#windows

Once a file is opened with FILE_FLAG_DELETE_ON_CLOSE, the deletion cannot be undone. However, an alternative approach can achieve a similar result without the irreversible flag.

A former Microsoft engineer created TinyRetroPad, a minimalist text editor for Windows that takes up only 2.5 KB of disk space, as a nostalgic recreation of the original Notepad from the early 1990s.

A developer encountered a crash caused by a thread still executing code from a third-party DLL after the DLL had been unloaded. The issue arose because a callback or ongoing operation was not properly canceled before the DLL was freed. The post highlights the dangers of unloading DLLs while threads may still be running code from them.

The blog post discusses the challenge of changing administrative settings when the action requires already having administrative access, likening it to being on the wrong side of an airtight hatchway and needing to unlock the door from the inside.

A former Microsoft engineer has created a smaller, more lightweight alternative to Windows Notepad, aiming to revive the simplicity of the classic text editor while keeping it functional on modern systems.

The article traces the evolution of window and class extra bytes in Windows, explaining how these fields have changed from 16-bit Windows through 32-bit and 64-bit versions, including limitations and compatibility considerations.

A former Microsoft engineer has reportedly created a smaller, more streamlined version of Windows Notepad, reducing its footprint and resource usage compared to the original application bundled with the OS.

A developer found that a DLL was no longer in memory even though it hadn't been formally unloaded, tracing the issue to Windows' DLL load ordering. When a DLL is loaded at a base address that conflicts with another DLL loaded earlier, the system may relocate it and then later discard the relocated version without clear notification, confusing developers expecting explicit unload.

The article discusses how some programs misuse Windows window class extra bytes to secretly store data, and provides a compatibility note on this practice.

Replit has introduced Replit Desktop, a desktop application that allows users to multitask and access Replit features on Windows and Mac.

JetBrains has released JetBrains Air, a new AI-first integrated development environment, now available for Windows. The IDE is designed to put artificial intelligence at the center of the development workflow, offering features that leverage AI to assist with coding tasks.

Microsoft has released a public preview of WSL Containers, allowing users to run containerized Linux workloads directly within Windows Subsystem for Linux, bridging the gap between Windows and containerized development environments.

Microsoft's WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) now supports running Linux containers directly on Windows. This feature integrates with Docker and other container tools, allowing developers to use Linux container images seamlessly within the Windows environment without needing a separate virtual machine.

The article describes using a custom WinPE (Windows Preinstallation Environment) image as a stateless, lightweight harness for testing and fuzzing Windows drivers. It details how to build and configure the WinPE image to load drivers, execute test cases, and reboot to a clean state after each run, enabling efficient and reproducible driver fuzzing sessions.

A DLL was still present in memory despite not being formally unloaded, due to a subtle behavior where the DLL's reference count never reached zero, preventing its removal from the process address space.

The article explains the most effective strategy for keeping a house cool during a heatwave: windows should be kept closed during the hottest part of the day and opened at night or early morning to let in cooler air. It also advises using blinds, curtains, and shades to block direct sunlight from heating up the interior.

In response to rising temperatures, people in France are using chalk paint on their windows as a low-cost, effective method to reflect sunlight and reduce indoor heat. The practice, which can lower indoor temperatures by several degrees, has gained popularity as an alternative to air conditioning during heatwaves.

FastPlay is a minimal, fast Windows video player built in Rust, designed for speed and low resource usage. It supports hardware acceleration and various video formats, offering a lightweight alternative to traditional media players.

Raymond Chen explains a debugging scenario where a DLL appeared missing from memory even though it had never been formally unloaded. The culprit was a Windows feature that automatically unloads DLLs with no loaded resources after a period of inactivity, which can surprise developers who expected the DLL to persist.

Raymond Chen investigates a mystery where a DLL disappeared from memory without being formally unloaded. The article begins a deep dive into how Windows manages module references, examining possible causes like explicit FreeLibrary calls, reference count issues, or unexpected thread detachments. This first installment sets the stage for diagnosing the missing DLL.

The article examines Microsoft's shifting Windows licensing strategies, moving from traditional perpetual licenses toward subscription-based models. It analyzes how these changes affect consumers, enterprise customers, and the broader PC ecosystem, highlighting the company's push for recurring revenue through services like Microsoft 365 and potential Windows 12 subscription tiers.

Ben Roberts, a professor at Loughborough University, suggests that smearing yogurt on windows can help cool homes by reflecting sunlight. The low-cost method uses the yogurt's white color to bounce heat away, though practical concerns like smell and mess are noted.

Recitey is a local dictation app for Windows utilizing OpenAI's Whisper, enabling unlimited speech-to-text without word caps, web tracking, or cloud dependency for offline transcription.

Windowsill is a free tool that adds a second, customizable taskbar to the top of your Windows screen, offering quick access to apps, shortcuts, and system trays without replacing the default taskbar.

The article introduces a tool that brings a Windows-style taskbar to macOS, allowing users to combine their dock and menu bar into a single, customizable bar at the bottom of the screen.

MSYS2 provides a straightforward way to bring GNU tools and a Unix-like environment into Windows, simplifying development and scripting for users who need more command-line flexibility. It offers a package management system and a lightweight platform that avoids the overhead of full virtual machines or dual-boot setups.

HyperSnatch v1.6.11 is a local-first evidence workstation for Windows, designed for forensic analysis and evidence handling directly on the user's machine without relying on cloud services.

The article traces the evolution of Windows UI behavior when clicking an unassociated file, from Windows 3.0 through Windows 11, showing how the system's response changed from simple error messages to context-sensitive suggestions and app store prompts.

The article discusses how the Mark-of-the-Web (MoTW) security feature in Windows can be used to pin executable installers to specific websites, improving download security. It explains how administrators can leverage Group Policy to require that certain installer files originate from trusted domains, ensuring that files downloaded from other sources are flagged and handled appropriately.

A 2014 article presents objective technical arguments for preferring Linux over Windows, citing advantages such as superior package management, a proper multi-user security model, and better scripting capabilities that give users more control and efficiency.