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Windows 7 Has Lots of "God Modes"

An anonymous reader writes "Those intrigued by the 'GodMode' in Windows 7 may be interested to know that there are many other similar shortcuts hidden within the operating system — some going back to Vista or before. Steven Sinofsky, Windows division president, said several similar undocumented features provide direct access to all kinds of settings, from choosing a location to managing power settings to identifying biometric sensors." Update: 01/07 23:46 GMT by CT : Link updated to source.

422 comments

  1. Unfortunately... by Anonymusing · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...theologians have recently determined that God has a "MicrosoftMode". Watch out for the Blue Screen of Death.

    --
    Liberal? Conservative? Compare perspectives at Left-Right
    1. Re:Unfortunately... by slarrg · · Score: 5, Funny

      Noah's already experienced it but God gave us a new colorful interface element and promised it'll never happen again.

    2. Re:Unfortunately... by CAIMLAS · · Score: 3, Funny

      .... oh shit.

      --
      ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
    3. Re:Unfortunately... by nielsm · · Score: 1

      So all that stuff about a "tunnel of light" is a lie? It's just infinite blue?

      I want my money back.

    4. Re:Unfortunately... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...theologians have recently determined that God has a "MicrosoftMode". Watch out for the Blue Screen of Death.

      I'm atheist, you insensitive clod!

      Though, I guess it also means I don't have to worry about BSoDs.

    5. Re:Unfortunately... by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 0

      Noah's already experienced it but God gave us a new colorful interface element and promised it'll never happen again.

      So that explains the Apple "Beachball of Death" :-)

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    6. Re:Unfortunately... by lymond01 · · Score: 1

      It's the WTOL* not the BSOD and is already quite famous.

      * White Tunnel of Light

    7. Re:Unfortunately... by severoon · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think the user experience design meeting at MS must have gone something like this...

      "Listen, we've developed this feature that lets users manage their systems very conveniently. Access to everything from one place."
      "Wow, that does look good. All in favor of hiding it?"
      (all, in unison) "Aye!"

      --
      but have you considered the following argument: shut up.
    8. Re:Unfortunately... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So that's why he's also referred to as the "Cloud Guy"

    9. Re:Unfortunately... by xouumalperxe · · Score: 1

      Actually, God's BSOD is actually a "Black Sky of Death", as per the standard Deluge myth.

    10. Re:Unfortunately... by recoiledsnake · · Score: 4, Insightful

      God bless their souls. I would want Grandma to be atleast 3 clicks away from the desktop from settings such as "Create and Format Hard Disk Partitions". Me? I just put the folder on the desktop as a easy way to tweak my gaming desktop.

      --
      This space for rent.
    11. Re:Unfortunately... by the_hellspawn · · Score: 0

      No, that was a zero day attack by a known flaw that rested in the user interface. The hacker, known as Lucifer, was caught and sent to prison for a term no less than infinity. After the attack the patch was installed and should be good now.

      --
      "The laws of science be a harsh mistress." --Bender
    12. Re:Unfortunately... by Gerzel · · Score: 1

      You know I think Google has a limited beta out to compete with this called gExist. The main gheaven GoogleEarth and glight features are already live, and the glight feature is pretty good if I say so myself. It all runs on the gwater framework but uses the gdarkness eula.

    13. Re:Unfortunately... by Hurricane78 · · Score: 1

      Great. Even more colorful touchables. And the back-end still is a p.o.s. I mean women still bleed for no freakin’ reason, there are still diseases, disasters, wars. And the physics algorithms still lack basic supersymetries, like repelling gravity. Hell, he doesn’t even have the memory leaks fixed, as there are tons of black holes where stuff just gets lost.

      Apropos hell: If this does not get fixed, I’m planning to move to hell. I heard, that since last November, it’s much more comfortable down there.
      I also heard that there is flight planned in some years, with the Event Horizon.
      At least Satan has his shit together, and a straight policy. You don’t see him flip-flopping about the weather!

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
    14. Re:Unfortunately... by w0mprat · · Score: 1

      ...theologians have recently determined that God has a "MicrosoftMode". Watch out for the Blue Sky of Death.

      Did I just fix that for you? Is that what you meant?

      If/when the universe implodes in a big crunch we would actually see the cosmic microwave background radiation, in all directions in the sky, blue shifted.

      --
      After logging in slashdot still does not take you back to the page you were on. It's been that way for 20 years.
    15. Re:Unfortunately... by Anonymusing · · Score: 1

      That's what I meant, though I left it as an exercise to the reader -- and look, there you are.

      Someone earlier up posted a link to blue sky pictures on Google Images. That's funny too.

      --
      Liberal? Conservative? Compare perspectives at Left-Right
    16. Re:Unfortunately... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OMFG - it's slashdotted - we've slashodotted God, that is so fsckin' cool or uncool or somethin'.

    17. Re:Unfortunately... by icannotthinkofaname · · Score: 1

      Hell, he doesn’t even have the memory leaks fixed, as there are tons of black holes where stuff just gets lost.

      I thought that was /dev/null, rather than a memory leak.

      --
      Let q be a radix > 1. I am in ur base-q, killing 10 d00ds.
    18. Re:Unfortunately... by dpilot · · Score: 3, Interesting

      A few years back, I had my (~80) mother set up with a PC running a fairly well locked down Linux setup. It was set up with icewm, and she had menu items for email, (thunderbird) solitaire, (pysol) and a few others. Basically I tailored is specifically to her needs. The mail was kept on a local imap server, and thunderbird connected to it. That way if she did something really weird to thunderbird and made it crash, her mail would be safe in server-space. I did most of what I could to grandma-proof the system.

      Somehow she kept changing the theme on icewm. I don't know how... For the particular theme she kept getting, you have to be 4 clicks into a menu tree. But she did, and I'd ssh into her machine and tweak things back the way they belonged, from a spare copy. At one point I marked a bunch of her files as read-only, but some software sees that, sees that she owns the file, and "kindly" changed it back to read-write and made the bogus update. I kept wanting to change things so she didn't even own her own configuration files - they would belong to someone else, and she would have group-level read permission. Never had the chance to do it - testing was the hard part - I'd have to be there for that, and when we were there we had more important things to do that spend a lot of time on the computer.

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    19. Re:Unfortunately... by pugugly · · Score: 1

      I'm sorry, your report has been closed; Item only reported once, unable to duplicate.

      --
      An Invisible Entity of Vast Power whose existence must be taken on faith alone: Liberal Media
    20. Re:Unfortunately... by webmistressrachel · · Score: 3, Funny

      "women still bleed for no freakin' reason" ... the occasion you seem to be referring to is NOT bleeding as you know it at all, it's a monthly cycle of cleaning and renewal. And although it is painful, and ugly, a lot of women still see the menstrual cycle as the gift it is - the ability to create a miracle.

      As for all the other stuff about God vs. Lucifer - you're correct, "He's an absentee landlord! Worship that? Never!"

      At least I know where I stand with the devil, well, I tend to kneel, actually... (use your imagination, boys!)

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    21. Re:Unfortunately... by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      If changing themes is the worst thing she could do, why were you so ardent to prevent her from doing that?

      --
      Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
    22. Re:Unfortunately... by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      The Blue Sea of Death?

      The reboot time after that one was horrible!

    23. Re:Unfortunately... by kurt_harlan · · Score: 1

      I suspect that Grandma would call to complain . . .

    24. Re:Unfortunately... by dpilot · · Score: 1

      Because when she did it, the theme change confused here terribly, making "the screen look all wrong."

      I forgot to mention that the theme changes were unintentional. That was my point, unintentionally navigating 4 layers deep into a nested menu is just a little mindboggling, yet she managed it on a repeating basis.

      You're right, if she wanted to and felt comfortable doing so, I never would try to lock her out of it - I'd help her. But that wasn't the case.

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    25. Re:Unfortunately... by WormholeFiend · · Score: 2, Funny

      So what you are basically saying is that seniors are very efficient at finding Linux bugs?

      Looks like a good opportunity for crowdsourcing if you ask me...

    26. Re:Unfortunately... by dpilot · · Score: 1

      She wasn't so much finding bugs with Linux - she was driving icewm exactly the way it was supposed to work. It was merely a classic PEBKAC, one so unlikely you won't expect it once, let alone multiple times. I once sat down with her, and asked her to check her email while I watched. She dropped down the menu, picked "email" and then started clicking at random all around the screen. I asked her what she was doing, and she answered, "That's what makes it work!" Basically she didn't like waiting for her computer do do something, so she started to "placebo click", and came to feel that doing so was essential. The clicking was purely random, with the mouse moving the whole time. Probably most of the time it was doing no harm, though now that I think of it, maybe that's what helped her drill into the icewm theme menus. My bigger fear would be that thunderbird would pop up and she'd get in a few random clicks inside its border before she noticed it and stopped. In that case, she could be triggering some number of unknown actions - tagging a message as spam or changing sort order come to mind for two.

      She's moved to assisted living, and for the smaller space is now running an Eee Box with Windows XP. Part of the thought behind using WinXP was that she could get more local help.

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    27. Re:Unfortunately... by pluther · · Score: 4, Funny

      ...God has a "MicrosoftMode".

      That would explain why he freaked so much about his users interfacing with that Apple a while back...

      --
      If the masses can keep you down, you're not the Ubermensch.
    28. Re:Unfortunately... by MBGMorden · · Score: 1

      This isn't a bug. If it crashed when changing the theme then yes, that's a bug. Her using a given option as it's intended though is not. The worst you could say is that there was no root-settable option to lock the desktop to a single theme, but that's more "lack of feature" than a bug.

      --
      "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
    29. Re:Unfortunately... by BlackSnake112 · · Score: 1
    30. Re:Unfortunately... by tagno25 · · Score: 1

      at least it was only a "soft" reboot (some data stayed in storage), and not a reboot where the CPU was fried (Mercury) or a HDD crash (Mars)

    31. Re:Unfortunately... by node+3 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Noah's already experienced it but God gave us a new colorful interface element and promised it'll never happen again.

      So that explains the Apple "Beachball of Death" :-)

      The beachball (pinwheel, etc.) is the equivalent of the Windows hourglass, *not* the equivalent of the BSoD. Apple's BSoD is the kernel panic, just like any other self-respecting Unix.

    32. Re:Unfortunately... by spinach+and+eggs · · Score: 1

      Four clicks into the menu? She was probably doing it intentionally; she just wanted a reason to talk to you and maybe even get you to visit.

    33. Re:Unfortunately... by dpilot · · Score: 1

      No, she isn't really that savvy.

      Besides, my wife was exchanging emails with her at least daily, I call at least weekly, and my brother calls every morning. (He has an unlimited long-distance plan.) We're not grudging with our contact. Besides, look elsewhere on this thread for more of here computing experiences. We figure it's good for her to be using one as much as she is. We first set her up with one at age 69.

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    34. Re:Unfortunately... by ppanon · · Score: 2, Funny

      I know what you mean. At less than 18 months, our son was pressing keys at random while sitting on my wife's lap as she used her iMac computer. He managed to get the preferences changed to run an inverted video once, as well as to get it to go into some sort of audio/speech synthesis visually-impaired-support mode. At that age he wasn't that savvy either. Nowadays at nearly 2 years, he's starting to try to play head games with us and it might be believable, but back then no.

      --
      Laissez lire, et laissez danser; ces deux amusements ne feront jamais de mal au monde. - Voltaire
    35. Re:Unfortunately... by dpilot · · Score: 1

      When my daughter was 3-something, I took her into town, and was chatting with one of the guys at the computer store. (We did more than just go to the computer store, of course.) I let her tap away at a keyboard, figuring she wouldn't be able to hurt much. I turned around to see the "Confirm Delete" dialog. I'm not sure if she confirmed or canceled, nor what she deleted if she confirmed. Oh well...

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    36. Re:Unfortunately... by zoloto · · Score: 1

      chattr -i /path/to/file seems to work ;)

    37. Re:Unfortunately... by darkpixel2k · · Score: 1

      Apple's BSoD is the kernel panic, just like any other self-respecting Unix.

      I like my operating system to be self-respecting when it goes down on me.

      --
      There's no place like ::1 (I've completed my transition to IPv6)
    38. Re:Unfortunately... by dpilot · · Score: 1

      Should have thought of that one, too late now.

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    39. Re:Unfortunately... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unless you're referring to the miracle of being able to bleed for days and not die, there are many mammals without a monthly cycle and they can still breed.

    40. Re:Unfortunately... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      Hmm, but the sky is already blue where I am...

      --
    41. Re:Unfortunately... by CoolVibe · · Score: 1

      Even worse, that's where he divided by zero.

    42. Re:Unfortunately... by TheTyrannyOfForcedRe · · Score: 1

      the occasion you seem to be referring to is NOT bleeding as you know it at all, it's a monthly cycle of cleaning and renewal. And although it is painful, and ugly, a lot of women still see the menstrual cycle as the gift it is - the ability to create a miracle.

      Actually, constant menstruation is the price of concealed ovulation. In most species the fertile time is evident, sometimes even advertised. The trouble with that (from a female's point of view) is that the males only give you stuff (resources, attention, protection, etc.) when you're fertile.

      Human women have figured out a way to keep the freebies coming 24/7/365. Their bodies do not advertise fertility. In fact they do their best to cover it up. This keeps the males guessing. They are forced to be nice to human women all the time because she could be fertile right now or two weeks from now. The male needs to be in the female's good graces at all times so he gets regular sex and thus a chance to hit the window of maximal fertility.

      This gives a woman the ability to sneak off for some infidelity during her maximally fertile time to land the genes she desires for her offspring, while spending the bulk of her time (her least fertile time) with one stable male to get the resources she desires. This is a very powerful tool. It is so common that there is a term for it non-paternity event. The numbers are shockingly high for some groups.

      So really menstruation is the price of being a sneaky whore.

      --
      "Liechtenstein is the world's largest producer of sausage casings, potassium storage units, and false teeth."
    43. Re:Unfortunately... by Lord+of+Hyphens · · Score: 1

      Sometimes I wonder if my cat has it in for me; I've seen oddball effects triggered by the cat on the keyboard (before I shoo him off). Makes me want to look into getting software to check for that andASDSADGASDGFDSHJHJadasdAFGDSFGSDF&NO CARRIER

      --
      "I've spent my whole life figuring out crazy ways to do things. It'll work." -- Montgomery Scott, "Relics"
    44. Re:Unfortunately... by badkarmadayaccount · · Score: 1

      GNOME should change naming convention, I just wasted too much time staring blankly.

      --
      I know tobacco is bad for you, so I smoke weed with crack.
  2. Those strings can't be right by stillnotelf · · Score: 1

    God mode is DNKROZ or DNCORNHOLIO, not {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}. Maybe the other codes are for infinite ammo, all weapons, etc?

    1. Re:Those strings can't be right by EvilRemix · · Score: 5, Insightful

      There is only one God mode and it is IDDQD.

      --
      "It's mercy, compassion and forgiveness I lack. Not rationality."
    2. Re:Those strings can't be right by Azureflare · · Score: 1, Redundant

      To me, god mode will always be IDDQD.

    3. Re:Those strings can't be right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Using that will doom you :)

    4. Re:Those strings can't be right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IDDQD
      IDKFA
      IDCLIP

      I feel bad that I remember those.

    5. Re:Those strings can't be right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Awesome! I loved Duke Nukem!

    6. Re:Those strings can't be right by stillnotelf · · Score: 1

      Don't feel bad - I had Turok: Dinosaur Hunter on N64's god mode memorized for a while. NTHGTHDGDCRTDTRK (and no keyboard for inputting that monster)

    7. Re:Those strings can't be right by anarchyboy · · Score: 1

      I felt worse remembering

      IDSPISPOPD

      Despite not knowing what it stood for until checking it just now.

    8. Re:Those strings can't be right by ninkendo84 · · Score: 5, Informative

      "On the eighth day god created turok" without vowels. Not that hard to remember.

      --

      $ make love
      make: don't know how to make love. Stop
    9. Re:Those strings can't be right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IDSPISPOPD

    10. Re:Those strings can't be right by Lord+Bitman · · Score: 1

      I just did "bind q impulse 255", never needed a god mode.

      --
      -- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
    11. Re:Those strings can't be right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but everybody knows that running in god mode in Windows is a security risk. You're better off running as a limited user, such as IDKFA.

    12. Re:Those strings can't be right by techno-vampire · · Score: 1

      Personally I prefer RDELVIS. Of course, I always appreciated having to hit Bubba over the head with a crow bar to end most of the levels.

      --
      Good, inexpensive web hosting
    13. Re:Those strings can't be right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      wow, I used to work for the Turok developer, Acclaim. Bad memories indeed!

    14. Re:Those strings can't be right by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 5, Funny

      Only if you're playing Heretic.

    15. Re:Those strings can't be right by Radical+Emu · · Score: 1

      The full list I remember is:

      • IDDQD - God Mode
      • IDDT - Full Maps
      • IDKFA was full weapons and armour, if I remember right
      • IDSPISPOPD - NoClip (walking through walls etc..,) (was simply NOCLIP in Doom II)

      Right, that's my off-topic(ish) distraction over with.

      --
      I know there's a Hell, I've worked in retail.
    16. Re:Those strings can't be right by clone53421 · · Score: 1

      Smashing Pumpkins Into Small Piles Of Putrid Debris

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    17. Re:Those strings can't be right by weirdcrashingnoises · · Score: 1

      this is the one i remember as well also too.

      --
      sigs... don't talk to me about sigs....
    18. Re:Those strings can't be right by discojohnson · · Score: 3, Funny

      just like idspispopd was not that hard to remember

    19. Re:Those strings can't be right by Azureflare · · Score: 1

      Doom was my first shmup and I spent about 4 years playing that game (along with writing mods). I still remember a mod I wrote that added in Monty Python + Simpsons sounds to all the monster effects just for lulz.

      Oh yeah, and I think I may be the only student to use Doom for my Geometry project in high school. That was fun. I built a castle that used geometric shapes we were covering in class... Not that hard to do but my teacher thought it was cool, haha. Oh, early nineties how I miss thee, it was a simpler time. Maybe just because I was a kid but still.

