TweakHound

Computer stuff...

Windows 7

IE9 Pinned Sites

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Internet Explorer 9 adds a feature called Site Pinning. You can read up on it here (article has good links): Pinned Sites Boost Website Use in IE9.
I’m not sure what I think of this feature. I’m really not sure what I would use it for (I don’t surf the web with IE anyway) or if it is of any use for a tiny little site like mine.
What do you think? Will you use the IE9 site pinning feature?
Also see the Poll in the right side of the blog >>>>>
I created a simple pinned site thingy for this blog (for the heck of it):
thpinnedsite

Getting Ready For Windows 7 SP1

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Over at the Windows Team Blog they have a post entitled Windows 7 SP1 Follow-up which details some steps you should take before installing Windows 7 SP1. Solid advice.
These steps include:
– They recommend using Windows Update instead of the full download.
– “backup your PC (and important files) to an external hard drive, DVD/CD or network location.”
– “make sure your device drivers are up to date” (I would also ensure all my apps are up to date)
– “check your PC for any known malware and viruses before installing Windows 7 SP1.”
– “When installing Windows 7 SP1 on a laptop PC, make sure it’s plugged in to an electrical outlet (AC).”
– “Your PC will need to reboot after installing Windows 7 SP1 so make sure you save all your work and close your applications before you begin your installation.”
– “Installing Windows 7 SP1 will require a bit more hard drive space so if you don’t have enough, I recommend running Windows 7’s built-in Disk Cleanup tool to assist in freeing up hard drive space.”
– “For those who may want to free up hard drive space, it is possible to remove the service pack installation specific files after installing Windows 7 SP1. After installing Windows 7 SP1, you can remove the service pack installation files by running Disk Cleanup and clicking on the “Clean up system files” button and checking “Service Pack Backup Files” to free up space. We recommend only doing this a few weeks after installing Windows 7 SP1. Please note that once you do this you will be unable to remove Windows 7 SP1 from your PC.”
*note – I’ve no idea what the difference between doing this and running DISM.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /spsuperseded is or if there is any difference at all.

Documentation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

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Microsoft has released Documentation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932)These docs are aimed at IT folks, for home users there is nothing to look at here.
This page currently links to the following documentation:
Deployment Guide for Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 and Windows 7 with SP1
Hotfixes and Security Updates included in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
Installing Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1
Release Notes for Windows 7 with Service Pack 1
Release Notes for Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1

Internet Explorer 9 RC

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Microsoft has released the IE9 Release Candidate. RC usually means it is the last step to the final version.
Below are the links of interest.
Need some help. MS changed a few things from the Beta involving the placement of the bars up top. For moving the menu bar up top the old itbar7position tweak doesn’t seem to work. Anyone figured this out?
Download IE9 RC (Vista, 7, 2K8 only. Not XP.)
Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate Product Guide
Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate – New Features Summary
IE Blog – Acting on Feedback: IE9 Release Candidate Available for Download
ie9rc

Windows 7 SP1 Release Date

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Winrumors had posted earlier that Windows 7 SP1 would be released to the public on Feb. 22, 2011. A Microsoft blog now confirms it.
*edit – The above Windows Team blog says final build number is 7601.17514.101119-1850 (see reply #4 in that blog). This matches the build I had installed (see below).*
Now most tech pundits will tell you Windows 7 SP1 is no big deal. Certainly for the home user it contains no useful additions. It is simply a collection of security updates, bugfixes (publicly available and not).
I’ve done a little testing with the SP1 that has been floating around (wzor). Here are some screenshots and notes for those who are interested.
[Read more…] about Windows 7 SP1 Release Date

New Article Up – Using VirtualBox 4

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Using VirtualBox 4

The purpose of this article is to introduce the average PC user to VirtualBox. Terminology may be simplified to make it easier to understand for the non-Geek.
This article contains 3 sections and covers installing VirtualBox Hosts and Guests under Windows and openSUSE.
VirtualBox is virtualization software that runs under most modern operating systems. What this means in layman’s terms is that you set up an environment that pretends to be an actual computer, this is a “virtual machine” ( VM for short). With that virtual machine you can run another operating system in a window just like you would run another program. For instance, if you are using Windows 7 you could run Ubuntu in a window at the same time (see screenshots below for examples). To be clear, only the machine (computer) is virtual, you are actually running this other operating system.
The advantages of using virtual machines are many. For the home user these would include trying out new operating systems and the ability to run programs from different operating systems.
You can run many Windows games under Linux, or use Microsoft Office. You could try the latest Windows 7 SP beta, test new programs, tweaks, and configurations. You can try the latest Linux distros in an environment that is more realistic than a Live CD.
My favorite way to use VirtualBox is to run Windows under Linux. More specifically, I run Windows XP and 7 under openSUSE 11.3 (more on this later).
Security is also an advantage. The main operating system is separate from the one running on the virtual machine. For the most part viruses, malware, crashes, bugs, etc. are all contained inside the OS running in that VM. This of course does not relieve you of the responsibility of using safe computing habits. Lets say you download a file that contains a virus while under an Ubuntu VM and then run that file in Windows you could get infected.

Dual-Booting Windows and openSUSE 11.3

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New article up: Dual-Booting Windows and openSUSE 11.3
I know,the blog has been slow it’s been a while since I’ve written an article. Sometimes life just gets in the way. Anywho, I’m back at it now.
The next article planned will be on Virtualbox, followed by a new version of the 7 tweak guide, and then a much needed update to the freeware articles.

I want to send a big Thank You to those who have inquired into my absence, it’s nice to be missed.