I am Microsoftie 4 ever (18+ 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.
You can find lots of fun, useful, eye-catching, and (best of all) free desktop gadgets, themes, and backgrounds (wallpapers) for Windows 7 in the Personalization Gallery. But that's just a selection of the most highly-rated and top-downloaded gadgets—you can download thousands more desktop and SideShow gadgets in the Windows Live Gallery—including stock market tickers, RSS readers, and weather and temperature gadgets.
You'll also find currency calculators, notepads, sticky notes, calendars, clocks, timers, countdown and alarm gadgets, and useful system tools such as CPU meters and battery monitors.
Not to mention reference tools (like dictionary gadgets) and gadgets that integrate with popular programs or websites, like Outlook, Facebook, iTunes, Pandora, and Gmail. To find these and many more, visit the Windows Live Gallery.
Looking for gadgets? - Downloads - Microsoft Windows
Rob
18 Wonderful images from bing Japan in this themepack for Windows 7
Don’t forget to check out the other bing Themepack
If you are looking for a fix for the widely reported security issue a via malicious USB drive, or remotely via network shares and WebDAV then check out the link below.
Microsoft Security Advisory: Vulnerability in Windows Shell could allow remote code execution
“To implement the workaround that disables .LNK and .PIF file functionality automatically on a computer that is running Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, or Windows Server R2 click the Fix this problem link under Enable workaround. To undo the workaround, click the Fix this problem link under Disable workaround. In either scenario, click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard. NOTE: Applying the Fix it will require a restart of the machine. The installation of the Fix it will prompt the user before restarting the system. Enterprise deployments allows for unattended install with the following Display options”
Please do read the entire advisory as there is alot of information in there that you need to read before applying the fix it.
For more info as well check out http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2286198.mspx
As always keep you anti-virus software up todate to help ward off any known issues.
10 images of wolves available in this latest Windows 7 theme available form the Windows 7 theme gallery
http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/5/f/35FE6267-34F0-4487-904C-484C63956D93/Wolves.themepack
“Windows 7 is faster, more efficient and more fun”
Windows XP vs. Windows 7 - Help & How-to - Microsoft Windows
For more information On Windows 7 Vs Windows Vista VS Windows XP try this handy compare page
Get 14 colourful images in the latest Windows 7 Themepack Colors of India with pictures from around India
Download Colors of India Windows 7 theme
Thanks to the Windows Club for the reminder
So as well as all the wonderful bing Windows 7 Themes (Bings Best 1, 2, 3 and Japan) there is also the Bing screensaver which has 20 Wonderful images that are shown when your computer has been locked or is not in use.
Bing Screensaver - Discover Bing
Learn more about changing your screensaver
rob
Well this KB is new to me, but worth pointing out anyway especially if you have a solid colour as your desktop background.
The Welcome screen may be displayed for 30 seconds during the logon process after you set a solid color as the desktop background in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
Applicable to Windows server 2008 R2 as well.
Of course solid coloured backgrounds are boring so go get yourself a cool Windows 7 theme or background image.
For more information on speeding up your computer try the following.
Originally spotted on Softpedia
Following on from the cool NASA Hidden Universe Theme is a new theme from NASA called Spacescapes
Roam the far corners of the universe—distant galaxies, dying stars, and the echoes of the Big Bang—with this NASA theme for Windows 7.
NASA Spacescapes
Which has amazing pictures from across the universe, download it from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/downloads/nasa-spacescapes .