      It's probably the game I have spent the most time playing in my life, so I have the most vivid memories of it I suppose.

      Never really got into Quake...

    20. Re:Those strings can't be right by sexconker · · Score: 3, Interesting

      NTHGTHDGDCRTDTRK

      On the eight day god created Turok. All the other cheats have meaning too. Some have evaded me for all these years...

      All Weapons
      CMGTSMMGGTS
      Come get some, maggots.

      Big Heads
      GSHNTTBNCTPRDCRD
      ???

      Dana Mode
      DNCHN
      Dana Chan.

      Disco Mode
      SNFFRR
      Saturday Night Fever forever.

      Fancy Colors
      LLTHCLRSFTHRNB
      All the colors of the rainbow.

      Fly Mode
      LKMBRD
      Look, I'm a bird!

      Greg Mode
      GRGCHN
      Greg Chan.

      Infinite Lives
      FRTHSTHTTRLSCK
      For those that truly suck.

      Pen and Ink Mode
      DLKTDR
      Do you like to draw?

      Quack Mode
      CLLTHTNMTN
      You call that animation?

      Robin Mode
      RBNSMTH
      Robin Smith.

      Show Enemies on the Map
      NSTHMNDNT
      Now you see them now you don't.

      Show the Credits
      FDTHMGS
      ???

      Spirit Mode
      THSSLKSCL
      This is like, so cool!

      Unlimited Ammo
      BLLTSRRFRND
      Bullets are our friend.

      Unlock the Gallery
      THBST
      The best/

      Raptor mode (Enemies have Raptor heads):
      MRPTR
      I'm a raptor!

      Dino Chizzle (Turok rides a jackhammer type of thing):
      RSFGKFFH
      (Don't know if this one is a real cheat - someone test it!)

    21. Re:Those strings can't be right by RalphSleigh · · Score: 1

      "Your memory serves you well"

      --
      Come as you are, do what you must, be who you will.
    22. Re:Those strings can't be right by viking099 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      IDDQD was good, but was much better teamed up with IDKFA.

      IDSPISPOPD was fun for a while, but I really only used it to find the easter eggs in Doom2.

    23. Re:Those strings can't be right by Sobrique · · Score: 1

      Best feature of doom 2, was being able to do IDFA - full ammo, but no keys, so you still had to actually go through the level, and explore and stuff.

    24. Re:Those strings can't be right by TriezGamer · · Score: 1

      Minor nitpick -- Doom is not a shmup, it's a first person shooter. Shmups ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoot_'em_up ) are different genre entirely.

    25. Re:Those strings can't be right by Nimey · · Score: 1

      IDCLIP was a lot shorter to type; it's equivalent to spispod but was only in Doom II.

      Modern source ports (like gzdoom) take both.

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
    26. Re:Those strings can't be right by Mornedhel · · Score: 1

      I don't have a QWERTY keyboard, you insensitive clod !

      Seriously, on my AZERTY keyboard the cheat was IDDAD. Cheating at Doom made me better at blind typing on foreign kbmaps.

      --
      This /.-related sig is a stub. You can help Mornedhel by expanding it.
    27. Re:Those strings can't be right by The+Archon+V2.0 · · Score: 1

      IDSPISPOPD - NoClip (walking through walls etc..,) (was simply NOCLIP in Doom II)

      IDCLIP. All the Doom cheats started with ID.

    28. Re:Those strings can't be right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not quite. IIRC, it was missing a letter.

      NTHGHTHDYGDCRTDTRK is incorrect. Leave out the first H in "eighth."

    29. Re:Those strings can't be right by xupere · · Score: 1

      Entering IDDT once reveals the whole map. Twice reveals monsters and I believe rockets also show up on the map. You could run around playing it as sort of an indoor bastardized version of Asteroids.

    30. Re:Those strings can't be right by Tetsujin · · Score: 1

      Smashing Pumpkins Into Small Piles Of Putrid Debris

      Coming Q4 1994!

      --
      Bow-ties are cool.
    31. Re:Those strings can't be right by dragonjujotu · · Score: 1

      Big Heads
      GSHNTTBNCTPRDCRD
      Gosh not to be NC that's pretty crude???

      Show the Credits
      FDTHMGS
      Feed them guys???

      --
      Yes, I am obsessed with ellipses.
    32. Re:Those strings can't be right by Hurricane78 · · Score: 1

      Or an old Mechwarrior (e.g. 2 Mercenaries).

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
    33. Re:Those strings can't be right by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      In Dark Forces there was a code to show the map, and entering it multiple times would show more and more hidden features: powerups, enemies, hidden rooms etc. Some levels (the ice planet level - go to where the ship crashes, you'll need codes to do so - and the one that starts with you having to kill a monster with your bare hands - right at the beginning IIRC) had the faces of Sam and Max (from, uh, Sam n' Max) made out of hidden map features that would become visible with the code.

      Only references I can access from work:

      http://www.samandmax.net/wiki/Sightings

      http://members.tripod.com/Joshs_Cheats/darkforcespc.htm

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    34. Re:Those strings can't be right by mr_da3m0n · · Score: 1

      Cheating at Doom made me better at blind typing on foreign kbmaps.

      I learned to type with Doom cheats.

      Interestingly enough, being french canadian and playing the French localized version of warcraft 2 made me able to type on AZERTY keyboard, so your woes are not unheard of the other way around :)

    35. Re:Those strings can't be right by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      Bwahahaha, yeah I tried it in Doom 3 too. Just for fun.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    36. Re:Those strings can't be right by jep77 · · Score: 1

      Show the Credits
      FDTHMGS
      ???

      Feed Them Guys

      Jeez.

    37. Re:Those strings can't be right by DarkHelmet · · Score: 1

      Easy:
      Smashing Pumpkins into Small Piles of Putrid Debris :)

      --
      /^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
    38. Re:Those strings can't be right by uglyduckling · · Score: 1

      I actually use some old cheat and level codes as passwords. Unpronounceable, apparently gibberish to everyone else, and permanently embedded in my memory. Of course, I don't use codes from any well-known game, only very old and obscure ones from my Atari ST and ZX Spectrum days.

    39. Re:Those strings can't be right by sexconker · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Uh, no.

    40. Re:Those strings can't be right by therufus · · Score: 1

      On a related sidenote, IDSPISPOPD actually stood for iD Smashing Pumpkins Into Small Piles Of Putrid Debris. This information is useless I know, but interesting if in a conversation with hardcore DooM players.

      --
      You moved your mouse. Please restart Windows for changes to take effect.
    41. Re:Those strings can't be right by stewartjm · · Score: 1

      IDSPISPOPD orginated from a humorous usenet post, complaining about all the posts by people asking for news about the imminent release of Doom. The acronym's place in history, was insured, a few days later, by the posting of the SPISPOPD FAQ, which described the features of the upcoming, fictional game, SPISPOPD.

      My favorite feature, from the FAQ:
      ... Finally, as far as add-on modules go, you can import your cities from SimCity 2000, your Hero from Champions, and your Mech from Mechwarrior II ...

    42. Re:Those strings can't be right by FragHARD · · Score: 1

      Is there a bluescreen god mode in QD??? now that would be awesome

      --
      FragHARD or don't frag at all
    43. Re:Those strings can't be right by DiEx-15 · · Score: 1

      There is only one God mode and it is IDDQD.

      I thought it was DNCORNHOLIO?

    44. Re:Those strings can't be right by penguinchris · · Score: 1

      The Max head in the Dark Forces ice level was accessible without cheating, as I recall (this was a while ago) - you could drop off a cliff and land on a ledge, and the only thing at that elevation in the whole level was the Max head, so that's what you could see on the map. Of course, there was no place to go from there, so you would have to drop off the ledge and kill yourself.

    45. Re:Those strings can't be right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      just like idspispopd was not that hard to remember

      You can think of it like Id made a soda out of Urine:

      Id's pis pop :D

    46. Re:Those strings can't be right by xtracto · · Score: 1

      Lol... looking at the conversation in Usenet I read the following snippet:

      I forget the exact name of the ftp site, but you should be able to
      archie for it.

      .

      Its 1993 and you want to get info about a new software... who u gonna call?

      --
      Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
    47. Re:Those strings can't be right by Butterspoon · · Score: 1

      Best feature of doom 2, was being able to do IDFA - full ammo, but no keys, so you still had to actually go through the level, and explore and stuff.

      OMG! And I always thought KFA stood for something else entirely!

      --
      pi = 2*|arg(God)|
  3. Undocumented features! by RotateLeftByte · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Come on Microsoft. Remember the problems you had with the EU over Documentation.

    Why don't you ever learn? Why don't you document everything and release it at the same time as the software?

    Other companies seem to do this quite well (release of docs, not its quality).

    Fail again.

    --
    I'd rather be riding my '63 Triumph T120.
    1. Re:Undocumented features! by Ziekheid · · Score: 5, Informative

      The "God Mode" is just a different view for the many things available in the control panel.
      There is such a thing as overdocumenting your software, this is rather an easter egg that happens to be very handy.

    2. Re:Undocumented features! by halfloaded · · Score: 5, Informative

      Ummm... What do you mean by "undocumented"? http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee330741(VS.85).aspx All these stupid articles are simply fanboys trying to get clicks on their sites. This is old news. Move along.

    3. Re:Undocumented features! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The documentation you are talking about is for their APIs that would be used by third party developers. They now release the API documentation well before the product ever ships. There is no reason to fully document GUI features that aren't actually intended for users or developers to actually use.

    4. Re:Undocumented features! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If 'features' weren't intended to be used why the heck are they included in the software in the first place?

      This is the same tale we had in the 70's with the hidden games in TI caculators. TI said that they never expected them to be used. Pah. Simpletons.

      Please Microsoft, remove every undocumented feature with Windows 7 sp1.

    5. Re:Undocumented features! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The reason they're undocumented is that these features make it that much easier for a novice user to screw up a system. Remember that Windows is used by hundreds of millions of people with most people not being computer savvy. Power users like Slashdotters and people who read CNET can easily enable this functionality if they want. On top of that these features might be changed without notice in a hotfix or service pack, hence they don't want to commit themselves to supporting it in the future by documenting it now.

      You wouldn't want a shortcut for a command similar to "Format C: without warning" to be placed on your Grandma's Desktop would you? But power users can do it if that's what they really want.(Yes, I know even Format /Y C: doesn't work because C is the boot partition, but you get my drift).

    6. Re:Undocumented features! by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      All these stupid articles are simply fanboys trying to get clicks on their sites

      Well, this one may be; it's firewalled off at work. But Google shows me a lot of FAs on the subject so I RTF C|NET A. Computerworld and a host of other larger sites also covered it.

    7. Re:Undocumented features! by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Why don't you document everything and release it at the same time as the software?

      It's odd that as their OSes became more complex, they also had less and less documentation. The IBM XT came with fat books that completely explained line commands, interrupts, and all sorts of other goodies. Now you get a skinny booklet geared to a 5th grade reader.

    8. Re:Undocumented features! by Digital_Quartz · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The original "God Mode" one isn't in that list. And, this doesn't say anything about creating folders with the canonical name as the extension. It's an interesting hack.

    9. Re:Undocumented features! by Brian+Gordon · · Score: 5, Informative

      Covered it exactly. TFA is just plagiarized from cnet.

    10. Re:Undocumented features! by JasterBobaMereel · · Score: 1

      Ummm... What do you mean by "undocumented"? http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee330741(VS.85).aspx

      All these stupid articles are simply fanboys trying to get clicks on their sites. This is old news. Move along.

      All are on the linked MSDN article except {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} This is the undocumented Master Control Panel showing all the "Hidden" options that do not appear on the regular control panel.....

      Documentation on this would be nice?

      --
      Puteulanus fenestra mortis
    11. Re:Undocumented features! by Tacvek · · Score: 1

      This feature is deocumented. Take a look at the tips.txt file from Windows 95: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/135893

      That file first describes these magical folders. I will admit that it does not clearly document that other items can be created by using their GUID, but I suspect someplace they have documented that.

      I will note the "All Tasks" GUID is undocumented (a search of msdn.microsoft.com, and the whole of microsoft.com confirms this, since the GUID only comes up in user posted content), with the exception that it is effectively documented by the registry entry responsible for it.

      --
      Stylish sheet to fix many problems in Slashdot's D3: https://gist.github.com/801524
    12. Re:Undocumented features! by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1

      You have to consider the userbase too. It became steadily non-technical and only the technically inclined would even open the manual. Just like car manuals, TV manuals, etc. Not to mention the growth of the internet which made it easy to get up-to-date documents with a click. Printing out the whole of MSDN(which will outdated quick) into telephone directory sized books and distributing it with every computer is a colossal waste of rainforest.

      --
      This space for rent.
    13. Re:Undocumented features! by The+Grim+Reefer2 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      The "God Mode" is just a different view for the many things available in the control panel.

      Plus it keeps you from getting fragged by a shambler.

    14. Re:Undocumented features! by drsmithy · · Score: 1

      It's odd that as their OSes became more complex, they also had less and less documentation. The IBM XT came with fat books that completely explained line commands, interrupts, and all sorts of other goodies. Now you get a skinny booklet geared to a 5th grade reader.

      This is not even remotely odd when you account for the interest level of the average user then and now.

      To say nothing of all the information still being there, if you want to look. Only now it's in the Intarcloud in a constantly updated and searchable form.

    15. Re:Undocumented features! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      This is REALLY old news. I've been using folders with the CLSID appended for well over a decade.

    16. Re:Undocumented features! by VertigoAce · · Score: 1

      The documented ones are for views that you can normally get to in Explorer. The "All Tasks" folder is an implementation detail for the control panel search feature (instead of special casing the indexing of control panel tasks, a virtual folder contains all of the tasks). It's not intended to be used for any other purpose, so it is not documented.

    17. Re:Undocumented features! by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1

      True, but OP is over the top with calling for EU action on undocumented features. It's an internal hack that's not meant for public distribution and might not work after a patch. (They won't be testing if this feature works for every code change they make in Windows, if they document it, they have to).

      --
      This space for rent.
    18. Re:Undocumented features! by Tetsujin · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And all the stupid posts like the GP are simply anti-M$ zealots that are just trying to get karma points. (Seeing how it is at +4 insightful right now shows how successful they are at gaming the moderator system).

      Oh, wah, popular sentiments get modded up! I'm gonna tell!

      --
      Bow-ties are cool.
    19. Re:Undocumented features! by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 2, Informative

      It is meant for developers, and was documented in the Microsoft Developer Network documentation, of which you must be a subscriber to get.

      In other words, Microsoft told the people who they cared to tell about it via their well known documentation system, and dumbass bloggers found it and said "Oh oh! Undocumented features!"

      Tell me, how the hell can it be "undocumented" if Microsoft was the one who revealed it in their standard documentation system in the first place?

      Dumbasses.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    20. Re:Undocumented features! by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's odd that as their OSes became more complex, they also had less and less documentation.

      This is not even remotely true.

      I have in my drawer a large DVD case filled with MSDN documentation on primarily Microsoft OS and Server products. I get a new disk every couple of months. This is the Microsoft documentation, and it is vast.

      In fact, if it were on paper, I'd probably need an entire library dedicated to it.

      In other words, you don't know what you are talking about. There is, in fact, so much documentation that it can be difficult to find exactly what you need in the MSDN library.

      The documentation isn't meant for end users, Microsoft designs their OS to be as easy as they can manage to make it for the user at the expense of making things more difficult for the developer. As such, all of the documentation is for developers, not users, because it is the developers who need it.

      Getting the full documentation requires a subscription, but there is a lot online at http://msdn.microsoft.com./

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    21. Re:Undocumented features! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey - not everyone's system partition and boot partitions are on the same drive - my system partition is C:, but my boot partition is... I: or something? (I dunno, I reassigned it last night).

    22. Re:Undocumented features! by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Not to mention the growth of the internet which made it easy to get up-to-date documents with a click.

      Odd that that's what people complain about Linux. How am I supposed to research a command or other feature if I don't know it's there? I wouldn't have known that windowskey+L locked the screen if somebody at slashdot hadn't mentioned it. I had no idea you could lock the screen.

      Printing out the whole of MSDN(which will outdated quick) into telephone directory sized books and distributing it with every computer is a colossal waste of rainforest.

      It wouldn't have to be on paper, a CD holding printed documentation in book form (PDF maybe) or plain HTML would suffice.

    23. Re:Undocumented features! by hduff · · Score: 1

      Ummm... What do you mean by "undocumented"? http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee330741(VS.85).aspx All these stupid articles are simply fanboys trying to get clicks on their sites. This is old news. Move along.

      FTA, this is probably why they are "hidden": "These canonical names do not change for different languages. They are always in English, even if the system's language is non-English."

      --
      "I believe in Karma. That means I can do bad things to people all day long and I assume they deserve it." : Dogbert
    24. Re:Undocumented features! by mcgrew · · Score: 0

      Getting the full documentation requires a subscription

      I didn't have to buy a subscription for DOS docs. The inch and a half thick book came with the two floppies the OS came on.

    25. Re:Undocumented features! by plague3106 · · Score: 1

      Odd that that's what people complain about Linux.

      No, they complain that there's no documentation or that its exteremly poor.

      How am I supposed to research a command or other feature if I don't know it's there? I wouldn't have known that windowskey+L locked the screen if somebody at slashdot hadn't mentioned it. I had no idea you could lock the screen.

      Really? You've never pressed CTRL+ALT+DEL and seen the Lock this computer button? Have you every tried looking in the help either?

      It wouldn't have to be on paper, a CD holding printed documentation in book form (PDF maybe) or plain HTML would suffice.

      Why waste all the plastic when most users aren't going to need MSDN documentation? Those that do can get it already online or it comes with visual studio. MSDN isn't relevent, and user documentation is online with windows already. Again, have you ever checked out Help / Help and Support?

    26. Re:Undocumented features! by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 1

      Well, one would expect that if they shelled out the equivalent of well over 100 2010 dollars (adjusting for inflation), they'd be getting more than just 720 kilobytes of magnetic data.

