Restore and Reset File Association in Windows Vista
Windows Vista allows user to change and set default program association for most kind of file extension type via Control Panel’s “Set Associations” or “Set Default Programs” under “Default Programs” link.
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21.6.2008 Windows 7 Will Support Third-Party Codecs
Microsoft has offered official confirmation that Windows 7 will support third-party codecs, programs designed to make media players play nice with digital data stream or signal when it comes to encoding and decoding tasks.
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5.4.2009 Connection reset
Windows 7: Build 7057 blocks third-party video codecs
Something we love about Windows 7 is that it has much better native codec support, like H.264 and AAC. But the price might be high: It looks like Windows 7 might block third-party video decoders.
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26.3.2009 How To Reset, Remove, Clear or Reveal CMOS BIOS Security Password
There are times that we need to reset the computer’s BIOS security password. Yesterday I was at the local government technical school facility and the person who is in charge of the computer told me that they are not able to reinstall Windows because they are not able to get in the BIOS to set the boot order as it is password protected. The lecturers do not know the password as it is not set by them, but by some unknown student.
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6.7.2008 How to Install Vista Language Packs MUI on all versions of Vista + video tutorial
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, and Vista Business versions of the Microsoft licensing restrictions can only preserve a language!
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23.9.2008 The Vista Built-in Super Administrator Account Has Survived in Vista SP1
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is designed to evolve the RTM version of the latest Windows client from Microsoft, made available in November 2006 to business customers, and in January 2007 to the general consumers.
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15.2.2008 Vista SP1 Is Out, XP SP3 Old News, the Pink Edition of Vista Is In
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is now nothing more than water under the bridge, now that the service pack was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, shipping to general users on March 18.
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27.3.2008 Tell Hasta la Vista to XP - Time to Upgrade to Vista SP1
Like it or not, this is the right time not only to upgrade to Windows Vista Service Pack 1 but also to tell hasta la vista to Windows XP.
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30.6.2008 Instant Change Vista Product ID with Vista ProductID Changer
In past we have reviewed number of application to recover product key like Product Key Finder, WinGuggle, Windows product Key Finder.
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1.11.2009 Vista SP1 RC1 Flies Past Vista RTM and Windows XP SP2
Despite the fact that Microsoft has expressed its official position regarding testing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 ahead of its finalization, there is simply too much of a hunger for the service pack.
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27.12.2007 Vista SP1 Won't Resolve the 4 GB RAM Limitation of 32-bit Windows Vista
32-bit Windows operating systems, and Windows Vista makes no exception whatsoever to this rule, are limited in terms of the amount of system memory that can be addressed to no more than 4 GB.
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4.1.2008 Vista Loader 2.1.3 - Windows Vista Activator 2008 Support SP1 with No Boot String
Vista Loader is one of the most successful Vista activation crack available to date, second only to physical modify (hardmod) the BIOS to include SLIC table to make BIOS Vista activation-compliant.
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15.5.2008 x64 Vista SP2 JPG Rendering Performance Inferior to x86 Vista SP2's
The JPG rendering process on 64-bit flavors of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 is inferior to that on the 32-bit variants of the operating system.
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10.6.2009 Microsoft to Kill the Grace Timer and OEM BIOS Windows Vista Cracks with Vista SP1
With the advent of Windows Vista, cracks also became available being designed to bypass the activation process of the operating system.
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4.12.2007 New Vista OEM Activation Hack - Vista Boot by gkend
Thanks to Steve Jobs for this article on his blog and to our forum members to clecha, Nighthief and fitterphil120 for most of the findings. One again the “Chinese” come up with a new method to trick out the Vista Activation. We have seen Softmode and VistaLoader, however “ Vista Boot by gkend” does promise even more.
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21.5.2007 Windows Vista on Super Nintendo, As Real As Vista on PSP
We're puzzled and confused... How can a console that's at least ten times less powerful than the acclaimed PSP cope with Windows Vista's requirements?
