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.
Diagnose and repair common USB issues automatically. Examples would be thumb drives, USB hard drives, and USB printers with the following Microsoft Fixit
http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Windows_USB_diagnostics/en-us
Get more help for USB Devices:
Rob
Windows 8 Consumer Preview and Windows Server 8 Beta Compatibility Cookbook
“This document provides information about changes to and new features of the Windows® 8 client and server operating systems. It provides guidelines for developers to verify the compatibility of their existing and planned programs with the new operating systems. It assumes that the reader is familiar with previous versions of Windows.”
Find out more about :
Windows 8 Consumer Preview
Windows 8 Consumer Preview:Frequently asked questions
Windows 8 Consumer Preview forum
Having had the chance to try one of these great devices it is even better with Windows 8 Customer Preview, and Samsung have just released a handy guide on Installing Microsoft Windows 8 Customer Preview on the Samsung Series 7 Slate PC as well as all the info on how to back up and restore and firmware and various drivers you will need.
This Is Not a movie you watch
This is not a comic you read
this is not a Game you Play
YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO HELP SHAPE THE STORY AS BRANDON'S RANDOM ADVENTURES UNFOLD
COMING THIS APRIL…
The Random Adventures of Brandon Generator
Download Windows Media Components for QuickTime
“With Windows Media® for QuickTime, by Flip4Mac™, you can play Windows Media files (.wma and .wmv) directly in QuickTime Player and view Windows Media content on the Internet using a Web browser. Optimized for High-Definition Playback: Windows Media® Components for QuickTime has been highly optimized for Power Mac G4 and G5 and Intel computers and supports playback of high-definition Windows Media video files. Upgrade to Advanced Features: Windows Media playback is provided for free. By upgrading, you can import Windows Media files for editing and create Windows Media files for distribution. To learn more about these advanced features, visit the Flip4Mac Web site.
Watch this video to learn how to change common settings in Windows 7
“New to Windows 7? Even though there’s a lot in common with the version of Windows that you had before, you might still need a hand getting up to speed. This guide is filled with useful info about changing settings in Windows so it works the way you want it to, and info about tools you can use to keep Windows running smoothly. “
The video covers a wide range of topics including
Also check out our handy printable guide that compliments the video
Printable guide: XPS PDF
Get more Help for Windows 7
Kinect: Disneyland Adventures theme
“Bring the magic of Disneyland to your desktop with this new theme based on Kinect: Disneyland Adventures. Many favorite characters, old and new, appear in fantastical scenes that will have you whistling while you work! A free theme for Windows 7.”
Download Kinect: Disneyland Adventures theme
Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure theme
“Bring the fun of many favorite Pixar scenes and characters to your Windows 7 desktop with this free theme based on the new game Kinect Rush: A Disney•Pixar Adventure”
Download Kinect Rush: A Disney•Pixar Adventure theme
Microsoft Flight: Hawaiian Adventure theme
“Adorn your desktop with scenes of aerial adventure. Take to the skies over Hawaii with this visually stunning theme based on Microsoft Flight. A free theme for Windows 7. “
Download Microsoft Flight: Hawaiian Adventure theme
PS don’t forget all Windows 7 themes work on Windows 8 as well
Watch this video to learn how BitLocker can help keep your data safe
“How can you help protect your data from loss, theft, or hackers? The answer: BitLocker. Improved for Windows 7 and available in the Ultimate and Enterprise editions, BitLocker helps keep everything from documents to passwords safer by encrypting the entire drive that Windows and your data reside on. Once BitLocker is turned on, any file you save on that drive is encrypted automatically. BitLocker To Go—a new feature of Windows 7—gives the lockdown treatment to easily-misplaced portable storage devices like USB flash drives and external hard drives.”
“How can you help protect your data from loss, theft, or hackers? The answer: BitLocker.
Improved for Windows 7 and available in the Ultimate and Enterprise editions, BitLocker helps keep everything from documents to passwords safer by encrypting the entire drive that Windows and your data reside on. Once BitLocker is turned on, any file you save on that drive is encrypted automatically.
BitLocker To Go—a new feature of Windows 7—gives the lockdown treatment to easily-misplaced portable storage devices like USB flash drives and external hard drives.”
What is encryption?
Set up your hard disk for BitLocker
Help protect your files using BitLocker
Really useful app if you are looking for some English to Chinese translations
Bing dictionary app
“Bing Dictionary Windows Phone version is published by Microsoft. It supports Local/Online dictionary look up, particularly nice features like Smart Index, Search Suggestions and more. • Local/Online dictionary: Local dictionary contains 100,000 most-frequently-used English and Chinese words. Online dictionary provides more words, sentences and voice. • Smart Index: Creative Smart Index matches incomplete words and their inflections. Quick-definition is also provided for convenience. Try to input ”better”? • Click-to-Lookup: Don’t like keyboard on phone? Try two clicks to start a new search: first click a word in definitions or sentences, then click the search button. • Search Suggestion: uncertain of spelling? Online dictionary provides search candidates of similar spelling or pronunciation to your input. • Machine Translate: online dictionary mode supports machine translation. Input a long sentence to try the latest Microsoft translation engine between Chinese and English. • Themes and Fonts: UI themes, Chinese or English user interface, and different font sizes for comfortable reading experience. • Search history: save your history for recent queries, easily review and traffic-saving”
“New to Windows 7? Even though there’s a lot in common with the version of Windows that you had before, you might still need a hand getting up to speed.”
Finding your files in Windows 7
We also have these very useful Printable guides: XPS PDF
Find a file or folder
Working with files and folders
Working with libraries
Managing your documents
Windows 7 Search