Microsoft have been facing heavy criticism by the Chinese government following their no WGA release late monday that will blackout desktop background after 60 seconds of usage.

In badxp previous post on Windows XP blackout screen with no icons, the same action have been implemented in China, and the Chinese are being offended by the new Microsoft WGA blackout screen. A lawyer wrote in “China Daily” that Microsoft have been considered engaging in an illegal activity within the Chinese law.

Even Cheng Chong, the Director of China’s software trade group, China Software Industry Association (CSIA) make a statement on Monday saying that what Microsoft has done is very offending and the Whole China Industry must take the matter seriously.

Microsoft when contacted still defending their action, saying that their (Microsoft) goal is to help the customers determining whether the software installed in their computer are genuine or not.

See also:

• Windows XP blackout screen with no icons (3)
• Windows XP got extended again (1)
• Using BBlean as an alternative shell for Microsoft Windows XP (2)
• Remove username from Windows XP start menu (0)
• Remove any network printer in Windows XP (2)

It is a well known fact that Microsoft is going to stop distributing Windows XP media to large OEMs on 31 January 2009, but a statement this week by Microsoft said it would extend the deadline to 31 July 2009.

A statement by Microsoft spoke person claimed in an e-mail that the move is designed to help businesses upgrade to Vista painlessly. “As more customers make the move to Windows Vista, we want to make sure that they are making that transition with confidence and that it is as smooth as possible. Providing downgrade media for a few more months is part of that commitment.

I would say that the move to extend Windows XP life is due to the fact of the unpopularity of Vista with businesses. Rumors have it that most major businesses would rather wait for Windows 7 rather than migrate to Windows Vista.

See also:

• Windows XP blackout screen with no icons (3)
• Windows XP blackout screen face heavy criticism in China (1)
• Using BBlean as an alternative shell for Microsoft Windows XP (2)
• Remove username from Windows XP start menu (0)
• Remove any network printer in Windows XP (2)

What are you going to if suddenly your Windows XP going black with no icons visible?

If you are experiencing this after Wednesday, 27th of August 2008, chances are Microsoft have something to do with it. A local newspaper source in Malaysia have reported that starting Wednesday, user of pirated copies of Microsoft Windows XP Professional that are connected to the internet will find their computer displays going black with no icons on the desktop.

You can reset the display properties to normal, but the Windows XP professional display going black will occur every 60 minutes of usage. This will repeteadly happen unless the user of the pirated version of Windows XP Professional register a valid license with Microsoft.

This is indeed quite a harsh move by Microsoft Corp for the WGA campaign. We will just have to wait and see what will happen after this.

See also:

• Windows XP blackout screen face heavy criticism in China (1)
• Windows XP got extended again (1)
• Using BBlean as an alternative shell for Microsoft Windows XP (2)
• Remove username from Windows XP start menu (0)
• Remove any network printer in Windows XP (2)

Do you know that the Windows key that sits between your Ctrl and Alt key when combined with other key will produce shortcuts that will save you a lot of time and increase your productivity.

The windows key, or also known as a Flag key, Start key, or Menu key is originally introduced during the Windows 95 Operating System. With the introduction of Microsoft Windows XP, the Windows key were included in every keyboard manufactured after 1st September 2003, by (you guessed who) Microsoft. And, not to be suprised, Microsoft are pushing that all new keyboard will incorporated the new Windows Vista logo (circle) as the Windows key instead of the traditional Windows key logo.

Back to the usage of Windows Key Shortcuts. Below are the shortcuts that you can use by combining the with Windows key:

• Windows Key to Open the Start Menu
• Windows Key + D to Show Desktop
• Windows Key + E to Open My Computer
• Windows Key + F to Open Search
• Windows Key + F + Control Key to Open Search For Computers program
• Windows Key + F1 to Open Help
• Windows Key + L to Switch Between Users, or Lock desktop while unattended
• Windows Key + M to Minimize All Windows
• Windows Key + M + Shift Key to restore after Minimizing All Windows
• Windows Key + R to Open Run Dialog
• Windows Key + U to open Utility Manager
• Windows Key + Y to Open Yahoo Messenger (if loaded)
• Windows Key + Pause Key To Open System Properties
• Windows Key + Tab Key To Switch Between Active Programs
• Windows Key + X to enter Windows Mobility Center (Windows Vista+ only)
• Windows Key + P to switch Projection modes (clone, extend, single, multiple monitors, etc.) (Windows 7 only)

The usage of Windows Key shortcuts will definitely save you a lot of mouse click if you could master them, and incorporate them in your daily Windows computing.

See also:

• No related posts.

Checkdisk (chkdsk.exe) in Windows 2000 and Windows XP is a useful utility for fixing common disk problem as I’ve explained on my previous post on checkdisk utility. Checkdisk or chkdsk.exe also can be run without booting into Windows XP using Windows XP repair console in Windows XP installation disc.

Using checkdisk or chkdsk.exe will prove to useful when Windows XP cannot boot into normal mode because of common disk error in the Windows system file. Usually this common disk error can be fixed using checkdisk or chkdsk.exe.

