I am Microsoftie 4 ever (15+ years) working in Windows Services and Content team in the UK, my blog is mainly focused on the Windows family of products and trying to provide help pointers and resources for customers on our products.
Just a quick shout out to this new blog The Blue E which is the
“Official UK blog for Internet Explorer”
I am really looking forward to exactly what the “off-the-wall take on the world of technology” looks like.
If you are looking for how to get the most out of Internet Explorer then look here
thanks to @gilly2468 for spotting this and of course you can follow @TheBigBlueE on Twitter
Rob
So if you are running either Windows Vista with no service packs or Windows XP with SP2 then read on.
Support for Windows Vista without any service packs will end on April 13, 2010.
Support for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) will end on July 13, 2010.
If you're running one of these versions after support ends, you won't get security updates for Windows.
“An unsupported version of Windows will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update. These include security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, which can steal your personal information. Windows Update also installs the latest software updates to improve the reliability of Windows—new drivers for your hardware and more” read more
For more info see End of support for Windows XP with Service Pack (SP2) and Windows Vista without service packs which has information about how you can help you find out what you are running
I highly recommend that you should always install the latest service packs from Microsoft for your version of Windows. You can download and install these through Windows Update.
For information about using Windows Update in Windows XP, see Stay up to date automatically.
For information about using Windows Update in Windows Vista, see Install Windows updates.
For information about using Windows Update in Windows 7, see Install Windows updates.
If you are receiving error 80070490 with Windows update in Windows Vista
“…it means that a file (CBS Manifest) that's needed to install updates is corrupt. To correct this problem, you'll need to repair Windows. Repairing Windows won't damage your personal files or the programs that are installed on your computer.”
Read more at Windows Update error 80070490
It is possible you will need to repair windows and you can read more about system repair and recovery at our portal
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/help/system-repair-recovery
You may have heard a lot about the up coming Browser Choice update where users of Internet Explorer within the EU will get a choice of browser to install
“After downloading the update and restarting your computer, you'll automatically be shown the Browser Choice screen, and you can then select and install the browsers you want to use. (If the Browser Choice screen doesn't automatically appear when your computer restarts, you can double-click the Browser Choice shortcut on the desktop to select and install web browsers.) :”
Read more at What is the Browser Choice update? - Microsoft Windows
Pretty powerful statement that.
“It is estimated that every 14 days a language dies”
Which is why I am really proud of what Microsoft is doing with our Local language program (LLP). Read the full press release below.
More Than 1 Billion Speakers of Endangered Languages Get Access to Technology: Microsoft Local Language Program announces new initiatives to provide technology access, helping to grow local economies.
Some other quotes I love from this press release.
“Beyond providing fully localized versions of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office in nearly 40 languages, Microsoft currently supports 95 languages through the LLP. More than 1 billion people speak the languages that are supported by this program”
Microsoft announcing…
“…Fifty-nine new Language Interface Packs (LIPs) for both Windows 7 and Office 2010 “
and
“ In essence, Microsoft’s Local Language Program helps emerging markets build a stronger work force and ultimately better prepares employees to help grow local economies. “
““Two dozen language hot spots, which contain the greatest diversity and most endangered languages, have now been identified globally. Microsoft’s Local Language Program — which provides an interface for nearly 100 emerging languages, including Maori, Welsh and Inuktitut — seeds future innovation,” said Professor K. David Harrison”
I try and keep an updated set of links for when we release new Language Interface Packs (LIPs) and you can access them at http://blogs.msdn.com/robmar/archive/tags/Language+Interface+packs/default.aspx
So if you are seeing time-out problems with burning DVD-R Dual Layer discs in Windows 7 (or Windows Server 2008 R2) then maybe this hotfix can help you.
The burning operation fails with a time-out error when you try to burn files to a DVD-R Dual Layer disc in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
Please read all the info before proceeding and it is important to know that:
If you want to make your won own Windows 7 theme pack it is really easy just check out this video tutorial
Online threats today come in the form of attacks on you and attacks on your computer. Here are eight tips for you to have a safer online shopping experience with Internet Explorer 8.
Internet Explorer 8: Safer online shopping
Download Internet Explorer
If you are getting a black screen when you start your Windows 7 PC then the following new Windows Help article may be of use. It discusses some of the possible causes and solutions to the problem.
Why is my screen black when I start Windows 7?
“Video adapter problems are the most common cause of this issue. First, try to find out if there's a problem with the cables you're using or the way they're connected. If you have an alternate way of connecting your monitor to your PC, try it. For example, if your monitor is connected using a HDMI connector, try disconnecting it and then connecting with a DVI or VGA connector instead.”
We have 3 new Windows help videos up on the Windows website
“This video shows you how to stream music around your home using Windows Media Player in Windows 7. “
“This video shows you how to restore your pc after a hard drive failure (using system image backup)”
“This video shows how to make a greeting card using Paint.”