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December 18, 2001
It's been two months since the last update. Part of it was due to the fact that I couldn't get into my account as easily as I wanted to, always getting "login incorrect" for an hour at a time, then I'd finally get in and I wouldn't be able to save anything. If anyone knows of a good site hosting company, let me know!
A lot has happened since then so I'm going to try and update the page over the next few days with news about drivers, applications, and other XP goodies.
Just so everyone knows, I get a LOT of email every day, on the order of 75-100 which is why I have a hard time replying to everyone. Some answers can be found here, or on the web site of the company whose product you're looking for support on. Sorry if I can't get back to everyone.
Microsoft released the Windows Media Bonus Pack for XP
The Bonus Pack includes:
Plus! MP3 Audio Converter LE
Windows Media Player for Windows XP PowerToys
Windows Media Player for Windows XP Visualizations
Windows Media Player Skins
Windows Movie Maker Creativity Kit
Special Offers
Click here to download the Windows Media Bonus Pack for XP
Roxio releases an XP compatible version of EX CD Creator
Click here to visit Roxio's web site.
LogonXP to be released soon
A set of resources that will allow you to change the logon image under Windows XP is to be released shortly. This annoucement was made at Wincustomize.com.
Click here to visit wincustomize.com
October 25, 2001 - LAUCH DAY
Things have been pretty busy today. Lots of updates, so let's get to them.
Microsoft released PowerToys for XP
PowerToys is a group of applications that didn't make it into the final version of Windows XP. These little toys help the Power User do things that some third-party apps would need to take care of. They include: TweakUI for XP, CD Slide Show Creator, Power Calculator, Image Resizer, Fast User Switching, and much more. Click here to go to the PowerToys for XP page.
Roxio still hasn't released EZ CD Creator 5 update for XP
Rumors are flying that Roxio has delayed their XP update for EZ CD Creator 5 by a few days. Check back here for more information as we get it.
Microsoft released MSN Messenger 4.5 for XP
With new features and a new interface, Microsoft has released version 4.5 of its MSN Messenger application for Windows XP. I couldn't find a direct download, but you can easily get it by logging into www.msn.com, and clicking "My MSN". The download link is on the left hand side. I saw a demo of what the new MSN Messenger can do on TechTV this morning. Featured in 4.5 is "fye", a service that allows you to log what music you buy, and then gives you permission to listen to that music anywhere you are. Another feature that hasn't yet been incorporated into 4.5 is from Verizon. If you get a phone call, MSN Messenger will tell you you're getting one, and even allow the call to be routed to where you are. Cool stuff!
October 22, 2001
Microsoft released bootfloppy images for Windows XP.
Click here for the Home version
Click here for the Pro version
Microsoft released a new screen saver for XP users. Click here to download it.
They've also placed an American Flag XP screen saver on their site. Click here to download it.
October 20, 2001
Not happy being forced to use Windows Media Player 8 to only rip in WMA format? We look at alternative MP3 and WAV rippers for Windows XP. Click here to read the article.
October 17, 2001
TechTV is airing a half-hour special on Windows XP tonight called "Beyond the Desktop". It will be on at 6:30pm, 9:30pm, and 12:30am Eastern time.
October 16, 2001
ATI, the makers of the Radeon, have released official XP drivers for their video cards. Check their web site at www.ati.com and see if your card is supported.
If you own a Kodak digital camera, check the Kodak Windows XP web site to see if your camera is listed for future XP support. Kodak will be releasing XP-based Kodak Picture Transfer software very soon. This is great news since I thought that XP's built-in picture transfer software didn't do what Kodak's did under Windows ME.
I finally recovered from my hard drive meltdown. These kinds of things happen once or twice a year on both my Mac and my PC. I keep a tight ship, but sometimes an application just doesn't play nice and this is the result. What have we learned? Don't trust anything. Always backup your data.
I've since installed the retail version of Windows XP Pro. I decided that it's the best for me because of the support I have to do off-site, security, and also because I just like to tinker :). This means that I'll be making an XP Pro-only section on the site soon. Keep watching the skies...
