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New improved Win 7 Logon screen chenger

This app will auto resize you image to fit you current screen resolution. Must be run as admin. Works great.
windows - comments - 19.3.2009

Change Logon Background in Windows Vista

I caught this via Steve Clayton (who caught it via Jeff Sandquist showing off his home) - Stardock has a really neat application called LogonStudio that allows you to change the background of your logon screen in Windows Vista. I absolutely love the space background.
download - comments - 2.12.2007

Windows 7 Logon Screen Rotator

Till Windows Vista & Xp there was no support for changing Login Screen background and you have to use third party apps like logon studio for changing login screen background.
download - comments - 8.6.2009

How to Change Windows Vista Boot Screen

Some of you remember how it was possible to change the boot logo screen of Windows 95/98. I'm not sure why anyone would go into the trouble of actually doing it, but it seems that it is possible to do the same for Windows Vista.
windows - comments - 19.11.2007

Windows XP LogonUI Changer - Change Windows XP Logon Background

Windows 7 has got built-in feature to change Windows 7 Logon background and we have already covered Logon Changer & LogonUI background changer for Windows 7. For Windows Vista & XP Logonstudio is best tool to use.
download - comments - 12.8.2009

Windows 7 to officially support logon UI background customization

As you probably know, Windows 7 build 7057, a build recently leaked to the public, sports a new (yet ugly) login UI background.
windows - comments - 16.3.2009

Configure Windows Logon Process with Winlogon Configuration Tool

Windows Logon Screen is the first screen displayed after you boot your Windows OS. Often you feel the need of changing logon user, enable/disable multi users logon session or running some script immediately after you login.
download - comments - 15.7.2009

What would you change in Windows?

If you were hired by Microsoft to make the Windows experience less annoying, what would be on your to-do list?
windows - comments - 30.4.2008

Can Dell change the Linux market?

After a lot of hemming-and-hawing, Dell has decided to accept the verdict of its IdeaStorm users and sell pre-installed Linux.
common - comments - 26.2.2007

Exec says new Windows head will change culture

Sinofsky comes to the Windows group, which has not shipped a new product in nearly five years, with a reputation within Microsoft as an effective taskmaster and a track record of on-time new software releases delivered in regular intervals.
windows - comments - 27.3.2006

Change Office 2007 Product Key

When Office 2007 was RTM'ed and downloadable on MSDN I used Office Professional 2007. For my new course, SharePoint BI, which I'm writing at the moment I needed InfoPath as well.
microsoft - comments - 1.1.2007

Microsoft: We Didn’t Change Automatic Updates

Software giant says users are responsible for the modifications that generated claims of unauthorized patch installs.
windows - comments - 20.10.2007

Microsoft Details IE 8 Security Default Change

The company will enable DEP/NX (Data Execution Prevention/No Execute) by default in IE 8 when running on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
microsoft - comments - 11.4.2008

Do not make Win 7 too Mac-like

Blogger Paul Thurrott has written a couple of interesting posts about the difference between “simple” and “easy” in the context of Windows 7.
windows - comments - 4.12.2008

Win 7 changes coming in the next build

Windows 7 testers wanted more feedback from Microsoft. It looks like they’re getting it.
windows - comments - 26.2.2009

XP: Get Updates No Matter What or Change your Product Key

If your windows installation has issues, or for some other unmentionable reason is unable to get updates from the windows server, this is what you need to do.
windows - comments - 27.3.2006

Popular Instant Messenger, Gaim, Forced to Change Name

It was announced, yesterday, that the popular multi-headed instant messaging client, Gaim, has undergone a name change. The new name, Pidgin, comes after years of secret discussions and legal issues with internet giant, AOL.
common - comments - 8.4.2007

Microsoft agrees to change Vista desktop search

Microsoft agreed Tuesday to make changes to the desktop search feature in Windows Vista in an effort to assuage Google and head off a further antitrust battle with U.S. regulators.
windows - comments - 20.6.2007

The 5 Reasons Why Blu-Ray Will Win

This week Stephen Speicher and his engadget column The Clicker discusses the five reasons why he believes Blu-Ray will win the battle against HD-DVD. Some of the major points made are format security, computer manufacturer support, and overall capacity.
common - comments -

Why Windows 7 will win the netbook war

There’s been much debate recently on whether Linux will be able to strive in the netbook war once Windows 7 is released.
windows - comments - 2.2.2009

Businesses to get final Win 7 in July

Microsoft officials have said the company expects to release Windows 7 to manufacturing before the end of this month.
windows - comments - 10.7.2009

Netbook users not happy with Win 7?

Microsoft has pulled an update tool for Windows 7 from the Microsoft Store site after a report indicating that the tool incorporated open-source code in a way that violated the GNU General Public License.
common - comments - 10.11.2009

Microsoft to change Vista to satisfy Google antitrust complaint?

