If you’ve spent any time at all in with Linux, you’ll probably agree with me that the Windows Command Prompt is grossly lacking by comparison. One of the things that always bothered me the most was the seeming inability to copy from and paste into the Command Prompt window. How could Microsoft leave out such a seemingly useful feature–especially when competing operating systems make it so easy? The truth is that they didn’t. Like so many other useful features, copy and paste in the Command Prompt window is presented in classic Microsoft style, largely undocumented and delightfully counter-intuitive. Read more… »

Brief hiatus, anyone?

It’s been quite some time since I’ve added any new content to this blog. This is partially due to the fact that my career has taken some turns and the amount of free time I have doesn’t seem to outweigh my obligations quite the way that it used to. It has also been due, in part, to internal conflict.

For many years, I have been providing support for Windows technologies in magazines and forums across the internet — an effort that has earned the name Windows Guru by some of my dedicated readers. Over those many years, I have provided support for software that I liked.

I’ve been less than pleased with recent releases from Microsoft. In fact, with Windows 8 and Office 2013, I flat out don’t like them. So much so, in fact, that Linux has been getting much more use than in times past including a permanent install on one of my laptops. My other personal machines will never see upgrades to the current MS offerings. This is has left me in quite a position. Do I hang up my hat or continue supporting software that I no longer believe in or use?

After much debate, I have decided to continue supporting the new versions. Partially because I am unable to escape them for the foreseeable future at work, but mostly because I wish to continue my dedication toward my readers by providing a service that I love to provide. With that being said, let’s see those questions coming in. Ask the Windows Guru!

If you’ve ever copied one directory of files over another, you’re probably pretty aware that Windows gives you an option to respond Yes To All when file conflicts arise. But what if you don’t want to overwrite the files? Windows Vista and Windows 7 were gracious enough to allow you to repeat your selected action on future conflicts but Windows XP wasn’t. Or was it? Read more… »

• Reading: We Can Know! May 21, 2011 is Judgment Day http://bit.ly/adl71K by @WeCanKnow  (#)

I recently bought a new laptop that came pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium. While waiting for the release of Windows 7, I got comfortable with my system and customized all of my settings including the system tray’s notification icons. All was well and my new laptop began feeling like home. That is, until this morning when Automatic Updates rolled out Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista (KB94846) (more info). After the update was applied, system notification icons for the Volume Mixer and Network were missing. Read more… »

• New Article: A Custom Exception Class for Dynamic Twitter Signature Images with PHP. Read it at Dev Shed - http://tinyurl.com/lhd3sp  (#)
• @danwellman That’s great, man. Can’t wait to see it. in reply to danwellman  (#)
• RT @WindowsGuru: New blog post: Nilpo.com announces new Windows forum site! http://bit.ly/o4Msb  (#)

• New Article: Dynamic Twitter Signature Images with PHP. Read it at Dev Shed - http://tinyurl.com/lkp75t  (#)
• New Article: Enhancing Dynamic Twitter Signature Images with PHP. Read it at Dev Shed - http://tinyurl.com/mpm7la  (#)
• New Article: Finding Logged On Users and More Scripting Secrets. Read it at ASP Free - http://tinyurl.com/l7rg22  (#)
• New Article: Error Handling for Dynamic Twitter Signature Images with PHP. Read it at Dev Shed - http://tinyurl.com/mlyyhd  (#)
• New Article: Solving Windows Genuine Advantage Problems. Read it at ASP Free - http://tinyurl.com/mkab66  (#)
• New Article: Using System Restore on a Non-Bootable PC. Read it at ASP Free - http://tinyurl.com/mdmgjf  (#)

The Windows Guru is getting bigger! Nilpo.com is in the process of being rebuilt into a larger, more robust Windows and Windows Scripting reference site. As a part of these upcoming changes, the Ask the Windows Guru blog here at Nilpo.com will be moving to a new domain that will feature full Windows references, documentation, tips and tricks, tutorials, downloads, and more along with all new, great content from the Windows Guru. The new site will focus on Windows Scripting, system administration, and some web related content. The site will also be host to a new set of forums for Windows Help, Windows Scripting, Office Automation, ASP help, and other Windows-related topics.

The new site will be undergoing a lot of changes throughout this transition period, but the new Windows Scripting Forums are already live and ready for use.

http://forums.windowsscript.com/

You can also stop by the new site at http://www.windowsscript.com/ and subscribe to the mailing list in order to receive email updates of site additions.

• New Article: Mastering the Message Box. Read it at ASP Free - http://tinyurl.com/np3b7w  (#)
• New Article: Understanding Object Binding in VBA. Read it at ASP Free - http://tinyurl.com/lj4vtt  (#)

You may receive an error “There is no script engine for file extension” while attempting to run .vbs files in Windows. This error can occur if no default scripting engine is set, the VBScript module is not correctly registered, or the .vbs file class settings are broken. Read more… »