Eager to install Windows Live Wave 4? There are a few steps you should look through before installing the public beta released recently.

Windows XP: Not supported, sorry

For example, if you are (still?) using Windows XP, there is no chance you can try the Essentials Beta out. My personal tip: Get yourself Windows 7. All of your Windows XP programs will still run on it, and if it is via the Windows XP Mode.

Windows Vista: SP2 needed

Then, if you are Windows Vista-powered, you cannot run the Essentials Beta installer if you don’t have Windows Vista Service Pack 2. So, head over to Control Panel > Security > Windows Update, and install this major Windows update first.

Flash Player should be up-to-date

Finally, I tell you to make sure you are running Adobe Flash Player for Internet Explorer. You don’t know whether you got it already? Check it this way:

1. Open Start, Internet Explorer (not Firefox or Chrome this time!).
2. Navigate to www.adobe.com with it.
3. Click the red “Get Flash Player” icon on the right side.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Respecting these tips, you should be able to install Windows Live Essentials Beta without hassle.
You keep getting error codes? Tell me about them and we can see how to solve them.

To continue receiving security updates, it is recommended to upgrade to either Windows 7, or temporarily to Windows XP Service Pack 3 or Windows Vista Service Pack 2. With these service packs, your support will be maintained until April 2014.

You can find more information about this on the overview for ending support.

You want to subscribe to the Exploring Windows newsletter? Visit the Microsoft Newsletter Portal to get it for free, once a month.

1. To correct the error in Windows XP, click Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, System.
2. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, press the keyboard shortcut Win + Pause, and click Advanced system settings.
3. Then, in the Performance section, click Settings, then Data Execution Prevention.
4. In the appearing dialog, select the option Enable Data Execution Prevention only for necessary Windows programs and services.
5. Click OK until all windows are closed.

Now the programs causing trouble before can be launched again without error message.

• Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (32 bit only), Windows Vista (32 or 64 bit) or Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit).
• Processor: 800 MHz (0.8 GHz) minimum
• Memory (RAM): 128 MB minimum (256 MB or higher recommended)

• Browser: Internet Explorer 6 or higher
• Web connection: You need to have a dial-up or broadband Internet connection (e.g. DSL, ISDN).
• Display: Screen resolution 800×600 pixels or higher (1024×768 recommended)
• Hard disk space: 50 MB free space for installing Messenger.

If that doesn’t help or you get an error code, please leave a comment or enter your 8-digit error code at http://www.bing.com/ .

Source: http://messengermaximal.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!40F43EC9BA81D814!8849.entry

mynetx: Technogran, it is nice to meet you again.  This time, let’s talk about Windows 7.

Technogran: Okay, fire away!

mynetx: First of all: Are you running the new Windows currently?

Technogran: Yes I am.  I am using my bought copy of Windows 7 Home Premium.

mynetx: How would you judge the setup?  Was it fast, or rather slow?  Did you run an upgrade?

Technogran: Yes I did an upgrade this time from Vista Home Premium.

mynetx: What had your first computer been like—which Windows edition had it been running?

Technogran: My very first computer used Windows XP.

mynetx: Have you been running the Windows 7 beta version or the release candidate?

Technogran: Up until recently I was using the beta version of Windows 7.

mynetx: What were your first thoughts when you got to see Windows 7 in action?

Technogran: I loved it, but then I loved Vista as well.  I think there are some brilliant new things in Windows 7 though.

mynetx: How does the new Windows enhance the experience that users of Windows Vista or even Windows XP have?

Technogran: Oh that’s easy!  Ease of use when connecting anything up to the computer such as your printer, camera, mobile phone etc., you don’t even need the discs with the drivers on.  It’s so much easier now, and also easier to set up your Xbox 360 with media center for sharing all your pictures etc.  I could never EVER get that to work in XP!

mynetx: How does all this relate to Windows Live, in your opinion?

Technogran: Windows 7 is the first OS that really uses Windows Live in a meaningful way.  You are encouraged to make use of the Windows Live Essentials suite in tandem with the new operating system and they work so well together, that anyone who doesn’t use them is missing an awful lot in my opinion.

mynetx: What is your favorite feature in Windows 7?

Technogran: Ohhh, that’s a toughie!  Hmm, let me see, well it will have to be the taskbar I suppose if I can only choose one.  It works exactly how I like my taskbar to work, in fact you could almost imagine that the Windows 7 team had come and asked me personally how I wanted my taskbar to work!  All my programs visible to use in one click even if I am surfing online, right click and there just one click away is all your recent usage in each program or application, it’s brilliant!

mynetx: Windows 8 planning has already started.  What are your favorite wishes?

Technogran: Hmm, that’s a toughie and I think that they are going to be hard pressed to improve on Windows 7.  I would like to see everything in the OS including the virus/malware checker oh, and also they should include a really good screen grabber more capable than the snipping tool.  Similar to how Snag It works.

mynetx: Do you know about a Windows tip that not everybody might already know?

Technogran: Not really.  All of them seem to have been covered by everyone else.  It’s been one of the most hotly tipped OS’s ever!

mynetx: Wonderful!  Thank you for your time. =)

Technogran: That’s okay mynetx, thank you for feeling that I was worth interviewing.

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!