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) has agreed to modify its new Vista operating system in response to complaints that its desktop search function puts Google Inc. (Nasdaq:GOOG - news) and other potential competitors at a disadvantage, a source familiar with the case told Reuters on Tuesday.
windows - comments - 20.6.2007

Vista: the Gender Challenged OS, After the Longhorn Sex Change

Windows Vista is a Microsoft gender-challenged operating system, after it has survived the Longhorn sex change. Just bear with me, it will all make sense in the end, I promise.
windows - comments - 22.3.2008

Set and Change Windows 7 Registered Owner & Organization with SetOwner

It may happen that you have bought second hand laptop or computer with preinstalled Windows operating system and you are looking for the way to change ownership information.
windows - comments - 20.11.2009

The Man Who Would Change Microsoft: Ray Ozzie's Vision for Connected Software

Ray Ozzie has a long and storied history of technological innovation, with accomplishments that include creating Lotus Notes and founding Groove Networks.
microsoft - comments - 14.4.2007

Prevent 1.0 - Stop Unauthorized Copy, Delete, Move & Change of Settings

I am sure everyone has faced the situation where either their friends, colleagues, family member of kids renaming, deleting important files or changing settings like wallpaper, screen resolution etc. this is typical with younger sibling.
download - comments - 17.9.2009

Microsoft's Big Bet: Win Within the Web

Although the latest version of Microsoft Windows is more than six months from shipping, company brass already have christened Vista as the best and biggest Windows release since Windows 95.

The company is making bold predictions, claiming Vista will be preloaded on as many as 200 million new personal computers in the first 24 months that the product is available. Windows 95 shipped on a mere 67 million new PCs during its first two years. These numbers are important. The prospects of nearly every product Microsoft makes ride on maintaining the ubiquity of Windows, which has in excess of 90 percent of the PC operating system market. It's been five years since the current Windows version was released, and Windows XP now is looking rather dated.
microsoft - comments - 15.3.2006

Win an Exclusive PGR100 Xbox 360!

Microsoft and www.oxm.co.uk are working together to allow fans to win a limited edition black PGR100 Xbox 360!
microsoft - comments - 3.4.2006

Microsoft starting to win over Linux servers

Microsoft is showing some early signs of success with a version of Windows geared for a technical computing market that Linux dominates today.
microsoft - comments - 10.4.2007

Mozilla wants Windows ballot screen changed

Last week Neowin reported that Microsoft had made changes to the Windows browser ballot screen, which will make selecting a browser for consumers much easier. Mozilla was not happy with their placement on the browser ballot screen, and has purposed Microsoft change the screen once again, placing them first selection. All companies need to submit final purposes before November 9 before any more changes can be made. Mozilla purposed a change today that would change the current ordering of the browsers, currently in alphabetical order of manufacture, to order of market share, with the exception of IE. The reordering of the browsers would place Firefox in the first slot, followed by Chrome, Opera and Safari.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 16.10.2009

Why does Windows XP generate so many logon failure events?

Eric Fitzgerald: I got the question last week, why there are so many logon failure events on Windows XP when it is not domain joined.



The short answer is, by design. (Yes, bad design.)



The longer answer is that the shell team is working around the fact that there is no "tell me if this user account has a blank password" API.



When in a workgroup (not domain joined), Windows XP displays a welcome screen that has little pictures (called "tiles") for each user who is permitted to log on to the computer.



The shell team wanted the experience that when you click on a tile, that you will immediately be logged on if your password is blank (we have good data that a large percentage of home users have blank passwords). They only want you to be prompted for a password if you actually have a password. Fair enough, and it also helps with accessibility for people for whom typing is challenging.




winbeta.org - 10.11.2007

Windows 7 to support logon UI backgrounds

In the latest Windows 7 build (7057), recently leaked to the public, Rafael Rivera over at Within Windows has found that users can customize the UI logon background images to include custom images. Rafael reports that the functionality was probably designed for OEM manufactures to include custom images for Windows 7 in pre-configured computers, but users can now include their own images without the need to use a simple third-party program. After enabling a registry setting, users can use any image of their choice, as long as their are less than 256kb in size.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 16.03.2009

XP Pro to receive WGA similar to Vista SP1

Remember how everyone was excited about how Vista SP1 received a WGA update to not block you from your computer?

Well, the same is coming to Windows XP. (Professional only, though. Who would want to pirate XP Home?)

From the WGA Blog:

With this update to WGA Notifications in Windows XP, we've implemented a couple of related features that draw on the notifications experience we designed for Windows Vista SP1. After installing this version of WGA Notifications on a copy of Windows XP that fails the validation, most users will discover on their next logon that their desktop has changed to a plain black background from whatever was there previously (see below).