To use checkdisk or chkdsk.exe using Windows repair console in Windows XP installation CD without booting into Windows:

1. Insert Windows XP installation CD into your media drive.
2. Set the computer to use the media drive as your first boot device in CMOS setting.
3. Boot the computer.
4. A prompt will appear when Windows installation system have finish loading.
5. Choose to repair windows (R).
6. Login using Administrator account.
7. Type checkdisk command in the recovery console.

Refer to this post for a list of checkdisk or chkdsk.exe command list. Usually running checkdisk or chkdsk.exe with argument /R is recommended to thoroughly fixed common disk problem. Checkdisk will run and will take some time according to the level of error on the disk.

Most of time, the problem of cannot boot into Windows in normal caused by common disk problem will be solved after running checkdisk or chkdsk.exe in Windows XP repair console without booting into Windows.

See also:

• Windows XP checkdisk utility - chkdsk.exe (4)
• Run checkdisk before defragmenting your hard drive (1)
• Run checkdisk at startup in Windows XP (1)

Dell have announced that they will be charging around an additional $20 to $50 for customers who would like to have a preinstall Windows XP on their desktop or notebook. This charge for preinstalling Windows XP is due to the fact that customers who want to have a preinstall Windows XP have to buy a copy of Windows Vista, even though they won’t be using it.

This move by Dell is related to the Vista to XP downgrade program by Microsoft. Fortunately, the fee for preinstalling Windows XP will be waived in conjunction with a promotion for a limited time. Dell declined to say how long the promotion will last.

See also:

• No related posts.

Many of you have heard that Microsoft is going to stop selling Windows XP by 1st January 2009, and system builder and System Manufacturer will stop selling system with windows XP by 30th June 2008 from my previous post. But today Dell have announced that they will be selling PC’s with Windows XP till 2009.

According to Neowin, the company has inform customers that Windows XP Professional will be available for OEM installation on PCs “through at least 2009 and likely longer. Many have said that Dell move to sell PC with Windows XP till 2009 or longer resulted from Microsoft desicion to extend the life of Windows XP only for low cost notebook and low cost PC to 2010.

This is a good news and an honorable move by Dell with the company decision to sell PC with Windows XP till 2009. So if you still want a Windows XP in 2009, buy a Dell.

See also:

• No related posts.

With all the bugs and issues with Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista latest service pack, some of you might want to wait untill all the bugs and issues regarding Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP1 are sorted out by Microsoft. But how do you stop Windows updates from automatically install the latest updates for Windows?

Here is a registry entry to block the automatic XP SP3 and Vista SP1 installation.

1. Open notepad and copy the code below:
   ——————————————————————————————–
   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
   “DoNotAllowSP”=dword:00000001
   ——————————————————————————————–
2. Save the file. Choose “Save as type” as “All files” and name the file as “blocksp.reg” (without the quote).
3. Merge the registry entry to block windows service pack installation by double clicking the registry file.

This registry entry will disable the automatic installation of service pack for 12 months.

In case you have changed your mind in the future, just create another registry file (using the same step 1 to 3 above) with the following code:
——————————————————————————————-
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
“DoNotAllowSP”=dword:00000000
——————————————————————————————–

This will allow the automatic installation of Windows Service Pack with Windows automatic updates.

See also:

• Windows Vista SP1 proved troublesome (4)
• Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 RC2 (3)

If you are using Microsoft Windows XP, sometimes you will come across a network printer that you cannot remove or delete. This unremovable network printer will appear in “Printers and Faxes” in Windows XP control panel.

This tutorial will guide you on how to remove any network printer from windows XP using registry editing. Be advice that editing Windows registry can cause your windows XP operating system to be corrupted.

The steps of removing any network printer in Windows XP are:

1. Run Registry Editor. Start Menu > Run > “regedit” (without the quote) > enter.
2. In Registry Editor, go to location > HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Printers > Connections.
3. You will see the printer that you want to delete in there.
4. Delete that printer.
5. Close Registry Editor.
6. Reboot

Those are the simple steps to remove any network printer in Windows XP.

See also:

• Windows XP got extended again (1)
• Windows XP blackout screen with no icons (3)
• Windows XP blackout screen face heavy criticism in China (1)
• Using BBlean as an alternative shell for Microsoft Windows XP (2)
• Remove username from Windows XP start menu (0)

Some of you might have heard that Microsoft going to stop selling Windows XP by 1st January 2009, and system builder and System Manufacturer will stop selling system with windows XP by 30th June 2008.By 14th April 2009, all mainstream support (free live support and warranty support) ends. Free maintenance are only limited to security fixes, and by 8th April 2014, Microsoft will stop all supports for Windows XP.

This is a sad news indeed as Windows XP is the most widely use Operating System in this planet, and its predecessor, Windows Vista have been receiving bad review, and Vista SP1, which is suppose to fix Vista annoyances proved to be otherwise.

InfoWorld have set up a petition call HELP SAVE WINDOWS XP. You can sign the petition here:

Sign HELP SAVE WINDOWS XP petition

As far as I’m concern, Windows XP is a stable Operating System compare to Windows Vista. But my favorite will always be Microsoft Windows 2000 professional.

See also:

• Windows XP got extended again (1)
• Windows XP blackout screen with no icons (3)
• Windows XP blackout screen face heavy criticism in China (1)
• Using BBlean as an alternative shell for Microsoft Windows XP (2)
• Remove username from Windows XP start menu (0)