Making The A600 Modem Work with Windows 7 X 64 Bit Systems

Ok So you bought your modem and you have Windows 7 (64 bit O/s) but it keeps coming back asking for you to install the A600 modem files. So I wanted to talk briefly about how to get it to work:

• If you haven’t Bought the Modem yet — You will need to go buy it first to go through this process. The A600 modem is the only one that will work with Windows 7, and that is from Cricket Wireless.
• Once you receive your Modem — Plug it in!!
• Go through the new setup process — Let it try to install the software. (You can download the newest software from Cricket directly: Click this link)
• Once your have install the software you will see the Quicklink modem menu but you will not be able to connect. You will need to go to the Modem virtual CD rom location. This will have a directory in it called ‘WIN‘. There you will find “setupdrv.exe“. You will need to double click that and install the drivers. It will ask how you want to install it, you should pick the recommended settings.

Using speech recognition can be a very useful tool!!

As I type this up I’d come to realize that I can do this with my speech recognition software installed with my Windows 7 Software.

I’m trying out the new speech recognition from Windows 7 right now and it is working really well. I can do what I have been doing in the past but with my voice. I am not using the keyboard to type this and I’m having such a good time with this new speech recognition is nice.

As you can see I will still have to work on some of the dictation with it because it still hasn’t learned all my talking preferences. I am however enjoyed having not to have to use the keyboard that to write up my blog post. I wanna talk about this and to make a point for people who are interested in the new Windows 7. As you can tell it still needs to work out some bugs, but I am working on it even more. It is like teaching a young child new speech.

Windows 7 Optimization for Beginners

So you just got Windows 7 on a new system and you want to optimize the system to run smoother. I wanted to talk about how even a novice could do some of the things that might help with that.

If your coming from Windows XP to Windows 7, I would like you to check out some Vista tips that will also help you with Windows 7.

• 5 Things Microsoft Vista doesn’t want you to Know!!
• Turn Aero OFF at will!!
• Ways to improve Battery Life in Vista
• Tips and Tricks to Shut down Windows Vista!
• Vista Tips and Secrets!!
• Running old programs on Vista (tips and tricks)
• The best New Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts
• Troubleshoot Windows 7 Sleep mode Problem
• Windows 7 Inside Out : Great little Book to read to better understand Windows 7.
• How to Do a System Recovery image in Windows 7
• How to Enable Windows 7 GodMode

If you bought a OEM version that comes with bloatware, you can always use Autoruns.  What most people don’t know is that Windows 7 is a better version of Windows Vista and that is why I suggest reading those other Vista Articles that I wrote about.   I can still use those tips and tricks from Vista to make Windows 7.   With these tips you can make Windows 7 run better and smoother.

Have a Great Friday, See you Monday!

Working with Windows 7 and the 64 bit barrier

I have been using Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit, and I am liking this 64 bit system.  I thought I would talk about the difference from a 32 bit system and 64 bit system for those of you who don’t know know.

I have been using the 64 bit for the last few weeks and have really liked the speed and stability of Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium.  I’ve tried using 32 bit programs and I have not had any problems yet.   Let’s Compare the differences.

Other than the 4 Gigabyte memory barrier,  the only thing you really have to worry about is that you can’t run 16 bit programs.   Although you can always get Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition FULL VERSION with SP2 and do it virtually, I’d recommend Virtual PC but you need  Microsoft Windows 7 Professional or Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate to be able to use Windows XP.

I’ve not had any major problems with Windows 7 so I am really happy.   All the drivers for my printers are available from the manufacturer.   I got Hewlett Packard – HP DeskJet F2430 All-in-One Inkjet and they have 64 bit drivers.  It has been working fine ever since I installed the drivers.   Most 32 bit software will work on 64 bit systems.   They even have it’s own 32 directory for programs.

Microsoft makes Firefox more insecure with the .NET 3.5 Framework (KB951847)!

In February, Microsoft quietly installed .NET Framework Assistant (ClickOnce) Firefox Extension. This extension is a bad idea because of what this could do.