From http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/evalcenter/ff384134.aspx
Q. What is Windows 7 SP1? A. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is an update for consumers and IT Pros that helps keep your PCs supported, provides ongoing improvement to the operating system, by including previous updates delivered over Windows Update as well as continuing incremental updates to the Windows 7 platform based on customer and partner feedback, and is easy for organization to deploy a single set of updates. Q: What is Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1? A: Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 is an update for enterprises and IT Professionals that includes virtualization enhancements, previous improvements delivered via Windows Update, and addresses feedback from customers. Q. What are the system requirements for the Service Pack 1 beta? A. Your current operating system must be the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 (build 7600). Q. Can I install the beta on an evaluation version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2? A. Yes. The beta of SP1 can install on RTM evaluation versions of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Q: When will SP1 be released? A: Service Pack 1 will be released within the first half of calendar year 2011. Q: Who should download and install the Service Pack public beta, when it’s available? A: The public beta is best suited for IT Pros and developers who need to test the service pack in their organization or with the software they are developing. The ISO download for Windows 7 SP1 will contain both 32 and 64 bit versions. The final release of Service Pack 1 will be available through Windows Update for consumers when it is ready. Q: Should customers who are considering deploying Windows 7 wait for SP1? A: No. Windows 7 is a high quality release and provides many benefits to consumers and businesses alike. SP1 will include all updates previously available to Windows 7 users through Windows Update, so there is no reason to wait or delay their use of Windows 7. Q. Can I upgrade from the beta builds to the final build of SP1? A. No. You will have to uninstall the Service Pack or do a clean install of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. Q. Will there be a slipstream build of SP1 beta? A. No. The beta will only be available as the Service Pack update itself. You will need to have a Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 to install the beta of the Service Pack. Q. What languages will be released at beta? A. For beta, we will release English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Q. Will I be able to uninstall the service pack beta? A. Yes, you will be able to uninstall the service pack beta if you need to. Please Note, it is always a best practice to back up your data prior to installing any beta software. Q. Will the beta stop functioning after a certain amount of time? A. Yes. You will be reminded beginning March 30, 2011. The beta will expire on June 30, 2011. You will have to upgrade to a newer build or uninstall and return to the RTM build by that time. Q: What other improvements are included in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 besides the virtualization enhancements? A: Please see the Notable Changes document for detail on the additional improvements in SP1. Q: Is RemoteFX different than Remote Desktop Services? How do they integrate? A: RemoteFX describes a set of rich media capabilities that are available to customers using the Remote Desktop Services platform to deploy a virtual machine- or session-based remote desktop infrastructure. Specifically, RemoteFX enhances the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) in Remote Desktop Services, so that remote workers can access any type of application or screen content, including rich media and 3D applications, improving end user productivity. Q: Will Dynamic Memory be available on Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2? A: Yes.
Q. What is Windows 7 SP1? A. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is an update for consumers and IT Pros that helps keep your PCs supported, provides ongoing improvement to the operating system, by including previous updates delivered over Windows Update as well as continuing incremental updates to the Windows 7 platform based on customer and partner feedback, and is easy for organization to deploy a single set of updates.
Q: What is Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1? A: Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 is an update for enterprises and IT Professionals that includes virtualization enhancements, previous improvements delivered via Windows Update, and addresses feedback from customers.
Q. What are the system requirements for the Service Pack 1 beta? A. Your current operating system must be the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 (build 7600).
Q. Can I install the beta on an evaluation version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2? A. Yes. The beta of SP1 can install on RTM evaluation versions of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
Q: When will SP1 be released? A: Service Pack 1 will be released within the first half of calendar year 2011.
Q: Who should download and install the Service Pack public beta, when it’s available? A: The public beta is best suited for IT Pros and developers who need to test the service pack in their organization or with the software they are developing. The ISO download for Windows 7 SP1 will contain both 32 and 64 bit versions. The final release of Service Pack 1 will be available through Windows Update for consumers when it is ready.
Q: Should customers who are considering deploying Windows 7 wait for SP1? A: No. Windows 7 is a high quality release and provides many benefits to consumers and businesses alike. SP1 will include all updates previously available to Windows 7 users through Windows Update, so there is no reason to wait or delay their use of Windows 7.
Q. Can I upgrade from the beta builds to the final build of SP1? A. No. You will have to uninstall the Service Pack or do a clean install of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
Q. Will there be a slipstream build of SP1 beta? A. No. The beta will only be available as the Service Pack update itself. You will need to have a Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 to install the beta of the Service Pack.
Q. What languages will be released at beta? A. For beta, we will release English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.
Q. Will I be able to uninstall the service pack beta? A. Yes, you will be able to uninstall the service pack beta if you need to.
Please Note, it is always a best practice to back up your data prior to installing any beta software.
Q. Will the beta stop functioning after a certain amount of time? A. Yes. You will be reminded beginning March 30, 2011. The beta will expire on June 30, 2011. You will have to upgrade to a newer build or uninstall and return to the RTM build by that time.
Q: What other improvements are included in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 besides the virtualization enhancements? A: Please see the Notable Changes document for detail on the additional improvements in SP1.
Q: Is RemoteFX different than Remote Desktop Services? How do they integrate? A: RemoteFX describes a set of rich media capabilities that are available to customers using the Remote Desktop Services platform to deploy a virtual machine- or session-based remote desktop infrastructure. Specifically, RemoteFX enhances the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) in Remote Desktop Services, so that remote workers can access any type of application or screen content, including rich media and 3D applications, improving end user productivity.
Q: Will Dynamic Memory be available on Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2? A: Yes.
and also don’t forget the 4 Windows Help articles we have about Windows 7 SP1
No formal product support is available from Microsoft for this beta product. To discuss issues about Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2, visit the following TechNet website:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproSP/threads