Month: October 2010

[Download] Windows Update KB2388210 For Application Compatibility Issues

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Windows Update

Microsoft has released a new update Application Compatibility Update KB2388210 (for October 2010) to address various known application compatibility issues that users experience in Windows XP Pro x64, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Embedded Standard 7, Windows Server 2008 R2.

The update KB2388210 resolves the compatibility issues like “The application is installed incorrectly”, “The application causes system instability”, “The functions of the application do not work correctly”..etc. When you see these sort of alerts too frequently, it’s high time that you should install this update.

Download the appropriate update file from the direct download links given in the table below and install them to resolve the compatibility issues with games, applications and firmware etc.

Download Links:

OS x86 x64
Windows 7 download (2.7 MB) download (2.8 MB)
Windows Vista download (3.4 MB) download (4.0 MB)
Windows XP download download (1.8 MB)
Windows Embedded Standard 7 download (2.7 MB) download (2.8 MB)

[Download] Windows 7 SP1 Release Candidate

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Windows 7 SP1

Microsoft has released the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Release Candidate to testers, available as a free download from Microsoft website. Microsoft initially released the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta(update KB976932) in July 2010. With the release of the Release Candidate (RC), Microsoft is gearing up for the final release of the Windows 7 SP1 which is expected to happen somewhere during the beginning of 2011. Now that the Release Candidates for both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 are available for download, those who have already installed the beta versions of the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 must uninstall the same before going ahead with installing the SP1 RC. Please note that you must have an RTM (Release To Manufacturing) version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 installed on your PC before you can install the Release Candidate.

The Release Candidate includes the previous updates that are delivered via Windows Update along with continual updates to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system platforms.

Windows 7 sp1 download

The download size for Windows 7 SP1 RC  (build version 976932) for 32-bit version is 514.7 MB (windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe), where as it is 865.4 MB for the 64-bit version (windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe) of the OS. You need to validate your Windows before you can proceed to the download page.

Download Windows 7and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RC

[Download] Cumulative Update For Media Center For Windows 7- KB2284742

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Windows Update

A new October 2010 Cumulative Update for Windows Media Center in Windows 7 (KB2284742) has been released by Microsoft. The update rollup addresses various issues related to Windows Media Center in Windows 7.

This October 2010 Cumulative Update resolves the following issues in Windows 7’s Windows Media Center:

  • Scheduling performance issue
  • Issues in Dr Watson, occurring in some upgrade scenarios resulting a program crash when you try to open the Windows Media Center
  • Another significant issue in Dr Watson occurring during a typical database maintenance process, finally resulting in the Mcupdate.exe crash.

This update applies to all the Windows 7 editions i.e, Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprises and Ultimate. This update also includes some of the previous related updates released by Microsoft, including KB981078, KB977863, KB981129, KB981130 and a Hotfix KB2266287.

Download:

Download the update package KB2284742 from the links below. The file size of this update package is approximately 5.1 MB and 6.3 MB respectively for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Windows 7 32-bit versions

Windows 7 64-bit versions

[Download] VLC Media Player For iPhone & iPod Touch

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VLC media player for iPhone and iPod

Not too long ago, we had written about the VLC Media Player iPad app being available for download. The app has now been upgraded to support the iPhone (iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS) and iPod touch devices besides the iPad. The updated version 1.1.0 adds native support to delete files from within the VLC player application without needing to go through iTunes. Other minor upgrades to the app include recognition for more extensions and faster decoding for the media files. While there are some issues reported already, it can play wider range of video format files on the iPhone.

VLC media player for iPhone screenshot

The VLC Media Player is available as a free app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad running iOS 3.2 or later versions from the iTunes app store (link added below).

Download VLC Media Player App Version 1.1.0 [From iTunes App Store]

Google’s Spam Report Extension For Chrome

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Google chrome extensions logo

Now you can improve the search results in Google more easily by reporting spam websites to Google by installing the newly released “Google Webspam Report” extension in your Google Chrome browser. While Google folks are very proud that they have released such an useful extension for the users, the majority on the users front are of the opinion that Google should release such an add-on for the Firefox browser too (including me Smile).

