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Gates Foundation is about 28 billion, over five years. Now we look at the profits of MS:
36.84BN in 2004 (and I'm assuming the same for 2000/1/2/3). Same source says 39.79BN for 2005.
I make this approximately a little less than 224BN for the last five years.
Bottom line: Microsoft gave 12.5% of profits to the Gates Foundation. That's a lot, but they could have given a lot more.

Also, another point of interest: what about bundling IE with Windows? Or the forced upgrade cycles? Or .doc format keeping us locked into Microsoft Word?

MS stays #1 on my evil list despite what you say.

A dedicated graphics card with DirectX® 9.0 support

That is only a requirement if you want to run the Aero user interface (it must also support Windows Display Driver Model). I can't believe I haven't seen any "Score:3+" comments mentioning Vista's "Classic" UI mode, which doesn't require a powerful GPU. In fact, it looks a lot like Windows XP with its "Luna" interface deactivated. According to that Wikipedia article (don't use as a final source), Vista's "classic mode" only has the same graphics card requirements as Windows 2000.

Here's what I think is a better Microsoft page describing (and providing links to) Vista's likely requirements:

Windows Vista Capable PC Hardware Guidelines

• CPU -- PC systems should have a modern CPU.
• RAM -- PC systems should have 512MB of memory or more.
• GPU -- PC systems should have a graphics processor that will support Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM).

Windows Vista offers significant improvements to the graphics user experience. To take advantage of these advances in the graphics user experience, graphics processor will need to support WDDM. Graphics processors capable of supporting WDDM:

• Are designed to ensure that graphics user experience scales up with hardware capabilities.
• Offer improved graphic stability and performance.
• May be able to support additional desktop productivity features.

Systems that meet and/or exceed the above requirements should be able to provide a good experience while running Windows Vista. PC systems that do not meet the above hardware requirements for CPU, RAM and GPU may support running Windows Vista. However, such systems may not offer all the features and benefits of Windows Vista. For example, PC systems with GPUs that do not support WDDM will only be able to provide a Windows XP-comparable desktop graphics experience, with regards to features, stability, and performance.

So to answer the freakin' article's question: Yes, if your Core Duo or Solo notebook had integrated Intel graphics, it will work with Vista because GMA 950 supports WDDM. Heck, it will likely work with the new Aero UI. But since the reader specifically stated he "doesn't care about semitransparent windows and cool animations," even an old Pentium M or Celeron M notebook with the 915GM chipset (GMA 900 graphics) will work with Vista in "classic mode." Here's a link to an Intel page on mobile minimum recommendations for Vista:

Windows Vista and Intel Mobile Platforms for Business

After the launch of Windows Vista, laptop PCs with Mobile Intel® 915GM Express Chipset will be able to run Windows Vista providing a Windows* XP-comparable graphics experience.

A dedicated graphics card with DirectX® 9.0 support

That is only a requirement if you want to run the Aero user interface (it must also support Windows Display Driver Model). I can't believe I haven't seen any "Score:3+" comments mentioning Vista's "Classic" UI mode, which doesn't require a powerful GPU. In fact, it looks a lot like Windows XP with its "Luna" interface deactivated. According to that Wikipedia article (don't use as a final source), Vista's "classic mode" only has the same graphics card requirements as Windows 2000.

Here's what I think is a better Microsoft page describing (and providing links to) Vista's likely requirements:

Windows Vista Capable PC Hardware Guidelines

• CPU -- PC systems should have a modern CPU.
• RAM -- PC systems should have 512MB of memory or more.
• GPU -- PC systems should have a graphics processor that will support Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM).

Windows Vista offers significant improvements to the graphics user experience. To take advantage of these advances in the graphics user experience, graphics processor will need to support WDDM. Graphics processors capable of supporting WDDM:

• Are designed to ensure that graphics user experience scales up with hardware capabilities.
• Offer improved graphic stability and performance.
• May be able to support additional desktop productivity features.

