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.
Windows 8 Consumer Preview: Frequently asked questions
From explaining what the Windows 8 Consumer Preview is, to explaining about Apps and the Windows Store as well as Internet Explorer 10, everything is covered in our Windows 8 Consumer Preview FAQ
Learn more about the Windows 8 Consumer Preview
Rob
Download a detailed guide to the new and improved features in Windows 8 including AppLocker, BitLocker, Windows To Go, measured boot, and Client Hyper-V.
Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Business
“The Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Business provides a detailed look at the many new and improved features in Windows 8. The guide is designed as an accurate source of information that can help businesses understand how Windows 8 enables users to be ready and productive practically anywhere, allows for a personalized user experience, and provides IT with more secure, easy-to-manage intelligent infrastructure”
The guide covers 11 topics
Learn more and download the Windows 8 Consumer Preview
Windows 8 Consumer Preview works great on the same hardware that powers Windows 7:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
Graphics card: MicrosoftDirectX 9 graphics device or higher
Additional requirements to use certain features:
To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.
To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768
learn more and download the Windows 8 Consumer Preview
Fix it Center Pro is an automated troubleshooting service from Microsoft. This service can help make it easier to identify solutions to problems with Microsoft applications. Fix it Center Pro can use targeted analysis to scan your system to identify and resolve specific problem areas. In addition, Fix it Center Pro can help find the most suitable content, tools, and forums and help address the symptom that you see. Fix it Center Pro can also help with a troubleshooting task that you are performing through its Guided Search feature.
Microsoft Fix it Center Pro automated diagnostic portal (KB2672837)
Thanks to Steve Justice for the tip
“Lose yourself in a dream world of flowers and leaves: This free Windows 7 theme of photos by Russian photographer Christina Manchenko will illuminate your desktop with vivid colours and delicate details”
Download dream garden theme for Windows 7
Australian Shores theme
“The best of Australian beaches and waterways are on display in this free Windows 7 theme by photographer Anton Gorlin, including alpine lakes, beaches lit up with pastel sunsets, and towering hills of sand under brilliant blue skies. “
Download Australian Shores theme.
Australian Landscapes theme
“Photographer Ian Johnson presents a pastoral paradise in this free theme for Windows 7, with images of lush green fields, peaceful groves of trees, and picturesque remnants of a rustic past. “
Download Australian Landscapes theme
Using the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Error message 0x80070424 when you use Windows Update or Microsoft Update Web sites to install updates, or when you launch Windows Firewall
If that doesn’t work try the following Microsoft Fixit
Or read alternative options to try to fix the problem at KB 968002
The latest 4 pictures in the bing dynamic theme feature Lake Argentino, Winking Bridge, Dicentra and Pygmy sweepers
Argentina, Santa Cruz Province, Glaciers National Park. Aerial view of the coast along Lake Argentino.
Winking Bridge at Dusk, Close Up, Newcastle, England
Dicentra, England. Bleeding heart, Dutchman's trousers (Dicentra spectabilisis a popular and striking flowering shrub and perennial.
Pygmy sweepers (Parapriacanthus ransonneti). Andaman Sea, Thailand.
Get new pictures on your desktop everyday with the Bing dynamic theme for Windows 7
One quick note when you download this theme you will see a message like
make sure you select the Download Attachments option.
With this Microsoft Fixit
Read more at the full KB article (KB2230957)
Error code 0x8007000D when trying to activate a Windows server 2008 or Windows 7 machine using any type of product key.
Get more help for Windows 7
Quite simple when you know how
1. Click the Tools button , point to File, and then click Find on this page.
2. simply press Ctrl +F to get the search dialogue box
3. press ALT to bring up the menu bar and choose Find on the page… from the Edit Menu
Get more help for Internet Explorer