The extension is considered as a pretty useful for the most webmasters and Google users, who really hate the spam websites on the internet. Of course, you can report any website for spam from this page include within the Google webmaster tools. You need to be logged into your Google account to report the sites for spam (both via the extension and via the GWT).

Google report spam in search results

Upon installing this extension, will add a “Report spam” link beneath the all the pages in the search results.  Clicking on which will directly take you to Spam report form.

Google spam report form

Install Google Webspam Report in Chrome.

[How To] Remove “Libraries” From Windows 7 Navigation Pane

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As part of tweaking the Navigation pane in Windows 7 explorer series, we have already discussed about removing “Favorites” from the windows explorer navigation pane. If you don’t use the “Libraries” much, you might also want to hide this from showing up. Now let’s look into how to remove “Libraries” from the windows 7 explorer.

Libraries in windows 7 navigation pane

Method-I

Steps:

1. Press Start button + R to open the run command bar. Type “regedit” in the filed and hit enter to open the registry editor.

regedit run command

2. Navigate to the following address in the Registry Editor.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4DC3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder

ShellFolder for libraries in registry editor

3. You need special permissions to change the values inside this folder. To get permissions, right-click on the “ShellFolder” and click Permissions.

ShellFolder permissions for libraries reg entries

4. In the next step, check under the Allow option right next to Full Control for the user name “Administrators”. Click OK to close the window and you would be back in your Registry Editor.

ShellFolder permissions options

5. Double click on the Attributes registry DWORD.

Attributes reg values in libraries shellfolder

6. Change its value data from the default b080010d to a new value: b090010d.

Attributes reg values shellfolder default Dword

Attributes reg values shellfolder new Dword

7. Click OK to save the changes and close the Registry Editor.

8. Open the Task Manager, go to Processes tab, end the process explorer.exe. All your active explorer windows will now be closed.

End process explorer in task manager

9. Go to File > New Task (Run..) in the Task Manager and type explorer to run the explorer.exe again.

New task from Task manager

Now you would find that the “Libraries” link from the Navigation pane disappeared as shown.

Navigation pane without libraries

If you want to get it back, just go back to the step 6 and change the value data back to the default b080010d .

Method II: The Easy Way

If you don’t want to go through all the above hassles, we have a much simpler solution for you. Just download the following file:

Disable Libraries In Explorer

Once you download the above .reg file, right-click on it and choose “merge” and that’s it, restart the explorer by following the step 8 and step 9 and you will no longer see the Libraries in the Navigation pane.

To get back the Libraries into your Windows 7 explorer, download the following file,

Enable Libraries In Explorer

Right-click on it and select merge. The Libraries will again start to appear once you restart the explorer.

[How To] Remove Favorites From Windows 7 Explorer

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Windows 7 Navigation pane shows Favorites folder, which contains links to your favorite folders on the computer. You can add any folder to the Favorites simply by dragging the folder to the Favorites in the Windows 7 explorer or even by placing the shortcut to that particular folder in the following locations:

C:\Users\(Username)\Links

favories links folder

However, if you don’t use them much, you might want to remove this from the Windows Explorer.

Steps:

1. Press Start button + R to open the run dialog box. Type “regedit” in the text filed and press OK to open the Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to the following path in the Registry Editor:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\ShellFolder

3. Right-click on “ShellFolder” and select Permissions [Since you need special permissions to change the DWORD value of “Attributes”].

ShellFolder permissions

4. A new window will open up. Select Administrators from the user names and check against the Allow option on the right to the Full Control click OK to apply changes and close the window.

ShellFolder permissions options

5. Double click on the Attributes and change the Value data field to a9400100 from the default value of a0900100.

Modifying DWORD value to remove Favorites from Windows 7

6. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

7. Restart the Windows Explorer (Go to Task Manager, end explorer.exe, then go to File > New Task, type explorer and click OK).You should now see the change, the “Favorites” in Navigation pane would disappear from the explorer.