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15.8.2007 Vista RTM vs. Vista SP1 - Office 2007 benchmarking
Enough with benchmarking the OS - let’s see if Office 2007 is any faster on Vista SP1.
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26.2.2008 Microsoft Says Vista SP1 Needs to Speak the Same Language as Vista RTM
Microsoft says that Windows Vista Service Pack 1 needs to speak the same language as the RTM version of the latest Windows client. Otherwise there's no game.
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2.4.2008 Vista SP1 to Cure the Vista RTM Wow Hangover
When Windows Vista was unleashed in January 31, 2008, Microsoft was promising performance, security, innovation, all wrapped up under an umbrella of a Wow user experience.
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11.4.2008 Vista-For-Free coupon with Vista ready PC's
Microsoft and the world's leading PC vendors have reached an agreement to promote the long-awaited Vista OS by offering PC buyers worldwide a free upgrade coupon, as a way of encouraging them to buy a Vista-capable PC as early as possible, according to market sources, citing information leaked from Taiwan-based PC makers.
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11.10.2006 Can Vista SP1 help polish Vista’s tarnished image?
Call it complaining. Call it whining. The end result is the same: Windows Vista’s image is tarnished. And it’s corroding more and more rapidly as the weeks are going on. Thanks to pacpis for this news.
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21.8.2007 Vista SP1 Features the Same Sins as Windows Vista
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 comes with the same sins as Windows Vista. The service pack is not even out the door, and is already putting users at risk.
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16.1.2008 Will Vista SP1 Go Where Vista Never Went? Even with XP SP3 and Windows 7?
Throughout 2007, it became painfully clear to Microsoft that the main competitor for Windows Vista was not Apple's Mac OS X or even the open source Linux operating system but Windows XP, and, in fact, specifically XP SP2.
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1.3.2008 New Vista AutoPatcher - Vista update toolkit Alpha
Vista Update Toolkit Alpha (Windows Vista Updates Downloader) is a FREE program which downloads updates directly from Microsoft. All files are very useful with vLite!
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26.9.2008 Vista SP1 – Microsoft Could Not Have Given Less – Vista SP2 Anyone?
Microsoft had the chance to position the first service pack for Windows Vista as a panacea for the operating system, giving the platform nothing less than a fresh start and another take at the Wow.
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3.10.2007 Vista SP1 Rolling Over for Vista SP2
Vista SP1 did not do the trick for your RTM copy of the operating system? While such a scenario is highly unlikely, Microsoft is getting closer and closer to taking Windows Vista to the next level, again.
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7.12.2008 Vista SP1: Indictment of Vista 1.0?
Microsoft’s announcement that it is preparing a Vista Service Pack 1 beta in two weeks is curious on many levels. Although Microsoft delivers improvements via service packs I can’t help but consider Vista SP1 a do-over.
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30.8.2007 Vista RTM vs. Vista SP2
We are all well aware of the limping start of Vista on the OS market. Despite the fact that its launch had been highly anticipated for a good while, contrary to all Microsoft expectations, Vista was received with great reluctance and unwillingness on the part of XP fans.
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13.12.2008 Microsoft: Vista! Vista! Vista!
Microsoft has a single generalized answer to all life's problems, but especially end user protection, and that answer is of course Windows Vista.
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14.8.2007Windows 7: Build 7057 blocks third-party video codecs
The latest beta of Windows 7 blocks the usage of third party video decoders from Windows Media Player and MCE. Albain, a DirectShow (ffdshow)
developer explains in his own words what he encountered when he was testing the multimedia pipeline of Windows 7 in the latest build 7057.
"Microsoft has locked mpeg4 and h264 codecs into Media Foundation, the replacer of DirectShow (even if directshow is still supported).There is no way
to override those codecs, even if you develop a Media Foundation version of your decoder, because Microsoft maintains a list of preferred codecs
(their codecs) into the registry (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and HKLM \MediaFoundation\Transforms\Preferred), and this registry key cannot be
modified, even in admin mode.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
27.03.2009TiVo software supports more codecs
TiVo has slowly been expanding the scope of its service to include content the Internet has to offer. Today, the company announced an update to its
Desktop Plus software that supports common "Web video" codecs...