1. Open the registry.
   • Windows XP: Click Start, Run. Enter regedit, then click OK.
   • Windows Vista: Click Start, type regedit into the search box, then press Enter.
2. Now open the folder User Shell Folders. Use the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/User Shell Folders.
3. Now, a list with several entries appears on the right side. Double-click AppData.
4. At Value, enter the following and click OK:
   • Windows XP: %USERPROFILE%\Application Data
   • Windows Vista: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming
5. In Windows Vista, do the same for the entry Local AppData with its value %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local.
6. Close Windows Registry Editor, and reboot your computer.

Source: http://messengermaximal.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!40F43EC9BA81D814!8064.entry

• End of Life reached
• What people think
• Technical reasons
• Get Messenger 2009
• In case of problems

End of Life reached

Starting September 15, 2009, users are required to have the latest version of Messenger installed on their computer in order to sign in and continue using the Messenger service. To download the latest version of Messenger, go to the Windows Live Messenger website.

—help.live.com

Messenger 2008, introduced in late 2007, has many friends. Easy to use, clean glossy design. However, now has come the time to say good-bye to this version that was replaced by Messenger 2009 in January, as the Messenger servers will no longer accept clients using Messenger 8.1—Messenger 8.5 will follow shortly.

What people think about Messenger 2008

I have asked some people what they think of Messenger 2008. Here is what they said:

WLM 8.5 was user-friendly and efficient, while Messenger 2009 is more efficient and comes with a much sleeker design.

—Gregory Sampson, Messenger user

When Messenger 2008 came out, I was very enthusiastic, but then Messenger 2009 has topped this.

—Dennis Ziolkowski, Messenger user

It has now been a while since I used Messenger 8.5. I have completely switched to version 14, except for development purposes.

—Yousef El-Dardiry, BuddyFuse developer

Messenger 8.5 was the first sign of Microsoft maturing in how they designed the client itself. It was good while it lasted, but people really need to move on now…

—Will Ingles, interface and graphic designer

I miss the shared folders, otherwise I am very happy with 2009. I never had problems with it up to now.

—Max Messenger, Community evangelist

I always like the new Messenger versions when they are released, so I also liked Messenger 8.5 when it came out. With the current version in mind, though, I don’t like Messenger 2008 anymore…

—Frank Mänz, Product Manager Windows Live, Microsoft Germany

Messenger has been updated a lot, but it is not enough. Features such as contact card, what’s new, groups feature… need a complete update.

—Zhu Yan, Editor LiveSino.net

Technical reasons to upgrade Messenger

There is a security issue found in the Microsoft’s Active Template Library, which is only fixed in the latest version of Messenger.

Get Messenger 2009

You can get Messenger 2009 by downloading its installer from http://download.live.com/messenger.

In case of problems…

Several people have informed me about various error codes when trying to sign in to Messenger with the new version. Here are some troubleshooting tips if you cannot sign in properly:

• Reboot your computer and retry.
• Check for Windows Updates. For example, Messenger 2009 requires at least Windows XP Service Pack 2. To install the latest available updates, visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/, using Internet Explorer (even if you are using a different browser normally).
• In the error window, click on and take note of the displayed Error code. Then paste this error code into a web search engine (like Bing), type a space, the word “Messenger”, and submit your query.
• Visit http://people.live.com/ and try using the Web Messenger embedded there.
• I will make more information about solving Messenger sign-in problems available shortly—stay tuned!

The problem seems to have been solved, as said at MessengerSays blog, and we’ve been getting more information about the case.

Today, the MessengerGeek said the problem was, most probably, caused by changes necessary to the mandatory update to Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8089.726 (more information about the mandatory update)

If your system is not supported by Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8089.726, there are no reasons for worries. As confirmed by MessengerSays, official Windows Live Messenger team blog, only the users of supported systems will be forced to upgrade. They are:

• Windows XP 32bit;
• Windows Vista (32bit/64bit);
• Windows 7 (32bit/64bit);
• Windows Server 2008.

• Finestra di conversazione di Windows Live Messenger: Cinese/Giapponese/Coraeno IME (Input Method Editor) si reimposta in Inglese nella finestra di conversazione di Messenger.
  Su un computer con su installato Windows XP Sp2 o SP3, se ricevi un messaggio istantaneo mentre la finestra principale di Messenger è chiusa, e poi provi a scrivere caratteri Cinesi, Giapponesi o Coreani nella conversazione usando IME, la modalità input si resetta alla lingua Inglese e non potrai inserire caratteri Cinesi, Giapoonesi o Coreani. Per risolvere questo, riapri la finestra principale di Messenger e ricomincia a scrivere nella finestra di conversazione.
• Video: I settaggi e gli effetti per le webcam potrebbero non funzionare più e non appaiono per le webcam
  Alcuni produttori di webcam offrono dei settaggi per le operazioni di camera o effetti che possono essere applicati al video attraverso Messenger. Con la nuova versione di Messenger queste opzioni potrebbero non funzionare più. Se non vedi nessun controllo di camera e nessuna icona per gli effetti sotto la tua immagine di Messenger durante una video-chiamata o una sessione webcam, consulta il produttore della tua webcam cercando un aggiornamento.
• Windows Live Mail: I certificati S/MIME devono essere ristabiliti
  S/MIME (Secure/ Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) è una sicurezza standard per chiavi pubbliche di criptazione e la firma delle e-mail con un ID digitale o un certificato. Quando usi la funzione Secure Mail (certificati) di Windows Live Mail per inviare o ricevere posta, devi necessariamente ristabilire il tuo certificato S/MIME e i certificati di tutti i contatti coi quali scambi e-mail sicure.
  Puoi settare il tuo certificato personale S/MIME selezionando il certificato corretto in Windows Live Mail:
  • In Windows Live Mail, clicca il tasto menu sulla barra degli strumenti, poi clicca Opzioni per la protezione.
    Clicca la scheda Protezione.
  • Nella sezione Protezione Messaggi, clicca ID Digitali.
  • Nella finestra Certificati, seleziona il certificato che utilizzi per le tue mail S/MIME

