Don't you wish there was an easy way to add custom locations to the Save/Open dialog box? Well, actually, there is. With Direct Folders, you can quickly find frequently used folders in the Save/Open dialog box. After the program is installed, you can right-click in the white space of the window to access your customized list of folder shortcuts.

Of course, there are other ways to tweak this box too - for example, in Windows XP, a registry hack can let you update the box with your own settings:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32\PlacesBar]
"Place0"="e:\\XP Utils"
"Place1"="e:\\research"
"Place2"="e:\\Registry Patches"
"Place3"="e:\\UtilitiesSet 2"
"Place4"="e:\\UtilitiesSet 1"

TweakUI does it too.

In Vista, it's a bit different. The Places bar is now the "Favorite Links" bar, so customizing them involves going into your Links folder: User_Profile\Links

In here, you can customize the Windows Shortcut (.Ink) files according to this document.

A new version of Windows Desktop Search has just been released - Windows Search 4.0 Preview. (The "preview" part means it's still being tested out, sort of like "beta.") For those of you who don't know, Windows Search is the desktop search feature that is built into Windows Vista, but you don't have to be running Vista to take advantage of Windows Search - you can run it in XP, too.

This latest update is a significant release, with many features designed for enterprise users. However, there are new features that will benefit everyone, like the speed increase (33% faster!), its ability to index encrypted files, and Remote Index Discovery, which means it can index all the Windows machines on your network, no matter what version of Windows they are running.

Other improvements include:

• Bug fixes - most of the reported bugs seen since Windows Vista RTM have been fixed.
• Rollback Recovery - your search index will roll back to the last known good state if an error occurs instead of being rebuilt from scratch.
• Windows software updates for Watson errors
• Faster previewer updates for Windows XP

For IT Professionals specifically, important new features include:

• Improved performance when indexing Exchange in online mode - less packets and less RPC calls are made, which means less load on the server. Plus, no local cache (.ost)
• Support for indexing online delegate mailboxes
• Support for Group Policy settings (Search.adm/Search.admx) has been extended and improved, including per-user policies.
• An add-in for indexing redirected "My Documents" files (32-bit)

Here's where you can get it:

• Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008
• Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 64-bit
• Windows XP
• Windows XP 64-bit
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server 2003 64-bit

Although XP has a Virtual Desktop PowerToy, there's no version for Windows Vista yet. However, there are not one, but three third party programs that Cnet just reviewed: VirtuaWin, which supports up to 20 separate desktops, Virtual Dimension, and Z-Systems' Vista/XP Virtual Desktop Manager, which takes advantage of Vista's Aero interface.

Out of these, the Z-Systems program looks like the one I would choose, not only because of the Aero aspect, but also because it offers full-screen desktop previews in Vista so that you can easily find the desktop you're looking for. With Z-Systems, you can generate a system tray icon for each desktop, which makes switching really fast. You can also select certain programs that will show up on all of your desktops.

Vista Caller-ID is Windows software that seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Windows Vista to track and announce phone calls. It uses your Voice or Data modem and the Caller ID service provided by your local phone company in order to identify who’s calling. The service also tracks all incoming calls and logs the Date, Time, and Caller ID Name & Number.

There's also an add-in for Windows Home Server (thanks to Donavon West for the discovery!)

Do you archive your email to PST files (maybe due to a corporate policy limiting your mailbox size)? If so, you know that even though it's archived, you will still need to access those old emails from time to time. If you don't want to keep all your archives open in your Outlook, there is another way...if you use Windows Vista. With Vista's built-in search option, you can specify that you want PSTs to be indexed (this is not turned on by default). It's pretty easy to set this up, just follow these steps:

1. Go to the Control Panel
2. Choose "Indexing Options"
3. Click on the "Advanced" button
4. Click on the "File Types" tab
5. Check the checkbox next to "PST" to include it in the search
6. Select the bullet next to the option "Index Properties and File Contents"
7. Click OK and OK again on the message that appears.

