Windows Shell/User (MSN & OneCare Too) : Longhorn

BetaNews | Vista SP1 goes live on Automatic Updates, but gradually

ericvogel — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:50:10 GMT

Vista SP1 goes live on Automatic Updates, but gradually

By Scott M. Fulton, III, BetaNews

April 23, 2008, 6:06 PM

It's apparently safe to try this now: Microsoft stated this afternoon it's going forward with plans to deploy Windows Vista Service Pack 1 via Automatic Updates.
But today's go-ahead won't mean that users will wake up one morning and suddenly find themselves upgraded (or not), or even that SP1 will find itself deployed all in the same morning.

BetaNews | Vista SP1 goes live on Automatic Updates, but gradually

Windows Vista Team Blog : Announcing the RTM of Windows Vista SP1

ericvogel — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:40:57 GMT

Hi, Mike Nash here from the Windows Product Management group at Microsoft. Today we are excited to announce that we have released Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista to manufacturing (RTM) for our first set of languages (English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese).

Windows Vista Team Blog : Announcing the RTM of Windows Vista SP1

Juliana might be the next ZeroCool. Parental Controls - the often overlooked feature of Vista. - Aaron Tiensivu's Blog

ericvogel — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:35:05 GMT

Be sure to check out Microsoft's offering before you go buy parental control software.

Juliana might be the next ZeroCool. Parental Controls - the often overlooked feature of Vista. - Aaron Tiensivu's Blog

BetaNews | Vista SP1 to replace 'Reduced Functionality' with nagware

ericvogel — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:06:56 GMT

A service originally designed to compel unpaid Vista users to obtain genuine licenses is apparently being scrapped in Service Pack 1, to be replaced with a more "in-your-face" approach.

BetaNews | Vista SP1 to replace 'Reduced Functionality' with nagware

BetaNews | Microsoft Releasing Several Vista Patches This Week

ericvogel — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:05:11 GMT

More Reliability updates are coming out today... YAY!!

Microsoft Releasing Several Vista Patches This Week

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

November 12, 2007, 10:53 AM

Microsoft isn't waiting for Vista Service Pack 1 to push some important operating system updates to users.

BetaNews | Microsoft Releasing Several Vista Patches This Week

BetaNews | Microsoft Makes Vista Fix Packs Public

ericvogel — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:05:55 GMT

Here is an article in more easy to understand terms of the two patches I posted. They will be in Vista SP1 and will make Vista more stable. I suggest everyone installs them.

Microsoft Makes Vista Fix Packs Public

BetaNews | Microsoft Makes Vista Fix Packs Public

An update is available that improves the performance and reliability of Windows Vista

ericvogel — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:03:40 GMT

INTRODUCTION

This update resolves issues that may affect some Windows Vista-based computers. These issues have been reported by customers who are using the Error Reporting service or Microsoft Customer Support Services.
By applying this update, you can achieve better performance and responsiveness in various scenarios. This update also improves the reliability of Windows Vista.
This update resolves the following issues on a Windows Vista-based computer:

• You experience a long delay when you try to exit the Photos screen saver.

• A memory leak occurs when you use the Windows Energy screen saver.

• If User Account Control is disabled on the computer, you cannot install a network printer successfully. This problem occurs if the network printer is hosted by a Windows XP-based or a Windows Server 2003-based computer.

• When you write data to an AVI file by using the AVIStreamWrite function, the file header of the AVI file is corrupted.

• When you copy or move a large file, the "estimated time remaining" takes a long time to be calculated and displayed.

• After you resume the computer from hibernation, it takes a long time to display the logon screen.

• When you synchronize an offline file to a server, the offline file is corrupted.

• If you edit an image file that uses the RAW image format, data loss occurs in the image file. This problem occurs if the RAW image is from any of the following digital SLR camera models:

• Canon EOS 1D

• Canon EOS 1DS

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

932988 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932988/) Files from a Canon EOD 1D or 1DS camera may be corrupted after you use Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Live Photo Gallery, or Windows Explorer to edit the file metadata in Windows Vista or in Windows XP Service Pack 2

• After you resume the computer from hibernation, the computer loses its default gateway address.

• Poor memory management performance occurs.

An update is available that improves the performance and reliability of Windows Vista

An update is available that improves the compatibility and reliability of Windows Vista

ericvogel — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:00:12 GMT

INTRODUCTION

This update resolves some compatibility issues and reliability issues in Windows Vista. By applying this update, you can achieve better reliability and hardware compatibility in various scenarios.
This update resolves the following issues:

• The screen may go blank when you try to upgrade the video driver. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

932539 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932539/) The screen may go blank when you try to upgrade the video driver on a Windows Vista-based computer

• The computer stops responding, and you receive a "Display driver stopped responding and has recovered" error message. You can restart the computer only by pressing the computer's power button.

• The computer stops responding or restarts unexpectedly when you play video games or perform desktop operations.

• The Diagnostic Policy Service (DPS) stops responding when the computer is under heavy load or when very little memory is available. This problem prevents diagnostics from working.

• The screen goes blank after an external display device that is connected to the computer is turned off. For example, this problem may occur when a projector is turned off during a presentation.

• There are stability issues with some graphics processing units (GPUs). These issues could cause GPUs to stop responding (hang).

• Visual appearance issues occur when you play graphics-intensive games.

• You experience poor playback quality when you play HD DVD disks or Blu-ray disks on a large monitor.