This update adds to Firefox one of the most dangerous vulnerabilities present in all versions of Internet Explorer: the ability for websites to easily and quietly install software on your PC. Since this design flaw is one of the reasons you may’ve originally choosen to abandon IE in favor of a safer browser like Firefox, you may wish to remove this extension with all due haste.

[Via Annoyances.org]

As you see, this is a way to make Firefox less secure and almost like Internet Explorer.   We’ve seen the problems with all the Malware exploits that people have used in the past.   If you want to uninstall it, well you can’t.   Microsoft as went out if its way to prevent users from uninstalling.    Here is what Brad Abrams talked about on his blog:

We added this support at the machine level in order to enable the feature for all users on the machine.Seems reasonable right? Well, turns out that enabling this functionality at the machine level, rather than at the user level means that the “Uninstall” button is grayed out in the Firefox Add-ons menu because standard users are not permitted to uninstall machine-level components.

Mebroot becomes More Stealthier!!

Well Here is something we should all be on the look out for:

Thousands of Web sites have been rigged to deliver a powerful piece of malicious software that many security products may be unprepared to handle.

Mebroot inserts program hooks into various functions of the kernel, or the operating system’s core code. Once Mebroot has taken hold, the malware then makes it appear that the MBR hasn’t been tampered with.

[Via Pcworld Magazine]

I will be updating my Malware Resource for the Prevx Software, but this looks to be a very bad root kit.  From my understanding most of the security related software.   It seems this little program will become even harder to detect and remove.   It also looks like this is ready to start infecting people with this root kit.   You should update every part of your system from Windows Patches to Browser.  Securnia once said that most people are not patched fully!!  Just like the Conficker Worm, if your not fully patched and keeping anti-virus and Firewalls on your system then you might as well be walking on nails.

Windows 7 Beta Second RC to be released in May

According to Arstechnica, the Next version of Windows 7 Beta will be Released In May.

It looks like someone flipped the switch a little early. The Windows 7 Release Candidate download page on TechNet has made a premature appearance, much like the beta download page did before the beta was released to the public. The public RC will apparently be coming in May 2009, and not in April as previously rumored. The RC testing program will be available at least through June 2009, and the actual build will expire June 1, 2010. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions will be available in English, German, Japanese, French, and Spanish.
[Via windows-7-rc-download-page-goes-up-early-coming-in-may.ars">Arstechnica]

It will be available soon to download. According to Ars this will be good until 2010, I am guessing around February or March but that is just speculation on my part.

Remember:

• This is a Beta and when it is over you won’t be able to use the OS anymore
• This isn’t the complete OS, Knowing Microsoft this will be limited in some way to encourage your to buy the full version down the road.  Also they want to have some features for only Commercial Release.
• There will always be security holes when it comes to Windows 7 so don’t use it exclusively, since this is a beta.  Microsoft will not keep it up to date until it goes Commercial!

I did a podcast on this OS and if you want to hear the two discussion we talk:

1. Mike Tech Show Listener Round Table Topic:  Symantec issue, Security, Web Hosting, Windows 7 Beta
2. Mike Tech Show Listener Round Table Topic:  Windows 7 Beta

Windows 7 beta 1 leaked, how to get it:

It’s been leaked and some things to consider when installing this is you need to have a lot of space. So how do you get this elusive beta:

• Rapidshare – Although I don’t know if this is the recent version it looks like it.  The problem with downloading these files are they are really big and it will take some time for you to download each and everypart.   You only can do 200 megs of download every 6 hours so it will take time.
• Torrents site like Isohunt – The only way you can get it is through website search and downloading the torrent file.   I don’t know how reliable it is.  I don’t think it is safe on all of these but I want people to see it and see if it works for you.

