Channel 9 - Entries tagged with XP

Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 Goes RTM

Sarah Perez — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:36:00 GMT

Windows XP Mode just hit RTM status this week and will be made available for download later this month in its final version. Once installed, this optional Windows 7 feature will let anyone run their XP-only applications which wouldn’t otherwise work on the new operating system. Designed primarily for small businesses who sometimes run mission-critical apps that are not updated to work with new versions of Windows, XP Mode adds a virtualization layer comprised of the Windows Virtual PC engine a licensed copy of Windows XP Service Pack 3 running as a virtual machine, both of which will be made available for download. Larger businesses will likely use MED-V which will offer XP Mode in its new version due to be released in beta 90 days after the Windows 7 public release.

Programs running in XP Mode will can be launched right from the Windows 7 desktop and even integrate with Windows 7 features like the Taskbar’s “jump lists” which show recently used files and common tasks. In order for XP Mode to run, PCs are required to have at least 2 GB of memory and a system that has chip-level virtualization from either Intel or AMD.

Filter Pack For Windows Search

Sarah Perez — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:28:00 GMT

I had been using the latest and greatest search tool for my XP PC, Windows Search 4.0, but somehow I had missed this: the Filter Pack for searching in Office documents. With the the Microsoft Filter Pack installed, Windows Search 4.0 is able to search within Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office 2007 documents based on the text they contain. It also works for Vista too, adding new search capabilities which can be accessed right from Vista’s search bar. Now when you do a search, the Windows indexing service doesn’t just search for file names but also knows what’s in the files themselves, and that makes finding the right file so much easier.

IT admins will want to read further instructions found on the download page about how the new Filter pack can be installed into Exchange, SharePoint, SQL Server, and other Server products. The Filter Pack also works on Windows Server 2003, Vista, and XP. You can download it from here.

UltraExplorer, An Awesome Alternative to Windows Explorer

Sarah Perez — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:51:00 GMT

This weekend, I decided to look for an alternative to Windows Explorer. Although Windows Explorer gets the job done, there’s just a lot that it doesn’t do that I wish it would, and frankly, I miss XP’s version. Well, now, I have it back and then some! That’s one of the great things about Windows actually – you don’t have to be stuck with the way things come out of the box. If you don’t like something, you have the power to change it. Tweak, customize, download new software, whatever – you can really make Windows your own.

I decided to go on the hunt for a new version of Explorer. I heard a rumor someone out there is creating an XP version of Windows Explorer for Vista users, but I couldn’t find it. (If you know, please leave a comment! The closest I found was Explorer XP, which is similar, but not the same.)

Instead, I found something nearly as good, if not better: UltraExplorer. This alternative Windows Explorer program has it all: a completely customizable interface, tons of configurable toolbars, lots of different views, favorites, a temporary holding area for moving files around called “Drop Stack,” and, of course, the long-lost “up” button. (Don’t tell me about Alt+Up, I know - I want a button!).

Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with the program except that I would like to customize the defaults for the views depending on the folder I’m accessing, and it seems that you can only set defaults for the whole program. However, the app does remember your most recent settings, so this hasn’t been a huge problem.

If you want to try this alternate version of Window Explorer, you can visit the app’s homepage here or download it from Download.com here.

Discovering Great XP and Vista Themes

Sarah Perez — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:57:00 GMT

I was recently stumbled across a link to this XP Zune theme when searching for ways to jazz up my older laptop. I had forgotten, but I used to really love this theme! The theme was sort of a take off on the also awesome “lost” XP theme - Royale Noir, but with a few tweaks. It’s sort of funny to look at this today, nearly two years later, as I’m running Vista. I still have a very similar color scheme going on now – a dark taskbar and Start Menu and a simple background that shows off my widgets and icons (I guess I’m not much for desktop cleanliness after all). The only variation is that I have blue/greenish windows now. Of course, this led me down the path of looking for a way to customize Vista's themes even more. I know Stardock has professional software to do so, but what about a simple free theme? I ended up here where I discovered a whole slew of themes, skins, and wallpapers for Vista, including the sleek and simple Chocolate Theme (pictured). Nice!

Windows Search 4.0 Final Version

Sarah Perez — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:13:00 GMT

Only a few months ago, Microsoft released the Technical Preview of Windows Search 4.0, a new standalone search tool for Windows XP, Vista, and Server 2003. Now, the final version of Windows Search has arrived. It this version, there have been several improvements, including support for indexing encrypted files, reduced effect on Exchange, better performance, per-user Group Policy settings, as well as support for several new Enterprise Group Policy objects that I.T. admins can use when customizing their deployments of Windows Search 4.0 on their company’s computers. To learn more or download the software, go here and choose the right version for your OS.

Cubedesktop

Sarah Perez — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:23:00 GMT

Here's a twist on multiple desktops: software from Cubedesktop increases your working space by offering you a 3D virtual desktop environment. With Cubedesktop, you will have 6 virtual desktops which you can move between in different ways, one of which is a 3D cube. As you move from desktop to desktop, you will see a live preview of what's happening. All the windows update in real time, so you can find just the one you are looking for. Each desktop can be named (like "work," "school," or "fun") and can have its own wallpapers and icon arrangement.

Besides the 3D cube, you can also use features like the "Window Exposer," which tiles the open windows on to your screen, or a simpler Desktop Explorer. The software is available as a free trial for both XP and Vista (does not specify if x64 supported). (via Go2web20)

Need More HDD Space? Try Disk Cleanup!

Nic Fillingham — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:04:00 GMT

Most of you have probably used this tool before. It's been around for a while and pops up automatically if your C drive starts to get low on free space. If you see this prompt It's usually a good idea to run the tool as it generally means you have less than a few hundred MB's free.

The Disk Cleanup tool helps you find and delete unnecessary or optional files and folder from your hard drive(s) like internet cache (aka Temporary Internet Files), redundant files from software installations and error reports.

I noticed that the free space on my C: drive was getting low this morning so I ran the tool and found a whopping 7.77GB of temp files and error reports clogging up the pipes.

To run the tool in Vista click on the Vista jewel (bottom left) or hit the Windows key on your keyboard, type "Disk Cleanup" and hit Enter.

On XP click the Start button, type cleanmgr in the "Run" box and hit Enter.

Want to read more?
Wiki page on the Disk Cleanup tool: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_Cleanup
Overview of the Disk Cleanup tool: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312
How to automate the Disk Cleanup tool: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315246

Humanized reinvents the command line with Enso

JD Lewin — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 23:22:00 GMT

The basic graphical user interface serves well as the standard for computing, for many people taking a hand off the keyboard to operate a pointing device is a productivity killer. The team at Humanized has created a 21st century command line called Enso.

The first two Enso products, a launcher and a universal spell-check, both give you lightning-fast control over your daily tasks by simply typing your commands. For those of you running Vista, the Enso products currently only run on XP, though we have faith in this team to give their power to the people. Also check out Mossberg's WSJ review of Enso for more.