Systems that meet and/or exceed the above requirements should be able to provide a good experience while running Windows Vista. PC systems that do not meet the above hardware requirements for CPU, RAM and GPU may support running Windows Vista. However, such systems may not offer all the features and benefits of Windows Vista. For example, PC systems with GPUs that do not support WDDM will only be able to provide a Windows XP-comparable desktop graphics experience, with regards to features, stability, and performance.

So to answer the freakin' article's question: Yes, if your Core Duo or Solo notebook had integrated Intel graphics, it will work with Vista because GMA 950 supports WDDM. Heck, it will likely work with the new Aero UI. But since the reader specifically stated he "doesn't care about semitransparent windows and cool animations," even an old Pentium M or Celeron M notebook with the 915GM chipset (GMA 900 graphics) will work with Vista in "classic mode." Here's a link to an Intel page on mobile minimum recommendations for Vista:

Windows Vista and Intel Mobile Platforms for Business

After the launch of Windows Vista, laptop PCs with Mobile Intel® 915GM Express Chipset will be able to run Windows Vista providing a Windows* XP-comparable graphics experience.

A dedicated graphics card with DirectX® 9.0 support

That is only a requirement if you want to run the Aero user interface (it must also support Windows Display Driver Model). I can't believe I haven't seen any "Score:3+" comments mentioning Vista's "Classic" UI mode, which doesn't require a powerful GPU. In fact, it looks a lot like Windows XP with its "Luna" interface deactivated. According to that Wikipedia article (don't use as a final source), Vista's "classic mode" only has the same graphics card requirements as Windows 2000.

Here's what I think is a better Microsoft page describing (and providing links to) Vista's likely requirements:

Windows Vista Capable PC Hardware Guidelines

• CPU -- PC systems should have a modern CPU.
• RAM -- PC systems should have 512MB of memory or more.
• GPU -- PC systems should have a graphics processor that will support Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM).

Windows Vista offers significant improvements to the graphics user experience. To take advantage of these advances in the graphics user experience, graphics processor will need to support WDDM. Graphics processors capable of supporting WDDM:

• Are designed to ensure that graphics user experience scales up with hardware capabilities.
• Offer improved graphic stability and performance.
• May be able to support additional desktop productivity features.

Systems that meet and/or exceed the above requirements should be able to provide a good experience while running Windows Vista. PC systems that do not meet the above hardware requirements for CPU, RAM and GPU may support running Windows Vista. However, such systems may not offer all the features and benefits of Windows Vista. For example, PC systems with GPUs that do not support WDDM will only be able to provide a Windows XP-comparable desktop graphics experience, with regards to features, stability, and performance.

So to answer the freakin' article's question: Yes, if your Core Duo or Solo notebook had integrated Intel graphics, it will work with Vista because GMA 950 supports WDDM. Heck, it will likely work with the new Aero UI. But since the reader specifically stated he "doesn't care about semitransparent windows and cool animations," even an old Pentium M or Celeron M notebook with the 915GM chipset (GMA 900 graphics) will work with Vista in "classic mode." Here's a link to an Intel page on mobile minimum recommendations for Vista:

Windows Vista and Intel Mobile Platforms for Business

After the launch of Windows Vista, laptop PCs with Mobile Intel® 915GM Express Chipset will be able to run Windows Vista providing a Windows* XP-comparable graphics experience.

Are there still security updates for Windows 2000?

In the end (when you don't do games) this is what is limitating the usefulness of a PC: how long you'll have security updates..

Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ

Getting back to the "Buy or Wait" topic, note that buyers of Windows XP Home computers will see their "mainstream" support end 2 years after Windows Vista is released. WinXP Home does not get "extended" support like WinXP Pro does. For home computer buyers who don't want to deal with upgrading their OS in 2 years, it might be worth waiting for Vista (or getting XP Pro).

Also note that Microsoft sometimes extends support for products that are still in wide use. For example, Windows 98 still gets critical security updates for chissakes.

Are there still security updates for Windows 2000?

In the end (when you don't do games) this is what is limitating the usefulness of a PC: how long you'll have security updates..

Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ

Getting back to the "Buy or Wait" topic, note that buyers of Windows XP Home computers will see their "mainstream" support end 2 years after Windows Vista is released. WinXP Home does not get "extended" support like WinXP Pro does. For home computer buyers who don't want to deal with upgrading their OS in 2 years, it might be worth waiting for Vista (or getting XP Pro).

Also note that Microsoft sometimes extends support for products that are still in wide use. For example, Windows 98 still gets critical security updates for chissakes.

Are there still security updates for Windows 2000?

In the end (when you don't do games) this is what is limitating the usefulness of a PC: how long you'll have security updates..

Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ

Getting back to the "Buy or Wait" topic, note that buyers of Windows XP Home computers will see their "mainstream" support end 2 years after Windows Vista is released. WinXP Home does not get "extended" support like WinXP Pro does. For home computer buyers who don't want to deal with upgrading their OS in 2 years, it might be worth waiting for Vista (or getting XP Pro).

Also note that Microsoft sometimes extends support for products that are still in wide use. For example, Windows 98 still gets critical security updates for chissakes.

Are there still security updates for Windows 2000?

In the end (when you don't do games) this is what is limitating the usefulness of a PC: how long you'll have security updates..

Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ

Getting back to the "Buy or Wait" topic, note that buyers of Windows XP Home computers will see their "mainstream" support end 2 years after Windows Vista is released. WinXP Home does not get "extended" support like WinXP Pro does. For home computer buyers who don't want to deal with upgrading their OS in 2 years, it might be worth waiting for Vista (or getting XP Pro).

Also note that Microsoft sometimes extends support for products that are still in wide use. For example, Windows 98 still gets critical security updates for chissakes.

I'm not sure how complex the graphical display needs to be, but VBScript or JScript are both relatively easy to learn and can be written to interface with a lot of Windows components.

Bonus: There is a storehouse of sample scripts and examples on Microsoft's website that you can easily modify with only a little background information. See the links below.

HTML Application Development
  Here's where you get code for your graphical interface...HTAs use Internet Explorer so they are ridiculously easy to create. The page also provides plenty of samples that you can tinker with.

Microsoft Scripting Repository
Microsoft VBScript Repository
Here's where you get your scripts...they have VBScript, JScript and others, plus a bunch of samples to tinker with and easy to read tutorials.

Windows 2000 Scripting Guide
Here's the online version of the Windows 2000 Scripting Guide.

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Documentation
WMI Tasks for Scripts And Applications
Here's Microsoft's implementation of WBEM...this interface will probably expose the COM ports to get you the information you need for your program. The second link is to sample VBScripts utilizing WMI.

I'm not sure how complex the graphical display needs to be, but VBScript or JScript are both relatively easy to learn and can be written to interface with a lot of Windows components.

Bonus: There is a storehouse of sample scripts and examples on Microsoft's website that you can easily modify with only a little background information. See the links below.

HTML Application Development
  Here's where you get code for your graphical interface...HTAs use Internet Explorer so they are ridiculously easy to create. The page also provides plenty of samples that you can tinker with.

Microsoft Scripting Repository
Microsoft VBScript Repository
Here's where you get your scripts...they have VBScript, JScript and others, plus a bunch of samples to tinker with and easy to read tutorials.

Windows 2000 Scripting Guide
Here's the online version of the Windows 2000 Scripting Guide.

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Documentation
WMI Tasks for Scripts And Applications
Here's Microsoft's implementation of WBEM...this interface will probably expose the COM ports to get you the information you need for your program. The second link is to sample VBScripts utilizing WMI.

I'm not sure how complex the graphical display needs to be, but VBScript or JScript are both relatively easy to learn and can be written to interface with a lot of Windows components.

Bonus: There is a storehouse of sample scripts and examples on Microsoft's website that you can easily modify with only a little background information. See the links below.

HTML Application Development
  Here's where you get code for your graphical interface...HTAs use Internet Explorer so they are ridiculously easy to create. The page also provides plenty of samples that you can tinker with.

Microsoft Scripting Repository
Microsoft VBScript Repository
Here's where you get your scripts...they have VBScript, JScript and others, plus a bunch of samples to tinker with and easy to read tutorials.