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19.03.2008Microsoft and Nikon ink deal around digital, perhaps wireless, cameras
After teaming up on Windows Vista, HD Photo, codecs, and wireless technologies over the past few years, Microsoft and Nikon last night unveiled a
cross-licensing deal involving digital cameras and still unnamed additional products...
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29.08.2008VIA and QSound Labs, Inc. Bring Superior Sound Systems to Windows Vista
VIA Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator of high performance audio silicon, and QSound Labs, Inc., a leading technology developer of audio and
voice software solutions, today announced the delivery of a superior sound system for Windows Vista based multimedia, personal and laptop computers.
QSound's QHD technology is now available on VIA Vinyl High Definition Audio codecs and controllers.
VIA's advanced codecs and
controllers combined with QSound's QHD technology enable consumers to experience high definition audio the way it should be heard with content like
movies, music, games and even TV programs. Powered by VIA Vinyl Audio hardware, QSound QHD combines several audio technologies to deliver a top
quality audio experience while still addressing the unique demands of multi-format audio playback typical of a multimedia-rich device such as a PC.
Small speakers found in today's computers will now sound significantly larger and richer with a more natural intensity regardless of the source of
the content.
"VIA delivers a broad range of world class PC silicon solutions for the international PC and multimedia computer
market and our combined technologies provide the consumer with an unmatched audio quality experience," said David Gallagher President and Chief
Executive Officer of QSound Labs Inc. "We are very pleased to be enhancing the Vista audio experience by working closely with a strong Windows
partner like VIA."..
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26.09.2007Official Way to Use Vista without Activation 120 Days
Official Way to Install and
Use Windows Vista without
Activation for Free for 120
Days
By default,
Windows Vista can be
installed, used and run
without any license, product
key or the need of activation
for 30 days grace period, for
purpose of trial or
evaluation. Although Microsoft
initially stressed that users
should purchase a license with
valid product key before the
trial period expires, or else
Windows Vista will lock into
Reduced Functionality Mode.
However, a "rearm" method
has long since been discovered
to be able to extend, or reset
the remaining time for
activation to another fresh 30
days, for up to 3 times.
Now Microsoft has
confirmed that Windows Vista
can be used and run for 120
days or 4 months ( 3
rearms ), and extending the
activation grace period is not
a violation of the Vista End
User License Agreement (EULA).
All versions of Vista include
Windows Vista Ultimate allow a
30-day free period without
activation, except the
corporate-oriented Vista
Enterprise, which supports
only a three-day trial.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
22.02.2007Windows Imaging Component Code Samples and Tools
This download includes sample code that demonstrates how to use the WIC APIs to create WIC-compliant CODECs and WIC-enabled applications. With this
information, ISVs will be able create CODECs that are registered in Windows and will be automatically recognized by WIC-enabled applications. This
download includes both the source code and compiled binaries for the included samples. Both x86 & x64 version of the binaries are included.
The samples included in this download are:
- WICExplorer “ An application which utilizes the WIC API to load still
images and read their metadata.
- AITCODEC “ A custom CODEC that demonstrates how to create a WIC-compliant CODEC. This sample
includes documentation on the custom AITCODEC.
- WICGrinder “ An application used to test WIC-compliant CODECs. This sample
includes documentation on using WICGrinder to customize tests.
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27.11.2007Major bug in Snow Leopard deletes all user data
Reports have been cropping up on the Apple Support forums that users have been losing all their data due to a nasty bug in Snow Leopard, Apple's
latest Operating System. Many users are reporting that all settings are being reset and most data is gone, according to iTWire. The problem, can
easily be reproduced when a user logs into the 'guest' account, either on purpose or by accident, and when they log back out of the account
and back into their normal one, they find that their account has been fully reset with all data wiped and lost - the account is like a brand new one.