October 13-14, 2001
Nothing like a good hard drive meltdown to start your weekend. The installation of two programs on Saturday night, one on ME and one on XP both screwed up my hard drive in different ways, rendering my system useless. Thank goodness for Ghost. Here's an XP tip for you - System Restore doesn't work if your hard drive's so corrupted that XP can't restore your system. I found that out the hard way. As good as System Restore has been to me in the past, it's only as good as the hard drive it's running on. Consider investing in Norton SystemWorks, or at the very least Ghost. Norton couldn't fix the problem, that's how screwed my hard drive was. Anyway, I was in the middle of writing up articles on CD burning and digital music when this happened, so the articles will be delayed a bit.
October 10, 2001
Stardock has released beta 8 of WindowBlinds. You can find it at www.windowblinds.net. To read our review of WindowBlinds, click here.
Ever wanted to change the login screen on the Windows XP Home Edition? One of our readers, Brandon, sends us a link on how to do it. I haven't tried it myself so I don't know what the consequences are in terms of system integrity, but check it out. Click here to read the article.
October 8, 2001
We take a look at Stardock's WindowBlinds beta 6 for Windows XP. There's more than one way to skin Windows. Click here to read the review.
October 6, 2001
I wrote a review of my new keyboard, the Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro. Click here to read the review.
I wrote up some notes on Windows XP and my UMAX Astra 2100U scanner. Click here to read it.
Last night, I overclocked my system. It now performs close to a 1.8GHz P4, and so far, XP loves it. Trying to overclock it higher allows me to launch XP, but I lose network capabilites right off the bat. Any higher than that, and I the BIOS boots me into BIOS Safe Mode.
October 5, 2001
Well, as a nice birthday present to me, Yahoo has listed this site in their search engine! Thanks, Yahoo!
I'm doing a lot of updates and new features today. Check back and see what's new.
October 4, 2001
I've created a list of applications and games that I've installed under Windows XP that I've seen work, either at 100% or with anomolies. I'll be updating this regularly. Click here to read the list.
October 2, 2001
I have created a tutorial for installed the Apache Web Server on Windows XP Home Edition PCs, which don't come with their own web server. I hope it helps some of you to get a web server up and running. There are dangers in doing this, though.
Click here to read the Apache installation tutorial.
October 1, 2001
In the last few days there have been reports about users required to reactivate their XP systems after loading a Ghosted image onto their same hard drive. I find this disturbing since it means that despite Microsoft's effort to make activation "simple", the truth is that it's the initial activation that's simple, but if you back up your hard drive and then reload it, you have to phone in your activation. If anyone has had any experience with the need to phone in their activation after loading a Ghosted hard drive image, or even doing a drive-to-drive transfer, please email me.
September 28, 2001
We take a look at ATI's beta Radeon drivers for XP. How do they stack up? Read it here.
September 27, 2001
A note about this site. Several people have been asking (and in some case, rather rudely) about where to get Windows XP. Unlike other XP sites, I'm not offering links to where XP can be downloaded. The beta program is over, so the only way to get XP now is to order a PC that has it installed, or wait until October 25th when you can buy it in your local store. Any requests for XP, the Powertoys, or any pirated software will be deleted without a response.
Microsoft to host Windows XP launch party in New York City. Bill Gates is quoted as saying "While the city is forever changed, we want this event to help remind the world that New York still represents strength and determination." Click here to read the story.
Microsoft offers Media and Game packs for Windows XP. As with their previous operating systems, Microsoft's extension packs for Windows XP offers games, themes, voice commands, and MP3 encoding. Click here to read the story.
September 24, 2001
Finally added the FAQ section. It's small, but there's a lot of material to cover so I'm digging as much as I can and I'll be expanding this section quite often.
September 23, 2001
Creative Labs finally released a somewhat vague schedule for their XP drivers. Essentially, everything will be out around mid-October, which doesn't make people that bought pre-built PCs with XP very happy, or those of us that have the latest build from MSDN. You can sign up for automatic email updates from Creative on that page.
Click here to read the schedule.
September 22, 2001
Microsoft has finally released the IntelliPoint 4.01 software.
Click here to download.
September 20, 2001
Site goes live.
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