These are the only two that I could come up with the might work for people.   If someone knows of any others let me know.  Be warned downloading files from unknown sources might

let you get a virus.  It is always dangerous to download files from unkown sources so if you want to download it and put it on a virtual system that would be the best option.   I supply people with the tools I don’t link to anything that is illegal.     This is provided as is and you go to these sites on your own without any help from me.

Is this Windows 7?

As you can see that looks to be the final release of the start screen. In the past they haven’t change the start screen, it looks to be really polished and ready for use with Windows 7. If anything, I think the boot screen will be permanent and definitely not temporary. On a Side note, I found this video as well:

macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer” flashvars=”c=v&v=60e5f8c6-09f3-4a09-bac0-355b8a7b7dcc&ifs=true&fr=shared&mkt=en-US”>oembed>Video: Windows 7 Demo 1

This video I almost suspect is the release they did at the Professional Developers Conference and is probably going to have the beta in hand. Although I could be wrong this looks to be almost like Vista? Why is Microsoft trying to make Vista turn into Windows 7, probably due to the fact that Vista had such a rotten launch they are hoping people will see Windows 7 as if Windows Vista didn’t even exist.

I also found one more little Video that looks to be promising, it’s called Windows 7 Super bar. This little Video looks convincingly like this will be kept in Windows 7 but you know how Microsoft is on beta’s. Any how, Here’s this one:

Windows 7 Super Bar from Paul Jenkins on Vimeo.

Windows 7 will sport Direct X 10 Compliance!

The new feature is called WARP10, for “Windows Advanced Rasterization Platform,” and it’s essentially a DX10-compliant, software-only rasterizer that was written by Microsoft; it runs directly on the CPU. In a situation where a DX10 app needs to run but can’t find DX10-compliant hardware, it will run on WARP10, albeit very, very slowly. Ultimately, you can think of WARP10 as a “software DX10 GPU” that will exist as a fallback in Windows.

[via Arstechnica]

Vista To release Service Pack 2 in April 2009

Some sources are reporting that Vista SP2 will be out in April.   According to Engadget they claim TechARP is a bunch of Malaysian Kids that like to boast about how they broke the Vista SP1 and XP SP3 release schedules to the world.  They claim though that Vista Release candidate is to be out around February.Microsoft has indicated that this SP3 will include Windows Search 4, Bluetooth 2.1 wireless support, faster resume from sleep when a wireless connection has been broken and support for Blu-ray.   I personally think it will include some of Windows 7 features to better get people accustomed to Windows 7 when they come out.

Although this is speculation and no hard evidence I think it has some merit due to the fact that Microsoft has admitted in the past that Vista was a big Letdown.  I don’t think they can any more to damage than they have already done.   If anything Windows 7 will be a easy Success if they pull it off in the right way!!!  Although with WIndows 7 be leaked online there is no telling what will happen. I am sure what ever happens will be interesting to say the least!!!

Is Vista just Windows 7?

According to Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols from Computer World, He talks about how Microsoft is scared on Linux and that people are flocking to remove Vista off there Machines. I say otherwise, you see according to some experts like Mark Hall from Computer World, he states Vista is better than Mac OS X. So why do people say one thing and do another?

Now I know Vista isn’t what people expected and that it had high expectations when they first released it.  I think that is due to the fact Microsoft tried so hard to make Vista seem more than it actually was.  Now According to Ina Fried from CNET her post was about Windows 7: A better Vista?. In her post she talked about the features of Windows 7, and how Windows 7 is almost like Vista. I tend to agree because of the look from screenshots I’ve seen to make me think it will be Version 2 of Vista. I don’t think it is anything that will change from Vista to Windows 7. It will however be more ready to boot up and shutdown that is according to what Microsoft said to Ina.

Windows 7 Milestone 1 Leaked!

Many people have been wanting a copy of this so called elusive copy from PDC to test out and see where Microsoft is going.   Most developers are wanting to start to get into the stage of figuring out how they can get a step ahead of everyone else.   That being said, people have started to leak the Windows 7 on the Torrent sites.