      However, the software manuals of that era were rarely as big as they looked. They took up a lot of space because they often used fat ring binders inside a rigid cardboard outer box. The actual pages often used only a small portion of the ring binder and were printed in a huge font.

    27. Re:Undocumented features! by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1

      Err, why not just go to Start -> Help or press F1?

      --
      This space for rent.
    28. Re:Undocumented features! by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      No, they complain that there's no documentation or that its exteremly poor.

      I'm complaining that windows documentation is extremely poor where it exists at all. Documentation you have to pay extra for is a no-go; for the price of Windows the damned thing ought to have stellar user docs, and it doesn't. Same goes for its apps.

      You've never pressed CTRL+ALT+DEL and seen the Lock this computer button?

      That wouldn't tell me that windowskey+L would do the same thing without the extra keystroke or mouse click.

      Have you every tried looking in the help either?

      How are you supposed to look for a feature you don't know it has? Plus, Windows help is abysmal.

      Why waste all the plastic when most users aren't going to need MSDN documentation?

      A single CD? Not a lot of petroleum wasted there. And the windowskey+L isn't something only a developer would need, nor are batch file commands, nor a lot of anything else. These things should be well documented, but they aren't.

    29. Re:Undocumented features! by heson · · Score: 1

      And the name is horrible, for something that sounds as cool as "god mode" I demand at least local privilege escalation. A frekkin short cut is not enough.

    30. Re:Undocumented features! by drsmithy · · Score: 1

      Odd that that's what people complain about Linux. How am I supposed to research a command or other feature if I don't know it's there? I wouldn't have known that windowskey+L locked the screen if somebody at slashdot hadn't mentioned it. I had no idea you could lock the screen.

      It wouldn't have to be on paper, a CD holding printed documentation in book form (PDF maybe) or plain HTML would suffice.

      Start -> Help. It's been there for about 15 years - toughly since they stopped distributing Windows and DOS with those inch-thick manuals, strangely enough.

    31. Re:Undocumented features! by Foredecker · · Score: 2, Informative

      All the MSDN library stuff is free and on-line. See this. Has been for years.

      There is nothing like this for Apple, Linux, or any other OS - not even close.

      --
      Jibe!
    32. Re:Undocumented features! by drsmithy · · Score: 1

      I'm complaining that windows documentation is extremely poor where it exists at all.

      But it's not...

      Documentation you have to pay extra for is a no-go; for the price of Windows the damned thing ought to have stellar user docs, and it doesn't. Same goes for its apps.

      What documentation is missing, or only available for a fee ?

    33. Re:Undocumented features! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Getting the full documentation requires a subscription, but there is a lot online at http://msdn.microsoft.com./ [msdn.microsoft.com]

      What? You mean like this free link here?

    34. Re:Undocumented features! by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Start -> Help

      MS's help (like almost every other software company's help) is almost useless. How is F1 going to let you know that windowskey+L locks the screen?

      Yes, I'm one of those guys who says "RTFM".

    35. Re:Undocumented features! by drsmithy · · Score: 1

      MS's help (like almost every other software company's help) is almost useless.

      It's the same help that used to come in those books you liked so much. Only now you can search it, or copy/paste from it, or click on the shortcuts that take you directly to the relevant parts of the UI.

      How is F1 going to let you know that windowskey+L locks the screen?

      Er, maybe because THAT'S WHERE IT'S DOCUMENTED ?

  4. It is true by boef · · Score: 0, Troll

    I mutter "Oh god..." all the time when it spins its wheels while trying to make things shiny instead of making things happen...

  5. Direct Copy article by furby076 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    1) The article is a copy/paste of the cnet article (kind of a fail for aviran's place).
    2) More importantly, from the article, I inferred these god mode settings were just (basically) command lines to initiate control panel activities? Not a big deal if that is the case. It is shortcuts of a way I guess. Or is there something more to this?

    --

    I do not support "The Man". I also do not support your irrational stupidity
    1. Re:Direct Copy article by mike2R · · Score: 1

      The author claims in the comments that CNet copied him. No may be lying, but maybe not.

      --
      This sig all sigs devours
    2. Re:Direct Copy article by Tacvek · · Score: 4, Informative

      These folders are a bit more than mere shortcuts. They expose the contents of the corresponding folder to anything using the proper APIs to examine it. One of the canonical uses is to create a folder named "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" in the path used for start menu entries, which results in a start menu folder that contains all the control panel icons, allowing you to directly select one of them. This feature is not really as useful in Vista or Windows 7 (with the nice program finding box), but was quite useful before then.

      --
      Stylish sheet to fix many problems in Slashdot's D3: https://gist.github.com/801524
    3. Re:Direct Copy article by Nimey · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Check the datestamps. Cnet's article was posted the day before.

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
    4. Re:Direct Copy article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      "For example, the first one could be a folder named “thankscnet.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}” (use everything inside quotes–but not the quotes themselves)."

      Note the "thankscnet." part. I don't think CNet went and copied the article from him.

    5. Re:Direct Copy article by FiloEleven · · Score: 1

      Why would Aviran use this?

      For example, the first one could be a folder named “thankscnet.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}”

      Also, a response further down in blog comments:

      Yeah, sure.
      your post: 1/7/2010 @ 10:09 am
      cnet’s post: January 6, 2010 12:04 PM PST

      There appears to be a lot of plagiarism going on there. I googled text from several other posts and every single one matched something written previously elsewhere.

      Tsk tsk.

    6. Re:Direct Copy article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I inferred these god mode settings were just (basically) command lines to initiate control panel activities? Not a big deal if that is the case. It is shortcuts of a way I guess. Or is there something more to this?

      I thought that too, but nothing happens when I type "iddqd" at the command prompt.

    7. Re:Direct Copy article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "from the article, I inferred these god mode settings were just (basically) command lines to initiate control panel activities?"

      yeah, based on the (short) summary, I was hoping for more. A feature that gave root-like access would be nice - or a tool that overrode error messages. Something to get around messages like "File is in use and cannot be deleted", or to _really_ delete/rename a file (instead of letting WinSxS restore it. I was trying to deal with Roxio BackOnTrack (backup/system restore program) that went awry. It ate up all the disk space, and somehow got itself protected so you couldn't delete it (you could delete it, but it would restore itself like Windows File Protection does). I've seen viruses less tenacious than that piece of junk.

    8. Re:Direct Copy article by clone53421 · · Score: 1

      It’s easy to impersonate him. Just put Aviran in the name field and http://www.aviransplace.com/ in the website field.

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    9. Re:Direct Copy article by OhHellWithIt · · Score: 1

      The original article is here.

      --
      "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." -- George Orwell
    10. Re:Direct Copy article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also, the "GodMode" shortcut starts with "thankscnet." Clever plagiarism, at that.

    11. Re:Direct Copy article by deniable · · Score: 1

      It was useful in 95/NT4, but XP on have it as a standard option. It's under 'Advanced' in the Start Menu properties. 'Display as Menu' under Control Panel.

    12. Re:Direct Copy article by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

      no he definitely is, one of the examples is a folder "thankscnet{blah blah blah}"

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
    13. Re:Direct Copy article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      FWIW, that option was available in Win2000.

      - T

    14. Re:Direct Copy article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I had this to, before XP made the control panel part of the start menu. I've also used it in the past to hide ugly extensions in some places, like in menus. I know you can turn off file extensions but at least back then it made it impossible to detect things like executables masking as documents and such nastiness, and also made it impossible to change the file type in the rare cases that I had to. Did MS do something about those problems? If they have, I might change back, because it looked a lot cleaner and I usually look at the icon to see what the file type is anyway (except for files I get from other people or the internet).

    15. Re:Direct Copy article by deniable · · Score: 1

      Thanks, couldn't find it easily this morning.

  6. Microsoft Knows by Kolie · · Score: 1

    it is a good day to die

  7. Whooo!!! Its God on my Windows Computer w00t l33t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    What to find all these God Modes? Just go to your registry and navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID and search for "System.ApplicationName". Every GUID listed under CLSID with a System.ApplicationName entry can be used to do this same thing.

    While you are at it, delete the key.

    There. That should help.

  8. Why not link to the real article? by Maestro485 · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10426627-56.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

    Identical to the summary link, except from the actual source.

    1. Re:Why not link to the real article? by tomhudson · · Score: 1

      Identical to the summary link, except from the actual source.

      Not quite ... the summary calls him "teven Sinofsky" ...

      It's not like anyone proofreads here. Not when the average reader doesn't know the difference between rain/rein/reign, or break/brake, or lose/loose.

    2. Re:Why not link to the real article? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, and written by some creepy dude who thinks he’s a woman.

    3. Re:Why not link to the real article? by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      Not when the average reader doesn't know the difference between rain/rein/reign, or break/brake, or lose/loose.

      Wait wait, there's a difference? 0.o

      Just kidding. ;)

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    4. Re:Why not link to the real article? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So what do you suggest? We rain in the average reader for questioning, and either brake them or set them lose? :oP

    5. Re:Why not link to the real article? by deniable · · Score: 1

      lose/loose.

      Sorry, it's a lose/loose situation. :)

    6. Re:Why not link to the real article? by tomhudson · · Score: 2, Informative

      So apparently is the guy who cut-n-pasted the original article from CNET to his own site, then claimed in the comments that CNET stole it from him. Crapfloods and page-widening posts, He's a loser losing to the loose trolls. Or something like that.

  9. Mansions.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is like those large castlesque mansions in horror movies that have all of the secret entrances and false walls for baddies to spring from at the most inopportun times.

  10. I don't get it.... by cptdondo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If all of the features are in the Control Panel, why do the developers need shortcuts?

    In other words, what's wrong with the Control Panel interface that hinders developers to the point where they have to hack in these types of kludges?

    And, yes, I consider a directory with a "special string" a horrible kludge. Think of all the behind-the-scenes complications that this brings on. Every directory creation/access has to be checked for these modes. How does a godmode directory interact with a random app?

    The mind reels.

    1. Re:I don't get it.... by ceoyoyo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "In other words, what's wrong with the Control Panel interface that hinders developers to the point where they have to hack in these types of kludges?"

      You don't use Windows, hey?

      My thought when I read the article was similar. If your developers are making themselves obscure shortcuts, you might want to have your UI team rethink their design.

    2. Re:I don't get it.... by Ziekheid · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This has always been the case and is nothing new. This was already possible on 2k/XP and was actually abused by hackers like this:
      1) Create directory and add a string that makes it look like the recycle bin (the folder will actually link to the recycle bin when clicked on by the user that tries to view the map and take on the same icon).
      2) In that dir put whatever you want to be hidden from the operators of said computer
      3) ???
      4) Profit

    3. Re:I don't get it.... by v1 · · Score: 1

      having more than one way to do something can have a variety of benefits:

      1) power users can take a faster path to the action and avoid confirmation dialogues when they know what they're doing. Terminal/console windows are great examples.

      2) there's often two or more "intuitive" places for something to be. instead of picking one, put it in both places and it becomes a tad easier for 50% of the population to use. Is sleep after so long in screensaver a screensaver feature or an energysaver feature? Give access from both panels and make things easier for the users.

      --
      I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
    4. Re:I don't get it.... by Hatta · · Score: 1

      In other words, what's wrong with the Control Panel interface that hinders developers to the point where they have to hack in these types of kludges?

      Is the Control Panel accessible via the CLI? That would be a reason. Still an awful way to provide CLI access to these functions.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    5. Re:I don't get it.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "what's wrong with the Control Panel interface that hinders developers to the point where they have to hack in these types of kludges?"

      Are you kidding? Have you tried to use the Windows 7 control panel?

    6. Re:I don't get it.... by EndlessNameless · · Score: 1

      This isn't a special way to access the Control Panel for developers because there is some sort of problem with the new layout.

      Rather, this is part of a more general feature for developers to create and display namespaces within Windows. Microsoft simply used the same method for managing the Control Panels applets that it suggests its developers use for their own applications.

      Now, the article points out there is a way users can exploit this feature to get the Control Panel applets listed discretely without any flair, bells, or whistles (like classic Windows) rather than navigating through a hand-holding GUI.

      I prefer the tweak in the article because I'm used to the applets and know what they all do. At the same time, I can still see where the new Control Panel GUI is probably more intuitive to novice users and will get them to the options they need more easily (albeit with a few more clicks as they're guided through).

      --

      ---
      According to the latest ruleset, this post should be modded as Vorpal Flamebait +5.
    7. Re:I don't get it.... by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1

      If all of the features are in the Control Panel, why do the developers need shortcuts?

      In other words, what's wrong with the Control Panel interface that hinders developers to the point where they have to hack in these types of kludges?

      And, yes, I consider a directory with a "special string" a horrible kludge. Think of all the behind-the-scenes complications that this brings on. Every directory creation/access has to be checked for these modes. How does a godmode directory interact with a random app?

      The mind reels.

      I think 'developers' in that context meant Microsoft Developers who develop Windows and possibly testers of the OS. They would need it to quickly test something instead of going through an additional step. And no, it's not a kludge, atleast it wasn't created for the GodMode features. Control Panel items have been 'special' folders internally with those 'special strings' internally ever since atleast Windows 95.. All it does is call a COM component with that Class ID as a GUID which populates the folder with the special functionality. Asking how a GodMode directory interacts with a random app is like asking how does a app interact with Control Panel. I am guess Microsoft just left it internally because there would no point stripping out a working feature that's is not easily user accessible unless they take special action to do so.

      --
      This space for rent.
    8. Re:I don't get it.... by CAIMLAS · · Score: 1

      It takes a lot less time to type a dozen characters into a box/console than it does to click through a half dozen menus and panel interfaces to get where you're going.

      --
      ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
    9. Re:I don't get it.... by Sir_Sri · · Score: 4, Insightful

      well that's why they're developers, not users. Your developers need to see stuff in the OS on a more regular basis than the average user. Finding connected hardware ID strings, even as a guy getting a PhD in computer science isn't exactly top of my priority list. If you look at the godmode everyone was playing with it's not exactly insightful. It's just a list, sorted alphabetically by type of task, of menus. Useful if you're changing stuff for the sake of changing stuff (say the first time you set up your computer or if you're testing), but there's no obvious logical connection between my folder display settings, my windows defender settings and my 'location and other sensors' options. It's handy to have if you want to see a list of a lot of stuff you can do, but not really very functional.

      If anything they don't really belong together unless you're doing stuff with the operating system that is very different than your average user, like say, trying to test the functionality of all this stuff, in order.

      Admittedly control panel isn't a great implementation, I think MS is still grappling with which direction to take your system settings, either the sort of godmode exhaustive list, which IMO is far too confusing for the average user (albeit alphabetical at least), and the task dependent options where you only see your folders settings options if you're messing with folders, mouse settings with mouse software etc. In the end they've settled on an ugly hybrid of the two, but I think that covers all bases better than the alternatives.

    10. Re:I don't get it.... by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 1

      I'm not totally certain what this is, but I already make shortcuts to commonly used Control Panel items and put them where ever I like. I've done it on Windows 2000. Display properties, network configuration mouse settings are the three that I use most, it saves me a couple clicks.

    11. Re:I don't get it.... by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 1

      This is obviously how the control panel and other special folders are implemented in the first place. Not a short cut. Put in the right code & you'll get the regular control panel directory.

      --

      There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
    12. Re:I don't get it.... by bschorr · · Score: 1

      Same reason I add shortcuts to get into the program settings to the toolbars of all the apps I have to support. The average user might go in there once or twice a year (if ever). I have to go in there several times a week to test or demonstrate something.

      We create shortcuts to the places we need to go often. The average user doesn't go the same places the devs or support guys do, most likely.

      --
      -B-
    13. Re:I don't get it.... by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      If your developers are making themselves obscure shortcuts, you might want to have your UI team rethink their design.

      Unfortunately, it seems they do, since with every "upgrade" of their OS and apps you have to relearn the thing all over again. More unfortunately, they're just not very good at UI or they wouldn't have to.

    14. Re:I don't get it.... by jefu · · Score: 1

      Heh. Someone told me yesterday that Unix is all voodoo and yet Windows has XXX.{BB64F8A7-BEE7-4E1A-AB8D-7D8273F7FDB6}!

    15. Re:I don't get it.... by John.P.Jones · · Score: 1

      Yeah, if you wanted to formalize something like this why not add a system call that accepts a GUID and a void* and then if the GUID is a 'special' one then it forwards to the internal code to interpret the void* argument and do random stuff? Why tie it in with the filesystem and string parsing at all?

    16. Re:I don't get it.... by Hythlodaeus · · Score: 1

      The developers need it because the settings exist before the control panels that manipulate them. Totally different teams of people are involved in kernel/infrastructure coding as opposed to UI/HMI. The "special strings" are a general feature used since Windows 95 to make things appear in the file system that don't actually reside on the disk, including printers and the standard control panel.

      --
      For great justice.
    17. Re:I don't get it.... by LO0G · · Score: 1

      This folder isn't accessible via the CLI either (from the CLI the folder's just a folder - the name makes it magic to the GUI). So that argument doesn't hold water.

    18. Re:I don't get it.... by drsmithy · · Score: 1

      In other words, what's wrong with the Control Panel interface that hinders developers to the point where they have to hack in these types of kludges?

      An interface appropriate for end users may not be an interface appropriate for developers.

    19. Re:I don't get it.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I, for one, hate the mouse interface. I do as much of my Human-Computer Interactions (HCI) via the keyboard. It's much faster, and I don't have to worry about grabbing the mouse to interact with something, then 'home' my hands on the keyboard to type. Going back and forth annoys me to no end.

      If more developers took some basic HCI courses, and learned to properly order tab-focus changes, and add mnemonics to every screen object you can interact with (text boxes, buttons, menus, etc.), then I would be a MUCH happier computer user.

    20. Re:I don't get it.... by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1, Insightful

      If your developers are making themselves obscure shortcuts, you might want to have your UI team rethink their design.

      Unfortunately, it seems they do, since with every "upgrade" of their OS and apps you have to relearn the thing all over again. More unfortunately, they're just not very good at UI or they wouldn't have to.