  Puoi impostare il certificato per ognuno dei tuoi contatti aggiungendo il certificato alla tua lista contatti:

  • Nella finestra principale di Windows Live Mail, seleziona un messaggio e-mail che hai ricevuto da un tuo contatto che include un certificato digitale.
  • Cliccca l’icona del certificato per quella e-mail.
  • Clicca Visualizza certficitati.
  • Cliccca Aggiungi ai contatti.
• Windows Live Movie Maker: non installato con Windows Live Essentials
  Movie Maker richiede Windows Vista o Windows 7. Se installi Windows Live Essentials usando qualsiasi altro sistema operativo, Movie Maker non verrà installato.
• Movie Maker potrebbe non partire correttamente con alcune schede video
  Movie Maker richiede un uso estensivo del processore grafico. Un PC con una scheda video poco performante potrebbe riscontrare problemi di rendering video e di effetti in Movie Maker.
• I video potrebbero non renderizzarsi se è installato Nero sul tuo PC
  Alcuni programmi di Nero installano filtri che potrebbero andare in conflitto con Windows Live Movie Maker. Se riscontri questo problema, contatta il produttore del programma per verificare la disponibilità di un aggiornamento del loro software. Per una veloce scappatoia, puoi cancellare il NDParser.ax installato da Nero Ahead. Nota che sarà necessario ri-registrare NDparser.ax se vuoi che Nero funzioni di nuovo correttamente.
  Per cancellare o ri-registrare NDParser.ax, segui questi passi
  1. Sul menu Start di Windows, clicca Tutti i Programmi, e poi clicca Accessori.
  2. Click-destro sul Prompt dei Comandi e poi clicca Esegui come amministratore.
  3. Scrivi: CD %programfiles%Common FilesAheadDSfilter e poi premi Invio.
  4. Per cancellare o ri-registrare NDParser.ax, fai una delle due cose:
     a. Per cancellare, scrivi: regsvr32 NDParser.ax /u e premi Invio.
     b. Per ri-registrare, scrivi: regsvr32 NDParser.ax e premi Invio.
• Movie Maker supporta solo font TrueType
  Movie Maker supporta solo le font TrueType. Se selezioni una font Raster, Movie Maker ritornerà alla font predefinita Arial.
• Dopo aver aggiornato a Windows 7, non potrai scaricare foto da photos.live.com
  Per risolvere questo problema, è necessario riparare l’installazione di Windows Live Photo Gallery.
  1. Sul menu Start di Windows, clicca Pannello di controllo, clicca Programmi, clicca Programmi e funzionalità, e poi nella lista, clicca Windows Live Essentials.
  2. Clicca Disinstalla/Cambia.
  3. Click Ripara, e poi clicca Continua.
  4. L’installer mostrerà il tuoi programmi Windows Live.
  5. Chiudi tutte le istanze di Microsoft Internet Explorer, e poi riavvia Internet Explorer.
  6. Apri tutti gli album che ti hanno dato problemi, e prova a scaricarli di nuovo.
• Potresti riscontrare un errore se hai un file DLL in più nella tua cartella System32
  Quando apri il Family Safety Filter su un computer su cui è installato un Windows XP potresti ricevere il seguente messaggio:
  “The procedure entry point IsThreadDesktopComposited could not be located in the dynamic link library USER32.dll”
  Questo vuol dire che probabilmente è presente il file dwmapi.dll nella cartella System32 del tuo Windows XP. Per risolvere questo problema, rimuovi il file .dll usando questa procedura:
  1. Clicca su Start, e poi clicca su Risorse del Computer.
  2. Doppio-click sul disco rigido C:.
  3. Doppio-click sulla cartella WINDOWS, e poi doppio-click sulla cartella system32.
  4. Trova il file dwmapi.dll e cancellalo.
• Windows Live Family Safety: Nessun ID Windows Live necessario per i bambini
  Family Safety può supervisionare anche gli account Windows. Non è necessario, per i genitori, registrare un ID Windows Live per tutti i bambino da supervisionare.

Scarica: Note di Rilascio completo per Windows Live Essentials 2009 QFE2 (PDF; ~ 700 kB)

• Windows Live Mail può importare correttamente le impostazioni degli account e-mail di Outlook Express che erano state trasferite da un Windows XP ad un nuovo Vista o Windows 7 usando il Windows Easy Transfer.
• Abbiamo parlato di un problema che alcuni utenti avevano avviando Windows Live Mail. In alcuni casi, dopo aver chiuso Windows Live Mail, il programma sembrava chiudersi, ma il processo di wlmail.exe continuava a rimanere aperto in background. Questo processo impediva un nuovo avviamento del programma, se si tentava di riaprirlo.
• Abbiamo risolto un problema che capitava con i sistemi Vista e Windows 7, dove Windows Live Mail non si connetteva in modo corretto ai server POP e-mail usando il secure socket layers (SSL). Questo problema è stato riscontrato da alcuni utenti Yahoo! Mail, ma con questo nuovo aggiornamento è tutto risolto.

