you? Have a look at Windows EasyTransfer (for Windows Vista and Windows XP). Moving is easier with this tool.

Summary

Long awaited, now published—the new Windows sounds solid. That is what the prerelease tests confirm as well. How Windows 7 will work in the wild remains to be seen.

What do you think about Windows 7? Tweet me your opinion!

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Windows 7 browser ballot screen accepted by European Union

Klaus Neumann — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:33:45 +0000

Microsoft may distribute Windows 7 with the browser ballot screen proposed by the Windows team. The European Commission accepted the offer. From Windows 7 onwards, the user sees a selection dialog to install other browsers than Internet Explorer, when they set up the system.

Within the dialog, the 5 most widespread browsers will be offered for download. The list will get updated and can hold up to 12 entries. The browsers are sorted according to their market share.

OEM partners will be able to choose which default browser to ship with a computer. They can even disable Internet Explorer completely.

The agreement is valid for 5 years, according to the European Commission. That means that future versions of Windows must contain such a browser ballot screen as well.

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How-to: Minimize Messenger to the system notification area in Windows 7

Klaus Neumann — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:00:19 +0000

Windows 7 will change the way that the area near your system clock is used. Instead of having tons of icons appearing in it and annoying you with balloons and alerts, blinking and animation, the Windows team has decided that you yourself are back in control of what appears in this notification area, sometimes called the “system tray”.

Chaitanya Sareen, senior program manager on the Windows Core User Experience team, says:

With more developers leveraging its functionality, the Notification Area has grown in popularity over the years. Some may observe that it has changed from a subtle whisperer to something louder. Based upon the feedback we’ve collected from customers, we recognize the Notification Area could benefit from being less noisy and something more controllable by the end-user.

The problem: Messenger might be in your way

If you have recently downloaded Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 and installed Windows Live Essentials on it, especially Messenger, you might notice that it reacts differently from previous versions of Windows when you minimize its main window, that is, the Contact list. Instead of moving the Messenger icon to the notification area like in Windows XP and Vista, it just minimizes to the taskbar—following the guidelines the Windows team has set up, in order to keep the notification area clean and tiny.

However, if you are running Messenger quite frequently, perhaps even permanently, the rather big Messenger icon in the “normal” taskbar might get into your way rather quickly. How would it be to force Messenger to act like in previous versions of Windows—that is, to “minimize to tray”? Here is how you can.

The solution: Move it out of your way

Click , then choose Computer.
Double click Local Disk ( C: )
Browse to Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger.
Right click the file msnmsgr.exe, and choose Properties from the appearing context menu.
Switch to the Compatibility tab.
Check the check box next to Run this program in compatibility mode for.
Open the drop down field, and choose Windows Vista (Service Pack 2).
In the dialog box msnmsgr.exe Properties, click OK.
Close Windows Explorer, and start Messenger from the Start menu.
When you minimize Messenger’s main window now, it will silently minimize itself to the notification area again. If you cannot see the Messenger icon there, try unfolding the expanded view, using the arrow button pointing upwards.

Sources:

Engineering Windows 7: User Interface: Starting, Launching, and Switching
Life Rocks 2.0: How to Minimize Windows Live Messenger to System Tray in Windows 7

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OneCare and Windows 7

Klaus Neumann — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:20:46 +0000

Windows 7 will not support the security solution Windows Live OneCare. The reason for this is the End of Life for OneCare, which will get replaced by a free alternative.

OneCare is closing on June 30, 2009. So it is not surprising that Windows 7, being expected for 2009-Q4 / 2010-Q1, does not support the unsuccessful security and repair suite. Nevertheless, Microsoft has taken several measures to prevent using OneCare with the Vista successor.

According to data published in a special Knowledge Base entry, OneCare users are not only warned while upgrading to Windows 7, that the software will not work anymore. Also after the upgrade, alerts are shown so the user isn’t left unsecured.

In these, Windows Live OneCare is labeled as incompatible. If a user still wants to use OneCare in connection with Windows 7, the real end is coming when he tries to start the program. Windows 7 then informs the user that the Windows Live OneCare service doesn’t work. At the same time, the manual start of the OneCare service is suppressed.

When Windows 7 RTM is released, Microsoft’s new free security solution, Codename “Morro”, is probably available already.

Update: Please download the free Microsoft Security Essentials.

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Win 7: RC at the end of February

Klaus Neumann — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:17:18 +0000

It seems that Microsoft is going to make the first and probably only Release Candidate of Windows 7 available soon to testers. Our sources confirmed that the first RC builds have been compiled.

According to information Winfuture.de got from Microsoft-near sources, the so-called “Escrow phase” for RC1 has been started yesterday, 16 February. During this period the development is interrupted, to allow the product developers and beta testers to find potential bugs that could intervene a broad distribution.

We don’t know what build number has been tested. However, earlier this morning, build 7048, one of the first RC builds, had been reported to be in test phase. The available information confirm that the work on the release candidate takes place rather fast.

Thus, Windows 7 RC1 might be available for MSDN/TechNet subscribers from 27 February 2009 onwards already. At the same time, the Windows 7 RC1 will also be made available for download for the participants of the Technical Beta phase on Microsoft Connect. The wholesale TAP (Technology Adopters Program) participants are likely to get it even a bit earlier.

Update: The Windows 7 RC1 Build string appears to be “7048.winmain_win7rc1.090211-1625″, showing a Windows 7 RC1 Build 7048, compiled on 11 February 2009.

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Messenger Start Menu Tasks in Windows 7

Klaus Neumann — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:59:51 +0000

Today I got the chance to install the Windows Live Messenger 2009 RC (14.0.8050.1202) on Windows 7 (6.1.7000 / CES build), and I want to highlight 2 things I have noticed when using it there.

Start Menu Tasks

The first thing I noticed was that Messenger introduced a popup menu with an arrow to the right in the Start menu panel, when I was signed in. It allows the easy changing of your status and access to other options otherwise accessible only through the notification area (systray) icon.

Multiple Messenger instances in the Superbar

When I apply the trick to allow multiple instances of Messenger running at once (polygamy), the task bar icon changes to a multi-icon, like you’d open 2 Explorer windows, and the popup allows easy access and signout of both of those instances. It also shows the Messenger status (signed out, Available, Busy, Away) in the icon, just like the systray icon did in previous Windows versions.

Sadly, the start menu tasks don’t split into multiple views when more than 1 Messenger client is signed in, but always show the menu items of the last started client.

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