      People bitch that's it not good and when it's made better(like in Vista/7), (same or different) people bitch that it's too different from Windows 95. It's like they're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Same with the Office Ribbon, Vista cleaned up a lot of underlying bits, like graphics, printer and network subsystems but companies like Nvidia, ATI, HP and Cisco dropped the ball on Graphic, Printer and VPN drivers and MS got the shaft for that one resulting in people like you putting 'upgrade' in double quotes.

      --
      This space for rent.
    21. Re:I don't get it.... by clone53421 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Hmm. I just went for a stumble through the Win XP registry...

      Some other types that hide their contents, and what opens when you double-click them (not sure if they’ll work on other versions of Windows):

      {E88DCCE0-B7B3-11d1-A9F0-00AA0060FA31} - Compressed folder access denied error message
      {21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} - Control Panel
      {2559a1f5-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0} - Default e-mail client
      {2559a1f4-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0} - Default web browser
      {0CD7A5C0-9F37-11CE-AE65-08002B2E1262} - Folder, but seems empty
      {63da6ec0-2e98-11cf-8d82-444553540000} - FTP folder
      {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} - IE with extensions disabled
      {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} - My Computer
      {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D} - My Network Places
      {7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E} - Network connections
      {992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48} - Network connections
      {9DB7A13C-F208-4981-8353-73CC61AE2783} - Nothing
      {C4EE31F3-4768-11D2-BE5C-00A0C9A83DA1} - Nothing
      {AFDB1F70-2A4C-11d2-9039-00C04F8EEB3E} - Offline files folder
      {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D} - Printers and Faxes
      {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} - Recycle bin
      {E211B736-43FD-11D1-9EFB-0000F8757FCD} - Scanners and cameras
      {FB0C9C8A-6C50-11D1-9F1D-0000F8757FCD} - Scanners and cameras
      {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF} - Scheduled tasks
      {1f4de370-d627-11d1-ba4f-00a0c91eedba} - Search results folder
      {e17d4fc0-5564-11d1-83f2-00a0c90dc849} - Search results folder
      {F5175861-2688-11d0-9C5E-00AA00A45957} - Subscription folder
      {BDEADF00-C265-11d0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F} - Web folders

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    22. Re:I don't get it.... by ceoyoyo · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I guess the more relevant factor is not that the developers created all kinds of shortcuts for themselves, but that a subset of the users found them and think they're really useful.

      As you point out, that doesn't necessarily mean your design is bad, but it's a pretty good indication that you might want to consider the possibility.

      Personally I think Windows has gone way too far with the wizards. I was trying to connect to a shared printer the other day and kept going in circles, bouncing from wizard to wizard. Things like the TCP/IP settings and wireless connection wizard seem to keep popping up when you're trying to use Network Neighborhood, which has always seemed to be broken, and manually connecting only works if you know the address AND share name.

    23. Re:I don't get it.... by clone53421 · · Score: 1

      Basically, this.

      You can put any class ID at the end of a folder name and it will make the folder seem to be a member of that class. For instance, {00020900-0000-0000-C000-000000000046} looks like a Word document. Most of them still open the contents of the folder if you double-click them, but some classes have special actions that override this. E.g. {1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43} opens the list of .NET Framework Assemblies.

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    24. Re:I don't get it.... by jonadab · · Score: 3, Insightful

      > what's wrong with the Control Panel interface that hinders developers

      You mean besides the fact that it's been completely rearranged and the various bits renamed and specific settings moved from place to place so many times nobody can find anything?

      It took me three minutes playing around in the Windows Seven control panel just to figure out how to change the TCP/IP settings. They're in a different place from Vista, where they were in a different place from XP, which in turn put them in a different place from both 98 and 2000. Almost every setting in the control panel has been moved around like that, and some of them have seen worse, being moved into places where you can only get to them through "Advanced Settings" menu items and/or links in sidebars that don't even show at all if you have Windows Explorer set to classic folders.

      I can definitely see how the developers could become frustrated with it, especially if they were working on a not-yet-released future version at work while still using an actually released version elsewhere (say, at home, or on the laptop). The inconsistency could be maddening.

      --
      Cut that out, or I will ship you to Norilsk in a box.
    25. Re:I don't get it.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Control Panel wasn't (and shouldn't be) designed for the operating system developers. The developers are going to need to change something back and forth, simulate the insertion and removal of four USB devices simultaneously, write scripts that change a slew of settings, etc. Conversely, the developers aren't likely to need a whole lot of explanation about a particular setting. Also, and perhaps most importantly, the OS devs working on implementing a particular feature (e.g., power management), will probably be developing it before or at the same time that the user interface devs are implementing the Control Panel dialog for that feature. So they wouldn't be able to use the Control Panel to test their code even if the Control Panel would be perfect for their purposes.

      Asking why the OS developers need a special interface is like asking why general software doesn't automatically run itself in a debugger and show stack pointers and variable values.

    26. Re:I don't get it.... by FiloEleven · · Score: 1

      "Rethink" is different from and more rigorous than "change." ;)

    27. Re:I don't get it.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You've got it backwards. What's useful to developers and high level users is not useful to end users. A typical end user sees a list of options like this and their mind freezes up. They don't know what 90% of them do, are afraid they'll break their computer if they pick the wrong one, etc. The fewer the option, and more vague they are at the high level, the better. Plus the "god mode" list refers to a lot of options for hardware components the user might not even have installed.

    28. Re:I don't get it.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      How hard can it be to create a controlpanel with multiple view modes. Most modern file system explorers these days have modes like list, compact, details etc. Why can't the controlpanel have a little button in a corner that switches between categorical, hierarchical and alphabetical views. Just having a comprehensive list of all options would help a lot when you are configuring and tweaking your system for the first time after a new install.

    29. Re:I don't get it.... by ashridah · · Score: 1

      I'm going to go with 'testability'.

      If your automated tests all need to go through a set of gui steps to get to a control panel, and someone accidentally or deliberately moves it, but your tests don't get updated, they're all going to fail, and you lose a large amount of coverage for a small change.

      However, if you've only got one test who's purpose it is to test the path and make sure it's reachable, and all the rest use a "horrible kludge" as you put it to just get to the feature, then you've improved test reliablity, and you're testing specific things with each test.

      I could also see this being useful with particular types of model-based monkey testing, and other things like that.

      Of course, most control panels can be accessed by running the .cpl file itself, so this would seem superfluous.

      So, on that note, i'd suggest that this is more likely a side-effect of a feature that exists for some other purpose, similar to how explorer maps special folders to specific tasks. Like, say, if you go to c:\windows\fonts\, or c:\windows\assembly and get special views.

    30. Re:I don't get it.... by blincoln · · Score: 1

      Heh. Someone told me yesterday that Unix is all voodoo and yet Windows has XXX.{BB64F8A7-BEE7-4E1A-AB8D-7D8273F7FDB6}!

      In all fairness to Windows, only Windows developers actually need to use this hidden feature. One of the reasons a lot of people find Unix/Linux arcane is that many common end-user scenarios involve this level of complexity.

      --
      "...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
    31. Re:I don't get it.... by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      People bitch that's it not good and when it's made better(like in Vista/7), (same or different) people bitch that it's too different from Windows 95

      The bitching wasn't because Vista's interface had changed, it was because from all accounts Vista was dog slow on machines that MS said were "Vista ready." MS thinks a user interface improvement is making it shinier and prettier rather than easier to use. If dialog boxes would automatically appear under the mouse pointer when a selection requiring one was made, for instance, that would be a useability improvement (note that Linux is just as bad about this, I don't know about Apples). A pie menu would be an improvement, but I don't think anyone's used that yet.

      MS does exasperating things like changing a control from one place to another for no apparent reason. In IE, changing its settings has moved from and to every top menu item there was. I suspect they do this to make the end-user think he's gotten bang for the buck; nobody would upgrade if everything seemed the same, unless there was a real need to upgrade. Adding charts to a spreadsheet, for example (spreadsheets didn't use to have charting capabilities back in the day). I believe it's a marketing ploy, "different is better" (I blame Apple's 1984 TV commercials for that, "think different"). I have yet to hear anyone but MS and their employees who think that ribbon was a good idea (I don't know personally, we're on XP at work and I use Mandriva at home).

      I put "upgrade" in quotes because when they get a new OS (usually on a new machine) at work, or a newer version of an office app it almost never runs faster, seldom has any new features that I would actually use, and I've never seen a real useability improvement in any of them.

    32. Re:I don't get it.... by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      I think 'developers' in that context meant Microsoft Developers who develop Windows and possibly testers of the OS.

      No, it doesn't. This is a well documented feature of Windows since Windows 2000, Microsoft has used it to create a lot of special folders in the OS (like the control panel), and has encouraged other developers to use it to create their own special folders.

      If you set things up properly, you can use your own CLSID to create a custom aggregate folder similar to the Control Panel or any of the other special folders in Windows.

      This is very old news, it's just some dumbass bloggers who had never heard of it before discovered it and went nuts, claiming "GodMode" folders when all they really found was another aggregate folder option that MS set up but didn't impliment. There are a dozen others and like I said, you can create your own if you want to.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    33. Re:I don't get it.... by webmistressrachel · · Score: 0

      What's this? Windows has XXX.{BB64F8A7-BEE7-4E1A-AB8D-7D8273F7FDB6}?

      Oh thanks, this has got to be cool (creates folder etc...)

      Eagerly clicks away...

      "Review Recent Messages and Solve Problems" - Windows Action Center.

      Oh thanks. Great, real voodoo man :-( What a disappointment!

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    34. Re:I don't get it.... by clone53421 · · Score: 2, Informative

      “Basically, this” is synonymous for “what he said”. My use of it had nothing to do with the “this” reference in programming. Calm down.

      Yes, I repeated what he said, but I also said it in such a way that most people aren’t going to say “huh?” when they read it.

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    35. Re:I don't get it.... by webmistressrachel · · Score: 0

      Don't know why you posted this AC, you have a good point. I Alt-Tab, Alt-F, S, Ctrl-P, Start, U, Tab, Tab, Tab, Type a Reason... Return faster than most people can shut a server 2003 box running nothing at all with the mouse.

      I get wound up starting a setup program or utility that just won't let me do anything at all without the mouse. In situations like this, i stubbornly use "dead rodent mode" to click Next > with my keyboard anyway!

      You actually have to veer from default interface guidelines to prevent the user from selecting Next > with the TAB key, but some programmers manage it anyway!! What gives?

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    36. Re:I don't get it.... by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      Why tie it in with the filesystem and string parsing at all?

      Because A.) they started doing this back in Windows 2000, (actually earlier but it wasn't as well documented).

      B.) The whole point is for 3rd party developers to have the option of creating their own special folders of their own aggregate tools. That's why they structured it that way, so you aren't locked in to whatever MS decides to label it or whathaveyou.

      And C.) These are real live folders, you can put stuff in them and access real files if you need to. The CLSID extension just tells the GUI to display something other than the contents of the folder for the purposes of the GUI. You can't do that with a void folder.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    37. Re:I don't get it.... by webmistressrachel · · Score: 2, Informative

      They're in the same place in XP and 2000, under Control Panel > Network Connections > Choose an Adaptor > Right Click > Properties > Select TCP/IP > Choose Properties > Thank you. Rachel x

      This is as trolly as I get today and it's Informative too...

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    38. Re:I don't get it.... by Yvanhoe · · Score: 1

      Except my boss think that Windows is good for developers because Microsoft says so. Developers may be a smaller target but they are a target nonetheless

      --
      The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
    39. Re:I don't get it.... by Bodero · · Score: 1

      It took me three minutes playing around in the Windows Seven control panel just to figure out how to change the TCP/IP settings.

      Microsoft emphasizes search. Click Start (screen or keyboard). Type "tcp/ip." There it is.

    40. Re:I don't get it.... by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 1

      If all of the features are in the Control Panel, why do the developers need shortcuts?

      In other words, what's wrong with the Control Panel interface that hinders developers to the point where they have to hack in these types of kludges?

      Are you implying that an interface that's good for developers is by definition also good for average users?

      Or, as another poster in an above thread pointed out, do you really want your great aunt to have one-click access to the "Format Harddrives" control panel applet?

    41. Re:I don't get it.... by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1

      The slowness on Vista capable machines was only the tip of iceberg. People had a lot complaints about Windows 7 'not supporting' their printers, scanners, VPN clients etc. A full 29% of all Windows Vista crashes were caused by Nvidia drivers and I suspect a significat percentage by ATI drivers. People had a lot of complaints about games and programs like Quickbooks not working because MS cleaned up the user files in Program Files mess into a /User directory. The software companies totally failed to support it inspite of years of notice. Cisco still has issues with 64bit driver code in their VPN clients.

      I agree with you on the IE settings, and some control panel changes but disagree with charts in Excel. There are some people who benefit a lot from them but you don't seem to , so why not just ignore it and use it as normal? I've seen a lot of business users for whom the charts feature is a big boon, not just a marketing ploy. It's like Emacs reading your email. I strongly disagree on the Office Ribbon too, it's really a big step forward for new and casual users and power users seem to like it better after a few weeks of getting used to it. Infact, OpenOffie is planning to move to the Ribbon interface as well.

      I put "upgrade" in quotes because when they get a new OS (usually on a new machine) at work, or a newer version of an office app it almost never runs faster, seldom has any new features that I would actually use, and I've never seen a real useability improvement in any of them

      I think that's too strong of a statement to make. I think you're just too annoyed by having to change your habits and muscle memory that you ignore all the other benefits. For example, the new start menu in Vista/7 itself is worth the upgrade from XP(compatibility and slow hardware issues aside).

      --
      This space for rent.
    42. Re:I don't get it.... by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 1

      Not to defend the new networking layout in Control Panel (which I also think is overly complex and confusing), but the prescribed course of action is to open Control Panel, then type what you want to do in the search box.

      "TCP/IP"... bam, there it is, top result.

    43. Re:I don't get it.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      “huh?”

    44. Re:I don't get it.... by pla · · Score: 1

      This is really starting to get on my nerves. Speak friggin english, don't use random coding shortcuts in your everyday speech.

      Um, the word "this" predates programming. Even as a coder myself, I never took its use in the context you quoted to mean a "random coding shortcut", just the (usually grammatically incorrect) use of a standard English pronoun to refer to the concept preceeding it.


      You're using it wrong anyway, it's not agreement or anything, just a class reference within the class itself

      Perhaps that particular use of it looks "wrong" because it doesn't have anything to do with its use in coding? If anything, you can object to it as nothing more than a "me too" post (which you do in your third paragraph), but it makes a convenient way to either add to or disagree with the previous point without needing to restate that point in its entirety.


      Of course, you might have meant that as humor, in which case... Well done, but perhaps a bit too subtle for a text-only medium. :)

    45. Re:I don't get it.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As you point out, that doesn't necessarily mean your design is bad, but it's a pretty good indication that you might want to consider the possibility.

      It depends on the users. Knowing what I do about Windows customization fanatics, I'm going to give the designers the benefit of a doubt.

      As a concrete example: most people don't need one or two click access to individual control panel settings. If they're changing them often enough that it's a hindrance, they're using their computer wrong. Better that the control panel as a whole is easy to get to and everything is contained within it (which happens to be the case). If it's a CLI, maybe it's better to separate everything and expect the user to remember the name. With Windows, the user is expect to drill down. Diff'rent strokes.

    46. Re:I don't get it.... by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1

      Basically, this.

      This is really starting to get on my nerves. Speak friggin english, don't use random coding shortcuts in your everyday speech. It's lazy and it makes you appear to have below average intelligence when speaking to anybody who doesn't know the reference, and even to some people who do get the reference (like me). We aren't talking code, we aren't referencing code, why the hell would you use "this" for something other than what it means in the current context?

      There is a 'this' command in Basic? Like

      10 poke this
      20 REMove that

      ??

      --
      This space for rent.
    47. Re:I don't get it.... by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 1

      ...Admittedly control panel isn't a great implementation...

      The Control Panel UI design was an early Windows OS artifact that was a direct response to the original 128k Macintosh's control panel. It doesn't need to look like that, it could be a simple admin tools branch of a normal program invocation tree (just another app folder, if you will). The way it looks is just a hold over from then. It's a legacy visual meme, nothing more.

      --
      Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
    48. Re:I don't get it.... by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      I agree with you on the IE settings, and some control panel changes but disagree with charts in Excel.

      You misunderstand me -- charts in Excel were an example of a useful feature that would make upgrading beneficial, not something useless. Quattro and Lotus' charting capabilities are abysmal (I use all three at work).

      For example, the new start menu in Vista/7 itself is worth the upgrade from XP(compatibility and slow hardware issues aside).

      That's good to hear, they're bound to upgrade at work sooner or later.

    49. Re:I don't get it.... by gad_zuki! · · Score: 1

      Just like in linux, if you want something close to standardization then learn the command line. netsh.exe examples here:

      http://www.petri.co.il/configure_tcp_ip_from_cmd.htm

    50. Re:I don't get it.... by dhavleak · · Score: 1

      Developers are developers. Most users are not developers. The shortcuts developers (and testers) need, aren't necessarily useful to users. The UI team is fine.

    51. Re:I don't get it.... by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 1

      Did you try typing "TCP/IP" into the search box?

    52. Re:I don't get it.... by complete+loony · · Score: 1

      Personally I'm rather fond of the nethood folders. They have a desktop.ini file to specify the class id and a target.lnk shortcut to the folder that should be displayed. Create your own shortcut to any folder and copy it in with a cmd prompt and you can point one of these folders anywhere you like.

      --
      09F91102 no, 455FE104 nope, F190A1E8 uh-uh, 7A5F8A09 that's not it, C87294CE no. Ah! 452F6E403CDF10714E41DFAA257D313F.
    53. Re:I don't get it.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      {869DADA0-42A0-1069-A2E7-08002B30309D} - Windows 95 easter egg

      Okay, so that probably doesn't work anymore... but it's certainly not new.

    54. Re:I don't get it.... by deniable · · Score: 1

      They usually are for major versions like 5.0 (2000) and 5.1 (XP) Most of the stuff is in the same place in 6.0 (Vista) and 6.1 (7, WTF?)

