I’ve talked about Iconoid in the past but it hasn’t yet been ported to work on 64-bit versions of Windows.  There is still a way you can hide the icons on your 64-bit Vista installation.

Users testing out the new service pack 1 for Vista are reporting issues when using Windows Update for the latest sound drivers, experiencing problems with no audio after the update. This issue mainly seems to affect users with Sigmatel or now known as IDT high def sounds, which are used quite a bit on Dell’s PCs (mine included).

It seems as though the online community is uniting under one particular thought: with Vista faltering in the marketplace, many are simply waiting for news of the operating system that will take Vista’s place, now being called Windows 7.  However, many are even less excited about Windows 7, because some are suggesting that Microsoft will take a modular approach to the distribution of its next operating system to consumers.  

Or at least a few key points I think every intelligent reader should consider before simply taking what “authorities” have to say on the superiority of certain operating systems. I’m going to give you a great example of thoughtless Windows Vista promotion and explain why even your favorite websites might be getting it very wrong.

Just when everyone thought that Microsoft’s goose was near to fully cooked in all its greasy goodness, it seems as though the goose is getting some breathing room; though mounds of incriminating evidence against Microsoft in the “Vista-capable” lawsuit has been piling up in rapid fashion, the well-paid lawyers at Microsoft have found a loophole and earned a bit of time to either rally a defense or order a tombstone epitaph. 

I’m still not sure whether I should even classify this as news, per se, but take it as you will: if you’re sitting in front of an operating system-less PC, holding a copy of Vista SP1 in your right hand and a copy of XP SP3 in your left, and you can’t decide which OS to go with, your now barren PC will run better with XP SP3.

The recent hullaballoo over the exploit that opens up Vista through Adobe Flash has the hacking community grinning from metaphorical ear to ear.  The same can’t be said for Adobe, and what’s less of a surprise in the midst of the controversy is that Adobe is now claiming it knew about the exploit all along.

Ok, ok, we can all laugh and joke about some of the rather humorous ends eBay has gone to in the interest of protecting its customers, but there’s a real chance that the latest caper moves from lighthearted humor to rather arguable controversy.  Ebay has removed a laptop that contains an attack code used to crack Vista in the interesting of its buyers’ “safety.” 

The list of users who are experiencing more than a little difficulty with the new Service Pack 1 grows longer every day; it seems more and more users who boot multiple operating systems are experiencing grief as well.  Before installing Vista Service Pack 1, be sure to check out the boot systems you’re currently using if you use Windows Vista Enterprise or Vista Ultimate, otherwise your PC might end up the victim of a faulty SP1 install.

Many Vista users are justifiably a bit skittish when talk drifts to service pack 1, recently released by Microsoft; though home installations aren’t particularly difficult (though they could make you a nervous nelly), many larger companies will doubtless spend a good chunk of cash on IT help to ease the transition.  Microsoft has an answer for all those businesses who are looking for something a bit more streamlined, and it is a toolkit that should expedite the process quite nicely. 

Windows Vista users, count your blessings.  Though the operating system may be flawed, sluggish in some areas and have issues with installing the new service pack; it is not vulnerable to a new flaw exposed in the Microsoft Jet Database Engine which could allow remote code execution.

That’s right, its finally here — the salvation for sinners, the roof for the homeless, the bread for the hungry — service pack 1 for Microsoft’s acclaimed Vista operating system is here.  But is it too late?  Is SP1 showing up to a party that’s already been busted?

It is possible to build a relatively “cheap” Vista system but doing so doesn’t really save money.  After everything is added up the system itself will cost just under $500 but you’ll still need to add in a monitor, keyboard and any other accessories you might want/need.

Certain problems with Vista won’t be fixed by service packs or by updates but rather were actually part of the design.  Users got used to XP and the way XP did things but Vista does some things differently.  To help get your sanity back here are three things you can do to make Vista more amiable.

When Vista released it contained many hardware and software compatibility issues, some of which have been solved and some not.  Microsoft made and will soon release Vista SP1 but that too, will be a mixed blessing.