Richard Siddaway's Blog : Windows 7

Windows 7 – Pet Hate #1

RichardSiddaway — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:30:13 GMT

I’ve been using Windows 7 since January and as I’ve reported several times I have been really happy with it. One source of irritation has arisen – the Action Center.

This is a reporting system for system issues such as security (firewall turned off) or maintenance (backups not configured). This is fine but the thing takes over. Once it has popped its window up to say there is a problem it won’t go away. Not good.

I don’t mind been reminded of things but not to the point where I am then effectively stopped working because these windows are configured to always remain on top.

Technorati Tags: Windows 7,Action center

Scheduled Tasks

RichardSiddaway — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:42:23 GMT

Keeping on the theme of Scheduled Tasks I wanted to dig into the tasks that exist on my system. I did a fresh install of Windows 7 in August and haven’t created any scheduled tasks – so what I see should be close to the system defaults. This machine isn’t in a domain.

I can load the task scheduler functions

PS> Import-Module TaskScheduler
PS> get-command -Module TaskScheduler

CommandType     Name
-----------     ----
Function        Add-TaskAction
Function        Add-TaskTrigger
Function        Connect-ToTaskScheduler
Function        Get-RunningTask
Function        Get-ScheduledTask
Function        New-Task
Function        Register-ScheduledTask
Function        Remove-Task
Function        Start-Task
Function        Stop-Task

I can see the tasks that are running

PS> Get-RunningTask

Name          : SystemSoundsService
InstanceGuid : {9E499B76-8A4E-4215-B043-619B0403D8F6}
Path          : \Microsoft\Windows\Multimedia\SystemSoundsService
State         : 4
CurrentAction : Microsoft PlaySoundService Class
EnginePID     : 2456

in this case the definition is empty so I can’t see exactly what it is doing though the path and name give a strong hint its related to the sound system.

Scheduled tasks are arranged in a folder hierarchy. If you want to see the full list use

Get-ScheduledTask –Recurse

we see a large number of jobs that are either disabled, ready or running.

If you compare the list with the Task scheduler GUI tool you will see some jobs are missing. These can be viewed by using the hidden switch

Get-ScheduledTask -Recurse -Hidden | select path, name

It is also possible to directly supply a folder and view the jobs in there.

Looking at the total job population

PS> Get-ScheduledTask -Recurse -Hidden | group status

Count Name
----- ----
   57 Ready
   20 Disabled
    2 Running
    1 Queued

The Ready jobs look interesting

Get-ScheduledTask -recurse -hidden | where {$_.status -eq "Ready" -and $_.LastRunTime -gt $((get-date).AddMonths(-1))} | sort LastRunTime -Descending

will show everything run in the last month that is ready to run again. Surprising just how many back ground tasks occur.

Next time we’ll look at setting up a task to run when we login.

Technorati Tags: PowerShell,v2,Scheduled task,windows 7

Windows 7 RTM first impressions

RichardSiddaway — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:43:28 GMT

The machine is rebuilt and all applications re-installed. I said after installing the RC as an upgrade that I felt some of the Vista feel had come across. This install feels much better – like the beta that impressed me so much at the beginning of the year.

I recommend a clean install for Windows 7 if at all possible.

I’ll have to try re-installing Win 7 on that old laptop and see how it does. In theory it should run better than the beta.

First impressions – very impressed. I like this. Previous Windows clients have left me feeling so-so. They worked and did what I want but this feels right. The whole thing has a polish and well thought out togetherness that I don’t think has been there in the last few client OSs.

This is a winner.

Technorati Tags: Windows 7 RTM

Live Search on Windows 7 & IE 8

Richard's space — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:21:19 GMT

In this post http://richardsiddaway.spaces.live.com/default.aspx?_c01_BlogPart=blogentry&_c=BlogPart&handle=cns!43CFA46A74CF3E96!2349 I was complaining that Live Search had stopped working on my Windows 7 build. I had a Vista machine that I had...(read more)

A real windows 7 annoyance

Richard's space — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:10:47 GMT

One thing that is really driving me nuts with windows 7 is the way it keeps deciding to maximise Windows just because I happen to move them to a particular point on screen. if I want a Window maximised I will maximise it. Stop making decisions on my behalf...(read more)

NetworkLoadBalancingClusters

Richard's space — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:33:17 GMT

Looking at the module list available when you install the Windows 2008 R2 RSAT pack on Windows 7 I noticed one called NetworkLoadBalancingClusters. Well really its called NetworkLoadBalancingCl... in most displays. NetworkLoadBalancingClusters must the...(read more)