• Applications that load the Netcfgx.dll component exit unexpectedly.

• Windows Calendar exits unexpectedly after you create a new appointment, create a new task, and then restart the computer.

• Internet Connection Sharing stops responding after you upgrade a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP to Windows Vista and then restart the computer.

• The Printer Spooler service stops unexpectedly.

• You receive a "Stop 0x0000009F" error when you put the computer to sleep while a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) connection is active. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

931671 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931671/) Error message when you put a Windows Vista-based computer to sleep while a PPP connection is active: "STOP 0x0000009F"

An update is available that improves the compatibility and reliability of Windows Vista

Get Vista upgrade, never pay full price

ericvogel — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:29:41 GMT

Get Vista upgrade, never pay full price

By Brian Livingston
Many people are upset by the fact that the economical, "upgrade" version of Vista won't accept a Windows XP or Windows 2000 CD-ROM as proof of ownership. Vista Upgrade is said to install only to a hard disk that already has XP or 2000 already on it.

Source: Get Vista upgrade, never pay full price

Windows Vista Questions and Some Answers (Updated)

ericvogel — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:27:00 GMT

I have been helping with the lunch of Vista at a store. I have come across these questions and because these were not made clear, either hidden of fine print on the bottom of the box, I and everyone else is giving away bad advise. Once I get all of the answers, the store will be able to give good advise. Because some was assumed was the same with previous versions, and the lack of Microsoft informing the stores.

1. Does x64 version DVD come in the Vista Box?

No it does, not. You must pay a small shipping and handling fee. Interesting, have to pay more money for Windows...

2. Which version is the same as Windows XP Pro?

None! Vista Home Premium has most, but not Remote Desktop or Join a Windows Sever network (Domain). Vista Ultimate has it, but you get BitLocker too and the Extras, again your Cost is really high. The Business version allows you to do this, minus the entertainment stuff. Not many people are happy about having to get an Affordable Home Premium, or a expensive Ultimate.

3. What is required for a upgrade version?

Windows 2000 or XP only!

3.1 Can I do a Clean Install?

You need to have a previous version of WIndows installed for a clean install. Again, lots of people not happy about this. Here is a work around. At least for now.

4. Does the Family Pricing work with Ultimate Upgrade? and how much?

No it does not. You need to get the full version. Price is $50 per PC up to 2 additional PC's. (#4 I found off the web.)

Updated: 4/1/07 12:10p EST

Microsoft to offer Windows Vista online - Yahoo! News

ericvogel — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:37:26 GMT

Microsoft Corp. will make its new Windows Vista operating system available for sale and download online, marking a new step for the software company, which has previously sold Windows only on packaged discs or pre-loaded on computers.

Source: Microsoft to offer Windows Vista online - Yahoo! News

I think this is a smart move, since people have busy lives. I have been able to obtain corporate software electronically instead of waiting for the CD to come in for Symantec/Vertas and GFI. (Note, most retail stores do not sell corporate licensing that you can go in and buy and walk out. Also, too this brings in the mileage and time of an employee to but the product.)

Microsoft to Lock Pirates Out of Vista

ericvogel — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 13:53:46 GMT

Microsoft said Wednesday that it plans to clamp down hard on pirates of its next-generation operating systems, crippling both Windows Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn" if users fail to activate their copies within 30 days....
http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_to_Lock_Pirates_Out_of_Vista/1159977311

Windows Vista RC1 Open to Public

ericvogel — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 13:50:15 GMT

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/def...

Gates: 20 Percent Chance of Vista Delay

ericvogel — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 14:30:41 GMT

Speaking at a forum in South Africa regarding a plan for Microsoft to make major technology investments in the country, Bill Gates said there was an "80 percent chance" Windows Vista would by ready for its planned January launch. He also had no qualms about delaying the OS further if necessary. http://www.betanews.com/article/Gates_20_Percent_Chance_of_Vista_Delay/1152635235

Want to Test Vista? Better Act Fast

ericvogel — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 13:05:00 GMT

Microsoft UK .NET platform product manager Ian Moulster wrote in a post to his personal Web log that the company will cut access to Windows Vista Beta 2 on Friday, as the company has reached the number of testers it was looking to give access to through its Customer Preview Program.
http://www.betanews.com/article/Want_to_Test_Vista_Better_Act_Fast/1151608172

Microsoft: No PC-to-PC Sync in Vista

ericvogel — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 19:20:29 GMT

In the seemingly never-ending list of features to be stripped from Windows Vista, yet another has fallen by the wayside. Microsoft made a decision to remove PC-to-PC synchronization from Windows Vista, Microsoft Watch reported on Wednesday. http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_No_PCtoPC_Sync_in_Vista/1149785713

Windows Vista Customer Preview now avalable!

ericvogel — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 19:17:36 GMT

Both 32-bit and 64-bit. The website will also explain whats new in this wonderful new OS from Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/default.mspx

Free Antivirus Offered to Vista Testers

ericvogel — Wed, 31 May 2006 13:43:00 GMT

http://www.betanews.com/article/Free_Antivirus_Offered_to_Vista_Testers/1148668916

Note it seems it is for 32-bit Vista only.

Windows Sidebar Gallery Launches

ericvogel — Wed, 31 May 2006 13:25:00 GMT

Get some gadgets for Vista Sidbar. Not much of intrest up there right now. But over time, I am sure there will be some great ones.

http://www.betanews.com/article/Windows_Sidebar_Gallery_Launches/1149015362