Hai installato la nuova versione di Live Mail, ma il “tuo” bug non è stato ancora corretto? Riporta il tuo problema al team di Windows Live Mail e sarai sicuro di ottenere una risposta.

mynetx: Technogran, it is nice to welcome you as my guest! Please tell me a bit about yourself. How is your life involved with Windows Live?

Technogran: Thank you very much mynetx, it’s nice of you to invite me! I am very flattered to be asked, especially following others such as Angus!
I am on Windows Live and also use all of the Live Essentials Suite of programs on my desktop.

mynetx: Since when are you using Live? Tell me a bit about your history.

Technogran: Oh, I have been using all of the Windows Live applications and also the site itself since it was first thought of, although it doesn’t show that via my Space because I kept deleting it and starting from scratch. When the applications began appearing, they were all in beta, but I downloaded and tested them, and I loved them all.

mynetx: Do you think the Windows Live team cares for their users’ demands? Why?

Technogran: Tricky one this to answer, but I will be as frank as possible. I think that like a lot of Microsoft, the Live teams tend to listen to the wrong users. They take notice of the feedback from the more able user, such as the MVP’s, their ‘in-house’ users, and the more technically able, and the more ‘ordinary’ users views don’t tend to get heard. Microsoft isn’t alone in this, I hasten to add, lots of ordinary users just don’t know how to get their views across, because they are not as computer savvy as the more proficient user is. I am neither. I’m a sort of in-between user if you like, an ordinary user, but capable of making my views known on behalf of the ‘little everyday user’.

mynetx: You like posting tips and tricks in your Space using Live Writer. Do you think the software does its job correctly? Why did you choose Writer?

Technogran: LOL. What else is there? I love Writer, and in my opinion, Microsoft should be shouting from the rooftops about it! I have done my homework and tried to find an equivalent program that does everything that Writer does, and come up with zilch, so I consider it unique and for blogging (which let’s face it, every man, woman and their dog does these days) it’s a must have. I also like it because it’s on my desktop. I am a desktop person, that’s where I spend most of my computer time, and I love the way I can start a post, change it, save it to draft, and work on it at my leisure, only posting it when I feel it’s perfect.

mynetx: Any tip about Writer that you want to share with us?

Technogran: Hmm. Hard one because Brandon has been doing some great tips for Writer lately. My tip to anyone using it (because it annoys me more than anything that more users don’t make use of it) is to use the Margins feature to put a gap between a picture and their text. It tends to look so unsightly when the text ‘butts’ up to the edge of a photo or picture, and it’s so easy to do!

mynetx: Within the next five years, where could you picture Windows Live?

Technogran: I think it all depends on where the Live Teams want to take it, and which direction. There does seem to be a ‘mis-match’ between how they view Windows Live and how the majority of users view it, as was ably illustrated after the Wave 3 updates. Lots of users saw Windows Live first and foremost as a blogging platform and site which then produced a ‘blogging’ community, but it seems that the teams don’t quite see it as such, and to be honest, have never ever referred to it as such.

mynetx: Please provide two positive and negative comments about any outstanding Windows Live product.

Technogran: Hmm, you ask some difficult questions mynetx! Let me see…
Positives. Windows Live Mail, its ability to set up your e-mail accounts quickly and easily. The way it can fetch down all your e-mails, RSS feeds, and Newsgroups all to one place! Love it.
Negatives. Live Calendar. Wish it had incorporated into it a ‘to-do’ feature. I’m not too keen on having all those different calendars either. And Live Photo Gallery, wish it let me ‘geo-tag’ my pics.

mynetx: Do you run Windows Live Mail 24/7? Do you have some kind of a routine with Mail and the other parts of Windows Live?

Technogran: Yes I do. Windows Live Mail is the first program I open in a morning to check my e-mails, then I check all my RSS feeds and read them all. Also most of the newsgroups (about Windows Live natch). Obviously I only open Gallery if I am doing something with my photos, and Writer is open when I am constructing a blog post.

mynetx: Use your fantasy: how do you think Mail will look like within the next five years? What new features could it present?

Technogran: Hmm. Again a toughie because I think a lot will hinge on Google Wave, and whether or not us ‘ordinary users’ take to that or not. Mail has been around for a long time without really changing its format, and it IS based on the letters arriving on your doorstep. IF Google Wave does take off, especially with the ordinary user, then it’s ‘all change’ as they say, and Mail as we all know it will wither and die. It all changes so quickly these days, and change is speeding up, so who knows, but obviously as we have all seen with Windows XP and IE6, there are loads and loads of users who will resist change to the end, no matter how good the replacement is!

mynetx: Comparing these ideas with Mail’s current features, which of these might be added in the next release, Wave 4?

Technogran: Well, we know that Calendar is getting Alerts added—and hopefully for Gran, reminders or even better ‘pop up on your taskbar’ to-do’s. (to aid lousy memories! You’ll all get there some day!) I think the team will want to keep the clean interface, and I know that I am one of its fans, though many don’t like it and think it looks ‘washed out’. I would personally LOVE to see the return of Active Search which was in the old incarnation of Windows Live Mail when it was better known as Windows Live Mail Desktop (and was a pig to type each time you mentioned it!). I loved it but again, lots didn’t and it was eventually removed from the completed product, despite the fact that the team made it ‘choosable’.

mynetx: Windows Live Movie Maker—does its release, only some 24 hours ago, contain any surprises? What do you feel when thinking about it?