The desktop background can be reset to anything else in the usual ways, but every 60 minutes it will change back to the plain black background. This will continue to happen until that copy of Windows is genuine.

Also, the user will see the addition of what we call the "persistent desktop notification." This notification is similar to a watermark but works a bit differently. The image (see below) appears over the system tray and is non-interactive in the sense that you can't click on it or do anything to it.

As with previous releases, if a copy of Windows fails validation, notifications will appear above the system tray regularly - and we will continue to have the pre-logon message, the logon interrupt message and the messages that appear from the system tray.



jcxp.net - 27.08.2008

Crudebox to Prudebox: from App Store lose to App Store win

Alkali Media have found that a few software tweaks and a name change are all that are needed to get their software, initially rejected as "objectionable" to accepted as perfectly "acceptable". The software produces sounds that some might find objectionable. But, when the company re-submitted their App, it became clear to them what a difference a name can make, along with a few design tweaks (including "a pink bunny and a fleeting sunset")!

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 28.04.2009

Windows 7 Tablet PC Screen Shots

Rob Bushway @ GottaBeMobile.com: Several of us on the GottaBeMobile.com team are fortunate enough to be participating in the Windows 7 beta, and weve got some screen shots of some of the new Tablet PC features in Windows 7. Keep in mind, a lot of this might change between now and release. There will be more coming, so stay tuned. Warner will be filming an InkShow soon. Hit the Read More link to see the gallery of screen shots...




winbeta.org - 29.10.2008

Elevations Are Now Blocked in the User's Logon Path

Hi, Jim Hong, Program Manager on UAC, here again to tell you about a new change in the UAC user experience coming in RC1. Applications that start when the user logs on and that require elevation are now blocked in the logon path.


Without blocking applications from prompting for elevation in the user's logon path, both standard users and administrators would have to respond to a User Account Control dialog box on every log on . While this potentially becomes an annoyance for administrators, it is an unusable UI for standard users who cannot drive the UAC elevation prompt without having an administrator around to provide credentials. Furthermore, we advise users to be wary of prompts that appear without them taking an explicit action -- and prompts generated at startup go against that advice.


In RC1 and later, Windows Vista notifies the user if an application has been blocked by placing an icon in the system tray and providing a notification balloon during the startup sequence. See Fig. 1 for a visual of what this might look like:



microsoft.com/windowsvista - 29.05.2007

Windows Vista X Update New

We Have Now Updateds Are Download And Drivers Plus Microsoft Logo Pack And Windows Vista Screen Shots Are Now Up To Date.



Win X Security May Hit Full By December 10..
windowsvistax.com - 29.10.2006

Two timesavers when Windows misbehaves

Windows occasionally gets into a weird state where, well, things just stop working - the start menu doesn't launch some apps anymore, clicking links in Internet Explorer doesn't work, context menus stop working, etc.*



Instead of rebooting Windows to get things working again, try logging out and logging back in. When Windows (and the apps that plug into the Windows shell) get into some weird state, you don't need to reboot; a logoff shuts down the Windows Explorer, and a logon loads it again.



The system services in Windows generally don't get into too weird a state. So they can just keep on running during your logoff/logon.




winbeta.org - 22.01.2008

Pre-CES Giveaway: Win Vista Ultimate, Adobe CS3, Zune and more

In preparation for CES 2008, which kicks off in Las Vegas on Sunday, we have decided to give away a number of products that have been gathering dust around the office. All you need to do to win is come up with a good question...
betanews.com - 03.01.2008

Last chance to win: Vista Ultimate Boxed (RED) Edition

The competition closes in 1hr 30mins so this is your last chance. Good luck Vista (RED) is enhanced with (PRODUCT) RED wallpapers, gadgets, and a unique screen saver and DreamScene. For more information on Windows Vista and Vista (RED) please head to Microsoft's Website. In order to enter the competition you simply have to reply to this thread, we will select a winner at random and multiple posts will not count so no need to go crazy folks. The competition opens NOW and ends on Wednesday 25th February at 23:59 GMT. The competition is open to all members worldwide.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 26.02.2009

Apple attempt to gatecrash Win 7 launch with product updates

Apple unveiled several new products today, some of which have been rumored for quite some time. This was a significant update for Apple especially considering that they didn't hold a special event to announce these products. The timing is suspicious considering Microsoft is due to launch their new Windows 7 operating system in just two days time. The biggest change was that the MacBook line has adopted the unibody look that the MacBook Pro uses. The model looks very similar to the Pro line but is in the traditional white color. The laptop can be outfitted with an LED-backlit display, new glass multi-touch track pad, and a built-in battery with 7 hours run time.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 20.10.2009

Enable New Boot screen in Vista Beta 2

Tired of the pathetic boot screen in current Vista builds? There is a new trick that will allow you to see what may be the new boot screen for Windows Vista.

