[img]http://i.imgur.com/KPCnA9W.png[/img]
[I]Windows XP Media Center Edition, Bliss[/I]
Welcome to the Windows Desktop General thread! This thread is for discussing all versions of Windows and also Windows software to some degree, past, present, and hopefully in a while future ones too.
Merry Christmas, FFStudios:
[QUOTE=FFStudios;47639043]should do just like SA and have a Windows & Windows Software megathread, works real well[/QUOTE]
[I]Posts that primarily discuss Windows 10 should go in this thread: [url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1409122[/url][/I]
[I]Want to talk Windows Phone? Head on over to the Windows Phone 8 thread: [url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1192382[/url][/I]
[I]What's Supported By Microsoft?[/I]
- Windows XP: support ended April 8th, 2014. Exceptions do exist, but are mostly for the embedded variants. There are some tweaks that enable people to still retrieve updates based on said embedded versions, but isn't recommended and stuff can and will likely break as a result.
- Windows Server 2003: [B]support ends today[/B]
- Windows Vista: extended support will end April 11th, 2017. Office 2007 shares the same date.
- Windows 7: mainstream support recently ended on January 13th, 2015. Extended support will end on January 14th, 2020. Office 2010 shares the same dates.
- Windows 8: all support is ending on January 12, 2016. Upgrade to Windows 8.1 (if you haven't already: WHY) to continue getting support.
- Windows 8.1: currently in mainstream support phase, ending on January 9th, 2018. Office 2013 x86/-64 shares the same lifecycle.
[B][U][URL="http://www.askwoody.com/"]AskWoody's MS-DEFCON Level[/URL][/U][/B]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/YRtnhsU.jpg[/img]
Woody Leonhard's MS-DEFCON level is currently at [B]2[/B] - "Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it". It was [URL=http://www.askwoody.com/2015/msdecfon-2-automatic-update-turned/]last updated on July 13th, 2015.[/URL]
[B]Current Known Issues[/B]
[I]None (yet)[/I]
[B]Last Month's Known Issues[/B]
- KB 3035583: [url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/2907472/operating-systems/windows-10-upgrade-nagware-patch-kb-3035583-now-marked-important-on-some-win7-pcs.html]Windows 10 nagware[/url]. [img]http://fi.somethingawful.com/images/smilies/emot-siren.gif[/img] [B][I][url=http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-7-and-8-users-are-now-able-to-reserve-their-free-copy-of-windows-10]Starting to detonate its payload on Windows 7/8.1 machines![/url][/I][/B] [img]http://fi.somethingawful.com/images/smilies/emot-siren.gif[/img]
[B][U]Useful Modifications[/U][/B]
- There's more than a motherfucking shitload of stuff at [url]http://nanami-tan.info[/url]
- [B][URL="http://www.classicshell.net/"]Classic Shell[/URL]:[/B] Start menu enhancements as well as Windows Explorer enhancements if you hate some parts of Sinofsky's reign on Windows but want Allchin's back. You can even mod in XP's Luna style start menu too!
- [B][URL="http://rainmeter.net/"]Rainmeter[/URL]:[/B] extreme desktop skinning for varying purposes, be it the ultra-minimalist or the one that wants to see it all at a glance.
- [B][URL="http://ejie.me/"]Clover for Windows Explorer[/URL]:[/B] Windows Explorer on Chromium drugs
[B][U]Useful Programs[/U][/B]
- [B][URL="https://ninite.com/"]Ninite[/URL]:[/B] considered a very useful tool that can save time when first setting up your brand new machine and/or a re-install. It'll automatically say no to bloatware for you as well. You can also re-run your crafted installer to make your programs installed with it up to date later on.
- [B][URL="http://unchecky.com/"]Unchecky[/URL]:[/B] unchecks all of the bloatware offered during the install processes of new programs.
- [B][URL="https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396"]Process Explorer[/URL]:[/B] basically Task Manager's "Processes" tab on steroids.