The home directory still exists under "/Users/username" but is completely empty.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
12.10.2009Updated: Major bug in Snow Leopard deletes all user data
Reports have been cropping up on the Apple Support forums that users have been losing all their data due to a nasty bug in Snow Leopard, Apple's
latest Operating System. Many users are reporting that all settings are being reset and most data is gone, according to iTWire. The problem, can
easily be reproduced when a user logs into the 'guest' account, either on purpose or by accident, and when they log back out of the account
and back into their normal one, they find that their account has been fully reset with all data wiped and lost - the account is like a brand new one.
The home directory still exists under "/Users/username" but is completely empty.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
13.10.2009Free Vista Sunday, 3D desktop with Real Desktop Light
Jonathan Schlaffer: Vista has been an all-around disappointment and even those with SP1 have reason to complain. Those with problems are probably
more outspoken than those that dont but the issues keep piling up and Microsoft does little about them. This program may brighten up your Vista
experience a tiny bit.
Real Desktop comes it two
forms, Real Desktop Standard and Real Desktop Light; major differences set the two apart. With Real Desktop Standard you get all the features and
with Light, not so much.
The ślightť version gives you a basic, fully 3D desktop environment. You can stack icons, drag them
anywhere on the śdesk,ť flip them around, upside down and several other neat things. What you cant do is change the wallpaper or orientation of the
camera. The other thing thats annoying is the light version lacks the ability to reset the icon positions; as you can see below, its very easy to
mess them up.
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02.03.2008Analysis: After yesterday, it's time to reset
Among the comments we received yesterday after our all-day, wall-to-wall coverage of the deluge that struck the technology industry, was a complaint
asking, why we didn't pick some happier news?..
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24.01.2009DivX to be Added to PlayStation 3
DivX said Tuesday that its codecs will be added to Sony's PlayStation 3, allowing the device to play back videos in the format...
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13.11.2007Linspire Releases 2.0 Version of Free OS
Linspire on Wednesday released
the second version of
Freespire, the community-based
operating system based on
Canonical's Ubuntu Linux
distribution, enhancing it
with its own proprietary
software, drivers, and codecs...
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09.08.2007Windows 7 to support DivX natively
One of the new features announced at the recent Windows 7 Reviewers Workshop in LA is that Windows 7 will natively support a number of popular media
formats, so that users don't have to worry about finding, installing and downloading third-party codecs. This is an evolution in media support
which is similar to the inclusion of native MPEG-2 playback in Windows Vista, providing the DVD playback functionality which was missing in Windows
XP. News source: Source
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
04.01.2009MobiTV Announces Microsoft
Deal
MobiTV said Tuesday that it
had partnered with Microsoft
to bring its service to
Windows Mobile based devices,
as well as Windows XP
computers. The company will
use Microsoft's digital
rights management and codecs
along with Windows Media
Player to deliver its content...
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05.04.2006Microsoft Punishes Xbox Live Cheaters
Microsoft's "Major Nelson"
sent out a warning at the end
of October last year, advising that gamers steer clear of "Gamesaving" to illegitimately increase their Gamerscore.
He said
that Microsoft may reset the Gamerscore of offenders who are tampering with save files for that purpose, since it is a breach of the Xbox Live
Terms of Use. Tuesday, that warning has been
acted upon, as cheaters have come to find that their respective
Gamerscores have been reduced to zero, and their Xbox.com profiles have been
stamped with a message informing that they cheated for their Gamerscore and it has
now been reset. StripClubDj, for example, is one the most known of "Gamesavers", and usually held a top spot on Gamerscore Leaderboards.
winbeta.org -
26.03.2008Windows Imaging Component RC1
Thanks CoolCatBad for posting
this in
Back
Page News on our
forums.