Technogran: I love the way the guys were brave enough to take Movie Maker (which was already well liked) and just begin again from scratch. I also love the fact that their new ideas all hinge around making Movie Maker easier to use for a newbie! This is an attitude that this Gran is all for, then everyone benefits! Sure if you are more technically able, there is all the features that you want, but for anyone who has never used a Movie making application before, I applaud their use of the ‘Ribbon’ interface, lovely large easy to see icons, etc. Bet you it won’t be long before we see the video out of a seven year old who has single handedly created a movie with his/her pictures! (Mind you, less of the youngsters, they should show one of a 80 year old Granny or Granddad using their apps as well!)

mynetx: Nice that you already tried the new version of Movie Maker and that you blogged about it.
—Are you satisfied with the Windows Live services that are provided to you? Why?

Technogran: Yes I am. However, I wish their was an easier way to give feedback, and to get feedback back. When the Essentials programs were first in beta all those years ago, I can remember conversing with the teams responsible for all of them via e-mail! Yes it’s true! And you really felt that your feedback was actually not only being read, but also being acted upon. I know it can be time consuming to sift through, but it just makes users feel closer to contributing to a program or application.

mynetx: What is your favorite feature in Photo Gallery?

Technogran: The fact it’s free! LOL. No, that’s difficult because I love all of it. As different features have been added over the course of time, it has become a really powerful photo manipulation program, and I just hope that this continues in the future. I love using the Panoramic Photo feature for example, I love how easy it is to edit your pictures and improve them as well. I would love it if Photosynth and DeepZoomPix were also added as well. That would make Photo Gallery really one of the most awesome free photo programs out there (although it already is in my book!).

mynetx: Ever heard of Live Mesh? What was your first impression of it? Could it be a new diverse method of file sharing among peers, or could it improve the current system at hand?

Technogran: Yes I am beta testing Live Mesh and have it on my computer at all times. Trouble is, I don’t really have any other computer to sync with, but I tend to use it to allow my eldest son to access my files that I need to share with him. I have also used it with a few others who I needed to see a video for example.

mynetx: Do you wish one of the Live Services/Essentials would have a feature that a third-party service/software already has?

Technogran: Yes! I wish Windows Live Mail had a reminder feature such as the one for Thunderbird/Firefox called Reminderfox! I love that program, and found it almost indispensable but no one has ever made one similar for IE or Live Mail. Drat!

mynetx: What is your intention behind talking with everyday users in your section “Living with Live”? What inspires you?

Technogran: Why the newbies of course! It has always annoyed me that we ‘ordinary users’ don’t get heard. Especially this applies to what has become known as ‘silver surfers’ meaning us users who are now retired and now beginning to get to grips with using computers for the very first time. All of the coders, engineers, and those who work in Information Technology as a whole tend to forget that we didn’t have computers at school, no one taught us how to use them, we don’t know you can ‘right click’ to find another menu list, we are of a different mindset and age where we have always used pen and paper, and full words, not all this ‘messenger speak’ that the younger end use today! (I have to often ask my grandchildren to interpret most of what they send in a messenger conversation! In fact my messages usually consist of ‘what does that mean?’) So getting back to your question about what inspires me, it’s that someone has to try and help those users in an easy to understand manner, and as it’s not all that long ago since I was in that position of not knowing anything about using a computer, it’s still all pretty fresh in my mind. Besides, they might listen more to someone who is just an ordinary user like themselves. My ‘how-to’s’ on the Clubhouse are often posted in response to someone on my Network having trouble with either the Windows Live site OR one of the desktop applications.
When Wave 3 was launched I was at my busiest, trying to do posts to help users find their friends, or find their Space etc.

mynetx: Are you working on any project related to Windows Live currently?

Technogran: Not at the moment, although it’s the ‘lull before the storm’ of course, as we all wait for the Wave 4 updates to arrive. I shall most likely be glued to the keyboard night and day when all that occurs as users post up with ‘can’t find this’ or ‘can’t find that’. I would rather do a post to help than give an answer in a forum, simply because you can illustrate the steps to take with pictures and it’s easier then for a user to follow. Also they can always print it out to follow it as well. It’s time consuming doing them, as I like to get my ‘how-to’s’ just right, and make them as easy as possible, but I love doing it and being helpful to other users on here. After all, the last thing we want is users getting so frustrated that they either don’t bother joining and using Windows Live or they just give up because it’s all too much trouble.

mynetx: Technogran, seeing Windows Live from your point of view was very interesting. Thank you for sharing this all with us!

Technogran: No problem!

You liked this interview?

Technogran and me have started a cooperation—look forward to regular rant conversations about the most recent news and happenings in the world of Windows Live!

More about Technogran

• Follow her on Twitter
• Read her Windows Live Space

mynetx: Please tell me a bit about yourself. Is your life directly or indirectly involved with Windows Live?