You're done! Now you can use Vista's built-in search to find that email you need!

This Part 2 of a 3 part series on My Dream Machine (Part 1)

Tinkering with bits and pieces is a part of growing up on a farm. Attempting to repair a motorbike's fuel system, fixing implements with some wire and a rope, through to more traditional toys such as Lego, meccano and electronics. However, I was never good at what our school called 'tech studies'. In fact, I was streamed into tech-studies-remedial, and recommended to never touch any hardware tools ever again.

So, working on my own PCs results in injuries. Cuts and scratches on my fingers and hands, and blood on clothing. I am just clumsy, and fiddly things just seem to annoy my nerve endings. Building my own PC, apart from a mental challenge, is going to be a daunting physical challenge, too. Onward to my personal everest!

Just before I start, I have to confess way back in history, I was a trained Macintosh Level-1 Sevice Technician. I'd like to also throw out a big thanks to Peter Harris, who had enough patience and bandaids to teach me the basics of electronic stuff. Like soldering in new Adobe ROMs onto the logic board of one of those original Apple LaserWriter (circa 20 years ago!) to obtain more fonts. On a US$7,000 device, with one mis-solder away from job firing: I owe Pete a lot.

Initial build

• The bit start arriving from AusPCMarket, within 24 hours of ordering. In Australia, this is a major achievement! Thanks to Hillary in the Microsoft Australia Mail Room for excellent service, too. You guys rock.
  
• Open the case and install the power supply. Case being a black anodised Lian Li case. Power Supply, a Corsair 620W. Simple thumbscrews and snaking the power cable from the rear to the front of the case. Fan in the power supply points forward. Fan at the rear of the case to flow air from front to rear, at the base of the case.
  
  
  
• Hard drives, DVD/CD installed with power. Just wired the the Western Digital 10000RPM boot drive to a SATA connector motherboard to simplify the install process.
  
• The modular power supply has a range of cables to wire up power from itself to the rear of the SATA drive. SATA power connectors are unique, and simple to install. With the Corsair beastie, each power coupler for SATA has three 'power take-offs'
  
  
  
• Fans on the logic board use either the four-pin Molex connectors, or smaller three-pin connectors. Looking at the fans, I noticed that each have three conductive cables: two for power, one to throttle/measure the speed of the fan. Connecting these to the correct places on the motherboard has benefits when tuning. That's for episode 3.
  
  
  
• Download the 64-bit (x64) "floppy" driver and place onto USB drive. Windows Vista x64 install is provided with many off-the-CD drivers to permit the operating system to install and bootstrap itself. However, some motherboards require later drivers to install correctly. In my instance, I gathered the Gigabyte Pre-install driver for Vista x64 and placed this onto a USB key for later use during the operating system install.
  
  
• Picture note: The clamp for the processor is to but shut, thermal grease to be applied and CPU fan to be installed. Beauty of making your own is that I can purchase another, faster CPU in the future and self-install the wee beastie.
  
• Place Beating heart into chest.  The CPU is the beating heart of the PC. In my instance, I have chose the Intel Q6600 processor being inserted into a Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 Motherboard.
  
• Intel CPUs going into "775" slots are female, with male pins already on the motherboard. Using thermal paste, a gooey silver-gray substance that assists the CPU to fan thermal coupling so the CPU fan can remove heat, applied to the top of the CPU. Fans supplied with CPUs are usually noisy and not as heat-efficient as after-market devices. In the first installation, I used the supplied CPU fan. Connect fan to the correct pins on the motherboard.
  
• Intel CPU fans for the "775" slots have this strange "push in" connection that sort of snaps into place. I must admit, I didn't like pushing that hard on the motherboard: it felt like I was going to break something.
  
