Windows 8 Custom Boot Logo

July 5, 2014, 3:49 am

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Ok, so I want to make Custom Windows 8 Boot Logo’s, and I cannot find any information online about replacing the built in one. This is intended to represent my research into this. Ok, so here is what I know: The file that stores the image is at C:\Windows\Boot\Resources\bootres.dll If you use Resource Hacker, you will find under RCData – 1 – 1033 a bunch of binary. Right click on RCData, and save all. Of the files produced, you will find one that’s called RCData_1.bin. This is actually a WIM file, so rename it to RCData_1.wim and mount it (I used a tool called gimagex). Inside (After you grant yourself access) you will find the boot logo. The Boot logo is actually 6 images. Winlogo1.bmp 93x108 24 bit Winlogo2.bmp 118x135 24 bit Winlogo3.bmp 149x172 24 bit Winlogo3n.bmp 115x172 24bit Winlogo4.bmp 275x321 24 bit Winlogo5.bmp 370x426 24 bit They are all set as read only, so to edit them, Select them all and un-check Read Only. Up to this point, I am pretty sure I have everything proper, but here is how I proceed (It does not work). I opened each image with Photoshop and placed the number of the image on it (I wanted to know what image my computer was actually using, so I wouldn’t have to edit them all with special pictures). I then make all the images Read only again, and write the changes to the WIM. I rename the WIM back to bin. Then I use Resource Hacker to put the images back into the bootres.dll and place it back in the correct location (C:\Windows\Boot\Resources\bootres.dll). When I reboot, I expect to see the image with the number, but All I see is a black screen with the spinner. So, does anyone else have any suggestions? I have tried signing bootres.dll, but all I get from that for me is "Error: Failed to sign ‘bootres.dll’: %1 is not a valid Win32 application (2147942593)" using Signer from coderforlife.com. If someone can work out a good way to do this that works, I’ll write a program to automate the process, including resizing pictures etc. Just a side note, the bootres.dll from the new Windows 8.1 Preview works with current Windows 8, so we have more than one OS that will be customizable with this. (And you can get the 8.1 boot logo in 8!) Oh, and The Windows 8.1 Preview makes Windows 8 look like a half-baked crap cake. For those of you that I know will go "Why would you want to, you only see it for 2 seconds anyway?" Go away, this is customization for customizations sake. (Unless you are going to help, in that case your welcome to help.) Warning: If you try this, you may not be able to boot again unless you put your computer into Test Mode. (My Video driver makes this necessary for me anyway, so meh.)

 

 

 

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U.S. Homeland Security: Stop using Internet Explorer until bug is fixe

July 9, 2014, 12:17 pm

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US Computer Emergency Readiness Team and its British counterpart told people to stop using Internet Explorer until Microsoft releases a patch to fix a serious bug. A new Internet Explorer vulnerability that affects all major versions of Internet Explorer has been discovered.

 

The bug allows attackers to install malware on your computer without your permission. The malware can be used to steal personal data, track online behavior, or gain control of the computer. Security firm FireEye, which discovered the bug, said that the flaw is being used with a known Flash-based exploit technique to attack financial and defense organizations in the US via Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11 running on Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

 

Microsoft's security advisory describes the nature of the exploit:

 

The vulnerability exists in the way that Internet Explorer accesses an object in memory that has been deleted or has not been properly allocated. The vulnerability may corrupt memory in a way that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user within Internet Explorer.

 

Source: US-CERT via CNet

Firefox 29 Final with new Australis UI

July 9, 2014, 12:35 pm

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Firefox 29 Final has been released with the new Australis UI. The new menu, however is now customizable which lets you drag and drop your most used items to the menu or the toolbar. Mozilla has also made Firefox Sync easier to set up with Firefox accounts.

 

In this video, Johnathan Nightingale, VP of Firefox, shares all the new wonderful user interface features you can find in the new Firefox:

 

 

Firefox 29 features include:

• NEW Australis user interface
• NEW first-run experience
• NEW Firefox Accounts sync your personal profile across many devices
• Firefox for Windows 8 touch preview (still available)
• Fix common scheme typos
• Gamepad API finalized and enabled
• WebVTT support

Download Firefox

New Internet Explorer ad focuses on Touch

July 9, 2014, 12:39 pm

≫ Next: Winmatrix's Like System

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See this cute Internet Explorer ad.