Lance: I go by the name of Salem. I’m 22 right now, originally from South Africa (the country, not Southern Africa); however I am currently residing in the Cambridgeshire in the UK. My life doesn’t directly involve Windows Live actually—in fact, I consider myself rather new to the whole MSN/Windows Live community.

mynetx: New? Since when are you in the Live business? Tell me a bit about your history with it…

Lance: Okay, maybe not “New”; I just see myself as new to the whole community when I compare how long some people have been involved. I first started using MSN software in 2003 when I first moved to the UK from South Africa. As can be expected, the first MSN software application I used was MSN Messenger, that’s when I first became a regular user at least. I tried a couple of times before that back in South Africa to chat to my relatives in the UK, but due to terrible internet access (high cost and unreliable) I was only ever able to sign-in twice. (OK, maybe it wasn’t a South Africa-wide internet issue, maybe just our budget ISP. [laughes])

But yeah, I really got into it in 2003. Don’t ask me what version I used, I can’t remember if it was MSN Messenger 6.2 or 6.5, but somewhere around there. I applied to take part in MSN Messenger Beta testing (thinking I’d never get in) back in, I think, 2004. To my surprise, I got in…

mynetx: Do you think the Windows Live team cares for their users’ demands? Why?

Lance: I think people (Messenger users) can be very demanding. Well, Windows Live users can, too; but I’m saying Messenger users as it is by far the most used Windows Live product. Users can be very demanding: wanting things, and expecting to get a feature, just because they ask for it. Yet again, it can be kind of frustrating when specific suggestions/demands get made over and over and over again, and they are just dismissed by the developers.

I think it is easy for the casual users to demand things and not fully understanding the behind-the-scenes work that needs to be done to satisfy that demand.

mynetx: What might be the motivation behind dismissing user’s suggestions, especially when they are made really frequently (example: tabs)?

Lance: Haha, yes, tabs was one of the suggestions I was thinking about. I honestly don’t know, but I think the most likely reason would be, as I mentioned before, the scale of the work involved in getting it to work. However, considering that even a third-party developer (like Patchou) can get it working well enough in an add-on, surely Microsoft can get it working in their own software.

mynetx: Well, the Messenger Plus! creator, Patchou, is just one person and is able to implement it…

Lance: Yes, it is certainly possible. I think of the most frequent suggestions, tabs would be one of the easiest to reliably implement (compared to something like polygamy, the ability to sign-in to multiple accounts from one client).

mynetx: Use your fantasy: how do you think Messenger will look like within the next five years? What new features could it present?

Lance: Wow, really difficult question! I would like to see Silverlight/WPF used more. I mean it is Microsoft’s own technology, yet they are not using it.

mynetx: Like in the Twitter desktop client “blu”, you mean?

Lance: I have not heard of blu myself, will need to look it up!

mynetx:

Lance: I just mean, Messenger needs a total visual overhaul. I like the different look they introduced in the first beta of the renamed Messenger (from MSN to Windows Live), the orange one. I think many people complained at first about it because it was so “different” (people don’t like changes) so Microsoft reverted back to a GUI similar to previous versions.

View Full Album

mynetx: Wasn’t Wave 3 (2009) visually overhauled enough?

Lance: Apart from the new colors etc., there is not that much difference in Windows Live Messenger from MSN Messenger 6.x. Maybe I’m wanting to much but: think of the visual overhaul from Windows 9x to Windows XP, XP to Vista, and Vista to Windows 7—big changes, not these minor “tweaks” we are getting.

mynetx: I see… Apart from the user interface, what new features could Messenger present in five years?

Lance: Well… I don’t know what it could have, but I do know some things I’d like to see. Among the top items on my wish list are (in no particular order):

1. Official Polygamy Support — The ability to sign-in to multiple Messenger accounts from one Windows Live Messenger client, and have separate statuses/personal status messages/display names/display pictures for each account.
2. Tabs (although this can be done in add-ons like Messenger Plus! Live, so not that important to me).
3. Multi-party audio (or even better, video) chats.
4. The ability to export your whole WLM Contact List including the structure (groups, categories, favorites etc.). It’s a real pain when you try and migrate to a new account, as you can now only export and import the contacts, you then have to manually re-sort them in the new account.

mynetx: True, I have recently experienced the need for that, when I changed my Live ID.

Lance: It has taken me 2 years to migrate to a new account for this very reason. I just cant resort/rearrange them all; it’s a pain.

Oh, and “Bring back the MSN video carousel in the UK”, lol.

mynetx: I have always wondered that the “Video Carousel” was in 8.5? *-)

Lance: We had it in the UK when it was introduced in Windows Live Messenger, but it did not last long. It is gone now…

In fact I don’t even know if it made it past WLM 8’s beta.

mynetx: Any bugs that need fixing?

Lance: Yes, here is a “bug” I want fixed: Try adding a Yahoo! contact to your contact list (a localized one, not Yahoo.com) as a buddy. Messenger changes it to Yahoo.com even though you enter the localized one (in my case, Yahoo.co.uk). Thus, you cant add Yahoo! Messenger users who have a localized Yahoo address to your contact list. I have requested this a number of times, still not fixed.

Suggestion No. 2: Get rid of the bloody roll-over flash ads in the contact list! (That’s not a “feature” though.)

mynetx: Interoperability with other IM networks is a great field to improve, in my opinion. Yahoo looks like “hacked” into Messenger, instead of implemented correctly…

Lance: Yes, they need to add support for other Chat / instant messaging clients / protocols: Facebook Chat (as they have a stake in Facebook), definitely Jabber support please. Jabber is an open protocol, so an agreement should not be needed. I could then dump Google Talk for chatting to my MXit contacts.

mynetx: A propos Yahoo, what is your opinion on the final deal to use the Bing engine on Yahoo! websites, after all those never-ending ramblings about a cooperation, search deal, whatsoever?

Lance: Well, Microsoft needs to do something especially in search/online advertising, as Google is way ahead in market share.

mynetx: How does Bing relate?