This new boot screen is still not what we have been expecting but is a move in the right direction compared to the white progress bar screen currently used.

Enable New Boot Screen:

1. Click on the start orb and type in "MSCONFIG" in the textbox.

2. Once the System Configuration tool loads, click on the Boot tab.

3. Under Boot Options check "No GUI Boot".

4. Hit OK and reboot to see the new screen

More tweaks at source!


jcxp.net - 12.05.2006

Lenovo to launch dual-screen Workstation at CES

Lenovo is all geared up to launch its Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds Workstation at the CES Expo this January. The most interesting thing about this workstation is that it features a dual screen display, hence the 'ds' in its product name(short for 'dual screen'). The workstation comes with a dual screen display - The main screen is 17 inches and the secondary screen is 10.6 inches. Lenovo is also offering users the option of selecting the less expensive Intel Core 2 Quad Processor (2.66GHz built on the newer 45-nanometer manufacturing process) instead of the Intel Core 2 Extreme along with the dual screen display.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 21.12.2008

Canonical discloses Samba Vulnerability in Linux

Canonical has disclosed a security vulnerability that affects various versions, including the latest version 7.10, of its Linux distribution, as well as corresponding versions of Kubuntu, Edubuntu, and Xubuntu. The flaw occurs because Samba, an application which provides seamless file and print services to SMB/CIFS clients, does not correctly check the size of reply packets to mailslot requests. It is therefore possible for a remote attacker to execute malicious code by sending a specially crafted domain logon packet, assuming that domain logon is enabled on the server. Thankfully, it is disabled by default in Ubuntu and upgrading libsmbclient as well as samba to the latest versions for the OS fixes the issue.

Update: Several members have noted in the comments that this is, in fact, not a vulnerability limited to Ubuntu, but is a problem with samba itself. We recommend keeping up to date, no matter what distribution you are using.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 19.12.2007

What YouTube's new 16:9 aspect ratio means for users

There are some significant and some insignificant aspects of YouTube's adjusted main screen. The service's "embrace" of widescreen today, we discovered, doesn't change much besides what you see on the surface...
betanews.com - 25.11.2008

Win X Hosting Now Open.

Win X Hosting Open To Day. We Do Windows And Linux Hosting Plus Reseller Web Hosting...
windowsvistax.com - 31.10.2006

Microsoft Promotion: make MSN Your Homepage & Win a Zune

How badly does Microsoft want to promote the Zune? Not badly enough to think of anything particularly ingenious. Unique? yes. Succesful? No. Apparently, Microsoft has decided that every user who sets MSN as their home page will be entered to win one of 50 Zunes. Step one: set your home page to MSN. Not using Internet Explorer? No problem, Microsoft has a page that explains how to do it in Firefox, Opera, Netscape and Safari. Step two: enter your e-mail address so that you can be contacted ... if you win. Of course you can change it right back (or not change it at all?), but Microsoft hopes the majority of users will fall in love with the site right away. Sure, many people will enter the contest and avoid MSN for the rest of their lives, but many fools will be convinced that keeping MSN as their home page will get them a Zune, someday. What are the chances that those ignorant people even know what a Zune is?

Giving away free Zunes? Sure, that gets them off the shelves. Microsoft seems confident that if they get enough units into circulation, the devices may start raising eyebrows. Someone should tell Microsoft that a first generation product never gets far in a saturated market. Oh yeah, and free Zunes don't generate much revenue. It probably comes down to advertisements on MSN's page. I guess the company just wants to push this model for as long as they can, before they start shelling out new ones. Instead of bothering with this useless marketing move, they could go ahead and hire more engineers and think of something to beat the clickwheel. But why do that when you can do something that needs less effort? Oh well, this may actually do some good. Maybe some users won't have spyware sites as their home page anymore.


neowin.net - 15.02.2007

MSN Launches 'Search and Win' Contest

MSN has come up with a new plan to draw users away from Google: free stuff. The company launched a contest on Monday that will give users a chance to win prizes simply by using the service's search engine. Over $1 million in prizes will be available during the months of February, March and April...
betanews.com - 13.02.2006

Sam's Tip of the Week #2 - The "Get Info" Inspector

This week's tip is for OS X users:


If you're like me, you use the "Get Info" pane a lot. It's great, but after looking at a few files I end up with 10 Get Info panes on my screen, causing lots of unneeded clutter.


If you use the Option-Command-I keystroke rather than plain old Command-I, you will see the Get Info Inspector. This is one "Get Info" window which will stay present and change to whatever file or folder is selected in the Finder. Just click on an item while it is open, and the inspector will change. (Bonus tip: the arrows on the keyboard work well for items in the same location.)



jcxp.net - 21.08.2009