 

Winmatrix's Like System

July 9, 2014, 12:51 pm

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How amazing it is to log-in to Winmatrix to find out that so many people like your posts!

 

 

I think the Like System is one of the best features Winmatrix got after the redesign. It encourages me to post more.

Is WinMatrix Dying?

July 9, 2014, 1:19 pm

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I check the forums almost everyday and it seems like there's hardly ever any new posts anymore! WinMatrix use to be very active. What happened in the last few months? The monthly desktop screen shot thread doesn't exist anymore. I also would of thought a forum for Windows 8 modern apps would have been added by now as well. 

Facebook linking problems

July 10, 2014, 11:36 pm

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Hi,

 

I just registered a profile here by linking to my FB account. FYI, the integration on Winmatrix isn't fantastic, and is a security risk for the forum site. Linking to FB threw up a Div/0 error upon returning to the site, as did the Winmatix profile setup which followed.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Libidae

Windows 9 Build 6.4.9788 Leak Expected Soon

July 11, 2014, 2:04 pm

≫ Next: Start Menu Screenshot from Windows 9 build 9788

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Microsoft can reveal the very first beta of Windows 9 at the WPC conference next week according to Russian leaker WZor but Windows 9 Build 6.4.9788 is already being tested right now and is very likely to leak in the coming days.

 

A Windows leaker named FaiKee said in a new tweet that the ISO image has 3.83 GB in size and comes as en_windows_6_4_9788_0_x64_dvd_0000000.iso.

 

Source: FaiKee

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Start Menu Screenshot from Windows 9 build 9788

July 14, 2014, 7:06 pm

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This is how the start menu will look like in the next version of Windows. The screenshot clearly says it's 'Windows 8.1 Pro' so it can be the next free update for the Windows 8 users or may be... Windows 9 (because of the build number).

 

Source

Raspberry Pi Model B+ PC released for $35

July 14, 2014, 7:12 pm

≫ Next: Microsoft's new CEO - Satya Nadella

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Any Raspberry Pi fan here? They have released a new model today after 3 years since the release of its first version.

 

The $35 Model B+ uses the same BCM2835 application processor as the Model B. It runs the same software, and still has 512MB RAM; but James and the team have made the following key improvements:

• More GPIO. The GPIO header has grown to 40 pins, while retaining the same pinout for the first 26 pins as the Model B.
• More USB. We now have 4 USB 2.0 ports, compared to 2 on the Model B, and better hotplug and overcurrent behaviour.
• Micro SD. The old friction-fit SD card socket has been replaced with a much nicer push-push micro SD version.
• Lower power consumption. By replacing linear regulators with switching ones we’ve reduced power consumption by between 0.5W and 1W.
• Better audio. The audio circuit incorporates a dedicated low-noise power supply.
• Neater form factor. We’ve aligned the USB connectors with the board edge, moved composite video onto the 3.5mm jack, and added four squarely-placed mounting holes.

More here!

Microsoft's new CEO - Satya Nadella

July 15, 2014, 6:17 pm

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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has finally steeped down to be replaced by Satya Nadella. Both the incoming and outgoing CEOs have sent an email to Microsoft employees.

 

Satya Nadella's first ever email:

 

Spoiler

From: Satya Nadella
To: All Employees
Date: Feb. 4, 2014
Subject: RE: Satya Nadella -- Microsoft’s New CEO

Today is a very humbling day for me. It reminds me of my very first day at Microsoft, 22 years ago. Like you, I had a choice about where to come to work. I came here because I believed Microsoft was the best company in the world. I saw then how clearly we empower people to do magical things with our creations and ultimately make the world a better place. I knew there was no better company to join if I wanted to make a difference. This is the very same inspiration that continues to drive me today.

It is an incredible honor for me to lead and serve this great company of ours. Steve and Bill have taken it from an idea to one of the greatest and most universally admired companies in the world. I’ve been fortunate to work closely with both Bill and Steve in my different roles at Microsoft, and as I step in as CEO, I’ve asked Bill to devote additional time to the company, focused on technology and products. I’m also looking forward to working with John Thompson as our new Chairman of the Board.