Windows 2000 Scripting Guide
Here's the online version of the Windows 2000 Scripting Guide.

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Documentation
WMI Tasks for Scripts And Applications
Here's Microsoft's implementation of WBEM...this interface will probably expose the COM ports to get you the information you need for your program. The second link is to sample VBScripts utilizing WMI.

I'm not sure how complex the graphical display needs to be, but VBScript or JScript are both relatively easy to learn and can be written to interface with a lot of Windows components.

Bonus: There is a storehouse of sample scripts and examples on Microsoft's website that you can easily modify with only a little background information. See the links below.

HTML Application Development
  Here's where you get code for your graphical interface...HTAs use Internet Explorer so they are ridiculously easy to create. The page also provides plenty of samples that you can tinker with.

Microsoft Scripting Repository
Microsoft VBScript Repository
Here's where you get your scripts...they have VBScript, JScript and others, plus a bunch of samples to tinker with and easy to read tutorials.

Windows 2000 Scripting Guide
Here's the online version of the Windows 2000 Scripting Guide.

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Documentation
WMI Tasks for Scripts And Applications
Here's Microsoft's implementation of WBEM...this interface will probably expose the COM ports to get you the information you need for your program. The second link is to sample VBScripts utilizing WMI.

I'm not sure how complex the graphical display needs to be, but VBScript or JScript are both relatively easy to learn and can be written to interface with a lot of Windows components.

Bonus: There is a storehouse of sample scripts and examples on Microsoft's website that you can easily modify with only a little background information. See the links below.

HTML Application Development
  Here's where you get code for your graphical interface...HTAs use Internet Explorer so they are ridiculously easy to create. The page also provides plenty of samples that you can tinker with.

Microsoft Scripting Repository
Microsoft VBScript Repository
Here's where you get your scripts...they have VBScript, JScript and others, plus a bunch of samples to tinker with and easy to read tutorials.

Windows 2000 Scripting Guide
Here's the online version of the Windows 2000 Scripting Guide.

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Documentation
WMI Tasks for Scripts And Applications
Here's Microsoft's implementation of WBEM...this interface will probably expose the COM ports to get you the information you need for your program. The second link is to sample VBScripts utilizing WMI.

I'm not sure how complex the graphical display needs to be, but VBScript or JScript are both relatively easy to learn and can be written to interface with a lot of Windows components.

Bonus: There is a storehouse of sample scripts and examples on Microsoft's website that you can easily modify with only a little background information. See the links below.

HTML Application Development
  Here's where you get code for your graphical interface...HTAs use Internet Explorer so they are ridiculously easy to create. The page also provides plenty of samples that you can tinker with.

Microsoft Scripting Repository
Microsoft VBScript Repository
Here's where you get your scripts...they have VBScript, JScript and others, plus a bunch of samples to tinker with and easy to read tutorials.

Windows 2000 Scripting Guide
Here's the online version of the Windows 2000 Scripting Guide.

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Documentation
WMI Tasks for Scripts And Applications
Here's Microsoft's implementation of WBEM...this interface will probably expose the COM ports to get you the information you need for your program. The second link is to sample VBScripts utilizing WMI.

According to Microsoft, you will need around the following:

System Requirements:

Minimum system requirements will not be known until summer 2006 at the earliest. However, these guidelines provide useful estimates:

512 megabytes (MB) or more of RAM

A dedicated graphics card with DirectX® 9.0 support

A modern, Intel Pentium- or AMD Athlon-based PC.

So, I am guessing that a Centrino will fly.

If I'm not mistaken you're trying to "combine the strengths of several old machines to run a SINGLE software".

If so, please do not try to do this in a "generic" way. Even if somehow you achive to do it, the effect will be opposite of what you want. There is a big bottleneck in PC networking, unless you're using some specific fabric (say from Sun).

Instead, try to rewrite you application to be "cluster aware". Windows has (in production?) a new version called "Compute Cluster Edition" which comes with MPI and necessary management tools.