- [B][URL="http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/"]PC Decrapifier[/URL]:[/B] want to get rid of OEM bloatware and you don't want hunt for a Microsoft Signature machine nor bother with a full re-install? This will blast away most if not all of it.
- [B][URL="http://www.malwarebytes.org/"]Malwarebytes[/URL]:[/B] got a nasty virus that others won't clean up? Malwarebytes can get at it.
- [B][URL="http://www.macrium.com/"]Macrium Reflect[/URL]:[/B] for imaging your system so you can have a pristine state (or multiples) to restore to in the event that stuff goes wrong. Paid versions are advertised, [URL="http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx"]but there's a free for non-commercial use version here.[/URL]
[B][U]Microsoft-related Sites/Blogs/Podcasts[/U][/B]
- [B][URL="https://www.thurrott.com/"]Thurrott.com[/URL]:[/B] Paul Thurrott's site where he muses about all things Microsoft.
- [B][URL="http://winsupersite.com/"]SuperSite for Windows[/URL]:[/B] what made Paul Thurrott famous, and respected. Has since moved on from this site (his name used to be in the site's name), but his old stuff can still be found here.
- [B][URL="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/"]All About Microsoft[/URL]:[/B] Mary Jo Foley's ZDNet section that reports on rumors and other things also about Microsoft.
- [B][URL="http://askwoody.com"]Woody Leonhard's AskWoody.com[/URL]:[/B] the writer of some Windows For Dummies books' own blog where he writes about mostly Windows things, would be seen as a critic. Features a "patch/don't patch" scale handy for dodging issues related to Windows Update.
- [B][URL="http://twit.tv/show/windows-weekly"]Windows Weekly[/URL]:[/B] TWiT's podcast featuring both Paul and Mary Jo where they talk about Windows (as well as some other Microsoft things) for two hours straight with Leo Laporte.
Got a suggestion for something to be changed here? Say it here or PM me and I'll see if your idea is crap or not.
[QUOTE=~Kiwi~v2;47694451]I'd like to start off-topic and say.
Wickedplayer494 your threads are always well thought out and well presented thanks for this.
On topic.
Add Rainmeter and we should build a list of useful programs for Windows to add what's currently there.[/QUOTE]
[img]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/heart.png[/img]
Anyway, Rainmeter's in and I split modifications into their own section so Classic Shell's been moved to that section too.
Replace modifications with nanami-tan.info
Everything is there
[quote]- Unchecky: unchecks all of the bloatware offered during the install processes of new programs.[/quote]
Holy shit does this actually work? I'd never heard of it. I guess it slips up when installers say something like "check here, to not receive this great offer" or something.
Also, what's a decent, free torrent downloader? I've always used uTorrent in the past, but after the thing with Epic Scale I'm gonna keep away from it.
just got back from a long weekend to see this thread and i'm even in the OP
[img]http://i.imgur.com/KzatoHZ.gif[/img]
[editline]10th May 2015[/editline]
[QUOTE=~Kiwi~v2;47695651]Qbittorrent
Deluge[/QUOTE]
yes qbittorrent is excellent, although it lacks a couple features that I had been used to (and were standard back in the uTorrent 2.x days)
[highlight](User was banned for this post ("reaction gif" - Orkel))[/highlight]
I use Deluge myself, it's really nice, small and efficient
I've been using an older version of uTorrent before all the terrible updates. It still does the job well.
Here's some fun from the Longhorn days: Melcher and co. from longhorn.ms spotted a post-reset Longhorn beta being used in a Flashpoint episode:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZT6rSx5Hdw[/media]
Props to CTV for the originality, at least.
On 8.1 when did it start showing the desktop icons on the start screen? I don't remember this happening before.
[t]http://i59.tinypic.com/bjd0na.png[/t]
[QUOTE=Cabbalistic;47701952]On 8.1 when did it start showing the desktop icons on the start screen? I don't remember this happening before.