    55. Re:I don't get it.... by JustNilt · · Score: 1

      In other words, what's wrong with the Control Panel interface that hinders developers to the point where they have to hack in these types of kludges?

      Is the Control Panel accessible via the CLI? That would be a reason. Still an awful way to provide CLI access to these functions.

      Well, it is, sort of. The control panel applets are easily searched for if you click the start Orb (I hate that name, BTW) and start typing. This assumes you have left the default Start Menu in place instead of Classic. Basically, Start (key or orb) then type Programs (or just P) and you can get to the "Programs and features" applet. Now, granted, this isn't really a command line but it is nearly as handy in many cases. Considering this feature, I fail to see why they left this GUID now known as "Godmode" (shudder) in the final builds. Too much hassle to remove it, I suppose.

      As an aside, it took me ages to remember not to look for Add or Remove Programs ... hehe.

      Oh, and I do like the ability to make a Manage Wireless Networks icon on the Desktop quite easily. :-)

      --
      You know the thing about UDP jokes? I don't care if you get it or not.
    56. Re:I don't get it.... by inKubus · · Score: 1

      Yeah, in Unix, everything is a file, including things that aren't (/dev and /proc, for instance). This lends itself very nicely to gui stuff because you do have to case out every special class of "file" widget to have a special handler. Their folderOpen() probably looks like:


      switch(folder_class)
      {
            case "E211B736-43FD-11D1-9EFB-0000F8757FCD":
                        openScannersAndCameras();
                        break;
            case "20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D":
                        openMyComputer();
                        break;
            default:
                        openFilesystemObject();
                        break;
      }

      Pretty lame and inefficient. But I've been a developer for a while and sometimes these things come up and you have to make them work int he most unobstrusive way possible.

      --
      Cool! Amazing Toys.
    57. Re:I don't get it.... by clone53421 · · Score: 1

      More likely a loop through all of the installed CLSIDs.

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    58. Re:I don't get it.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, just think of it. This comes from people who inveted GOTO command.

    59. Re:I don't get it.... by Erikderzweite · · Score: 1

      Not anymore, as it seemed to me during my adventures with Windows 7.
      As I am the main user on my PC, so I decided to disable password prompt on startup on a fresh Windows 7 install only to find that I need to enter some non-trivial command (control userpasswords2, googled it up).
      Occasionally though, I do log off to let others use a guest account. So I thought I make a custom funny picture as a background on windows login screen. The instructions to do that were VERY arcane -- they involved populating %windir%\system32\oobe\info\backgrounds with many jpg-s of a fixed size. Granted, the latter is not a very common task for a user, but the former should not involve googling for an answer (especially given that e.g. KDE or GNOME have a GUI for both tasks I can reach using my keyboard only to enter root password).

      And guess what happens if I want to add a Trash Bin to the panel in Win7 (4 clicks in both KDE4 and GNOME)? Another set of arcane instructions. Adding Quick Launch Bar to panel? Another one.

  11. The real question is... by tnk1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does Windows 7 have Quad Damage?

    1. Re:The real question is... by superslacker87 · · Score: 1

      No, but it can walk through walls.

      --
      I run Ubuntu skinned to look like a Mac on a PC. Go figure.
    2. Re:The real question is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just to your data.

    3. Re:The real question is... by jameskojiro · · Score: 3, Funny

      Only if you dual wield dual core processors...

      --
      Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...
    4. Re:The real question is... by H0p313ss · · Score: 2, Funny

      Only if you dual wield dual core processors...

      I prefer to equip my quad core offhand and lay about me like a madman with a USB cable... but to each his own.

      --
      XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction
    5. Re:The real question is... by cheezfreek · · Score: 1

      While picking up my computer so I could more easily pop a new hard drive inside, I managed to drop it on my thigh. Yes, I can definitely confirm quad damage. (groan, boo, hiss, I know...sorry)

    6. Re:The real question is... by Hurricane78 · · Score: 1

      Well, if I ever see a box of it in my home, you can be sure it gets some damage from this little buddy here:
      http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/114315512_a8c8669676.jpg?v=0

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
    7. Re:The real question is... by jameskojiro · · Score: 1

      A Dual Wielded Quad Core is just silly as the increase in your INT status leaves you wide open for a malware debuff.

      --
      Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...
  12. Re:Those strings can't be right - DNSTUFF by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    God mode is DNKROZ or DNCORNHOLIO, not {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}. Maybe the other codes are for infinite ammo, all weapons, etc?

    Nope. DNSTUFF gives you unlimited everything. Just remember to press U after typing that to turn mouse aiming back on.

    BTW, I played Duke Nukem 3D a couple of days ago using eduke on Linux. Free of Microsoft and enjoying it! Yeah baby, gonna rip 'em a new one!

  13. How is this a new thing? by filedil · · Score: 1

    IIRC it was possible in Windows 95 or so to create a Menu Start folder with all of Control Panel's elements using a folder with a special "extension".

  14. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by macraig · · Score: 5, Informative

    I guess Slashdot is now advocating outright plagiarism by giving it the eyeballs instead of what it rips-off? Do I get three guesses who the "anonymous reader" was that submitted the summary text?

  15. does not compute by shadowrat · · Score: 1, Insightful

    it's intended to be used by developers as a shortcut, but it's undocumented. How does hiding a feature from a developer make things easy on the developer?

    1. Re:does not compute by Kolie · · Score: 1

      Developers are not end users and Microsoft's probable line of thinking is that the current implementation is appropriate for the masses as being easier to use.

    2. Re:does not compute by glennpratt · · Score: 1

      http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee330741(VS.85).aspx

      godmode isn't needed, that's just the name of the folder (Cnet named thiers thankscnet). Also, that so-called 'godmode' folder probably isn't documented because it's broken on x64.

    3. Re:does not compute by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1

      I think they're referring to Microsoft developers developing the OS, not other developers developing for the OS.

      --
      This space for rent.
    4. Re:does not compute by Kolie · · Score: 1

      I saw this as the intention and was referring to developers in the sense of microsoft's own. On a related but side note, the navigation of a long list of unrelated, albietly grouped, tweaks doesn't make it very easy to navigate.

    5. Re:does not compute by Sulphur · · Score: 1

      godmode isn't needed, that's just the name of the folder (Cnet named thiers thankscnet). Also, that so-called 'godmode' folder probably isn't documented because it's broken on x64.

      Can't load Divine64.dll

    6. Re:does not compute by Fred+IV · · Score: 1

      Just to clarify: It's broken on Vista 64-bit. It works fine on Windows 7 64-bit.

    7. Re:does not compute by Cytotoxic · · Score: 1

      http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee330741(VS.85).aspx

      godmode isn't needed, that's just the name of the folder (Cnet named thiers thankscnet). Also, that so-called 'godmode' folder probably isn't documented because it's broken on x64.

      Works fine on my copy of Win7 x64.

    8. Re:does not compute by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It works fine on my x64. Perhaps you should have tried it? Or followed the instructions a little closer?

    9. Re:does not compute by flimflammer · · Score: 1

      'GodMode' isn't even really hidden, though it wasn't designed to be accessed in the folder list format. You can access the same list by typing into the Windows Vista/Windows 7 start menu. If you know even part of one of the phrases, you'll see it in the start menu as you're typing.

      The phrases were designed for people with little computer knowledge to be able to find settings by typing out questions into the start menu and hoping for a result.

    10. Re:does not compute by Erikderzweite · · Score: 1

      If anything, Microsoft always delivers constant user experience...

  16. "Oh God, this is ****ed up mode" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Seriously, what in the name of the flying spaghetti monster is going on here? There must be all kinds of sauce in the code to support this kind of stuff... and if the control panel UI is so bad they are hacking this stuff in... what does it say about the control panel UI? Thank god they haven't forced me onto Win7 at work yet!

    1. Re:"Oh God, this is ****ed up mode" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're a complete idiot. You will love 7.

    2. Re:"Oh God, this is ****ed up mode" by Gadget_Guy · · Score: 1

      Thank god they haven't forced me onto Win7 at work yet!

      I hate to tell you this, but these shortcuts date back to Windows 95. If you didn't know about them before now then I really don't think that it will affect your Windows 7 experience one way or the other.

  17. How about a not-suck mode? by Gothmolly · · Score: 1

    How about a mode where I can hit Ctrl-Alt-Del and hit Enter, and have it lock my screen, without having to wait in the middle for Windows to mode-switch to a different video screen, complete with fancy graphics, to ask me the same thing a simple dialog box asks me?

    How about being able to edit the parameters of something you've "pinned to the taskbar"?

    Whats up with this whole "Library" thing? What is wrong with "My Documents"

    Thank God at least they put your whole user profile in the c:\users\ directory - wait, do they, or is user crap still sprinkled around in c:\program files\blah ?

    Unix existed when MS wrote and sold DOS. Inexcusable.

    --
    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
    1. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Ziekheid · · Score: 1, Informative

      Oh man do you need to learn about shortcut keys for Windows, next time you want to lock your system without a dialog hit your windowskey + L.
      About the pin to taskbar, never use it, I find it a useless feature and I'd rather find a way to remove the taskbar preview functionality in Windows 7 (they removed the option to remove it after R1, makes no sense).
      What library are you talking about? there are several.
      My documents is exactly like it always was?
      That last remark of you was totally useless and unrelated.

    2. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unix existed when MS wrote and sold DOS. Inexcusable.

      MS didn't write DOS - they bought it.

    3. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by tomhudson · · Score: 1

      Unix existed when MS wrote and sold DOS. Inexcusable.

      Wrong. MS didn't write DOS - they bought it.. $10k for the right to sell it, + $15k for the sale of an OEM license to ... IBM. Total: $25k.

      Lawsuits eventually drove the final price to $1M.

      Considering that Microsoft made tens of billions in profit (not revenue - profit) off dos, ...

    4. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Programs that don't have administrative rights are incapable of saving data to Program Files. Applications that try face virtual directory redirection into c:\users\yourname, so yes, it is stored per-user anyway.

      Stupid apps lose, OS wins.

      With a few exceptions (such as the ability to tinker), Windows "problems" are PEBCAK and failure to comprehend how things work as you've just amply demonstrated.

    5. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by GeckoAddict · · Score: 5, Informative
      If you'd take half a second to stop complaining, you'd realize almost everything you said is ridiculously easy and obvious.

      How about a mode where I can hit Ctrl-Alt-Del and hit Enter, and have it lock my screen, without having to wait in the middle for Windows to mode-switch to a different video screen, complete with fancy graphics, to ask me the same thing a simple dialog box asks me?

      Windows-L.

      How about being able to edit the parameters of something you've "pinned to the taskbar"?

      Right click the icon. The top item in the popup list is a shortcut, so you can right click and select 'properties' (like any shortcut) and modify the parameters.

      Whats up with this whole "Library" thing? What is wrong with "My Documents"

      Library may refer to multiple folder locations. Got music in two separate locations (like a portable drive a local one)? Now it's all accessible from one place.

      Thank God at least they put your whole user profile in the c:\users\ directory - wait, do they, or is user crap still sprinkled around in c:\program files\blah

      All of the microsoft stuff is there, but I suppose there's nothing stopping a program from not using it (UAC perhaps would complain about an app trying to create files in Program Files).

    6. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Tim+C · · Score: 1

      How about a mode where I can hit Ctrl-Alt-Del and hit Enter, and have it lock my screen, without having to wait in the middle for Windows to mode-switch to a different video screen, complete with fancy graphics, to ask me the same thing a simple dialog box asks me?

      Winkey-L locks your screen, no waiting, no confirmations.

      Whats up with this whole "Library" thing? What is wrong with "My Documents"

      Libraries allow you to add other folders (e.g. public photo or music folders) and have their contents appear alongside that of any others (e.g. your "My Pictures" or "My Music" folder)

      is user crap still sprinkled around in c:\program files\blah ?

      You'll be wanting to talk to your software vendors about that - that's been against recommended practice since at least Windows 2000 (or Win XP if you want to take it from when the DOS-based home OS line finally died; but even that's now 9 years ago)

    7. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Windows Key + L will lock windows

    8. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Verteiron · · Score: 1

      To lock the system, try Meta(windows key)+L. Been that way since Windows 2000.

      To edit the parameters of "pinned" items, try shift+rightclick.

      The library is actually pretty cool if you take the time to learn how to use it. My Documents is still there, too. The Documents library includes it by default.

      Any app properly written for Windows 2000 or later will store all of its settings in c:\users\profilename. Programs that want to write to Program Files actually write to C:\Users\profilename\AppData\Local\VirtualStore instead.

      I'm with you on the last point, though.

      --
      End of lesson. You may press the button.
    9. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      Whats up with this whole "Library" thing? What is wrong with "My Documents"

      The problem with "My Documents" is that it (and the rest of one's home folder, i.e. C:\Users\Foo) only open for read to the user who owns it. Which is as it should be, of course, but when you have multiple user accounts, you do sometimes (quite often, in fact) want certain documents shared between users.

      Now, there was a folder for "All Users", which did just that, since... er... NT I believe? 2K and above had it for sure. The problem is that few people actually knew it was there and used it.

      The idea of libraries in 7 is to expose that folder in a useful but unobtrusive way without making things unsecure. Thus, if you just save something to "Libraries\Documents", it goes to your own "Documents" folder, and isn't accessible by other users. On the other hand, when you browse the contents of "Libraries\Documents", you see the merged listing of your "Documents", and the shared "Documents" folder, and have immediate access to both. So if another user saved something as shared, it just appears in the listing right there.

      From tech perspective, it's pretty much like unionfs done on shell level (file APIs don't see it as a single folder, but shell APIs do).

    10. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by GigaHurtsMyRobot · · Score: 1

      How about hitting your Windows Key along with the L key to instantly lock your workstation without question?

      How about holding shift and right clicking the pinned item to get access to the properties link?

      What's up with having My Music, My Photos, and My Videos INSIDE My Documents? I'd rather have a Libraries folder with Documents/Music/Photos separated properly...

      The Users folder does contain your full profile, but really, what are you going to do with it even if it wasn't?

      All of these answers existed when you wrote and submitted your post. Inexcusable.

      Sorry, just having fun. :)

    11. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by GeckoAddict · · Score: 4, Informative

      Oh yeah, and as an extra bonus: Control-Shift-Esc opens the task manager without going to the annoying middle screen as well.

    12. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1

      That last remark of you was totally useless and unrelated.

      Quite true. Microsoft was more practical, sacrificing correctness for ship dates. On the other end of the spectrum we have GNU/Hurd, which might be never finished because it is too ideological and ambitious. But if finished, would it be the Holy Grail of computing? Doubtful at best. MS always was more practical and it's blind focus on backwards compatibility and shipping products quickly was one of the big reasons it succeeded, at the cost of bloat and kludges .When Vista broke the trend and cleaned up a lot of things like the graphics subsystem, network drivers, printer subsystem, instead of appreciation around these parts, it was all "OH NOEZ VISTA DOESN'T SUPPORT MY HP PRINTER" when it was the other way around, HP didn't update the drivers inspite of having years of notice. "Vista 64-bit doesn't support Cisco VPN" should be read as "Cisco sat on it's ass for 4 years doing nothing". A lot of Vista hate was misdirected at MS. Sacrificing a little of bit backward compatibility almost killed MS off, if OS X was sold for beige boxes, it might have been the end of MS, so I think MS learnt a lesson. Same with the Ribbon in Office, although it was a better design overall for casual and new users(probably around 95% of Office users), people hate having to relearn.

      GP wrote:

      Thank God at least they put your whole user profile in the c:\users\ directory - wait, do they, or is user crap still sprinkled around in c:\program files\blah ?

      I hope (s)he realizes that change was one of the big reasons for "Vista sux" complaints. Calls to the program directory were virtualized to the Users folder, which broke many kludgy applications some of which had to be run with Admin permissions resulting in UAC dialogs which were hated by most people.

      --
      This space for rent.
    13. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Ant+P. · · Score: 1

      Unix existed when MS wrote and sold DOS.

      McDonalds' $0.99 turds-in-a-box are a relatively new concept too. Instant gratification at any cost is what sells these days.

    14. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      How about a mode where I can hit Ctrl-Alt-Del and hit Enter, and have it lock my screen

      Windows key + L will do that.

      How about being able to edit the parameters of something you've "pinned to the taskbar"?

      To quote the late Lilly Tomlin's "Ernestine" character, "we're the phone company. We don't HAVE to."

      What is wrong with "My Documents"

      The "my computer" and "my documents" and the "my this" and "my that" has irked me ever since they implimented it. How about letting me make my own directories and name them what I want? Which I can and do, but the "my documents" is still there. Hell, I'm not supposed to have any of my documents on my work computer, only the company's documents.

      Unix existed when MS wrote and sold DOS. Inexcusable.

      Agreed, which is why I run Mandriva at home (yes, I know Linux isn't Unix). To me, KDE is far preferable to Windows in most respects.

    15. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by fireylord · · Score: 1

      but they added their copyright to the code surely? :)

    16. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Tacvek · · Score: 1

      The new paradigm:

      Program Files: This folder should be treated as read-only by applications, and thus may only contain static data.

      ProgramData: This folder is where machine-wide (not user specific) data is stored, and is generally read-write.

      AppData/Roaming: User-specific data that is not machine specific goes here. This data will roam to other machines in the domain if things are set up right. This is read-write.

      AppData/Local: User-specific data that is machine specific belongs here. This is read-write.

      --
      Stylish sheet to fix many problems in Slashdot's D3: https://gist.github.com/801524
    17. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1

      All of the microsoft stuff is there, but I suppose there's nothing stopping a program from not using it (UAC perhaps would complain about an app trying to create files in Program Files).

      Starting with Vista, all write calls by a non Admin program to the program startup folder (Program Files) are virtualized to C:\Users\Username\LocalSettings etc. etc. folder. Same with the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry folder This works for some programs but other badly written ones broke and needed elevation to admin with a UAC prompt.

      --
      This space for rent.
    18. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ctrl-shift-esc requires superhuman gelatinous fingers. ctrl+alt+del, T was way easier

    19. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Skuld-Chan · · Score: 1

      You should really take a computer class at your local community college - all these things are doable by shortcuts built into the OS since Windows NT - Window key + L will lock the PC for instance.

