HelpWithWindows Newsletter

01. Some Additional Internet Explorer 7.0 Information

by Arie Slob

Hello Windows users,

After the initial announcement by Bill Gates that Microsoft would release a new version of Internet Explorer before Longhorn (see my newsletter from the 19th February), people started speculating about new features that they thought might be included.

Microsoft has largely remained silent on the issue, but some information is available on the Internet Explorer's Team Blog.

So as it now stands, the plan is to make Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) available for Windows XP SP2 and later. "And later" means that IE7 will be made available on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 SP1. So it looks like Windows 2000 will be left out, although there have been quite a number of requests for IE7 on Windows 2000.

Another thing that looks likely is that IE7 will not include a new version of Outlook Express. Despite numerous requests it seems that we'll have to wait till Longhorn to get a new version of OE.

No further information to new functionality is available right now, and the only "date" being mentioned for a beta of IE7 is "this summer".

02. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Will Be Available In 20 New Markets Worldwide

At the CeBIT 2005 Consumer Electronics trade show in Hanover Germany, Microsoft this week announced that this year Windows XP Media Center Edition-based PCs will be available in 20 new markets, to bring the total number of countries where Media Center Edition is available to over 30 (with 17 language versions).

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 users can experience digital entertainment such as digital photos, home movies, music, television and more, all in a simple, seamless design usable with a mouse and keyboard or even a remote control.

By year's end, Windows XP Media Center Edition-based PCs will be available in the following additional locations:

Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Mexico
New Zealand
Norway

Poland
Portugal
Russia
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Taiwan
Turkey

Windows XP Media Center Edition-based PCs are currently offered in Australia, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

For more information, visit the Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Web site.

03. Recent Support BBS Postings

Taskbar size now two lines high - Windows XP
Can't play an mpeg file with Windows media player - Other Software
How to remove access to windows media player - Windows Server System
LCD monitor recommendations? - Hardware
How to view hidden tasks - General Security

04. Microsoft Releases March Malicious Software Removal Tool

Microsoft has updated the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool to help remove specific, prevalent malicious software from computers that are running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows XP, or Microsoft Windows 2000.

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05. Microsoft Releases Outlook 2003 Junk E-mail Filter Update

This week, Microsoft released an update to Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 enhancing the junk e-mail filter in Outlook 2003 to help provide a higher level of protection against junk e-mail.

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06. Windows XP Tip: Customize the Taskbar

Enabling the Quick Launch bar, changing Taskbar hight, adjusting Taskbar Grouping and other tips.

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07. Windows 98 Troubleshooting: Device Manager Error Codes

If there is a problem with one of your devices, Windows will list the device with 1 of 3 symbols in the Device Manager.

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08. 5 steps to help avoid Instant Message (IM) viruses

Because IM has become so popular, virus writers are using it to spread malicious programs. Read on to find out how to avoid getting or spreading a virus when you use IM.

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