[t]http://i59.tinypic.com/bjd0na.png[/t][/QUOTE]
it's an option in the background colour/image settings
[QUOTE=.Lain;47702032]it's an option in the background colour/image settings[/QUOTE]
Couldn't find the setting but when I went into Settings and Personalise on the start screen they all suddenly disappeared again...
[QUOTE=Scratch.;47695053]Replace modifications with nanami-tan.info
Everything is there[/QUOTE]
Holy shit that's a lot of stuff. Alright, it's in. Maybe not "replaced" in, but it's still there.
What's a great multiconnection IRC client for a windows tablet?
How to break Windows 8.1:
1. Enable automatic updates
2. Wait
3. Restart
It went into an Automatic repair loop. I followed some guide on Google that said I should disable the recovery mode.
Now it gives an error immediately after selecting Windows in the bootloader: Missing or corrupted clfs.sys.
God damnit Windows
Anyone any ideas?
[QUOTE=FPtje;47731779]How to break Windows 8.1:
1. Enable automatic updates
2. Wait
3. Restart
It went into an Automatic repair loop. I followed some guide on Google that said I should disable the recovery mode.
Now it gives an error immediately after selecting Windows in the bootloader: Missing or corrupted clfs.sys.
God damnit Windows
Anyone any ideas?[/QUOTE]
Recovery drive?
[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;47731938]Recovery drive?[/QUOTE]
Fixed it by manually copying the file from the windows iso.
[QUOTE=Satane;47732460]I've been using deluge but it feels like a bad linux port. Also, my torrents often reset and it has to recheck them.[/QUOTE]
It is probably built/compiled from a mostly Linux source with Cygwin or MinGW to provide a WIndows compatible program.
If that's how they did it, then it is kindof hacky way of doing it.
If they had more developers focusing on Windows, it could most likely be optimized, but supply and demand in a space where uTorrent has dominated for probably a decade has obviously limited the interest in that.
[QUOTE=FPtje;47731779]How to break Windows 8.1:
1. Enable automatic updates
2. Wait
3. Restart
It went into an Automatic repair loop. I followed some guide on Google that said I should disable the recovery mode.
Now it gives an error immediately after selecting Windows in the bootloader: Missing or corrupted clfs.sys.
God damnit Windows
Anyone any ideas?[/QUOTE]
Aren't restore points automatically created before any update is installed?
[editline]16th May 2015[/editline]
[QUOTE=CrumbleShake;47695643]Holy shit does this actually work? I'd never heard of it. I guess it slips up when installers say something like "check here, to not receive this great offer" or something.
Also, what's a decent, free torrent downloader? I've always used uTorrent in the past, but after the thing with Epic Scale I'm gonna keep away from it.[/QUOTE]
Vuze(Classic UI) with Mainline DHT plugin.
[QUOTE=FPtje;47731779]How to break Windows 8.1:
1. Enable automatic updates
2. Wait
3. Restart
It went into an Automatic repair loop. I followed some guide on Google that said I should disable the recovery mode.
Now it gives an error immediately after selecting Windows in the bootloader: Missing or corrupted clfs.sys.
God damnit Windows
Anyone any ideas?[/QUOTE]
This [I]might[/I] be related: [url]http://www.infoworld.com/article/2922324/microsoft-windows/windows-usage-tracker-patch-kb-3022345-triggers-sys-file-corruption-which-sfc-is-unable-to-fix.html[/url]
[QUOTE=Cold;47732505]Aren't restore points automatically created before any update is installed?
[/QUOTE]
Only major ones
Like very big ones
[QUOTE=Scratch.;47733380]Only major ones
Like very big ones[/QUOTE]
Nope, Windows Update/WSUS will make a restore point for any update operation, big or small.
Source: myself, tested with a Windows 7 Windows Defender definition update and it displayed a "Creating a restore point..." message right before it was about to install.