While we have seen great success, we are hungry to do more. Our industry does not respect tradition -- it only respects innovation. This is a critical time for the industry and for Microsoft. Make no mistake, we are headed for greater places -- as technology evolves and we evolve with and ahead of it. Our job is to ensure that Microsoft thrives in a mobile and cloud-first world.

As we start a new phase of our journey together, I wanted to share some background on myself and what inspires and motivates me.

Who am I?

I am 46. I’ve been married for 22 years and we have 3 kids. And like anyone else, a lot of what I do and how I think has been shaped by my family and my overall life experiences. Many who know me say I am also defined by my curiosity and thirst for learning. I buy more books than I can finish. I sign up for more online courses than I can complete. I fundamentally believe that if you are not learning new things, you stop doing great and useful things. So family, curiosity and hunger for knowledge all define me.

Why am I here?

I am here for the same reason I think most people join Microsoft -- to change the world through technology that empowers people to do amazing things. I know it can sound hyperbolic -- and yet it’s true. We have done it, we’re doing it today, and we are the team that will do it again.

I believe over the next decade computing will become even more ubiquitous and intelligence will become ambient. The coevolution of software and new hardware form factors will intermediate and digitize -- many of the things we do and experience in business, life and our world. This will be made possible by an ever-growing network of connected devices, incredible computing capacity from the cloud, insights from big data, and intelligence from machine learning.

This is a software-powered world.

It will better connect us to our friends and families and help us see, express, and share our world in ways never before possible. It will enable businesses to engage customers in more meaningful ways.

I am here because we have unparalleled capability to make an impact.

Why are we here?

In our early history, our mission was about the PC on every desk and home, a goal we have mostly achieved in the developed world. Today we’re focused on a broader range of devices. While the deal is not yet complete, we will welcome to our family Nokia devices and services and the new mobile capabilities they bring us.

As we look forward, we must zero in on what Microsoft can uniquely contribute to the world. The opportunity ahead will require us to reimagine a lot of what we have done in the past for a mobile and cloud-first world, and do new things.

We are the only ones who can harness the power of software and deliver it through devices and services that truly empower every individual and every organization. We are the only company with history and continued focus in building platforms and ecosystems that create broad opportunity.

Qi Lu captured it well in a recent meeting when he said that Microsoft uniquely empowers people to "do more." This doesn’t mean that we need to do more things, but that the work we do empowers the world to do more of what they care about -- get stuff done, have fun, communicate and accomplish great things. This is the core of who we are, and driving this core value in all that we do -- be it the cloud or device experiences -- is why we are here.

What do we do next?

To paraphrase a quote from Oscar Wilde -- we need to believe in the impossible and remove the improbable.

This starts with clarity of purpose and sense of mission that will lead us to imagine the impossible and deliver it. We need to prioritize innovation that is centered on our core value of empowering users and organizations to "do more". We have picked a set of high-value activities as part of our One Microsoft strategy. And with every service and device launch going forward we need to bring more innovation to bear around these scenarios.

Next, every one of us needs to do our best work, lead and help drive cultural change. We sometimes underestimate what we each can do to make things happen and overestimate what others need to do to move us forward. We must change this.

Finally, I truly believe that each of us must find meaning in our work. The best work happens when you know that it's not just work, but something that will improve other people's lives. This is the opportunity that drives each of us at this company.

Many companies aspire to change the world. But very few have all the elements required: talent, resources, and perseverance. Microsoft has proven that it has all three in abundance. And as the new CEO, I can’t ask for a better foundation.

Let’s build on this foundation together.

Satya

 

Steve Balmer's last email:

 

Spoiler

From: Steve Ballmer

To: All Employees

Date: Feb. 4, 2014

 

Today is an incredibly exciting day as we announce Satya Nadella as the new CEO of Microsoft. Satya will be a great CEO, and I am pumped for the future of Microsoft. You can read the full announcement here.