  
  
• There are a multitude of wires starting from the front of the case that demand insertion. These cables connect to the front: USB, Firewire; and also power, reset and lights. Being able the read the manual's schematic diagram and reading the notice on the connectors assists in correct insertion. If these don't seem to have a "gender" (in other words, which way around they should be plugged in), my rule becase "text on cable such that it's readable"
  
• Fans connected to motherboard. Power to motherboard. SATA connectors to motherboard. DVD/CD drive inserted, SATA and power connected.
  
• Memory: DDR2 memory inserted into the first two connectors: whilst I am installing x64 Windows Vista, I am starting with 2Gb of memory to keep the beastie cool.
  
• Install video card in to one of the light blue PCI-E slots; and wire in the separate power line for the plan of installing an NVidia 8600 video card whilst waiting for the NVideo 8800GT to arrive. as it has its own fan and dedicated memory. The video card is like a mini motherboard and CPU all of its own.
  
  
• Picture note: the NB_FAN sits underneath a white connector. This is a fan connector containing power plus feedback on the speed of the fan. NB stands for Northbridge; which is a bunch of chips on the motherboard responsible for Input/output and the PC cards. As these chips get hot, they have their own heat-sink: that's the copper coloured lines and bits that remove heat, and can also have their own fan.
  
• Find an old PS/2 style (or USB) keyboard and mouse. Plug in. Screen connected. Ethernet (network) connected. Countdown to launch begins.
  
• Time to construct: 1h30minutes. I think I also did some emails in the midst of construction, too!
  

Initial Startup and Operating System Installation:

• The magic of BIOS! The gigabyte BIOS finds all the pieces of hardware, including RAM, and just boots. Back in the olden-days, you had to set jumper pins to tell the computer where and when it's memory existed.
  
  
  
• Put in Windows Vista x64. Tell the BIOS to have the CD/DVD as the secondary boot device. Restart, and were in Vista install.
  
• After typing in the key, and starting a Full Install; Vista asks you which disk to install onto. Plug in the USB key with drivers gathered above, do a re-format of the drive. Install.
  
• An extremely rapid install. That hard drive it nuts. Reboot. Windows Vista x64 starts up.
  

Post-Initial Boot Steps:

• Update BIOS. Using the Gigabyte @BIOS configuration, gather and install the latest revision.
  
• Update disk drivers, sound drivers, ethernet (network) drivers - including the hardware RAID drivers
  
• Gather and install Video card driver.
  
• Install Windows Vista updates; including Vista Ultimate extras.
  
• Shutdown, install 2 x 500Gb drives into what is known as the G-SATA connectors
  
• Reboot, use GSATA BIOS to configure two matching drives as RAID (to allow for redundant data storage)
  
• In Vista, reformat drive (two drives seen as one by the operating system).
  
• Using Vista's Backup and Restore: Backup boot drive. Just in case.
  
• Install anti-virus and firewall. Just in case.
  
  

4.7 is a long way from my stated goal of 5.9. Whilst the performance of the 8800GT video card should improve performance, the memory result of 5.6 is a little disappointing. Therefore, more research!

It's tuning time.

Acabo de receber essa informação de meu colega Miguel Ferreira, que autoriza as novas funcionalidades dentro do Windows. Foi lançado hoje o primeiro fornecedor de revelação de fotos online da Galeria de Fotos de Windows Vista e Galeria de Fotos do Windows Live – Submarino Revelação. Com essa funcionalidade, basta você selecionar as fotos, clicar em "Imprimir" e lá tem uma opção "Encomendar Cópias" que conectará automaticamente com o serviço do Submarino. Se você ainda não tem uma conta, você cria uma que será armazenada automaticamente pela Galeria de Fotos para a próxima vez que usar o serviço. Depois, basta escolher algumas opções básicas como tamanho da foto, bordas e efeitos especiais e número de cópias. Pronto, você receberá em casa pelo correio!  