We must assume Microsoft expected this and kinda wanted this to happen because when they gave this out they didn’t make it have any major copy protection.  Although we must not forget that there will be fakes out there and people are downloading this at a tramendous rate.  Most people will download it in under a day if you let it go!! I have not downloaded it because I am trying to get into the beta team for Windows 7 and don’t want to be to critical on the system.

Silverlight 2.0.31005.0 Is release today.

I woke up this morning and found there was an update.  I thought to myself this isn’t the second Tuesday, that was last week.  So I click on my update tab to see what it was all about? Wouldn’t you know it, an update to Silverlight 2.

I will be looking into the new Microsoft Silverlight.   I have heard on the wind, that this might be due to the PDC coming Oct 27-30.   This has something to do with Windows 7, I’m almost sure of it.   I am sure as you can see this is most interesting. I’m also sure this has to do with some security fix but why push it out now when there is no need too.  This update effects Windows Xp/Vista/and 2000  so we will see what they have in mind the coming weeks.

Microsoft Can’t you get anything Right?

I sit here listening to “Windows Weekly 61, Windows 7″ and I wanted to talk about what he said and I quote:

Windows Vista was a major release, and Microsoft is positioning Windows 7 as a major release as well. However, the language Microsoft uses to describe the technical underpinnings of the Windows 7 suggest that this product will in fact be a minor release.
[Via Winsupersite]

So My one questions is Windows going to be in fact a new whole system or just an update to Vista!! Here is some other quotes that I’ve found on the web:

Microsoft clearly are trying to launch Windows 7 as soon as possible, even though many users are only just getting around to upgrading to Windows Vista. I wonder if Windows 7 will be one upgrade too many for some customers?
[Via Windows7.cc]

So let’s start talking about this news. Will they be doing the final RC for Windows soon or are they going to wait till next year. It appears that they are going to do something soon but not sure what. They’ve been tight lipped from the start of windows Vista and have not been releasing anything big about Windows 7, Is this the attempt to hide there disgrace about Vista and how hard they are having to work for Windows 7?

Microsoft Can’t you get anything Right?

I sit here listening to “Windows Weekly 61, Windows 7″ and I wanted to talk about what he said and I quote:

Windows Vista was a major release, and Microsoft is positioning Windows 7 as a major release as well. However, the language Microsoft uses to describe the technical underpinnings of the Windows 7 suggest that this product will in fact be a minor release.
[Via Winsupersite]

So My one questions is Windows going to be in fact a new whole system or just an update to Vista!! Here is some other quotes that I’ve found on the web:

Microsoft clearly are trying to launch Windows 7 as soon as possible, even though many users are only just getting around to upgrading to Windows Vista. I wonder if Windows 7 will be one upgrade too many for some customers?
[Via Windows7.cc]

So let’s start talking about this news. Will they be doing the final RC for Windows soon or are they going to wait till next year. It appears that they are going to do something soon but not sure what. They’ve been tight lipped from the start of windows Vista and have not been releasing anything big about Windows 7, Is this the attempt to hide there disgrace about Vista and how hard they are having to work for Windows 7?

First shots of Windows 7 leaked? And by 7, we mean Vista.

There’s no telling how legitimate these shots might be, and it’s quite clear that these screens won’t be giving us any juicy details about Windows 7 anytime soon, but we couldn’t pass on images that purport to be the first from a super-secret test build of Windows 7 seeded to “key partners.” So, anything to see here? Not that we can tell, from the looks of things we’re looking at a copy of Vista with the name “Windows 7 Ultimate” tacked on, but there’s no telling what’s happening under the hood. We know we can’t wait to pay another few hundred dollars for a barely noticeable upgrade to Vista that will re-break all driver support, how about you?

[Via Microsoft will dump Vista for a new operating system. Any thoughts? It sure looks that way right now.

Reality check: what we know (and don’t) about Windows 7

Separating the wheat from the chaff

Would you buy a new operating system from this man?