Satya is a proven leader. He’s got strong technical skills and great business insights. He has a remarkable ability to see what's going on in the market, to sense opportunity, and to really understand how we come together at Microsoft to execute against those opportunities in a collaborative way. I have worked closely with Satya for many years and I have seen these skills many times. He is not alone, though. Our Senior Leadership Team has never been stronger, and together this group will drive us forward.

Microsoft is one of the great companies in the world. I love this company. I love the bigness and boldness of what we do. I love the way we partner with other companies to come together to change the world. I love the breadth and the diversity of all of the customers we empower, from students in the classroom to consumers to small businesses to governments to the largest enterprises.

Above all, I love the spirit of this place, the passion, and the perseverance, which has been the cornerstone of our culture from the very beginning.

Stay focused and keep moving forward. I am excited about what we will do. Satya's appointment confirms that.

Thanks for making Microsoft the most amazing place to work on the planet, and thanks for the chance to lead.

Steve

 

See Satya Nadella's first interview as the CEO of Microsoft

 

 

Learn more about Satya at http://msft.it/msceo

R.I.P. Ultimate Warrior

July 15, 2014, 6:25 pm

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R.I.P. Ultimate Warrior

Sad to hear of your passing. My favorite quote from you:

 

"You must show no mercy - nor have any belief whatsoever in how others judge you - for your greatness will silence them all."

-- Ultimate Warrior

 

 

 

 

Ultimate Warrior is featured in the WWE 2K14 Video Game as well.

 

 

Startup Sound Enabler for Windows 8

July 17, 2014, 12:58 pm

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Hello Winmatrix, you might be surprised, but I am still alive. I came with new stuff today.

Startup Sound Enabler for Windows 8 will allow you to have a startup sound in Windows 8.x with just one click.

As you might be knowing, Microsoft removed the startup sound from Windows 8 and above COMPLETELY.
This app is my try to revive it.
If you are interested, there is nothing special under the hood. I have an article on how to achieve the same manually. The application does exactly the same, but bloody saves your time.

Download Startup Sound Enabler for Windows 8

Antivirus Performance Benchmark 2014 Q1

July 18, 2014, 1:13 am

≫ Next: Random Saturday - WinMatrix what's up!

≪ Previous: Startup Sound Enabler for Windows 8

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PassMark Software conducted performance testing on eight Antivirus and Internet Security software on Windows 7 Ultimate Edition (64-bit) SP1. Check the interesting results here.

 

 

 

Source (PDF)

Random Saturday - WinMatrix what's up!

July 19, 2014, 6:00 pm

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Random Saturday!

If you are viewing this post, yes you my friend that can read, you need to post something random. Picture, video, or just boring text post. You need to post something random that has at least a bit to do with technology.

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Custom Layout & Theme for Windows Folder?

July 20, 2014, 12:40 pm

≫ Next: Windows 8.1 update 2 arriving on August 12th

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Hey all!

 

I'm getting ready to release a few design tools (for Adobe products) and was wondering if there's some application or utility that would help me present the contents of the folder nicely. Something other than a white background, and vanilla icons

 

I remember the Buuf iconset had something similar once upon a time. I'm pretty sure mattahan just threw a tile background on a normal folder and changed the icons around, but I've been quite out of touch with Windows stuff over the recent years, and wanted to see if there were any other (better) options.

 

I really, really appreciate any help you can provide!

Windows 8.1 update 2 arriving on August 12th

July 20, 2014, 8:14 pm

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Windows 8.1 update 2 will be available on August 12th as a standalone update and will include new features and functionality according to a Russian site PCPortal.org.ru. 

Chrome App Launcher for Linux

July 20, 2014, 8:19 pm

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With the release of Chrome 36, the app launcher now works in Linux too.

 

To add the app launcher icon, first enable the App Launcher by adding any Chrome app from this page. Then search your computer for Chrome App Launcher and

pin it to your system's launcher or panel for easy access.

 

Installing App Launcher

How to create Custom Visual Styles

July 21, 2014, 4:22 pm

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I have a great idea for windows 8.1 visual style but don't know how to modify system files. I know how to make one in Skins Studio but alot of people dont use WindowsBlinds so I want to support majority of people. Thanks

(VS) Dash Suite

July 21, 2014, 7:14 pm

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Latest release...