It wouldn't be that hard for me to imagine that Sinofsky may have fucked with it in 8 to do it only for big ones, but I wouldn't think so.
[QUOTE=wickedplayer494;47733406]Nope, Windows Update/WSUS will make a restore point for any update operation, big or small.
Source: myself, tested with a Windows 7 Windows Defender definition update and it displayed a "Creating a restore point..." message right before it was about to install.
It wouldn't be that hard for me to imagine that Sinofsky may have fucked with it in 8 to do it only for big ones, but I wouldn't think so.[/QUOTE]
[t]http://7proxies.pw/i/2015/05/15-05-16_11-26-54.png[/t]
Critical man
[editline]16th May 2015[/editline]
And yet I'm still delaying the restart :v:
Whaddya know, I went and installed an assload of old updates yesterday and that one failed :v:
[QUOTE=~Kiwi~v2;47734232]Windows updates is literally playing with fire sometimes.[/QUOTE]
Especially if you leave it set to automatic (a BAD idea on many levels!).
[QUOTE=wickedplayer494;47734287]Especially if you leave it set to automatic (a BAD idea on many levels!).[/QUOTE]
yolo
[t]http://7proxies.pw/i/2015/05/15-05-16_15-01-47.png[/t]
[QUOTE=wickedplayer494;47732731]This [I]might[/I] be related: [url]http://www.infoworld.com/article/2922324/microsoft-windows/windows-usage-tracker-patch-kb-3022345-triggers-sys-file-corruption-which-sfc-is-unable-to-fix.html[/url][/QUOTE]
I fucking knew it, I went on the freenode #windows channel and said the update broke my laptop, asking what to do. Four or so people started throwing a tantrum about how it wasn't Microsoft's fault but mine, because their computers didn't break with the update. They claimed I had a rootkit, when I said that was a bold claim, this was the explanation they came up with:
So I got a rootkit, which messed with Windows files, then a security update came along and found the exploited files, and then windows broke when it tried to fix it.
The evidence they gave me was that the clfs.sys had no signature, so "obviously" it's a rootkit.
And they told ME I was stubborn.
I hesitated a little at first about doing it (and therefore I originally left it out), but after the sfc /scannow stuff, I've decided to go ahead and put the AskWoody MS-DEFCON scale in to the OP with a list of known issues relating to stuff breaking.
I leave my updates on automatic, and apparently KB3022345 was successfully installed on the 13th, haven't noticed any problems from it though...
[QUOTE=wickedplayer494;47734287]Especially if you leave it set to automatic (a BAD idea on many levels!).[/QUOTE]
For most people automatic is definitely the way to go. My parents don't even remember to restart the computer once in a while to let updates install, thinking they'd do it manually would be crazy.
[QUOTE=FPtje;47734436]I fucking knew it, I went on the freenode #windows channel and said the update broke my laptop, asking what to do. Four or so people started throwing a tantrum about how it wasn't Microsoft's fault but mine, because their computers didn't break with the update. They claimed I had a rootkit, when I said that was a bold claim, this was the explanation they came up with:
So I got a rootkit, which messed with Windows files, then a security update came along and found the exploited files, and then windows broke when it tried to fix it.
The evidence they gave me was that the clfs.sys had no signature, so "obviously" it's a rootkit.
And they told ME I was stubborn.[/QUOTE]
Deja-vú of KB2823324
[url]http://www.tomshardware.com/news/KB2823324-Windows-7-Security-Update-Patch-Tuesday-Infinite-Reboot-Loop,22016.html[/url]
[url]http://www.infoworld.com/article/2614109/microsoft-windows/microsoft-withdraws-kb-2823324--second-botched-automatic-update-this-year.html[/url]
[url]http://secunia.com/community/forum/thread/show/14057/windows_7_security_patch_knocks_out_pcs[/url]
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.