Para acessar, é necéssário configurar o Windows Vistas para o Brasil (No Painel de Controle em Configurações Regionais na aba Local):

Inicie a Galeria de Fotos do Windows Vista ou do Windows Live, escolha as fotos e clique em "Imprimir" depois "Encomendar cópias":

Selecione Submarino Revelação e continue:

Faça o ajuste de opções e pronto. O custo de uma foto tradicional 10x15 é R$ 0,59 mais o valor de entrega.

Mielenkiintoinen juttu löytyi Jason Langridge:n blogista

Windows mobiili laitteet laajentavat liikkuvan henkilön mahdollisuuksia aivan uudelle tasolle. Katso, mitä Ikanos Consulting on kehittämässä ja lataa esiversio täältä.

Lançado em 2002 somente nos Estados Unidos, finalmente chegou ao Brasil o Windows Media Center, o meu produto favorito para mídia digital. Conhecido inicialmente como Windows XP Media Center Edition (seu apelido era Windows MCE), ele agora vem dentro das versões Home Premium e Ultimate do Windows Vista e passa a ser chamado de WMC. Do Windows MCE original nasceu uma divisão inteira dentro da Microsoft chamada eHome, cujo foco é criar produtos e soluções para a casa digital. Lá estão as divisões de Xbox, Zune, WMC, Microsoft TV e tantas outras. Para o mercado norte americano, e alguns europeus, um produto como o WMC faz sentido. A penetração de computadores, tocadores digitais portáteis, vídeo games e televisores de alta definição, é mais ampla. Além disso, lares nesses mercados já contam com múltiplos computadores. No Brasil, porém, onde raros conhecem coisas como TiVo, DVR, Slingbox, Video On Demand, o conceito é muito novo.

Dentro desse cenário o WMC veio trazer a experiência com mídia digital que o PC permite para os televisores comuns em salas de estar e ambientes mais confortáveis. O que começou com ligando um PC tradicional a um televisor hoje já vai muito além. Diversos dispositivos se conversam num intercâmbio de mídia digital que permite o consumo de suas músicas, fotos, vídeos, televisão e até conteúdo de Internet em qualquer canto da casa, tudo com uma interface bonita. Essa é a finalidade do WMC, liberar nossa mídia do PC onde hoje armazenamos quase tudo e dar a elas uma navegação simplificada através do controle remoto, comando familiar para quase todos.

Eu estarei publicando uma série de sete vídeos curtos ensinando as principais funcionalidades do WMC. Vamos começar com o mais básico, como conectar e configurar um PC com Windows Media Center. Para quem tiver dúvidas específicas, por favor registre-as na área de comentários. Eu espero poder fazer um follow-up com configurações e usos avançados do WMC - por exemplo, utilizar o WMC como biblioteca de filmes, acessar seu WMC pela Internet para ver todas suas mídias, até TV ao vivo, e eventualmente utilizá-lo como plataforma para automação residencial. Para quem quiser mais informação, acabamos de traduzir o site oficial do Windows Media Center para português: http://www.microsoft.com/brasil/mediacenter.

Cela s'explique via la technologie Superfetch. Cette technologie intégrée dans Windows Vista charge automatiquement en mémoire les programmes utilisés le plus couramment afin de permettre d’y accéder plus rapidement.

Voici également un article rédigé par Jim Allchin disponible ici!

N'hésitez pas à poser vos questions sur FrogZ

Attention sports fans! Here are 3 must-have Vista sidebar gadgets that any NFL fan must have:

1. The NFL News Gadget: This gadget can be configured to either show you the latest headlines for the entire league or you can change it to just show you the news about your favorite team.

2. The NFL Scores Gadget: This gadget shows you your team's current score for the ongoing game or it will display who they are playing next & when.

3. The Sports News Gadget: This gadget displays general sports news but can be customized to just show news from a specific sport like football, baseball, basketball, hockey, etc.

(Thanks to the InsideMicrosoft blog for this!)