Favorites disabled in Windows 7 navigation pane

If you want to get “Favorites” back, just go back to the step 5 and change the DWORD value data back to a0900100.

Related: You might also want to disable the entire Navigation pane in Windows 7 explorer.

[Download] Microsoft Messenger For Mac 8

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Micorsoft Messenger for mac 8

Microsoft Messenger For Mac 8 beta has been released and is now available as free download. Microsoft Messenger is the Mac version of the Windows Live Messenger. Microsoft Messenger for Mac 8 offers Skype-like free PC-to-PC calls, real time collaboration between people besides offering the classic instant messaging between your contacts.

Microsoft messenger for mac download

You can use this messenger by signing in with any of the Microsoft Windows Live IDs that end with “@live.com”, “@hotnail.com”, or “@msn.com” accounts and other such accounts that are registered using the Windows Live service.

The download file for Apple Mac OS X (Messenger8.0_ALL.dmg) is 24.3 MB in size and can be downloaded from the direct download link given below. To use the video calling features, you must have a built-in webcams like Apple iSight webcam or any other external webcam connected to your Mac.

Download Microsoft Messenger for Mac 8 Beta (Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later versions )

[How To] Enable Or Disable Navigation Pane In Windows 7

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Windows explorer in Windows 7 looks great, showing the drives and other devices on the most prominent right side pane and quick links to important locations on your computer in a relatively thinner pane, known as “Navigation Pane”. This Navigation Pane contains the following icons in general:

  • Favorites
  • Libraries
  • Homegroup
  • Computer
  • Network

Navigation pane in windows 7

While it is highly handy to have quick access to different locations through this navigation pane, there are few people who might like the Windows 95 version of the Windows Explorer, where we don’t have such a pane in the left sidebar. Follow the steps mentioned below to disable or enable the navigation pane in your Windows 7.

Steps:

1. Open any Windows explorer window (or use Start button + E shortcut).

2. Click on Organize dropdown menu button. Expand “Layout” options as shown:

Organize options

3. To disable the Navigation pane, deselect the “Navigation pane” option from the list as shown:

Navigation pane option deselected

4. And once you have done that, the Windows 7 Navigation pane would be disabled (or hidden):

Navigation Pane Disabled

To enable the Navigation pane again, just check the “Navigation pane” option in the step 3.

[How To] Change Fonts In Windows 7

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Change windows 7 fonts

Windows 7 lets you change the font in any part of Windows including menus, Active Title Bar, Icon, Inactive Title Bar, Message Box, Palette Title, Desktop, Selected Items etc. Please note that changing these Windows fonts doesn’t change any program fonts, which means that these are the settings for changing the outer view of any program window rather than the look that we see inside the program which depends on the fonts and styles adopted for that particular program.

Follow these steps to change the default Windows 7 fonts

Steps:

1. Go to Start menu and type “window colors” in the search box:

Window colors start menu search

2. Click on “Change window colors and metrics” link from the search results in “Control Panel” section:

change window colors start menu search result

3. A new “Window Color and Appearance” window opens up *:

window color and appearance

4. Choose the part of the Windows for which you want to change fonts in the Item list.

Items list in window colors

Once you select the item from the list, you will be able to change its fonts and color settings:

Window colors & fonts change

You can change the fonts parameters like the font type, size of the font, color etc.

Click on B icon to make the font bold or click on I icon to italicize the font as shown:

Repeat these steps for each item in the list for which you want to make changes.

Window fonts bold and italic

5. Click OK to apply the changes and close the window.

You are done!

[*] Alternatively, you can launch the Window color and Appearance settings from these steps:

Right-click on vacant space on the desktop and select Personalize.

Personalize in desktop context menu

Click on the Window Color link found at the bottom of the Personalization window.

Windows color link

windows color appearance window

It will open the same Window Color and Appearance Settings window as shown in the step 3.