The Windows
Imaging Component supports
discovery of new and
proprietary (e.g., Raw) image
formats. Any application that
uses WIC can take advantage of
new image formats as soon as
their CODECs
(encoder/decoders) are
installed on the computer. WIC
includes updated CODECs for
JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG, & BMP
that are more secure than
previously released CODECs for
these formats, and also
supports a new
high-performance image format
called Windows Media Photo.
Additionally, WIC provides
metadata readers and writers
for common image metadata
formats, and enables
applications to preserve their
own metadata inside image
files so they don't need to
create "sidecar files".
neowin.net -
05.10.2006Alcatel-Lucent Victory in MP3 Dispute Signals Trouble for Digital Audio
In the first of a series of
patent disputes regarding its
claims to rights to
technologies used in MP3 audio
codecs, French
telecommunications firm
Alcatel-Lucent -- which now
owns the IP first conceived by
Bell Laboratories -- was
awarded $1.5 billion in a jury
verdict against Microsoft in a
federal district court in
Seattle this afternoon...
betanews.com -
23.02.2007Vista SP1 Offers Power Efficiency Enhancements
Most if not all the attention surrounding Windows Vista Service Pack 1 has been around performance, reliability and compatibility, but you probably
didn’t know SP1 also makes short strides in terms of Vista’s power efficiency. And by short, I really do mean short because we’re
talking about improvements in the magnitude of only a couple percents. That in the context of 5 hours battery life is a mere additional 6 minutes.
Having said that, some is better than none.
The first of two improvements is in the display subsystem. Starting from SP1, the VSync in the
Desktop Window Manager (DWM), intended to give a glitch free experience, no longer runs continuously. Instead, the interrupts are disabled after a
short timeout period where no screen updates has occurred. The catch is that a screen update can be anything from a blinking cursor to a flashing
network icon, so the chances of a screen idle might be a lot less than you would imagine. The second improvement is in the audio subsystem and only
concerns those with HD Audio codecs. Whereas in the RTM, the sound card would never idle even if there was no activity, in SP1, the default idle
timeout for has been changed to 30 seconds; after the time, the OS will switch the audio device to a D3 power state, meaning the device should not
consume any energy at all.
neowin.net -
23.02.2008Vista SP1 Offers Power Effiency Ehancements
Most if not all the attention surrounding Windows Vista Service Pack 1 has been around performance, reliability and compatibility, but you probably
didn’t know SP1 also makes short strides in terms of Vista’s power efficiency. And by short, I really do mean short because we’re
talking about improvements in the magnitude of only a couple percents. That in the context of 5 hours battery life is a mere additional 6 minutes.
Having said that, some is better than none.
The first of two improvements is in the display subsystem. Starting from SP1, the VSync in the
Desktop Window Manager (DWM), intended to give a glitch free experience, no longer runs continuously. Instead, the interrupts are disabled after a
short timeout period where no screen updates has occurred. The catch is that a screen update can be anything from a blinking cursor to a flashing
network icon, so the chances of a screen idle might be a lot less than you would imagine. The second improvement is in the audio subsystem and only
concerns those with HD Audio codecs. Whereas in the RTM, the sound card would never idle even if there was no activity, in SP1, the default idle
timeout for has been changed to 30 seconds; after the time, the OS will switch the audio device to a D3 power state, meaning the device should not
consume any energy at all.
neowin.net -
23.02.2008China Blocks Apple's ITunes, Amazon Over Tibet Songs
Chinese authorities appear to have blocked access to Apple's U.S. iTunes Music Store, following the release of the 20-song "Songs for Tibet - The
Art of Peace" collection Wednesday. Users in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen confirmed that since as early as Wednesday morning, Beijing time, they
began receiving "unknown error" messages when they tried unsuccessfully to access the store. Although Apple does not operate an iTunes Store in
China, users may download free content such as podcasts, and those with U.S. credit cards may buy content from the U.S. store.
Although
Amazon.com remains available in China, its pages for both the "Songs for Tibet" CD and download page fail to load, returning: "The connection was
reset. The connection to the server was reset while the page was loading," the most common error message received for blocked sites.
neowin.net -
23.08.2008