Lance: I have tried Bing a few times. It is definitely much better than MSN Search/Windows Live Search/Live Search (whatever the last time was, lol). It also seems to be improving Microsoft’s market share. Though, I am wondering if this is because people like it, or if people are just “trying it out” as it is new—only time will tell.

mynetx: Mentioning the word “Butterfly”, what comes into your mind?

Lance: A colorful insect that flies!

mynetx: And adding “Windows Live…”?

Lance: Ahh, lol, I knew what you meant.

mynetx: What comes into your mind? What was so special about this group of exclusive people?

Lance: The Windows Live Butterfly program/group goes way back to the MSN days (hence the groups name being “Butterfly”). It was a group of beta testers who have “excelled” in Beta testing Windows Live products. Participants of the group were chosen by Microsoft and in some cases by those who were already butterflies from testers of Windows Live (and previously MSN) products/services. The group had a private discussion “area” on the Microsoft newsgroups. That’s just one of the benefits of being a member of the group. You can think of it as something similar to the MVP program, although only for MSN/Windows Live products, and lower down the hierarchy.

mynetx: Did you like being a butterfly?

Lance: I certainly did enjoy most of my time being a butterfly. It was a really good experience, not only testing, but also socializing and getting to know those with similar interests as yourself. As with any “cyber-community”, the group had its ups and downs but generally it was a good experience. It’s a shame to see the community go!

I think also what made the community so good was the way main person who managed it as he really helped things out.

mynetx: Let’s bring out a toast on Eric Chen!

Lance: Haha indeed.

mynetx: Please provide two positive and negative comments about any outstanding Windows Live product.

Lance: Hm… I choose Windows Live Mail.

Positives: Contact list/Address book synchronized with Live Messenger—that is my main reason for choosing it over other applications.

Negative: Slow (!), especially in IMAP mail downloading; furthermore it can only synchronize/use Contact list of one Windows Live ID even if you add a different Windows Live ID as account to Live Mail.

— Look how easy it was to think of negatives, and how hard it was to think of positives: it makes Live Mail not look good at all…

mynetx: OK, thanks for these.

Let’s talk a bit about your personal customs. Do you run Windows Live Messenger 24/7? Do you have some kind of a routine with Messenger and the other parts of Windows Live?

Lance: Yes, Windows Live Messenger is on 24/7—as long a PC is on it is running and signed in. Routine? Not really. I usually check if any people I chat to often are online (Messenger Plus! Live Desktop Contacts), see if I want to talk to them. I may then open Live Mail, but as it doesn’t auto-run on startup/login nor auto-run in system tray, I have to do this manually, so I often forget. However, as these are the Windows Live applications I use most, that is usually the order I would do things.

mynetx: Comparing your ideas we talked about before (like UI enhancements, tabs, multiple accounts per endpoint, more IM networks, etc), with Messenger’s current features, which of these might be added in the next release, Wave 4?

Lance: I think more IM network interoperability may be the most likely, especially as we heard rumblings about it for this version (although unconfirmed). Like I said also, Jabber could come as it is an open standard and wouldn’t need any agreements (as with other IMs like AIM).

I’d say UI change is next—but not likely. (Again, by UI change I mean a big change, not minor tweaks/changes.) Tabs would be next, and polygamy last, as I foresee this to be more work.

mynetx: Are you satisfied with the Windows Live services that are provided to you? Why?

Lance: Mostly yes. They just satisfy my communications needs, whether it be IM, social networking or e-mail. They are things I think that can be worked on (as mentioned earlier); but yes, overall I am satisfied.

mynetx: Will Windows Live be able to fill the position as overall Windows (and Office) add-on, especially when looking at Windows 7?

Lance: I think so, it is a good suite of applications for the average computer user. I think it would be better to be just integrated with Windows, but the European Union will not be happy.

mynetx: Windows Live and Office Live, along with cloud power in behind—is this the solution? Better than legacy software?

Lance: That depends on the market, in my opinion. In markets where a decent (that is, broadband) Internet connection is easily available/accessible, it is good; but otherwise it isn’t, no. I think people in Europe/the US forget about computer users in places without broadband Internet connections, not to mention those with no Internet at all.

mynetx: So, is the gap between industry lands (high-tech nations) and economically less strong areas increasing?

Lance: I don’t know whether it is increasing, but I don’t think it’s getting smaller. Take my home country for example, South Africa. Broadband Internet (ADSL) access has only become available to the general public (that is, not business) in the last 3-4 years. Here though (in the UK), it was already very common. Now, in South Africa citizens can get a broadband connection, but at a price: for example, they pay the ISP and phone line (as we do), but they also pay a charge for the phone line to be used for broadband/ADSL. So it costs at least three times as much there, plus they still have ridiculous caps/quotas making only basic net usage possible; whereas here, we are using it for much more. Just imagine cloud computing in places like that…

mynetx: To summarize: using cloud web applications is problematic for regions where no broadband web access is available.

Lance: Exactly! I’m all for it, but I wouldn’t want everything to go “to the cloud” soon as it will leave such nations behind.

mynetx: What is your favorite feature in Messenger?

Lance: Video chat is got to be.

mynetx: Why?

Lance: Being someone that lives in a different country than family and friends he grew up with, it’s good to be able to see and hear them.

mynetx: What was your first impression of Live Mesh? Could it be a new diverse method of file sharing among peers, or could it improve the current system at hand?