If you do not have access to the source code, bad luck then. Either use Free Software next time, or buy yourself a "powerful" single machine.

If I'm mistaken and you're trying to make a "POOL" for virtual machines, then Xen would be a good solution (for it's price). However as you've said VMware is solid but Xen is "in infant stages". You'll have to write many (probably in Python) scripts to do your job.

Windows Forms already does a bit of layout management, with its docking features, and that's good enough for most people.

VB apps are not known for speed
as opposed to Java apps? sorry that's not been my experience. I agree about the design part, though.

I hope they've fixed its memory-hogging nature. Overall, I found it slower than Eclipse,more crashy, and generally bloated. I havent looked at recent builds though.

I love good arguments and I'm not afraid to admit I'm wrong

Bullshit. You might admit it if God came down and beat the truth into you with a stick. Even then, you would struggle.

But at least yesterday one of the first posts gave this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/encyclopedia/det ails.aspx?name=Win32%2FMywife#Aliases
Note that this link provides a REMOVAL TOOL. I guess Microsoft doesn't have some sort of conspiracy against unpaying customers after all.

For references, these are the enumeration names and where to go to make sure you have the latest anti-virus signature. Remember, this variant will uninstall and delete most anti-virus software so it's important to recognize it before it goes active tomorrow. Most virus definition software refers to it as CME-24. This is important since this worm has many different names including Nyxem.E, BlackWorm, Grew and Mywife.E.

More on the worm and its permutations and statistics on spreading.

A very detailed analysis with all types of files that may be affected.

And, if it's worth anything to you, the Microsoft advisory which seems to tout that Windows Live Safety Center Beta can protect against it. If you're in charge of computer security at your workplace, I would send out an e-mail instructing everyone to verify that they have the correct anti-virus definitions and to scan their computers before leaving tonight. Luckily, that's not my job where I work.

They simple do not have a Malicioius Software Removal Tool currently ready

so this one doesn't count, i guess?

so many levels of misinformation here... how parent got to +5, i'll never know.

(and before you start in with all the "that one isn't updated until the 2nd tuesday!!!" crap, i suggest you read this page and look for the word 'MyWife'.)

They simple do not have a Malicioius Software Removal Tool currently ready

so this one doesn't count, i guess?

so many levels of misinformation here... how parent got to +5, i'll never know.

(and before you start in with all the "that one isn't updated until the 2nd tuesday!!!" crap, i suggest you read this page and look for the word 'MyWife'.)

You're right, nigh impossible, and hard to read too
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/system.componentmodel.b ackgroundworker.aspx

Another 5 minute expert on Slashdot, what else is new.

public Form1()
        {
            mWorkerThread.ProgressChanged += new ProgressChangedEventHandler(mWorkerThread_Progress Changed);
            mWorkerThread.DoWork+=new DoWorkEventHandler(mWorkerThread_DoWork);
        }

        void mWorkerThread_DoWork(object sender, DoWorkEventArgs e)
        { //do work on background thread
              mWorkerThread.ReportProgress();
        }

        void mWorkerThread_ProgressChanged(object sender, ProgressChangedEventArgs e)
        {
            this.mText.Text = e.UserState;
        }

And while we are at it, try this in Java

int lVal0 = 0;
int lVal1 = 1;
Swap( ref lVal0, ref lVal1 ); //Val0 = 1, Val1 = 0

Wonderful language. Really.

You're right, nigh impossible, and hard to read too http://msdn2.microsoft.com/system.componentmodel.b ackgroundworker.aspx Another 5 minute expert on Slashdot, what else is new. public Form1() { mWorkerThread.ProgressChanged += new ProgressChangedEventHandler(mWorkerThread_Progress Changed); mWorkerThread.DoWork+=new DoWorkEventHandler(mWorkerThread_DoWork); } void mWorkerThread_DoWork(object sender, DoWorkEventArgs e) { //do work on background thread mWorkerThread.ReportProgress(); } void mWorkerThread_ProgressChanged(object sender, ProgressChangedEventArgs e) { this.mText.Text = e.UserState; } And while we are at it, try this in Java int lValue = 0; SetValueToOne( ref lValue ); //lValue equals 1 Wonderful language. Really.

