HelpWithWindows Newsletter

01. Microsoft's 'Start Something' Advertising Campaign

by Arie Slob

Hello Windows users,

This week Microsoft announced it was launching a new global advertising campaign called "Start Something". This new campaign is one of the largest and longest marketing campaigns in the Windows brand history spanning some 15-months.

"As we enter the third decade of Windows, the Start Something campaign celebrates how people can follow their dreams and pursue what they are passionate about -- from creating an in-home music studio to starting a new business or becoming the family photographer," said Will Poole, senior vice president of Windows Client at Microsoft. "Windows has evolved to integrate a wide range of applications, services and hardware in a way that has become familiar and expected as part of everyday life for millions of people around the world. We hope that people will be inspired to experience the endless possibilities available in the Windows ecosystem."

The timing of this campaign is an interesting one: the PC market in general could use a boost, with slow PC sales expected this year and Microsoft is in a lull between Windows versions. Windows XP has been on the market for some 3.5 years, and its successor (codenamed Longhorn) isn't expected to be available before the latter part of 2006.

The advertisements for the 15-month campaign will run in a total of 11 countries, launching on April 18 in the United States and following in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The campaign will showcase 13 themes spanning education, science, music, sports, family and life management, gaming, photography, cooking, travel, entertainment, work, productivity, and entrepreneurship. The campaign will be included in a media mix of national television, print, online and out-of-home advertising vehicles. A total of 51 television ads, 39 print ads and 250 online ads will be featured globally.

Advertising in all media will point users to www.windows.com, which has been newly redesigned to complement the campaign, and features devices from key partners and software applications for each of the featured themes reflected in the advertising.

02. Recommended Book: Windows XP Hacks, 2nd Edition

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A smart collection of insider tips and tricks, Windows XP Hacks, Second Edition covers the XP operating system from start to finish. Among the multitude of topics addressed, this must-have resource includes extensive coverage of hot-button issues such as:

security
Web browsing
controlling the control panel
removing uninstallable XP components
pop-up ads

You'll also find timesaving hacks for file distribution; digital media, such as iTunes; and high-visibility web software, services, and exploits that have emerged since the book's last edition.

Each hack in the book can be read easily in just a few minutes, saving countless hours of searching for the right answer.

Now completely revised and updated to cover Service Pack 2 (SP2), the second edition of this bestseller carefully breaks down the new features that come with SP2, including IE pop-up blocker, Windows Firewall, and the new wireless client.

To Order: USA | EU (GBP 14.66)

03. Recent Support BBS Postings

Poll: What improvements do you want Microsoft to make to Windows?

Some file names in blue text - Windows XP
LCD versus CRT - Hardware
Virus scan Outbound files? - General Security
Second disk spinning for no apparent reason - Windows XP

04. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Create DVD Update

The Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Create DVD Update enables increased reliability when creating a video DVD using recorded TV files (.dvr-ms).

Supported Operating Systems: Windows XP Media Center Edition

Note: This update is only needed for Media Center PCs that support Create CD/DVD. If the Create CD/DVD option is not available in Media Center, please contact your computer hardware manufacturer for more information.

Download [ENG - 2.11 MB]
Other Languages

05. Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 application compatibility

Microsoft published an article containing information about application compatibility testing that was performed for the English version of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). The Windows Application Experience test teams tested 127 server applications on computers that were running Windows Server 2003 with SP1.

Microsoft KB Article 896367

06. Windows XP How-To: Using the System File Checker Tool

The System File Checker (SFC) tool is a command-line tool that can be used to restore protected system files on your computer.

Read Full Article