Just for Kicks

One of the hotfixes that came with Windows Update recently is KB 976264. It provides the ability to run certain programs in Windows 7 that previously could not, including Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8.

Well, it works. After installing that KB, I installed Paint Shop Pro 8. On first startup, the Microsoft Installer did something, and after that the program ran fine. I didn’t test all its functions though, just the ones I frequently use. Fantastic!

That hotfix also fixes compatibility issues for many other applications like Magix Video Deluxe 15, Magix Digital Photo Maker, Xara Xtreme Pro 4, Disney’s Classic Print Studio Collection, Virtual PC 2007, The Print Shop Business Card Creator, Daemon Tools, Manga Studio Debut 3.0, Nero 8’s PhotoSnap, Magic Schoolbus Dinosaurs, Ulead PhotoImpact 15, Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Chuzzle Deluxe, Zuma Deluxe, Bestcrypt 8, Corel Home Office, 3D Pinball and lots more. I really mean lots more.

If you have a program that you used to run in XP, and later found it couldn’t in Windows 7, look at the list, apply the hotfix and see if it works now.

Anyway, I’m glad I can run Paint Shop Pro 8 again. As I said before, the latest Corel Paint Shop Pro X3 is just not for me. The old versions of Jasc Paint Shop Pro doesn’t have the awful Protexis service and doesn’t install things like QuickTime, with its irritating habit of taking over all associations, inserting itself to run at startup and so on.

Ever since I’ve upgraded to Windows 7, I’ve noticed that every now and then svchost.exe makes a connection, either to the HTTP or the HTTPS port of one of many IP addresses registered to Microsoft, eg 65.55.xx.xx. This is not the initial network connection to bay-something-or-other.hotmail.com that Windows uses to find out whether the machine is connected to the Internet. Or I don’t think so. I wonder whether it is part of Windows 7’s WGA notification, which probably comes built-in with the system.

For a new OS like Windows 7, the default theme that loads after Windows 7 is set up is really pathetic. Compare it with the Vista and you’ll see what I mean. For all its shortcomings, at least Vista’s taskbar and background looked decent. Even the task bar in 7 looks horrible: the color is washed out, and somehow it just doesn’t have the 3D appearance of the Vista and XP’s task bars.

Of course you can change the default theme. I know that. But seriously, Microsoft, can’t you do better than that for a default theme? Even a clean blue background looks better than the wallpaper it’s shipped with. And the task bar color. Yucks.

The other themes that ship with Windows 7 are okay. Even the classic theme is nice.

Everyone knows how bad Windows and Internet Explorer are at estimating file copy times and download times. Try copying a big file from one computer to another, and you’ll see estimates like “1 minute” to download for the next 5 to 10 minutes. Or the estimate wildly fluctuates. The same goes for IE.

This XKCD comic encapsulates it in a hilarious way. I couldn’t stop laughing when I discovered it.

Microsoft will apparently modify their despicable WGA for Vista so that it no longer kills Vista if it thinks it’s fake. It’s about time. Judging by the number of false alarms that stupid software gave, accusing legitimate buyers of piracy, it’s really not much good. After SP 1 for Vista, WGA will change into nagware. If it thinks the copy of Vista is pirated, it will do irritating things like change the wallpaper, nag and so on.
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