One thing we all know about Windows 7 is the management team that will be leading the project. Jim Allchin—the veteran who led the Windows XP and Vista teams—is gone, and in his place is Steven Sinofsky, who previously headed up the Office 2007 project. This has raised all sorts of speculation that the Windows user interface will be getting a similar sort of “face lift” as the venerable Office suite did in its last release. Some have even gone so far as to say it would be “Ribbon-based.”

Windows 7 will get a facelift, but the extent of the UI changes are not yet known at Microsoft: current Windows 7 builds, which we have seen in person, use the Vista interface. Final designs for the UI have not yet been decided, and likely will not be for several months. If someone shows you any leaked screenshots of Windows 7, you can tell them that they have almost certainly been duped by enthusiastic fakers with a copy of Photoshop. Humans are visual creatures, and for most people the user interface is the only way to know that something has changed with a new release of the operating system. Unfortunately, the UI is typically the last thing to be finalized. Those of you who have watched the development of previous versions of Windows know what even once you start seeing concept UIs, nothing is set in stone.

Reality check: what we know (and don’t) about Windows 7

Separating the wheat from the chaff

Would you buy a new operating system from this man?

One thing we all know about Windows 7 is the management team that will be leading the project. Jim Allchin—the veteran who led the Windows XP and Vista teams—is gone, and in his place is Steven Sinofsky, who previously headed up the Office 2007 project. This has raised all sorts of speculation that the Windows user interface will be getting a similar sort of “face lift” as the venerable Office suite did in its last release. Some have even gone so far as to say it would be “Ribbon-based.”

Windows 7 will get a facelift, but the extent of the UI changes are not yet known at Microsoft: current Windows 7 builds, which we have seen in person, use the Vista interface. Final designs for the UI have not yet been decided, and likely will not be for several months. If someone shows you any leaked screenshots of Windows 7, you can tell them that they have almost certainly been duped by enthusiastic fakers with a copy of Photoshop. Humans are visual creatures, and for most people the user interface is the only way to know that something has changed with a new release of the operating system. Unfortunately, the UI is typically the last thing to be finalized. Those of you who have watched the development of previous versions of Windows know what even once you start seeing concept UIs, nothing is set in stone.

Windows 7 feature request list leaks out

Although the Vista transition is far from complete, that doesn’t mean Microsoft isn’t already hard at work on Windows 7, the next version of the venerable operating system — and this list of user-requested features unearthed by the folks at NeoWin might hold some clues as to the future. The “wish list” was sent out by Microsoft before Windows 7 development even began, so most of these features probably aren’t even on the radar, but what’s most interesting is that seemingly small fixes like “Window Update progress indicator” vastly outnumber big-ticket items like “integrated audio / video codec manager” and “Windows ‘Game’ Mode.” We’d say that speaks to a major lack of imagination, so consider this a years-early How Would You Change?, and sound off in comments — personally, we’re hoping for a transactional file system, but we know you all can totally outdo us.

Read — full list at NeoWin

I think this is so funny, Should check out the full list at NeoWin, I throughly enjoyed it!

Core of “Windows 7″ taking shape: meet the “MinWin” kernel

Eric Traut, one of Microsoft’s chief operating system design engineers, gave a fascinating demo (WMV) recently at the University of Illinois, where he talked about where the Windows core is going and ended with a sneak peek at the kernel of the next version of Windows, known by the exciting codename of “Windows 7.” The demo showed what Windows would look like if it was literally stripped down to the core, showing the kind of work that is going on to optimize the aging NT kernel.

Traut runs a team of about 200 software engineers at Microsoft that is responsible for the core kernel scheduling, memory management, boot sequence, and virtualization technology such as Virtual PC and Virtual Server. The latter technologies are becoming more and more important as servers get more powerful and gain more and more CPU cores, and it was clear from the demonstration that Microsoft is placing significant effort into integrating virtual machine technology into everything that they do. The release of Virtual PC as a free download last year was just the beginning: Windows Server 2008 will ship with significant VM enhancements, and Windows 7 will only carry on from there.