    20. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by natehoy · · Score: 1

      There's a CTRL and SHIFT on the right side of the keyboard, too. That will allow you to avoid the gelatinous finger issue.

      It's kind of the opposite of the habitual CTRL-ALT-DEL (using the right hand on the lower portion of the keyboard and the left hand for the upper), but you don't have to twist your hand into odd shapes to get CTRL-SHIFT-ESC at least.

      Another option is to lay your thumb across the CTRL and SHIFT keys to press them at the same time, then your index or middle finger is perfectly positioned to tap the ESC key. No law says you have to push only one button per digit. Though overall that's even clumsier.

      Personally, I'd prefer to develop gelatinous fingers. Sounds like a cool name for a comic book superhero. "Gelatinous Finger Man! Able to press 10 keys arranged at random around the keyboard simultaneously! (cue crappy overprocessed music)"

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
    21. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What is wrong with "My Documents"

      Well, for one thing, that pathname has a space in it, which is something I've hated since Win9x.

    22. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by dragonjujotu · · Score: 1

      Hooray an explanation!

      I always wondered what was the deal with the stupid-looking folder convention

      --
      Yes, I am obsessed with ellipses.
    23. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Fred+IV · · Score: 1

      Whats up with this whole "Library" thing? What is wrong with "My Documents"

      "My Documents" still exists if you want it. The key advantage of the Library is allowing the user to define additional locations (local or remote) where content of a certain type exists. The OS indexes the contents of all directories defined in this way and presents the user with a combined view of all defined content in within a section of the library.

      Let's say you like to keep your local video content on a different hard drive than the one your OS is installed on. You also have a removable drive that you use to carry very large video files between locations with. In addition, there's a share on your network that has video content that you need to access from time to time. You can add those locations to your video library and then have a unified view of all related content. It lets you initially focus on WHAT you want, not WHERE it may be hiding

      Yeah, it is a little different, but it is a pretty big improvement over the if you deal with multiple directories or just wish to keep your content someplace different than your OS. I always ignored the MyWhatever folders in XP because I keep my local content on an external drive, but I find myself using the library all the time now.

    24. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by LoudMusic · · Score: 1

      In XP and Vista I've had issues with "Win+L" causing a 'stuck key' situation. It's been heavily discussed and apparently patched in service packs but I continued to have the problem until I stopped using Win+L several months ago. I'm looking forward to trying it again in 7 but I'm not holding my breath either.

      --
      No sig for you. YOU GET NO SIG!
    25. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then why even display the annoying middle screen in the first place? Hell, why not have Control-Shift-Esc show it while preserving the traditional behavour of Control-Alt-Del?

    26. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      UAC does not complain about an app creating user data in Program Files... instead the data is magically put into C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files

    27. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by webmistressrachel · · Score: 0

      I must be Gelatinous Finger Woman then, cos I've been using CTRL-SHIFT-ESC with my left hand (thumb ctrl forefinger shift pinky esc) since Windows 2000 offered it to me that way! Another one I can do one-handed several ways is CTRL-ALT-DEL, I won't bore you with the description though.

      Of course, I may have this gift due to typing and playing the organ (church organ, guys!!) since I was six. But at least I can now say that I must be "GFW" since I never even realised there was an easier way!

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    28. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by null8 · · Score: 1

      Which is quite useful if you are a one of those, but not really for the rest of us (and especially those using notebooks).

    29. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget the sometimes useful Windows-D to show/hide desktop and Windows-E to bring up an explorer window.

      There are a fair number of easy commands built into Windows, that even make sense for what you're trying to do with them.

    30. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Culture20 · · Score: 1

      Library may refer to multiple folder locations. Got music in two separate locations (like a portable drive a local one)? Now it's all accessible from one place.

      That sounds like a perfect way to sow confusion.

    31. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by GravityStar · · Score: 1

      "is user crap still sprinkled around in c:\program files\blah ?"
      Actually, I can recall guidelines from the NT4/Win95 era blasting/recommending against saving user defined thingies in c:\program files\...

      And didn't Win95 have the possibility of multiple user profiles? Ah, such a long time ago.

    32. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by adolf · · Score: 1

      And:

      Windows-Up to maximimize
      Windows-Down to minimize
      Windows-Left to fill the left half of a screen with a window
      Windows-Right to fill the right half

      (And the latter of these two even make sensible use of multiple monitors.)

    33. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My IBM keyboard (born in 1988) doesn't have a Windows key you insensitive clod!

    34. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by xtracto · · Score: 1

      Thank God at least they put your whole user profile in the c:\users\ directory - wait, do they, or is user crap still sprinkled around in c:\program files\blah

      Which incidentally, can not be moved to an alternative partition or drive (something that could be done in previous versions of Windows, at least until XP).

      Why does Microsoft keeps disabling features with each new version of Windows?

      --
      Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
    35. Re:How about a not-suck mode? by MaraDNS · · Score: 1

      Hey, aren't you the guy who predicted back in 2001 that "I don't see many sales in the future of iPod". Based on your prediction history, I'm sure Win+L will work like a charm in Windows 7.

      --
      MaraDNS is an open-source DNS server.
  18. Using this for evil by Tei · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Reading the article, seems that this crash 64 bits versions of Windows 7/Vista.

    It could be a good idea to create folders like that, inside zip files, and send that zip file to people with these OS versions. Or maybe create folders in USB pendrives with that name, to protect these drives from be view in a 64 bits Windows 7. etc.

    --

    -Woof woof woof!

    1. Re:Using this for evil by jbigboote · · Score: 1

      I definitely experienced the crashing of the Explorer shell over and over again on 64-bit Vista, until I removed the folder. But it worked fine on 64-bit Windows 7. Both were the Ultimate versions.

    2. Re:Using this for evil by Ziekheid · · Score: 1

      Actually I'm using several of these folders on Windows 7 x64, the problem is only on Vista x64 and does not apply to all the shortcuts.

    3. Re:Using this for evil by MadnessASAP · · Score: 1

      64 bit Vista perhaps, it works just fine on my copy of 64 bit Windows 7. Not that Vista64 needs any help crashing.

      --
      I may agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to face the consequences of saying it.
  19. Some thoughts by Mr_Silver · · Score: 5, Informative

    Firstly, it's just a trick involving the GUID that points to a shell folder - all of which is documented on MSDN. Ed Bott also concurs in his blog post.

    Secondly, Vista had this too although it was then called "Master Control". Same thing so it's not exactly new.

    Thirdly, it's doesn't offer you anything more than you would normally find in the Control Panel. Yes, it is all in one place but I can't be the only one that just types a couple of letters into the Start Menu to find the option I want.

    Fourthly, the list of them are as follows:

    • Administrative Tools.{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}
    • All Tasks.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
    • Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002b30309d}
    • Connections.{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}
    • Fonts.{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524152}
    • Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
    • Documents.{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}
    • History.{ff393560-c2a7-11cf-bff4-444553540000}
    • Network Places.{208d2c60-3aea-1069-a2d7-08002b30309d}
    • Printers and Faxes.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
    • Programs Folder.{7be9d83c-a729-4d97-b5a7-1b7313c39e0a}
    • Recycle Bin.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
    • Start Menu.{48e7caab-b918-4e58-a94d-505519c795dc}
    • Scheduled Tasks.{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
    • WEI.{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}

    Enjoy.

    --
    Avantslash - View Slashdot cleanly on your mobile phone.
    1. Re:Some thoughts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Works in other versions of windows as well (control panel GUID hasnt changed in years). I first learned of this trick for Win98, so I could make control panel a dropdown list in the start menu (rather than just a link that opened an explorer window).

      So people have to rediscover this every new OS release?

    2. Re:Some thoughts by squizzar · · Score: 1

      Hasn't this been around forever - I seem to recall you could make a sub-menu on the start-menu for the control panel items using a trick like this.

    3. Re:Some thoughts by mystik · · Score: 1

      This has been true as far back as Windows 95. I used to use this trick in W95 to make it easier to get to certain resources in the windows system.

      --
      Why aren't you encrypting your e-mail?
    4. Re:Some thoughts by immortalpob · · Score: 1

      I can't be the only one that just types a couple of letters into the Start Menu to find the option I want.

      No you are not, I have not used control panel since Vista....

    5. Re:Some thoughts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why is this being called God Mode now? I used to use these in Windows 95 (among other things, to take a folder and change it into a shortcut -- great way to hide a directory from prying eyes). The only "new" thing I see is that someone has created an interface for exposing them in the GUI instead of just in the registry where you used to have to go to find them.

    6. Re:Some thoughts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      wtf? I remember doing this in Windows 9x. It's not exactly new.

  20. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You do indeed. Go ahead and post them and then I'll copy what you wrote and post it too - it makes it better, apparently.

  21. Hmmm. Let's see. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    GOD mode, WINdows 7, GODWIN.

    Does that mean everyone else are Nazis?

  22. Nice Job, "1/2 Loaded"... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject-line above...

    APK

  23. Slashdot God{aa29f560-cc37-11cf-bff4-4449932ba000} by Rik+Sweeney · · Score: 1

    Nope, didn't work :(

  24. 'GodMode' strings do the following: by isomer1 · · Score: 2, Informative

    ::SPOILER ALERT:: If you want the nerdjoy of trying these all yourself stop reading now

    woog.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}
    -enter a default location for gps and other location aware programs

    woog.{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}
    -biometric devices control

    woog.{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}
    -power plan management

    woog.{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
    -taskbar icons and notifications

    woog.{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}
    -windows credential manager

    woog.{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}
    -install a new program

    woog.{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}
    -default programs and file associations

    woog.{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}
    -public key tokens NOTE: does not change folder icon

    woog.{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}
    -manage wireless networks

    woog.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
    -network neighborhood

    woog.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
    -my computer

    woog.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
    -printer installation and queue (Note: slightly different than printers & devices)

    woog.{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}
    -remote apps and desktop connection

    woog.{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}
    -windows firewall settings

    woog.{62D8ED13-C9D0-4CE8-A914-47DD628FB1B0}
    -unknown, this did nothing on my machine

    woog.{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}
    -windows experience index

    woog.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
    -original 'GodMode' folder

  25. Linked article is plagiarism by jeremywc · · Score: 5, Informative

    The author stole his text from a CNET article by Ina Fried. Update the link to point to the original article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10426627-56.html

    1. Re:Linked article is plagiarism by LO0G · · Score: 1

      Mod Parent up (hopefully the /. editors will notice this and correct the link to the actual author).

    2. Re:Linked article is plagiarism by emurphy42 · · Score: 1
      From the comments on his page:

      If you look at Aviran’s website, all of his articles are like this. It is a site like slashdot except he copies and pasts the articles instead of paraphrasing them. Also, they all do contain a link to their source somewhere in the article.

      He's the new Roland!

    3. Re:Linked article is plagiarism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      he didn't actually steal the text, he made (presumption) an unauthorized copy

  26. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by JWSmythe · · Score: 4, Funny

    I guess Slashdot is now advocating outright plagiarism by giving it the eyeballs instead of what it rips-off? Do I get three guesses who the "anonymous reader" was that submitted the summary text?

    You do indeed. Go ahead and post them and then I'll copy what you wrote and post it too - it makes it better, apparently.

    You do indeed. Go ahead and post them and then I'll copy what you wrote and post it too - it makes it better, apparently.

    --
    Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
  27. And in other versions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Arabic version has Allah Mode

    Is there a version with Depeche Mode ?

  28. We've had these since Win95 by N0Man74 · · Score: 2, Informative

    These have existed since Win95. I remember in Win95 using these tricks to put a Control Panel and Dial-Up Networking shortcuts on my Start Bar that expanded out just like later became in option in I think 98 or XP. I haven't done this in years, but I do recall that in '95, you could find all the correct values to use for these "tricks" by searching RegEdit.

  29. Athiest by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you don't believe in God, do you still get these short cuts?

    1. Re:Athiest by natehoy · · Score: 1

      Yes. As a matter of fact, the stuff to the left of the dot being "God" is just a joke started by the person who first decided to sell a few inches of column space. You could, in fact, put "Man" there, or make it actually usefully descriptive ("Control Panel").

      Personally, I'd put "FSM" there, but for some reason the whole shortcut dealie doesn't work in Linux Mint. Shows how advanced Windows is. We don't even HAVE a God in Linux. Except Linus, of course, but he's a minor deity. :)

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
  30. False prophet by gmuslera · · Score: 1

    To end all theologist discussions, In Windows God isn't almighty, can't erase from existence bugs/worms/virus, nor avoid Blue/Black Screen Of Death, no matter how much wish for that.

    1. Re:False prophet by natehoy · · Score: 1

      In other words, a lot like the ones we already have, except we can prove this one exists.

      KIDDING!!!!

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
  31. sigh. by Ralph+Spoilsport · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    And, as a reminder, to create the Godmode folder itself, use this string:

    {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

    Yeah, that's really intuitive. Not.

    RS

    --
    Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
    1. Re:sigh. by Legion303 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Why would it be intuitive? I don't think MS intended for people to be using it, which is why it doesn't come with an install icon.

      Unless you meant you don't understand how to enable it, in which case I suggest you read the article more carefully.

    2. Re:sigh. by onefriedrice · · Score: 1

      Why would it be intuitive? I don't think MS intended for people to be using it...

      Another name for parts of software which go unused is "bloat." If the traditional interface is lacking, fix it. If this new interface adds value, polish it and document it as a feature.

      --
      This author takes full ownership and responsibility for the unpopular opinions outlined above.
    3. Re:sigh. by Ralph+Spoilsport · · Score: 1

      exactly. But the MS fanboys say I'm flamebait when I state the obvious.

      --
      Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
  32. "God Mode?" by Torodung · · Score: 1

    Didn't we just used to call these "back doors?" Maybe I'm missing the point.

    --
    Toro

    1. Re:"God Mode?" by Skuld-Chan · · Score: 1

      Backdoor is a security thing (creating an entry point into the system that no-one knows about so even if you are locked out you can regain access easily) - this has little to do with security.

    2. Re:"God Mode?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It "has little to do with security" as much as undocumented features ever do.

      In short - who the fuck knows? Unless you're testing it for yourself or (less preferably) paying someone to test it for you, you just plain don't ever know.

      You're making half assed assumptions about undocumented features - and praying that there aren't more around that are going to bite you in the ass.

  33. Amusing... by GWRedDragon · · Score: 0, Troll

    I'm quite amused by the lack of "normal configuration in Linux is godmode!" posts on this story.

  34. ROTT Godmode was better... by kj_kabaje · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Ludicrous Gibs! Taco, I got your ass again!

  35. Re:I don't know if he is about THAT, but... by The+End+Of+Days · · Score: 0

    Wow, you're still going off about that? You flatter me... and frighten me.

  36. Liars by Demonantis · · Score: 0

    Okay so I have 64bit Vista and tried it out because I like to gamble and it broke explorer. So Microsoft is lying it is dead simple to create and I suspect it is more then just some. I also figured out how to fix it if you did it too. You need to delete the folder that the folder is in. With another user or something depending on where you put it(desktop). No idea how to make it work correctly though.

    1. Re:Liars by jonbryce · · Score: 3, Informative

      I did the following to recover from my crash:

      Press Ctrl-Alt-Del
      Load the task manager
      Run cmd
      Rename "GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}" to "folder"
      Then I can delete "folder" in Explorer as it no longer crashes

    2. Re:Liars by Skuld-Chan · · Score: 1

      Probably why its not documented - typically things not tested aren't ;).

      Anyhow it works on Windows 7 x64.

    3. Re:Liars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...or you could just [Windows-R], then "CMD" [ENTER], followed by "RD GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}" (adjusting the folder name by any necessary path information, depending on where you created it! Renaming it in the CLI just so you can delete it in explorer seems like superfluous work to me...

      On the flipside, as a network admin, I created a folder with the Godmode name on an Admins-only share that resides on one of the network servers. Now whenever I'm at a workstation and want to use that functionality, I have it from right within our netadmin share, but without having to put/manage copies on individual workstations!

      -AC

    4. Re:Liars by jonbryce · · Score: 1

      I tried deleting it from the command line. That didn't work.

      Also, Win-R requires explorer to be running. That's why you need to do Ctrl-Alt-Del to get the task manager up.

    5. Re:Liars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you a masochist?

      Just delete it from the command line. Why rename then go back to explorer and delete it?

  37. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm confused - now are we in favor of imaginary property again?

  38. plagiarist by LordSkout · · Score: 2, Insightful

    /. should probably change the link to this to the original author, Ina Fried at http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10426627-56.html?tag=mncol

    Aviran's plagiarism shouldn't benefit from slashdotting.

  39. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by FiloEleven · · Score: 1

    Yep, another name for the 'foes' list. One-click for your convenience!

  40. Another way to trigger god mode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Open up a command line and type IDDQD, press enter, and see what happens.

    ...or not

    1. Re:Another way to trigger god mode by Tetsujin · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Open up a command line and type IDDQD, press enter, and see what happens.

      ...or not

      You know, suddenly I have an urge to add a "sudo" alias called "iddqd"...

      --
      Bow-ties are cool.
    2. Re:Another way to trigger god mode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      'IDDQD' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
      operable program or batch file.

      Fail. Feel free to whoosh me.

    3. Re:Another way to trigger god mode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      God mode cheat for Doom(s). Don't worry, it's possible you were busy or 6 at the time.

    4. Re:Another way to trigger god mode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Being 6 did not stop ME from playing DOOM :)

  41. ...and yet... by __aavevi421 · · Score: 1

    ...with all the God Modes they have hidden, I _still_ have to go to cmd.exe to remove the hiberfil.sys

    1. Re:...and yet... by GameboyRMH · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually Windows keeps that around to prevent your hibernation file from becoming fragmented. It's not good from a security standpoint, but neither is your swap file.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    2. Re:...and yet... by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

      It's not good from a security standpoint, but neither is your swap file. How does swap.avi compromise security? Lunch I can see, but security?

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
  42. Exists in Windows 95 by Derf_X · · Score: 1

    This is not news, it existed in previous Windows versions. I remember making shortcuts with these names in Windows 95. These names point to registry keys if I am not mistaken.