• The syntax, which you can adapt to, given a good editor with auto-indent and syntax highlight.
• The fact the standard libraries, despite providing a wealth of datastructures, are lame or non-existant for doing anything actually useful (heavy duty I/O, sockets, GUI, etc). Compare this with C, where nothing is standard per ANSI C, but there are libraries which do everything for free bundled in the OS.
• There is no really good free and multi-platform implementation. For C you have GCC. It works on basically everything you may care about (from ARM PDAs to s390 Mainframes). For Java you have Sun's JDK, which despite not really being open source, is a free (as in beer) download and allows you to develop payware without paying a dime to Sun. The following is a couple years old info, but I am guessing things have not changed much yet: Emacs LISP isn't does not compile into native binaries and is not Common LISP compatible. CLISP does not compile into native binaries and is not 100% Common LISP compatible (almost). CMUCL is buggy, used to have an incredibly lame garbage collector which made you twiddle your thumbs every 5 minutes, and a had poor user interface to boot, GCL is not Common LISP compliant by a longshot. The good tools are payola like Allegro. Contrast this with Sun Java JDK + Eclipse. There is no contest... Even Microsoft is handing out at the moment Visual C# Express for $0 which can be used for commercial use.

Hello,

A bit of searching came up with the following free or trial versions of anti-virus programs which are capable of detecting and removing Win32/MyWife (née CME-24):

Alwil - Avast! 4 Home Edition (free for personal non-commercial use)
ESET - NOD32 trial version (30-day evaluation)
Grisoft - AVG Free Edition (free for personal non-commercial use)
Kaspersky Lab - Anti-Virus Personal 5.0 (30-day evaluation)
McAfee - VirusScan (30-day evaluation)
Microsoft - Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (KB890830) (free)
Panda - Titanium Antivirus 2006 (30-day evaluation)
Sophos - Anti-Virus (30-day evaluation)
Symantec - W32.Blackmal@mm Removal Tool (free)
Trend Micro - PC-cillin Trial Version (30-day evaluation)

I'm certain other readers will look up and post links to additional vendors, too. Ob-disclaimer: I happen to work for one of the companies listed above, so there.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Hello,

A bit of searching came up with the following free or trial versions of anti-virus programs which are capable of detecting and removing Win32/MyWife (née CME-24):

Alwil - Avast! 4 Home Edition (free for personal non-commercial use)
ESET - NOD32 trial version (30-day evaluation)
Grisoft - AVG Free Edition (free for personal non-commercial use)
Kaspersky Lab - Anti-Virus Personal 5.0 (30-day evaluation)
McAfee - VirusScan (30-day evaluation)
Microsoft - Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (KB890830) (free)
Panda - Titanium Antivirus 2006 (30-day evaluation)
Sophos - Anti-Virus (30-day evaluation)
Symantec - W32.Blackmal@mm Removal Tool (free)
Trend Micro - PC-cillin Trial Version (30-day evaluation)

I'm certain other readers will look up and post links to additional vendors, too. Ob-disclaimer: I happen to work for one of the companies listed above, so there.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Hello,

A bit of searching came up with the following free or trial versions of anti-virus programs which are capable of detecting and removing Win32/MyWife (née CME-24):

Alwil - Avast! 4 Home Edition (free for personal non-commercial use)
ESET - NOD32 trial version (30-day evaluation)
Grisoft - AVG Free Edition (free for personal non-commercial use)
Kaspersky Lab - Anti-Virus Personal 5.0 (30-day evaluation)
McAfee - VirusScan (30-day evaluation)
Microsoft - Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (KB890830) (free)
Panda - Titanium Antivirus 2006 (30-day evaluation)
Sophos - Anti-Virus (30-day evaluation)
Symantec - W32.Blackmal@mm Removal Tool (free)
Trend Micro - PC-cillin Trial Version (30-day evaluation)