Lance: I loved it as soon as I tried it, and I am using it all the time now. It is what Windows Live Messenger Sharing Folders should have been. Well, apparently Mesh is intended to be more than just a file sharing service. I’m yet to see the others though, but it makes file sharing/synchronization available to the masses, for free.

mynetx: We can expect some Mesh love in Windows Live Wave 4, as it will play an important role in the upcoming “Windows Live Devices” service. How could it be connected tighter with the other services? What might we see?

Lance: No idea actually; though, I am excited and looking forward to see what they have planned.

mynetx: Me too. I will tell you as soon as I know more details…

Lance: It looks like Wave 4 will be a better release than Wave 3 (I honestly wasn’t happy with Wave 3 at all.)

mynetx: What was wrong or missing in Wave 3, the 2008-2009 release of Windows Live?

Lance: The beta ran extremely long to me—too long for what we saw as changes. Sure, Movie Maker joined Windows Live; but apart from that and minor visual changes, there wasn’t much. I don’t know, maybe I just expected too much.

mynetx: Do you wish Messenger would have a feature that a third-party IM software already has?

Lance: Well, I don’t use any other IM apps (apart from Google Talk, which is crap considering its features; the only reason I use it is for communicating with MXit people), so I don’t really know what other IM applications offer.

mynetx: Ahh, so you are a loyal Windows Live user?

Lance: (laughes) Not loyal; there is just no real need to use anything else. Most of my contacts are on WLM or Skype, but Skype doesn’t offer anything different that I want in Messenger.

mynetx: As Messenger user, I’m sure you’ve got a good tip that not everybody might know about yet—any tweak, counsel, suggestion, whatever comes into your mind.

Lance: One good tip is allowing two WLM instances to run at the same time. It is a registry setting that needs modifying; the only thing is it won’t auto sign-in to a second account (Live ID). [Read more about this tip soon.]

mynetx: How would you summarize your overall experience with Windows Live in a brief sentence?

Lance: Windows Live services help me keep in touch and share my views/stories.

mynetx: Lance, I found it very interesting to talk with you about all of this!

Lance: I enjoyed it too; thanks for thinking of me as some to interview and for taking the time to do so.

Thanks to thirteen23 labs, Alto Voltaje Design, Bram Vandeperre, Messenger Stuff, BuddyFuse and LiveSino for the images.

• Güvenlik duvarınızı yapılandırmak için;
  • Eğer Windows XP kullanıyorsanız:
    • Başlangıç‘a basın, Denetim Masası, Windows Güvenlik Duvarı.
    • İstisnalar çubuğunu seçin.
    • Windows Live Messenger’in yanına işaretlenip olup olmadığını kontrol edin. Eğer işaretlenmemişse, onay kutusunu işaretleyin.
    • Değişiklikleri OK‘a basarak onaylayın.
  • Eğer Windows Vista veya Windows 7 kullanıyorsanız…
    • Start‘a basın, Denetim Masası.
    • Windows Güvenlik Duvarı üzerinden Programlara veya izin ver özelliğini seçin.
    • İstisnalar çubuğunu seçin.
    • Windows Live Messenger’in yanına işaretlenip olup olmadığını kontrol edin. Eğer işaretlenmemişse, onay kutusunu işaretleyin.
    • Değişiklikleri OK‘a basarak onaylayın.
• Proxy ayarlarınızı kontrol edin
  • Internet Explorer‘i açın.
  • Araçlara tıklayın, Internet ayarları…
  • Bağlantılar çubuğuna tıklayın, ve LAN ayarlarına tıklayın.
  • Eğer Otomatik olarak algılayıp işaretlenmişse, işareti kaldırın.
  • Değişiklikleri OK‘a basarak onaylayın.
• More advanced tips on these error codes are available in the Messenger support space.

Eğer bu iğuçları 80072ee2/80072efd sorununuzu çözmediyse, lütfen Windows Live destek ile iletişime geçin http://support.live.com/.

Kaynak:
http://messengermaximal.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!40F43EC9BA81D814!6080.entry
http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!13953.entry

• Check your firewall settings. Messenger should be white-listed there to work properly.
  • If you are using Windows Firewall, try the following.
    • Windows XP:
      Click Start, Control Panel, Windows Firewall.
    • Windows Vista or Windows 7:
      Click Start, Control Panel, Security, Windows Firewall, Change settings.
  • Switch to the Exceptions tab and check if there is a checked entry Windows Live Messenger. If there isn’t any, check the checkbox, adding Messenger as exception.
  • Now click OK, and try to sign in to Messenger.

• If it still doesn’t work, you will have to re-install Messenger.
  • First uninstall Messenger. Being a Windows XP user, do this:
    • Click Start, Control Panel, Add and Remove Programs.
    • A list of installed applications appears.
    • Click Windows Live Essentials, and choose Change/Uninstall.
    • A wizard for uninstalling Messenger opens.
  • If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, uninstalling works like this:
    • Click Start, Control Panel, Programs, Uninstall program.
    • A list of installed applications appears.
    • Click Windows Live Essentials, and choose Change/Uninstall.
    • A wizard for uninstalling Messenger opens.
  • Now re-install Messenger. Visit http://download.live.com/messenger to get details.
  • After the setup, reboot your computer.

Don’t forget: if all these steps did not help you, talk to the Windows Live support at http://support.live.com/ and they will be glad to help you out.

Source: http://messengermaximal.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!40F43EC9BA81D814!5961.entry