  43. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What do you mean "we"? Surely you have your own series of opinions and beliefs on matters? Or do you view what the majority of a community thinks and then adopt that as your own opinion? No wonder you're confused!

  44. Copy and paste article by Saint+Gerbil · · Score: 1

    You copy and paste a Cnet article and post it up and expect no one to notice ?

    At least give credit next time.

  45. this is stupid by Kral_Blbec · · Score: 1

    soooo its like a shortcut to the control panel. yippeee.

  46. Re:I don't know if he is about THAT, but... by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

    You have way, WAY too much free time on your hands. It's freakin slashdot man, we dredge up other people's news and talk about it. It's not exactly the preimminent news organization, and it certainly is not a bastion of truth and fairness in journalism.

    So this guy's a douchebag, so what? Why get your panties in a bunch about something that really doesn't matter.

    Simmer down man, simmer down.

    --
    Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
  47. How about they just fix stuff? by jdcope · · Score: 1

    Like why my "windows explorer has stopped working" ....2-3 times a day? And while they are at it, fix the Zune software so it works better with W7. Its so buggy, its just a PITA.

    1. Re:How about they just fix stuff? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

      That's what you get for purchasing a ZUNE, you fool!

      Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

  48. Windows wizards.... by King_TJ · · Score: 1

    I agree on the Windows wizards. I think they make sense in *applications*, where the user might request assistance with performing a common task, but one which normally requires several steps. (For example, "mail merge" is something that benefits from a wizard. People who use it are often users who RARELY need it, and don't remember how it works. When they do want it (say, for a Christmas card mailing list generated from Outlook contacts?), a friendly UI that walks them through all the options and steps isn't a bad thing.

    But in the operating system itself, I think MS used them far too often. It feels really unprofessional to me, for example, when I see wizards offering to handle user account management functions on a server. If the people administering a corporate server really need a wizard to assist them, I think the company may have some problems with the quality of their admins! I know in Windows Server 2000 and 2003, the only times I ever launched one of those wizards was out of curiosity. I wondered what they could possibly help me with.... and was totally disappointed. Besides insulting my knowledge of the product, I didn't see any real speed increase or advantage they gave me at all? I could at least see it, if they set up some default folders in a new user's home directory, and let you configure some default mapped network printers when running a "new user creation" wizard or what-not. But there's nothing even that advanced or helpful.

    The "troubleshooters" are equally poor and annoying. Everyone I know who ran into things like wireless connectivity issues HATED the "Windows troubleshooter" that popped up and offered to assist! Instead of solving anything, it usually just makes them go through a loop of answering questions and performing functions that don't fix the real problem. (EG. Reset the wireless network adapter and force it to grab an IP address again, when the underlying issue is actually an incorrect saved WEP or WPA key.)

    1. Re:Windows wizards.... by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

      I always loved the "...contact your system administrator" quote when the troubleshooter reached the end of its rope. I *AM* the @#$%!!!! system administrator!!!

      --
      MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
    2. Re:Windows wizards.... by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      My biggest complaint with Vista was that they stopped giving error codes in the error messages. WTF? Who cares if the user has no clue, -I- can go look it up quickly and have a resolution in minutes instead of digging through the error logs for error codes first, damnit!

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    3. Re:Windows wizards.... by omarius · · Score: 1

      Regarding troubleshooters, I had to laugh. I have been telling users since the Win95 days, "ALWAYS click 'Yes, the test page printed.' Even if it didn't print. Or else your computer will waste your time for a while before you can figure out what the problem is.

    4. Re:Windows wizards.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the people administering a corporate server really need a wizard to assist them, I think the company may have some problems with the quality of their admins!

      It would be good to remember that Windows servers often find themselves in small companies without a real admin. They're managed by "Doug, who knows a lot about that stuff".

      - T

    5. Re:Windows wizards.... by deniable · · Score: 1

      Even better, they give you some type of 'More information' button and even it doesn't have the magic numbers. Hide it, but let me see it if I need it. It's kind of like the descriptions they give with updates: 'this update corrects a problem with Windows.' No, really?

  49. Re:I don't know if he is about THAT, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That "all said & aside" by "EndOfDays"? Well... what's stopping him from logging in as 1 account (or even doing AC), & then moderating himself up with another??

    So what if he does? Even if he did, one modpoint does little when an army of mods are available to cancel out his self-serving moderation. Who even gives three-elevenths of a shit about sock puppetry and “Forum Security”, apart from retards like yourself?

    Bugger off. You’re just an annoying twit screaming about imaginary foes.

  50. Just like in DOOM by al3 · · Score: 1

    In Windows as in DOOM, GodMode helps you defeat UAC

    1. Re:Just like in DOOM by ub3r+n3u7r4l1st · · Score: 1

      "GodMode helps you defeat UAC"

      Doesn't worth a salt unless it can defeat VAC instead.

  51. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by macraig · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There's imaginary property, and then there's ethics and general courtesy. The former is not a prerequisite for the latter... or at least it damned well shouldn't be.

  52. Oh God by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So, how many "Oh God Dammit" modes are still in there?

  53. Plagiarist Alert! by al0ha · · Score: 1

    Why did you link to the plagiarist's site instead of the original CNET article from which the text was copied verbatim.

    Oh I know - it was submitted anonymously by the site owner.

    Shame on the /.'ers who modded this story up.

    --
    Did you ever wake up in the morning, with a Zombie Woof behind your eyes? -- FZ
  54. GUIDS and God Mode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    G - God U - Understands, I - Idiots D - Die If one wonders why there are so many viruses, trojans, and other malware for Windows, it is because of this cruft. All you need to get admin access to an MS operating system is the secret decoder ring, and the black-hats out there are experts in finding it.

  55. This is not news. It is well documented. by suman28 · · Score: 4, Informative

    This isn’t new news. None of this is hidden, it’s all documented. For the full list try here http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee330741(VS.85).aspx

  56. You mean the sky? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Man... talk about a big screen...

  57. Nothing new here. by retro.sufi · · Score: 0

    Second Mr. Silver! There is nothing new here. You can do this in XP too and had been discovered a long time ago. Just rename the folder with the appropriate class id and away you go. Reference: http://windowstricks.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_pagedir=Next&_c11_BlogPart_handle=cns!BAFA39A62A57009C!141&_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart

  58. These have been around for a long time by PhunkySchtuff · · Score: 1

    Back in, from memory, NT4 days, you could name a folder with a GUID on the end of the name to get, for instance, your Control Panels folder directly on the desktop (without a pesky shortcut arrow)

  59. MOD PARENT UP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    (with apologies to Lloyd Bentsen) "Aviran, you're no Roland Piquepaille"

  60. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, and now the question is, can I sell ads on that plagiarized traffic? LOL

  61. Re:"The End of Days" we know about your mult. acct by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yea, "SURE" (sarcasm again, lol): In case you hadn't noticed? I'd need his (one of YOURS in your admitted MAIN accounts here, lol, how STUPID can you get pal?) password to do that... and?

    Oooh, good point! You’d need his password to post as AC!

    Give this man a round of applause, please!

  62. Re:More AC posts from "The End of Days", lmao... a by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Pure amusement, & YOU are providing the fuel for it, not I... AND, lmao: You're showing your "tell" pretty obviously here "The End of Days", by attempting to troll me once more via your alternate logons here. Pretty transparent, but, nobody ever said you were intelligent.

    LOL, you’re a funny dude! keep it up!

  63. Re:LOL, well well: Look who the "cat dragged in".. by pwfffff · · Score: 0

    Give it up, we all know you're both the same person. Stop arguing with yourself.

  64. Can you read? See username in this post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684436

    Right here in this very exchange, above? Who posted that?? Yes, the same person who admitted to having multiple user accounts here -> http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1147437&threshold=-1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&pid=27056589

    And

    The same one who FURTHER "Busted himself" admitting to a "main account" here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30686702 & who appeared here, just like clockwork (ah, nothing like being "stalked & trolled" @ /., but it's a PITY they're so simple to catch in their OWN b.s., everytime).

    (As-per-usual? "too, Too, TOO EASY!"...)

    APK

    P.S.=> Request to CmdrTaco & crew here: Guys - I have an idea. Get rid of the "captcha" stuff & do an IQ test instead (especially on that tests literacy. It'll "shave out" the "10 below plantlife IQ" types @ least, & give myself + others a challenge (instead of mere amusement @ their lack of literacy)...

    Same to the 4chan bunch, too: You're "trolling performance is DOWN lately" boys... better luck next time! apk

    1. Re:Can you read? See username in this post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The same one who FURTHER "Busted himself" admitting to a "main account" here

      We all know that was really you posting as AC to impersonate him, LOL

      give myself + others a challenge

      Well, that’s the only thing you’ve got right so far. Passing an IQ test in order to post would definitely be a challenge for you.

      Don’t stop, though. You’re almost as much fun as reality TV.

  65. Excellent! by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 1

    I always wanted to be many Gods...

    --
    You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
  66. Wrong credit and link given by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think sence aviransplace took their story from Cnet that it should link to Cnet and not aviransplace.

    http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10426627-56.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

    Here is a list of a bunch more from MSDN:
    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee330741(VS.85).aspx

  67. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by pbhj · · Score: 1

    I bet you're a god on Reddit.

  68. Rinse, lather, & repeat... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I knew you had problems with reading, so I will the same to you again:

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30687022

    APK

    P.S.=> TOO EASY... "too, Too, TOO EASY".

    Keep using your multiple registered sockpuppet & AC replies to try to hide the fact you do, but...

    Hey, after all, you said it youself here ->

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1147437&threshold=-1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&pid=27056589

    ADMITTING YOUR USE OF MULTIPLE REGISTERED ACCOUNT SOCKPUPPETS SO YOU "APPEAR TO HAVE SUPPORT" and which you mod down others with, pitifully, fooling nobody BUT yourself, lmao... man!

    ---

    And today, basically again now here in this very exchange in THIS quote, here by your now AC replies as Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004):

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30686004

    "p.p.s. Im not The End Of Days... you are. My main account has many +5 comments, far more than your pitiful FOUR." - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004)

    Sure sure... SURE you're not (not)... lmao! He just "showed up here" and then just "disappeared again" right? The "man of a 1,000 faces", admittedly, lol, in "The End of Days"? Please... you aren't intelligent enough to pull it off when I just 'busted you again' using your sockpuppet accounts here once more!

    ----

    Well to that? After you first showed up here "magically @ the mention of your name" (& proof via your own words you do these type of trolling stupid things fooling nobody but you)?

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684436

    Yup, "The End of Days": THE NEW LON CHANEY, the "man of a 1,000 faces" (lol, albeit online instead of as a thespian!)

    ----

    Oh, also: Just see my subject line again, & then?

    Please - show us your list of appearances in noted trade publications like Windows IT Pro, or others I had done whilst you were still in diapers!

    (You still are apparently in diapers though, just judging by your tantrums & lack of visible accomplishment in this field as I had done 13++ yrs ago, up to 2002 when I still gave a hoot about it, per the evidence of myself doing that on that note, here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=30685778 )

    ----

    Above ALL else? Hey - Thanks for proving my initial point in this thread -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30683968 ... apk

    1. Re:Rinse, lather, & repeat... by RussellSHarris · · Score: 1

      Hi, can I be his sockpuppet too?

  69. "The End of Days" & his sockpuppet use exposed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Keep using your multiple registered sockpuppet, "The End of Days", & also your use of later AC replies to try to hide the fact you do, but...

    Hey, after all, you said it youself here ->

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1147437&threshold=-1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&pid=27056589

    ADMITTING YOUR USE OF MULTIPLE REGISTERED ACCOUNT SOCKPUPPETS SO YOU "APPEAR TO HAVE SUPPORT" and which you mod down others with, pitifully, fooling nobody BUT yourself, lmao... man!

    ---

    And today, basically again now here in this very exchange in THIS quote, here by your now AC replies as Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004):

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30686004

    "p.p.s. Im not The End Of Days... you are. My main account has many +5 comments, far more than your pitiful FOUR." - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004)

    Sure sure... SURE you're not (not)... lmao! He just "showed up here" and then just "disappeared again" right? The "man of a 1,000 faces", admittedly, lol, in "The End of Days"? Please... you aren't intelligent enough to pull it off when I just 'busted you again' using your sockpuppet accounts here once more!

    ----

    Well to that? After you first showed up here "magically @ the mention of your name" (& proof via your own words you do these type of trolling stupid things fooling nobody but you)?

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684436

    Yup, "The End of Days": THE NEW LON CHANEY, the "man of a 1,000 faces" (lol, albeit online instead of as a thespian!)

    ----

    Oh, also: Just see my subject line again, & then?

    Please - show us your list of appearances in noted trade publications like Windows IT Pro, or others I had done whilst you were still in diapers!

    (You still are apparently in diapers though, just judging by your tantrums & lack of visible accomplishment in this field as I had done 13++ yrs ago, up to 2002 when I still gave a hoot about it, per the evidence of myself doing that on that note, here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=30685778 )

    APK

    P.S.=> TOO EASY... "too, Too, TOO EASY".

    Trolling "ne'er do wells" like yourself just ARE too dull minded & lazy to get the better of myself! Perhaps that's not your fault, being of such "low ilk" due to genetics, lol!

    (Hence your lack of anything decent you've done in your life that can be evidenced per others stating it in publications of note etc. et al... it's plain impossible for "the likes of you" to have done anything decent, and "your kind" are always EASY to get the better of (via their own mistakes like yours above in your own words, quoted above here from this & other exchanges, no less)).

    Above ALL else?

    Hey - Thanks for proving my initial point in this thread -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30683968 ... apk

  70. Re:"The End of Days" & his sockpuppet use expo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    lol ur so gud at copy n paste r u getting paid to do this? cus i am

  71. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess Slashdot is now advocating outright plagiarism by giving it the eyeballs instead of what it rips-off? Do I get three guesses who the "anonymous reader" was that submitted the summary text?

    You do indeed. Go ahead and post them and then I'll copy what you wrote and post it too - it makes it better, apparently.

    You do indeed. Go ahead and post them and then I'll copy what you wrote and post it too - it makes it better, apparently.

    You do indeed. Go ahead and post them and then I'll copy what you wrote and post it too - it makes it better, apparently.

  72. Re:Direct Copy article... i.e. PLAGIARISM by JWSmythe · · Score: 1

        Where? I thought that site was deemed unsuitable for human visitation, and finally shut down because their traffic dropped to nil. Oh.. They still have one user. You. Please, please, don't go there any more. It will melt your mind, and you'll start having urges to post nonsense on Slashdot.

    --
    Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
  73. "The End of Days" & his sockpuppet use exposed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Keep using your multiple registered sockpuppet, "The End of Days", & also your use of later AC replies to try to hide the fact you do, but...

    Hey, after all, you said it youself here ->

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1147437&threshold=-1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&pid=27056589

    ADMITTING YOUR USE OF MULTIPLE REGISTERED ACCOUNT SOCKPUPPETS SO YOU "APPEAR TO HAVE SUPPORT" and which you mod down others with, pitifully, fooling nobody BUT yourself, lmao... man!

    ---

    And today, basically again now here in this very exchange in THIS quote, here by your now AC replies as Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004):

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30686004

    "p.p.s. Im not The End Of Days... you are. My main account has many +5 comments, far more than your pitiful FOUR." - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004)

    Sure sure... SURE you're not (not)... lmao! He just "showed up here" and then just "disappeared again" right? The "man of a 1,000 faces", admittedly, lol, in "The End of Days"? Please... you aren't intelligent enough to pull it off when I just 'busted you again' using your sockpuppet accounts here once more!

    ----

    Well to that? After you first showed up here "magically @ the mention of your name" (& proof via your own words you do these type of trolling stupid things fooling nobody but you)?

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684436

    Yup, "The End of Days": THE NEW LON CHANEY, the "man of a 1,000 faces" (lol, albeit online instead of as a thespian!)

    ----

    Oh, also: Just see my subject line again, & then?

    Please - show us your list of appearances in noted trade publications like Windows IT Pro, or others I had done whilst you were still in diapers!

    (You still are apparently in diapers though, just judging by your tantrums & lack of visible accomplishment in this field as I had done 13++ yrs ago, up to 2002 when I still gave a hoot about it, per the evidence of myself doing that on that note, here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=30685778 )

    ----

    AND, thanks for this also (proof my prediction that all you HAVE are your 'effete mod downs' "The End of Days"):

    "Holy shit, you must think I have a lot of modpoints. Slashdot only gives what... 5 at a time, now? per week, or something like that? Good thing I have so many of them, Ive used 9 modpoints to mod you down today just in this thread alone!" - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @04:33PM (#30687844)

    I was correct when I stated in my 3rd paragraph in the URL below, to others here, that you would just "mod me down" as I predicted here in this very exchange:

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684508

    And that you have done so before to myself, & doubtless others who EASILY (no doubt) got the better of you!

    To that?

    LMAO, All you have are your "mod points" (keep blowing them, I will make you burn them ALL out, because your own post even STATES YOU BURNED THEM OUT TODAY "The End of Days", right here -> http://slashdot.org/~The+End+Of+Days (look to the left for "The End of days 'Achievements')... lol, SOME ACHIEVEMENTS.

    Try this list of MINE on for size instead ->

  74. Re:"The End of Days" & his sockpuppet use expo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You didn’t even answer my question!

  75. You didn't answer mine (now my bot takes over) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Per subject-line above:

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30685778

    So, I asked you this earlier: Let's see if YOU have the same accomplishments as I have been fortunate enough to have, & as many on YOUR part (and, as early on also, from reputable mags & books, like Windows IT Pro as I have, plus commercial code to your credit that has been a finalist @ MS Tech Ed 2x in a row in its hardest category).

    Keep using your multiple registered sockpuppet, "The End of Days", & also your use of later AC replies to try to hide the fact you do, but...

    Hey, after all, you said it youself here ->

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1147437&threshold=-1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&pid=27056589

    ADMITTING YOUR USE OF MULTIPLE REGISTERED ACCOUNT SOCKPUPPETS SO YOU "APPEAR TO HAVE SUPPORT" and which you mod down others with, pitifully, fooling nobody BUT yourself, lmao... man!