I'm certain other readers will look up and post links to additional vendors, too. Ob-disclaimer: I happen to work for one of the companies listed above, so there.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Hello,

A bit of searching came up with the following free or trial versions of anti-virus programs which are capable of detecting and removing Win32/MyWife (née CME-24):

Alwil - Avast! 4 Home Edition (free for personal non-commercial use)
ESET - NOD32 trial version (30-day evaluation)
Grisoft - AVG Free Edition (free for personal non-commercial use)
Kaspersky Lab - Anti-Virus Personal 5.0 (30-day evaluation)
McAfee - VirusScan (30-day evaluation)
Microsoft - Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (KB890830) (free)
Panda - Titanium Antivirus 2006 (30-day evaluation)
Sophos - Anti-Virus (30-day evaluation)
Symantec - W32.Blackmal@mm Removal Tool (free)
Trend Micro - PC-cillin Trial Version (30-day evaluation)

I'm certain other readers will look up and post links to additional vendors, too. Ob-disclaimer: I happen to work for one of the companies listed above, so there.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Bonzai Buddy is an application that uses Microsoft Agent. Microsoft Agent is a technology that can be used to give 'character' to an application. It is used as the basis of the XP search assisant, the Office Assistant (the newer ones that are not enclosed in a window), And even the little question mark thing that appears the first time you boot into Windows XP after installation (or after sysprep).

Microsoft created (or at least holds the rights to) may characters. Some are fairly application specific not having a fairly complete set of aninimations. But Microsoft also has four general purpose characters, one of which is the green parrot named Peedy.

For more information see: http://www.microsoft.com/msagent/default.asp

Philanthropy is also important to Gates. He and his wife, Melinda, have endowed a foundation with more than $27 billion (as of March 2004) to support philanthropic initiatives in the areas of global health and learning, with the hope that in the 21st century, advances in these critical areas will be available for all people. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed more than $3.2 billion to organizations working in global health; more than $2 billion to improve learning opportunities, including the Gates Library Initiative to bring computers, Internet Access and training to public libraries in low-income communities in the United States and Canada; more than $477 million to community projects in the Pacific Northwest; and more than $488 million to special projects and annual giving campaigns.

...of downloading the 11.2 MB installer from this site (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/ie7/ie7betare direct.mspx) and tried to install it on a Win2k Prof machine....after extracting the files to a folder the installer popped up the following message

"This package does not support your system architecture (32/64bits)."

The machine is a 32 bit P4 machine.

Just FYI...
Microsoft is not distributing the patch out of cycle because it is not a vulnerability, it is a mass mailing worm. It has been categorized as low risk. The "unwashed masses" can get the removal tool from

http://www.microsoft.com/security/encyclopedia/det ails.aspx?name=Win32%2FMywife

Actually.... They have three children.

http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/bio.asp

I don't think the BMGF is meant to put them in the poorhouse, though. The kids will have plenty when it's over.

    - Zarq
          Trolling in obsolescence for +1 Informative.

http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/bio.asp

He and Melinda have 3 children. I read somewhere that they have a max inheritance of less than 1%, and the rest is set for charaties (though it will probably be given away as stock with strings, as the mass sale of gates stock would destroy microsoft.

Not so. It's available for free download for a year, after which they'll start charging; however, copies downloaded free remain free and fully licensed. Not sure where you dug, as 4 clicks from the www.microsoft.com homepage will lead you to the pricing section of the FAQ:

12. Do customers who acquire the Visual Studio Express products during the free promotional pricing period have to pay after the first year if they want to continue to use them? No, as long as you download Visual Studio Express on or before November 7th 2006, you will not have to pay for it.

(For the navigationally challenged, the route is: MS homepage, "Developer Tools", "Visual Studio", "Visual Studio Express", and in the right hand column headed "Express Quick Facts" follow the link "Free for 1 year".)