Modules

Richard's space — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:32:08 GMT

One thing that has improved in the Windows 7 version of PowerShell is the listing of available modules. PS> Get-Module -ListAvailable ModuleType Name ExportedCommands ---------- ---- ---------------- Manifest ActiveDirectory {} Manifest AppLocker ...(read more)

Import System Modules

Richard's space — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:05:11 GMT

Windows 7 has a really nice feature of combining the recently opened files\tasks with the program icon on the Start menu. This means we can go to Word and have immediate access to the most recently used files. Excellent for when I'm going back to...(read more)

Messenger Annoyance

Richard's space — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:45:21 GMT

Why won’t Windows Messenger stay shut down on Windows 7? If I shut it down its because I want it shut down. I don’t want it to keep opening up just because the system thinks it knows better than me. There is too much decision making happening in modern...(read more)

Live Search on Windows 7

Richard's space — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:03:09 GMT

Is there something broken in the combination of Live Search + IE 8 + Windows 7. Searches take a ridiculous time – assuming they don’t time out. I upgraded this machine from Vista. Don’t remember this issue in Windows 7 beta. Technorati Tags: Windows 7...(read more)

Get-PSDrive

Richard's space — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:37:09 GMT

Get-PsDrive has been one of those cmdlets that you use without really noticing – when you want to see if a provider is loaded for instance. In the Windows 7 RC the display has had a makeover. PS> Get-PSDrive Name Used (GB) Free (GB) Provider Root CurrentLocation...(read more)

MagicDisk & Windows 7

Richard's space — Sun, 03 May 2009 11:35:42 GMT

Looks like I spoke to soon – there is a Windows 7 version of MagicDisk available at http://www.magiciso.com/tutorials/miso-magicdisc-overview.htm Installed and seems to work OK. That’s one problem resolved quickly. Technorati Tags: Windows 7 , Magic disk...(read more)

MagicDisc

Richard's space — Sun, 03 May 2009 11:23:32 GMT

The Magic Disc virtual CD program doesn’t work under Windows 7 RC. To be fair it does mention that there may be issues with it when the compatibility check is done as part of the upgrade process. Technorati Tags: Windows 7...(read more)

AVG issue

Richard's space — Sat, 02 May 2009 08:57:00 GMT

Decided to fall back on the old stalwart – uninstall AVG & re-install. That worked OK. AVG works – the Action Center now tells me that AVG is on but reporting its status in a format that is no longer supported. Looks like the dots haven’t been joined...(read more)

AVG support?

Richard's space — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:29:53 GMT

AVG used to have a fantastic email support facility – it seems to have vanished. Not happy with that. There definitely seems to be a clash between AVG 8.5 and Windows 7 RC – even though AVG is explicitly listed as one of the security partners working...(read more)

Major step backwards

Richard's space — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:25:41 GMT

UAC has been a much maligned artifact of Windows Vista. With the Windows 7 beta I thought it’s major shortcomings had been corrected and it was a much friendlier thing. UAC in Windows 7 seems to have reverted to type and is back to getting in my way....(read more)

Windows 7 RC & AVG

Richard's space — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:06:45 GMT

One thing that doesn’t seem to work in Windows 7 RC - The Action Center can’t seem to make its mind up if AVG is running or not. All the other tools report its fine & I can scan files BUT the Action center bugs me that its not started. Bah Technorati...(read more)

Computername parameter

Richard's space — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:49:11 GMT

This is something I’ve been meaning to share for a while. Many of the cmdlets in PowerShell v2 get an explicit remoting capability via the computername property. get-help * -Parameter computername | sort name Clear-EventLog Connect-WSMan Disconnect-WSMan...(read more)

Windows 7 RC

Richard's space — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:40:08 GMT

As you are no doubt aware Windows 7 RC is available for download from TechNet\MSDN. General availability starts next week. The download was very slow – guess a few other people wanted to download it as well :-) I did an upgrade from Vista SP1. It does...(read more)

Troubleshooting answer files

Richard Siddaway's Blog — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:27:26 GMT

One extra thing we can do with the troubleshooting packs is create answer files. Start by loading the module and mapping the drive as before. Import-Module troubleshootingpack New-PSDrive -Name tspack -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "C:\Windows\diagnostics...(read more)