    ---

    And today, basically again now here in this very exchange in THIS quote, here by your now AC replies as Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004):

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30686004

    "p.p.s. Im not The End Of Days... you are. My main account has many +5 comments, far more than your pitiful FOUR." - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004)

    Sure sure... SURE you're not (not)... lmao! He just "showed up here" and then just "disappeared again" right? The "man of a 1,000 faces", admittedly, lol, in "The End of Days"? Please... you aren't intelligent enough to pull it off when I just 'busted you again' using your sockpuppet accounts here once more!

    ----

    Well to that? After you first showed up here "magically @ the mention of your name" (& proof via your own words you do these type of trolling stupid things fooling nobody but you)?

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684436

    Yup, "The End of Days": THE NEW LON CHANEY, the "man of a 1,000 faces" (lol, albeit online instead of as a thespian!)

    ----

    Oh, also: Just see my subject line again, & then?

    Please - show us your list of appearances in noted trade publications like Windows IT Pro, or others I had done whilst you were still in diapers!

    (You still are apparently in diapers though, just judging by your tantrums & lack of visible accomplishment in this field as I had done 13++ yrs ago, up to 2002 when I still gave a hoot about it, per the evidence of myself doing that on that note, here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=30685778 )

    ----

    AND, thanks for this also (proof my prediction that all you HAVE are your 'effete mod downs' "The End of Days"):

    "Holy shit, you must think I have a lot of modpoints. Slashdot only gives what... 5 at a time, now? per week, or something like that? Good thing I have so many of them, Ive used 9 modpoints to mod you down today just in this thread alone!" - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @04:33PM (#30687844)

    I was correct when I stated in my 3rd paragraph in the URL below, to others here, that you would just "mod me down" as I predicted here in this very exchange:

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684508

    And that you have done so before to myself

    1. Re:You didn't answer mine (now my bot takes over) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your bot? So basically... you’re giving up?

      When you can’t beat someone, yell louder?

      Drown everyone in repeats of the same copypasta?

      Copypasta is delicious. So is victory.

      Sweet, sweet victory.

  76. "The End of Days" & his sockpuppet use exposed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Keep using your multiple registered sockpuppet, "The End of Days", & also your use of later AC replies to try to hide the fact you do, but...

    Hey, after all, you said it youself here ->

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1147437&threshold=-1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&pid=27056589

    ADMITTING YOUR USE OF MULTIPLE REGISTERED ACCOUNT SOCKPUPPETS SO YOU "APPEAR TO HAVE SUPPORT" and which you mod down others with, pitifully, fooling nobody BUT yourself, lmao... man!

    ---

    And today, basically again now here in this very exchange in THIS quote, here by your now AC replies as Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004):

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30686004

    "p.p.s. Im not The End Of Days... you are. My main account has many +5 comments, far more than your pitiful FOUR." - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004)

    Sure sure... SURE you're not (not)... lmao! He just "showed up here" and then just "disappeared again" right? The "man of a 1,000 faces", admittedly, lol, in "The End of Days"? Please... you aren't intelligent enough to pull it off when I just 'busted you again' using your sockpuppet accounts here once more!

    ----

    Well to that? After you first showed up here "magically @ the mention of your name" (& proof via your own words you do these type of trolling stupid things fooling nobody but you)?

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684436

    Yup, "The End of Days": THE NEW LON CHANEY, the "man of a 1,000 faces" (lol, albeit online instead of as a thespian!)

    ----

    Oh, also: Just see my subject line again, & then?

    Please - show us your list of appearances in noted trade publications like Windows IT Pro, or others I had done whilst you were still in diapers!

    (You still are apparently in diapers though, just judging by your tantrums & lack of visible accomplishment in this field as I had done 13++ yrs ago, up to 2002 when I still gave a hoot about it, per the evidence of myself doing that on that note, here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=30685778 )

    ----

    AND, thanks for this also (proof my prediction that all you HAVE are your 'effete mod downs' "The End of Days"):

    "Holy shit, you must think I have a lot of modpoints. Slashdot only gives what... 5 at a time, now? per week, or something like that? Good thing I have so many of them, Ive used 9 modpoints to mod you down today just in this thread alone!" - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @04:33PM (#30687844)

    I was correct when I stated in my 3rd paragraph in the URL below, to others here, that you would just "mod me down" as I predicted here in this very exchange:

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684508

    And that you have done so before to myself, & doubtless others who EASILY (no doubt) got the better of you!

    To that?

    LMAO, All you have are your "mod points" (keep blowing them, I will make you burn them ALL out, because your own post even STATES YOU BURNED THEM OUT TODAY "The End of Days", right here -> http://slashdot.org/~The+End+Of+Days (look to the left for "The End of days 'Achievements')... lol, SOME ACHIEVEMENTS.

    Try this list of MINE on for size instead ->

  77. Hinduism by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    Hinduism is polytheistic. Clearly it was developed by Indians.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  78. godmode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    whatever happened to NSAMode?

  79. Re:Sufficient Evidences lie within, nuff said... a by The+End+Of+Days · · Score: 0

    I post this reply simply to stir the pot.

  80. Maybe: He admits to MULTIPLE ACCT USE here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Keep using your multiple registered sockpuppet, "The End of Days", & also your use of later AC replies to try to hide the fact you do, but...

    Hey, after all, you said it youself here ->

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1147437&threshold=-1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&pid=27056589

    ADMITTING YOUR USE OF MULTIPLE REGISTERED ACCOUNT SOCKPUPPETS SO YOU "APPEAR TO HAVE SUPPORT" and which you mod down others with, pitifully, fooling nobody BUT yourself, lmao... man!

    ---

    And today, basically again now here in this very exchange in THIS quote, here by your now AC replies as Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004):

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30686004

    "p.p.s. Im not The End Of Days... you are. My main account has many +5 comments, far more than your pitiful FOUR." - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004)

    Sure sure... SURE you're not (not)... lmao! He just "showed up here" and then just "disappeared again" right? The "man of a 1,000 faces", admittedly, lol, in "The End of Days"? Please... you aren't intelligent enough to pull it off when I just 'busted you again' using your sockpuppet accounts here once more!

    ----

    Well to that? After you first showed up here "magically @ the mention of your name" (& proof via your own words you do these type of trolling stupid things fooling nobody but you)?

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684436

    Yup, "The End of Days": THE NEW LON CHANEY, the "man of a 1,000 faces" (lol, albeit online instead of as a thespian!)

    ----

    Oh, also: Just see my subject line again, & then?

    Please - show us your list of appearances in noted trade publications like Windows IT Pro, or others I had done whilst you were still in diapers!

    (You still are apparently in diapers though, just judging by your tantrums & lack of visible accomplishment in this field as I had done 13++ yrs ago, up to 2002 when I still gave a hoot about it, per the evidence of myself doing that on that note, here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=30685778 )

    ----

    AND, thanks for this also (proof my prediction that all you HAVE are your 'effete mod downs' "The End of Days"):

    "Holy shit, you must think I have a lot of modpoints. Slashdot only gives what... 5 at a time, now? per week, or something like that? Good thing I have so many of them, Ive used 9 modpoints to mod you down today just in this thread alone!" - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @04:33PM (#30687844)

    I was correct when I stated in my 3rd paragraph in the URL below, to others here, that you would just "mod me down" as I predicted here in this very exchange:

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684508

    And that you have done so before to myself, & doubtless others who EASILY (no doubt) got the better of you!

    To that?

    LMAO, All you have are your "mod points" (keep blowing them, I will make you burn them ALL out, because your own post even STATES YOU BURNED THEM OUT TODAY "The End of Days", right here -> http://slashdot.org/~The+End+Of+Days (look to the right for "The End of days 'Achievements')... lol, SOME ACHIEVEMENTS.

    Try this list of MINE on for size instead ->

  81. Re:Hello again "The End of Days"... lol! apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please, don’t stop now. This is much too funny to end just yet. It’s almost like going to the zoo, except some of the animals there actually seemed intelligent.

  82. "The End of Days" & his sockpuppet use exposed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Keep using your multiple registered sockpuppet, "The End of Days", & also your use of later AC replies to try to hide the fact you do, but...

    Hey, after all, you said it youself here ->

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1147437&threshold=-1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&pid=27056589

    ADMITTING YOUR USE OF MULTIPLE REGISTERED ACCOUNT SOCKPUPPETS SO YOU "APPEAR TO HAVE SUPPORT" and which you mod down others with, pitifully, fooling nobody BUT yourself, lmao... man!

    ---

    And today, basically again now here in this very exchange in THIS quote, here by your now AC replies as Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004):

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30686004

    "p.p.s. Im not The End Of Days... you are. My main account has many +5 comments, far more than your pitiful FOUR." - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @02:02PM (#30686004)

    Sure sure... SURE you're not (not)... lmao! He just "showed up here" and then just "disappeared again" right? The "man of a 1,000 faces", admittedly, lol, in "The End of Days"? Please... you aren't intelligent enough to pull it off when I just 'busted you again' using your sockpuppet accounts here once more!

    ----

    Well to that? After you first showed up here "magically @ the mention of your name" (& proof via your own words you do these type of trolling stupid things fooling nobody but you)?

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684436

    Yup, "The End of Days": THE NEW LON CHANEY, the "man of a 1,000 faces" (lol, albeit online instead of as a thespian!)

    ----

    Oh, also: Just see my subject line again, & then?

    Please - show us your list of appearances in noted trade publications like Windows IT Pro, or others I had done whilst you were still in diapers!

    (You still are apparently in diapers though, just judging by your tantrums & lack of visible accomplishment in this field as I had done 13++ yrs ago, up to 2002 when I still gave a hoot about it, per the evidence of myself doing that on that note, here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=30685778 )

    ----

    AND, thanks for this also (proof my prediction that all you HAVE are your 'effete mod downs' "The End of Days"):

    "Holy shit, you must think I have a lot of modpoints. Slashdot only gives what... 5 at a time, now? per week, or something like that? Good thing I have so many of them, Ive used 9 modpoints to mod you down today just in this thread alone!" - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @04:33PM (#30687844)

    I was correct when I stated in my 3rd paragraph in the URL below, to others here, that you would just "mod me down" as I predicted here in this very exchange:

    http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30684508

    And that you have done so before to myself, & doubtless others who EASILY (no doubt) got the better of you!

    To that?

    LMAO, All you have are your "mod points" (keep blowing them, I will make you burn them ALL out, because your own post even STATES YOU BURNED THEM OUT TODAY "The End of Days", right here -> http://slashdot.org/~The+End+Of+Days (look to the right for "The End of days 'Achievements')... lol, SOME ACHIEVEMENTS.

    Try this list of MINE on for size instead ->

  83. Stuck in Satan-mode by SanderDJ · · Score: 3, Funny

    Finally they discovered God-modes. All these years I've been working with Win machines stuck in Satan-mode. Now life will be good...

  84. Re:Sufficient Evidences lie within, nuff said... a by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think he’s given up. Sadness...

  85. After this? My point was made w/ others here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Per my subject-line, & what was said here in regards to "The End of Days" & those like he who use multiple registered accounts/sockpuppets to make it appear as if they "have many supporters" (b.s.), or, to mod others down with (as was done to my original post here which was +1 INFORMATIVE & then was downward modded to -1, & then to 0 (someone modded it up later again), & then down to -1 once more (for what? Telling the truth of how there are trolls & neocheaters around here??):

    So this guy's a douchebag" - by Bigjeff5 (1143585) on Thursday January 07, @01:03PM (#30685184)

    That's enough for me on putting out what backed up my original post's point here-> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30683968 & that was that others here do as I said above (which makes them what Bigjeff5 stated). How people like "The End of Days" live with themselves astounds me personally. They must think others are stupid & they must think they are fooling them... & in fact, those like "The End of Days" only fool themselves @ best.

    (Which is why he & my "other detractors" here (doubtless he posting on via his other multiple registered account sockpuppets or AC replies only as I stated initially here) can't put out a list of what they've done of any DECENT NOTE in this art & science of computing: People are onto their b.s. is why, & they waste time "trolling" others...)

    So, that "all said & aside", along with "The End of Days" admission he uses sockpuppets to mod down others & to mod himself up and make it appear as if he has legitimate 'supporters' of his so-called 'points'?

    Well - My original post appears to have made its point with others (who do apparently realize that what I initially wrote isn't some sort of fiction, and that it actually does go on here), per Bigjeff's quote above...

    APK

    P.S.=> It also illustrates the fact that others read what I wrote (& that they too realize that "The End of Days" & those like he around here as well, are nothing but deceitful fools who *THINK* they are "pulling the wool over others' eyes" here or elsewhere, but in reality are doing nothing more than merely just fooling themselves)...

    (Thus, "Nuff said", as the old saying goes)... apk

  86. My point was made w/ others like Bigjeff above... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why should I have to post anything more? Especially when folks responding back here, like "Bigjeff" up there, have thought of "The End of Days" (& others like he here) as a douchebag? See here, in regards to that statement from myself -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30685184

    So, as anyone that can read can see?

    Well - My point from my original post here's been clearly made with others, & they too realize that a lot of morons here are nothing more than what he stated they are...

    Deceitful douchebags.

    It was funny because I posted the very url where "The End of Days" admits his usage of "sockpuppet" alternate multiple registered user account logons to mod himself up with, & to mod others down with (as was done to my original post in this thread here, taking it down from +1 INFORMATIVE to -1 TROLL now), + to make it appear as if he "has many supporters of his points" (b.s. - it's he using those very multiple registered sockpuppet accounts here he admits to having plus numerous AC replies on his part only) & then, "suddenly", he appears to "defend himself"?

    Give us a break.

    APK

    P.S.=> Neocheaters on forums like "The End of Days" are only fooling themselves...

    OR

    Does BigJeff's post here show otherwise?

    Read it & you see that He read what I wrote & realized what goes on around this forums + elsewhere online.

    People like "The End of Days" don't fool anyone... only themselves (which is why every one of my so-called 'detractors' (who are just "The End of Days" sockpuppet alternate logons probably or he replying as AC only) couldn't put out a list of accomplishments in this field like I have had for more than a decade++ now - they waste time "trolling" others & using deceits like sockpuppets))... apk

  87. "sweet victory"? Over yourself only, troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject-line above, & this:

    Why should I have to post anything more? Especially when folks responding back here, like "Bigjeff" up there, have thought of "The End of Days" (& others like he here) as a douchebag? See here, in regards to that statement from myself -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30685184 [slashdot.org]

    So, as anyone that can read can see?

    Well - My point from my original post here's been clearly made with others, & they too realize that a lot of morons here are nothing more than what he stated they are...

    Deceitful douchebags.

    It was funny because I posted the very url where "The End of Days" admits his usage of "sockpuppet" alternate multiple registered user account logons to mod himself up with, & to mod others down with (as was done to my original post in this thread here, taking it down from +1 INFORMATIVE to -1 TROLL now), + to make it appear as if he "has many supporters of his points" (b.s. - it's he using those very multiple registered sockpuppet accounts here he admits to having plus numerous AC replies on his part only) & then, "suddenly", he appears to "defend himself"?

    Give us a break.

    "Your bot? So basically... youre giving up?" - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07, @10:55PM (#30690714)

    No, I just don't waste my time on trolls like you directly once my point is made with others here (per BigJeff even stating that "The End of Days" is just another sockpuppet/multiple registered account using douchebag who uses those deceitful means to attempt to deceive others, & in reality he & those LIKE he only fool themselves @ best, & ruin their rep here and elsewhere online via those puny deceits they utilize).

    I can set an automated replier into motion & let IT prove my point here, from my initial post here, for me... pretty simple. So, waste your time, reply again, & I'll just 'sick my attack dog' on you again (& again) putting out points that others here realize ARE nothing more than an illustration of truth is all.

    APK

    P.S.=> Neocheaters on forums like "The End of Days" are only fooling themselves...

    OR

    Does BigJeff's post here show otherwise?

    Read it & you see that He read what I wrote & realized what goes on around this forums + elsewhere online.

    People like "The End of Days" don't fool anyone... only themselves (which is why every one of my so-called 'detractors' (who are just "The End of Days" sockpuppet alternate logons probably or he replying as AC only) couldn't put out a list of accomplishments in this field like I have had for more than a decade++ now - they waste time "trolling" others & using deceits like sockpuppets))...

    My original initial post's point here has been made with others -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30683968 ...apk

    1. Re:"sweet victory"? Over yourself only, troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, I just don't waste my time on trolls like you directly once my point is made with others here

      Please, continue to not waste your time on me! I find it uproarious. Hilarious. Hysterically humourous.

      Hold on, it’s payday, I’m going to see if my check is in yet.

    2. Re:"sweet victory"? Over yourself only, troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  88. Re:My point was made w/ others like Bigjeff above. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LOL, you’re still here? excellent!

  89. Re:My point was made w/ others like Bigjeff above. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  90. Re:My point was made w/ others like Bigjeff above. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh, come on. You can do better. This is a disgrace to the act of trolling.

  91. Re:"The End of Days" & his sockpuppet use expo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    bump

  92. "The End of Days" & his sockpuppet use exposed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  93. Do you "get your jollies" trolling others? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not "trolling" here: you are.

    Personally speaking, I really cannot see how you "take pride" in doing that actually!

    However, it only tells me I am most likely dealing with juveniles here in yourselves doing this. You must be one of the "4chanbbs" people I'd guess, as they seem to "get their jollies" around here doing things like that.

    (At least you guys over there @ 4chan have a person named Harm Sorensen around there. He's pretty cool, but the rest of you? Man... pretty pitiful because you folks seem to 'get off' on bothering others).

    APK

    P.S.=> I hope you're happy acting like that, & modding down my initial post, which only stated facts with "The End of Days" sockpuppets usage here being exposed by his own admittance of doing so here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30688414 ...

    (Which is pretty pitiful, & even the user named BigJeff noted that much in calling him a douchebag for doing so, here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1501580&cid=30685184 ).

    Most NORMAL folks don't think that's very cool, & I'm one of them... apk