Interestingly you can change the search provider (in search bar) very easily in this build (I had to do a registry hack on the vista beta to change it to google). just click the arrow on search bar and select "find more providers". it will take you to this microsoft site page http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/searchguide/de fault_new.mspx# where you can select most of the top search providers including google and yahoo

... Internet Explorer BETA 2 is released to the public.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/ie7/ie7betared irect.mspx

Y

Yeah, a number of people have already mentioned them, but I have a few extra things to add. First off, the Express Editions are free (as in beer) right now to download and use. You can build commercial apps with the Express Editions.

I'd recommend downloading both VC# and VB Express and using both of them for a little while to see which language you're most comfortable with. In both, you'll be able to use the Windows Forms designer to create your UI, and the process is pretty-much painless with the 2005 products with their new UI design features.

Next, we added a serial port control to the .NET FX v2.0, which is what VS 2005 and the Express Editions all use. This makes it pretty easy to write code that'll grab the data you need. There's a great article on it over at Code Project that walks you through the basics.

Also, if you ever run into trouble you can get help on our Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com.

Good luck!

Yeah, a number of people have already mentioned them, but I have a few extra things to add. First off, the Express Editions are free (as in beer) right now to download and use. You can build commercial apps with the Express Editions.

I'd recommend downloading both VC# and VB Express and using both of them for a little while to see which language you're most comfortable with. In both, you'll be able to use the Windows Forms designer to create your UI, and the process is pretty-much painless with the 2005 products with their new UI design features.

Next, we added a serial port control to the .NET FX v2.0, which is what VS 2005 and the Express Editions all use. This makes it pretty easy to write code that'll grab the data you need. There's a great article on it over at Code Project that walks you through the basics.

Also, if you ever run into trouble you can get help on our Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com.

Good luck!

Just a warning : many of the usb-serial converters do not work well with serial controls. They drop a packet of bytes here and there. Try to do your work with a real serial port (I consider a pcmcia serial port to be real, a usb serial port is not.). Specifically, MicroSoft says that the serial port control that comes with VB 6 should not be used with usb serial converters.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb; en-us;832678

Note You cannot use the MSComm control to access a USB serial adapter that is connected to a USB port. If you try to use the MSComm control to access a USB port, you may receive the following error message:

Run-time error '8015': Could not set comm state, there may be one or more invalid communications parameters

You can add google and most others. Check out http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/searchguide/de fault_new.mspx#.

From http://msdn.microsoft.com/ie/releasenotes/default. aspx

To uninstall Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Preview and return to Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP
* Click "Start," and then click "Control Panel."
* Click "Add or Remove Programs."
* Check "Show Updates" at the top of the dialog box.
* Scroll down the list to "Windows XP - Software Updates," select "Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2Preview," and then click "Change/Remove."

If "Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Preview" does not exist, run %windir%\$NtUninstallie7bet2p$\spuninst\spuninst.e xe. You need to have "view hidden folders" enabled.

http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mssql/arti cle.php/2204421
http://www.perfectxml.com/articles/xml/openxml.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues /2005/05/SQLXML/default.aspx

Yes, but ClearType can still help some. Obviously it is not as good, but for some people it is better than having it off.
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypeFAQ.m spx

I believe the parent was referring to the division of Microsoft which is responsible for the Xbox. That is Robert J. Bach, not Bill Gates.

I just installed beta 2 (on XP) and I am surprised that Google is my default search engine! The only other one installed is MSN. I had the Google toolbar installed in 6, and it is right there in 7 as well. All of it works perfectly. It seems as though MS has addressed the concerns in earlier versions.
The list of search engine providers includes AOL, Ask Jeeves, Google, MSN and Yahoo. There are also providers for specific websites, e.g. amazon and MSDN. Looks pretty good!

Everyone's eyes have different sesitivities to different light wavelengths. Since cleartype uses different colors with the layout of the colored pixels of your monitor, it should be configured for each monitor and user to provide the best results.

Link to online cleartype calibration site:
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tune r/Step1.aspx

You'd like to check this image out.

The heading you refer to is a gif image. I'm sure your brother can make a gif image look the same on multiple platforms.

The .NET Framework Version 1.1 Redistributable Package is available here. You can use the Visual Studio .NET Bootstrapper plugin to distribute it with your application.